Professor X and Nova Lead the Charge in Marvel’s Expanding Cosmic Saga This September

Marvel has revealed two more exciting one-shot issues that continue the storyline of Imperial War, the major new event spinning out of Imperial, a four-part comic book series written by Jonathan Hickman.

This cosmic saga has already started shaking up Marvel’s space-based stories, and the action continues in September with Imperial War: Exiles and Imperial War: Nova – Centurion.

These one-shots are part of a larger story that started with Imperial, which launched recently with art by Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini. It’s a big intergalactic conflict that brings together different characters and races across Marvel’s universe.

Marvel is planning five of these one-shot comics, and after announcing Imperial War: She-Hulk and Imperial War: Black Panther last month, the spotlight now turns to Professor X and Nova.

Imperial War: Exiles is written by Steve Foxe and Jonathan Hickman, with art by Francesco Manna. It picks up with Professor X, who has left Earth to protect his daughter, Xandra, the former Shi’ar Empress.

After a sudden power grab back home, Xandra finds herself thrown off the throne, and now her only chance at survival lies with a strange group of heroes brought together by her father and her mother, Lilandra, who has been brought back to life.

Foxe described the story as being fast-paced and intense. “This is a breakneck space-chase story first and foremost, and Francesco Manna is knocking it out of the galaxy. Which is good, because if these Exiles slow down for too long… they’ll be exterminated!” He also said, “This is a crew of Exiles in the truest sense of the word—a ragtag band of royals, aliens, scoundrels, robots, and furballs thrust together under dire circumstances.”

This story brings a rarely-seen family into the spotlight—Charles Xavier, Lilandra, and their daughter Xandra. It’s the kind of deep-cut cosmic family drama that longtime Marvel fans love, but it’s being told in a way that’s new and action-packed.

Meanwhile, Imperial War: Nova – Centurion is written by Jed MacKay and Jonathan Hickman, with art by Matteo Della Fonte. This issue focuses on Richard Rider, the last surviving member of the Nova Corps. With the Xandarian Worldmind at risk of disappearing forever, Rich has to do whatever it takes to save it. That includes taking odd jobs across the galaxy. The tagline for the issue says it all: “Have Helmet, Will Travel.”

MacKay talked about what makes Nova such a compelling character. “Rich is really interesting to me. For a lot of his history he’s been defined as being a ‘new kid’… Now, he’s the last standard bearer of the old order, a veteran of a war that already seems so long ago, and the question is being asked…is a Nova still relevant in the wake of IMPERIAL?” He also added, “I’m very excited to take on the Human Rocket and explore the new cosmic stage defined by Imperial!”

Marvel seems to be building something massive with these one-shots and the Imperial event. With stories that go from royal family drama in deep space to space mercenary adventures, it looks like the Marvel Universe’s cosmic side is going through big changes.

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