Looks like Marvel’s bold new cosmic era just hit the brakes before it even hit the streets, and the fans have sent another message that they have ZERO interest in Captain Marvel.
Back in early December, Marvel Comics unveiled Imperial Guardians by Dan Abnett and Marcelo Ferreira as a major new “ongoing series” spinning out of Jonathan Hickman’s Imperial.
But fast forward to the April 2025 solicitations released just a month later, and that ongoing has quietly become a five-issue limited run.
Originally Pitched as a Flagship Cosmic Relaunch
Unveiled on Marvel.com in December, Imperial Guardians was promoted as the “centerpiece” of Marvel’s new cosmic direction.
Tied to the events of Hickman’s Imperial, the story sees Maximus of the Inhumans assemble a black-ops team to preserve peace in the newly formed Galactic Union by any means necessary.
The team includes: Gamora, Captain Marvel, Darkhawk, Amadeus Cho, and Cosmic Ghost Rider.
It was billed as a spiritual successor to Guardians of the Galaxy, but with a more unstable, expendable vibe.
From “Ongoing” to “Limited” To Cancellation
Despite the promotion — including quotes from Abnett and preview covers — Marvel’s April 2025 solicitation for Imperial Guardians #2 now carries the parenthetical (OF 5), revealing the series will conclude with its fifth issue, which essentially means a cancellation comes before it’s even released (see solicit below).
This obviously suggests the first issue wasn’t ordered a lot by Marvel Cosmic fans. It’s really not surprising, considering what Marvel did to its cosmic line in the past 15 years and how it has treated the fans.
Fans also don’t want characters like Captain Marvel, who has been shoved down their throats. Fans also don’t want the MCU’s Gamora as the leader, along with the goofy Cosmic Ghost Rider. Ditto for Amadeus Cho. He’s not the Hulk and never will be.
Darkhawk is cool or was before Marvel Comics canceled the entire line back around 2010. I’ve no idea what the character has been up to since.
It’s also thought the new She-Hulk and Nova series are on their way to cancellation. Both are mid at best, just like Hickman’s Imperial event.
Hey, maybe if they gave them 18 variant covers, they would still be around???
IMPERIAL GUARDIANS #2 (OF 5)
Dan Abnett (W) • Marcelo Ferreira (A) • Cover by SEAN IZAAKSE
ULTIMATE FAREWELL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
VARIANT COVER BY GERMÁN PERALTA • VARIANT COVER BY MARTÍN CÓCCOLO
GUARDIANS 3000 VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS CAMPANA
• The Galactic Union has brought peace to the galaxy. But who will keep that peace? It’s another day and another dirty job for the IMPERIAL GUARDIANS as MAXIMUS of the Inhumans sends his black-ops team to handle a problem that nobody else wants to touch.
• Our heroes head for Xarth, a minor civilization with major ambitions. The Xarthians have got their hands on something that could make them major players on the galactic stage overnight – or bring down the Union ENTIRELY. And you know they’re not going to give it up without a fight…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
