A new war rocks the cosmos in Mighty Thor #15.
The Goddess of Thunder already has her hands full fighting Malekith and his army out to conquer the Ten Realms. Now a new enemy is after her. The Shi’ar Empire is preparing to lay siege to Asgardia. Why would the alien empire attack the city of the Asgardian Gods and why do they want Thor?
Before the The Asgard/Shi’ar War begins here’s a look at one of the most powerful alien empires in the Marvel universe and their history with other superheroes.
Who are the Shi’ar?
The Shi’ar were co-created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum in the pages of the X-Men. These aliens are bird-like humanoids with feathered crests instead of a head of hair. The Shi’ar Empire is vast with multiple races and cultures but it’s the Shi’ar that controls and governs the empire with the base of power on planet Chandilar, the Throneworld and the Shi’ar homeworld is known as Aerie. A royal family rules with the leader title Majestor or Majestrix. The Neramani family were the royal bloodline until a coup. The leader is protected by their own personal guard called the Imperial Guard, made of elite, powerful soldiers from across the realm led by a Praetor. Gladiator (of the Strontian race) is the most famous leader of the Imperial Guard who later became the Emperor.
Enter the X-Men:
The power mad dictator D’Ken attempted to use the M’Kraan Crystal to take over the universe. His sister Lilandra possessed telepathic powers and bonded with Charles Xavier, formed an alliance with the X-Men to stop her brother’s mad quest. The corrupt Emperor became comatose and Lilandra became Majestrix. Professor X would later become the royal consort with a really long distance relationship before he joined his beloved in space.
The Dark Phoenix Saga
Jean Grey became the Dark Phoenix going on a rampage across space destroying a Shi’ar battle cruiser and absorbing a star which resulted in the destruction of a planet of millions under Shi’ar protection. Lilandra captured Jean to put her on trial and execute her to prevent the Dark Phoenix from being unleashed again. The X-Men fought the Imperial Guard for Jean’s life. The mutants were defeated but ultimately Jean took her own life.
Deathbird
Deathbird is Lilandra’s sister who staged a coup armed with Skrull and Badoon allies. Lilandra became an Empress in exile who allied with the X-Men and the Starjammers (space pirates led by Scott Summers’s father, Corsair) in the revolution to win back the throne.
Operation Galactic Storm
The Avengers were caught in the crossfire when the Kree-Shi’ar War erupted across the galaxy after manipulation by a Skrull (shapeshifter) operative. Lilandra unleashed a Nega-Bomb on the Kree homeworld in a drastic move to end the conflict and later annexed the former Kree Empire.
Phalanx/Cassandra Nova/D’Ken’s return
Lilandra held the throne despite takeover attempts by the cyborg Phalanx, Skrulls and Cassandra Nova (Professor X’s “sister” aka alien entity who possessed her brother) but it was ultimately a rogue cabal of her own people who turned against her and put a revived D’Ken back on the throne.
The Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire
Vulcan (the lost brother of Cyclops and Havok) was raised as a slave by the Shi’ar after his mother was killed by D’Ken. The vengeance obsessed mutant partnered with Deathbird to seize the throne. The former slave had become Emperor.
War of Kings
In the aftermath of Secret Invasion when the Skrulls invaded Earth, Black Bolt wanted to punish the Skrulls and restore his race’s strength and security. The Inhumans’ mission led them into a war between the Shi’ar and Kree Empires. The renegade mutant Vulcan was in command of the Shi’ar. When Vulcan died in battle, the empire threatened to erupt into civil war. Gladiator (Kallark) accepted an offer to take the throne and hold the empire together.
Gladiator
The X-Men/Shi’ar share a twisted history. They have been allies against rival aliens and mortal enemies when Jean Grey became the Dark Phoenix. To punish his son for his arrogance, Gladiator sent his son to Earth to attend the Jean Grey School. Gladiator represents the Shi’ar Empire as a member of the Galactic Council. Keeping peace and order, protecting the Empire are the most sacred duties of Lilandra and now Kallark. The Shi’ar would not attack Asgardia unless a universal threat is emerging. Thor vs Gladiator is going to a cosmic grudge match for the ages.
By Editor