Imperial Guardians #4 Debuts June 17: Team Faces the Nightshape in New Marvel Comic

Imperial Guardians #4 will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, June 17 2026. The issue is written by Dan Abnett and Marcelo Ferreira, with cover art by Sean Izaakse. A variant cover by Marcelo Ferreira is also available. The 32‑page issue is priced at $4.99, carries a T+ rating, and is 6.63 inches wide by 10.16 inches tall. It weighs 2 oz (62 g) and is distributed by Penguin Random House Comics.

The story continues the limited series that began in May 2026. In this fourth installment, the covert team known as the Imperial Guardians confronts a cosmic entity called the Nightshape. The Nightshape is described as a darkness that existed before time and will remain after time ends, and it promises to remake reality itself. The Guardians investigate a remote archaeological outpost where cultists chant “Worship the Nightshape.” The narrative explores the threat posed by this entity and the cult’s devotion.

The Imperial Guardians roster in this issue includes five well‑known Marvel characters: Gamora, the last of her species and a former member of the Guardians of the Galaxy; Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), a former Air Force officer who gained superhuman powers; Amadeus Cho, a teenage genius who has served as the Hulk’s ally; Darkhawk, a superhero with a cybernetic winged suit; and Cosmic Ghost Rider, a supernatural rider who appears in various Marvel titles. The team’s mission is to uncover the nature of the Nightshape and prevent it from altering the cosmos.

The series is part of Marvel’s broader slate of new releases for June 17. Other titles debuting that day include Deadly Hands of K’un‑Lun #5, Inglorious X‑Force #6, and Magik & Colossus #5. The June 17 list also features Thor bonding with a symbiote and other stories that expand the Marvel Universe.

Imperial Guardians is a limited series that began in May 2026. The first issue introduced the team’s covert operations and set up the conflict with the Nightshape. Issues #2 and #3 expanded on the team’s dynamics and the growing threat. The series is written by Dan Abnett, known for his work on the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Marcelo Ferreira, who has contributed to several Marvel titles.

The cover of #4 shows the Guardians standing together against a looming darkness, with the Nightshape’s silhouette in the background. The variant cover by Marcelo Ferreira features a more stylized depiction of the same scene. Both covers emphasize the looming threat and the team’s unity.

Comic book retailers can find the issue in standard and variant editions. The ISBN for the standard edition is 75960621101200411, while the variant edition’s ISBN is 75960621101200421.

In summary, Imperial Guardians #4 releases on June 17 2026, bringing the team’s battle against the Nightshape to a climax. The issue is available in both standard and variant covers, priced at $4.99, and is part of Marvel’s June 17 lineup of new titles.