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With the future of the Marvel Cosmic Universe looking a lot like Game of Thrones in space, here is where all the major parties ended up by the end of the series.
10) The Galactic Union
The final decision made by many of the parties battling each other in the Imperial series was to form a new Galactic Empire called the Galactic Union. This happened after the Galactic Council fell, and this is what rose in its place to ensure peace among most alien races. Of course, this mentions that it includes “most” of the alien races because many others refused to take part, knowing the real reasons behind the Galactic Union, and how this was all manipulated by one man, with others becoming complicit after the fact. However, two alien races didn’t join this new governing organization. The Shi’ar wanted nothing to do with it, and the Galactic Union rejected the Skrulls outright.
9) The Shi’ar
The Shi’ar’s refusal to take part stems from two reasons. While the Shi’ar were notably absent from the final issue, Peter Quill revealed the reason, saying they were defectors who wanted to “go it alone, fight everyone.” The first big reason is that there was a coup, with Xandra being captured early in Imperial, only for her parents, Professor X and Lilandra, to show up to save her. This puts them in a spot where the Galactic Union means little as they try to recapture their kingdom after the coup, and Lilandra reforms her Exiles to continue this storyline after Imperial.
8) The Kree
The Kree are in the toughest spot of anyone after Imperial. They were part of the Kree-Skrull Alliance, ruled by Hulkling, the son of Captain Mar-Vell and a Skrull princess. However, that alliance has died as the Kree and Skrulls allowed the deception by Black Bolt and Maximus to tear them apart. That said, the Kree Alliance is not on the same page as the Galactic Union because they refuse to allow Black Bolt to take over as their ruler as he wishes. Instead, there is a Messianic Kree from another universe who is coming (maybe Grant Morrison’s Marvel Boy?), and there are also two mysterious Vell twins who might have a say in their race’s future and who might stand in Black Bolt’s way.
7) The Skrulls
The Skrulls are the second group, after the Shi’ar, not part of the Galactic Union. They took the breakup of the Kree-Skrull Empire the hardest, and the Galactic Union rejected the Skrull membership, making them a dangerous enemy. Super Skrull has even used Black Bolt’s subterfuge that Veranke is still alive to convince the Skrulls to follow the old religions that made them so dangerous for years. With Super Skrull keeping this lie to himself, he has his race ready to die for their cause. There was also one point in the final Imperial issue where he made it clear Hulkling would die if he ever returned to them.
6) Hulkling & Wiccan
This leads to Hulkling and Wiccan. They were left to die, betrayed by the Skrulls and Kree they had served loyally as their emperor and his consort. Wiccan almost died keeping them alive in space, and Hulkling saw that he no longer had an alliance to lead. Luckily for them, an old friend showed up again to get them to safety, just as America Chavez arrived to rescue the two. The best part of Imperial for Hulkling and Wiccan is that it brings them back to Earth, where they can take on a bigger role in the main Marvel Comics universe. They will next appear in Wiccan: Witches’ Road, a five-issue miniseries.
