I wanna make sure I understand how this works.

Turn 8, my opponent plays Jean Grey/Phoenix Force and puts all characters back into the hand.

Turn 9 I have initiative and play Strange Visitor. He plays Imperiex. As combat comes around, I activate Strange Visitor (I have priority) against Imperiex. His ability still applies on the chain, of course. Since there are only 9 resources out, Imperiex is removed from the game.

I believe this works with either initiative, since I can chain Strange Visitor to Imperiex's ability at the start of combat. Both abilities will happen since they're both on the chain, but the end result is no characters on the field with Strange Visitor and Imperiex removed from the game.

Have I got it right?

That does work (assuming you have less resources than your opponent), and can somehow play Strange Visitor despite her loyalty restriction (possibly with a Lois Lane?).

hmmm, if it's the opponent's initiative, and if it is in the combat phase, wouldn't imperiex's effect go anyway, since it's already the opponents attack step? of course, strange visitor would chain and remove both of them, but assuming there are other characters in play, wouldn't they be ko'ed afterwards?

Right, as I said both effects would go off. It would just end up with Strange Visitor and Imperiex removed from the game, and anything else that was out KOed from Imperiex's ability. His ability goes no matter which player has starting priority, since both effects go on the chain.

I don't have to have fewer resources than my opponent. I just have to have fewer than the character I'm trying to remove. A lone Imperiex on turn 9 qualifies. On turn 9 I can have 9 resources and be able to remove Imperiex since his real cost is 10.

Also, yes, I'd need someone else to play to get Strange Visitor out. I can get out a 1 or 2 drop and Strange Visitor that turn.

both effects would go off only if it were your opponent's initiative...imperiex ko's only during owner's attack step =)

Ah, right, Imperiex only works on that player's attack step. For some reason I thought it worked at the beginning of combat.

There actually is a priority point inside the combat step, but before either player's attack step, so you could remove Imperiex regardles of whose turn it is.

That part I know. The difference is that if it is not his priority, I won't have to KO anyone else. That's the part I was getting confused on.

It doesn't matter whose initiative it is, if you use Stange Visitor's power in the combat phase it will be before either players attack step.

Now you can choose to wait into someones attack step before using his power, but you can use it before anyone attack step.

If the player with Imperiex has initiative, then his effect goes off at the start of combat. I have to chain Strange Visitor to that effect to be able to remove him.

The start of the attack step and the start of the compat phase are NOT the same. You first go into the combat phase, in which you can use strange visitor. Then once both players pass on an empty chain, you go to the iniative players attack step. At which point cards like Imperiex would trigger.

Let me say this again, the begging of the combat phase and hte begining of hte attack step are NOT the same, they are two distint points in the game.