Shi'ar: Difference between revisions

The Shi'ar (

The Shi'ar first appearance was in X-Men vol. 1 #97 (February 1976) and were created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum.

Biology

The Shi'ar are cold-blooded

Internally, they have light hollow bones, and on their forearms there are still some vestigial feathers left of wings that were lost over millions of years of evolution. The average Shi'ar can lift 1 ton in Earth-like gravity and has far greater stamina than the average human. Most Shi'ar have no other special abilities, though some are genetic throwbacks. These individuals possess wings which allow them to fly.

The Shi'ar conceive their offspring in eggs. They are nurtured in special chambers and the children are referred to as hatchlings.

Technology

The Shi'ar possess technologies common to most Marvel alien races, including:

• starships capable of moving faster-than-light
• energy-based weapons in their ships and in their handheld weapons
• force fields
• faster-than-light communication
• teleportation technology

The Shi'ar also possess technologies fairly unusual to them, including:

• Hologram technology: which is used by the X-Men in their Danger Room
  .
• Cloaking technology: rendering a craft completely invisible, used by the X-Men on their Blackbird aircraft.
• Stargates
  : Devices in a network system. They are used for travel to faraway distances including instantaneous travel between galaxies. There are planet-based Stargates (used for personal travel to other solar systems and galaxies) and enormous space-based versions (used for starships to travel through).
• Starcracker technology: This is the Shi'ar ultimate weapon. The Starcracker causes stars to go supernova.

According to a statement by Emma Frost in The Astonishing X-Men #9, most if not all Shi'ar technology is sentient.

Culture

Philosophy

Traditionally, the Imperium has aggressively absorbed new cultures. Warren Ellis' 1995 Starjammers limited series described the story of the Shi'ar deities Sharra and K'ythri as a parable which guides the Shi'ar expansionist philosophy to other worlds:

"Sharra and K'ythri are the gods in marriage. The gods who didn't want to marry, but were forced into it. In marriage they found strength and in strength they found love. That's what the Shi'ar Imperium does. It marries other cultures. Shotgun weddings."

There are aggressive and violent ancient traditions, such as the Rite of Arin'nn Haelar, which is a battle to the death. This rite can be invoked to settle disagreements and their outcomes are accepted by the Imperium.

X-Men writer Ed Brubaker compared the Shi'ar to Star Trek's Romulans, saying they are "smart, aggressive, and mean".^[1]

Politics

Though the empire has grown to include hundreds of thousands of different sentient species and worlds, the Shi'ar race controls and governs the empire. Its central base of power is located on the "throneworld" Chandilar, while the Shi’ar homeworld is called Aerie (it is unknown if the planet still exists). The leader of the empire is given the title Majestor (male) or Majestrix (female) and is a hereditary position, occupied by members of the royal family of the Shi'ar. Formerly, the Neramani family represented the royal bloodline.

The Shi'ar Empire is one of the most advanced and expansive civilizations in the universe, spanning entire galaxies. It is mainly an economic co-operative, where trade with other galactic powers is its driving force. Not all races have the same rights in the Imperium, as the Shi’ar appear to have a disproportionate influence on its governance.

It is nominally ruled over by a high council, which has representatives from a large majority of the alien races that exist within the Imperium. However, in practice, the head of the council (the Majestor or Majestrix) exercises strong executive control and can institute policy virtually by decree.

The leader of the empire is protected by his or her own personal guard called the

However, it should also be noted that Empress Lilandra was personally responsible for authorizing the use of the Nega-bomb weapon, devastating the Kree Empire during Operation: Galactic Storm, and that the Shi’ar were pivotal in the invasion and containment of Earth during the Maximum Security event. One of the latest atrocities committed by the Shi’ar was ordering the extermination of Jean Grey's family, in an effort to quell any future conflicts with the Phoenix entity.

Attitude toward the arts

The Shi'ar consider artistic creativity to be a sign of insanity and deviance, as they lack the ability to dream. Shi'ar who have the ability to dream and create do all they can to suppress their impulses. In the past, execution was a common remedy to such 'infections'. A race called the Fianden had the ability to cause any Shi'ar to dream; this caused mass catatonia and insanity in most Shi'ar, although a small subset who already are able to dream recover after a brief delay. The Fianden were wiped out in a mass genocide. After they were used to destroy the Fianden, the Shi'ar executed all of the natural dreamers to purge the taint from their bloodlines. Nevertheless, the trait does still emerge periodically, to continued violent repression.^[2]

Fictional race biography

Phoenix Saga

In the 1980s, Lilandra and D'Ken's unstable exiled elder sibling, Deathbird, made several attempts to overthrow her sister from power. Deathbird even resorted to attacking Lilandra's Earth-based allies in order to achieve her goals. She is also responsible for initially directing the alien parasites known as the Brood towards the Earth and its heroes. Deathbird was eventually deposed with the assistance of the X-Men.

In the 1992

The Shi'ar have had recent contact with the Spartoi.

Phalanx

The empire came under the threat of the "techno-organic" alien race known as the Phalanx after they infiltrated the Shi'ar Empire as the "Pure", killing tens of thousands before the X-Men fought them on the Shi'ar throneworld and separated the transmode virus from its hosts, killing most of those Phalanx.

Cassandra Nova

Professor Xavier's evil twin sister, Cassandra Nova, single-handedly destroys a good portion of the Shi'ar Empire. Inhabiting the body of her brother, Nova asserts control of Empress Lilandra and causes a Shi'ar civil war. Jean Grey is instrumental in ending this threat.

Phoenix Endsong & End of Greys

Even though Jean Grey did the Shi'ar a big favor by eliminating the threat of Cassandra Nova, the Shi'ar still want her dead. In the

Warned in advance of a rebel raid on Feather's Edge, Vulcan and his fleet ambush the Starjammers. However, in the middle of the battle, his ship, the Hammer, is destroyed by the Scy'ar Tal (translates as "Death to the Shi'ar"). Vulcan and Gladiator (still the praetor of his Imperial Guard) attack the leader of the Scy'ar Tal and are easily defeated, whereupon they retreat deeper into Shi'ar space.

Marvel Girl makes contact with the Eldest Scy'ar Tal and discovers their true origin. The Scy'ar Tal were originally called the M'Kraan. Early in their history, the Shi'ar attacked them, killed a great number of their people, making the rest flee for their lives. Eventually, the Shi'ar settled on their planet, took the M'Kraan Crystal as their own, and passed down the legend of the M'Kraan Crystal as a sacred gift from their deities, Sharra & K'ythri. The M'Kraan then changed their name to Scy'ar Tal and devoted their culture and society to the destruction of the Shi'ar Empire. With their first attack, they destroyed Feather's Edge by transporting a star to obliterate it. After which, Vulcan makes contact with the Starjammers to call a temporary ceasefire.

Under the ceasefire, the Shi'ar and the Starjammers decide to take out the Finality, thus crippling the Scy'ar's biggest threat. Once Havok and Vulcan are in position to destroy Finality, the Eldest Scy'ar tries to stop them. Once Vulcan figures out how the Eldest is powered, he severs the connection Eldest has with his brothers, making him powerless. Once the connection is severed, the Scy'ar become disorganized, and the tide of the battle shifts to the Shi`ar. The Shi'ar then proceed to attack both the Scy'ar and the Starjammers. Meanwhile, Vulcan blasts Havok into a sun.

Vulcan decides to use Finality to destroy the Scy'ar by using the weapon to place a star in the middle of their fleet. Alex returns and, having absorbed enough power to burn him, decides to end things with Vulcan. While they battle, Rachel and Korvus try, but fail to stop the beacon that will initiate the attack by the Shi'ar. The Shi'ar Imperial Guard end Alex's battle with Vulcan by appearing with the Starjammers in captivity, threatening to kill them. Before surrendering, Alex destroys Finality. With Alex and the Starjammers in custody Vulcan declares that he will return the Shi'ar Empire to its former glory.

X-Men: Kingbreaker

Vulcan and the Shi'ar were featured prominently in the mini-series X-Men: Kingbreaker that revolved around Vulcan and the Starjammers following the conclusion of the mini-series Emperor Vulcan. This mini-series led to the War of Kings event.

War of Kings

The story revolved around the Starjammers, the Shi'ar, the Inhumans, the Kree, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Nova.^[4]

The Shi'ar end up in conflict with the Inhumans and the Kree. After the presumed death of Vulcan and Black Bolt, Gladiator assumes the throne and surrenders to the Inhumans and the Kree when the damage to the Shi'ar military is too much.

Infinity

During the Infinity storyline, Gladiator represents the Shi'ar Empire when he appears as a member of the Galactic Council.^[5]

All-New, All-Different Marvel

As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel, it was revealed that some Shi'ar that are living on Earth have established a Shi'ar corporation called Shi'ar Solutions Consolidations.^[6]

During The Asgard/Shi'ar War storyline, the Shi'ar Gods Sharra and K'ythri do a "Challenge of the Gods" by bringing the Shi'ar fleet to

• Adam Neramani - [9]
• Araki - He is the chancellor to Lilandra.^[10]
• Ava'Dara Naganandini - A member of the Shi'ar Warbirds.^[11]
• Cerise - Member of The Graces.
• D'Ken - The former Magestor of the Shi'ar and the brother of Lilandra and Deathbird.^[12]
• Deathbird - The sister of Lilandra Neramani and D'Ken.^[13]
• Deathcry - A Shi'ar commando who is the niece of Lilandra.^[14]
• Electron
  - A Shi'ar who is a member of the Imperial Guard.
• Erik the Red - A Shi'ar spy who is a member of the Shi'ar Imperial Agency.^[12]
• Frr'dox - A Shi'ar who is the Supreme Director of Interstellar Operations at Shi'ar Solutions Consolidations.[6]
• K'Tor - He is the vice-chancellor to Lilandria.^[15]
• Ka'ardum - A major-general in the Shi'ar army.^[16]
• Korvus - Wielder of The Blade of the Phoenix.^[15]
• K'ythri - One of the two chief deities of the Shi'ar. Husband of Sharra.^[17]
• Lilandra Neramani - The former Magestrix of the Shi'ar and the sister of D'Ken and Deathbird.^[12]
• Magique - A Shi'ar who is a member of the Imperial Guard.^[18]
• Malick Tarcel - A Shi'ar that was promoted to the new Nova Prime.^[19]
• Nightscream - A Shi'ar that tried to purchase Women's Magazine from Carol Danvers under the alias of Barbara Nelson.^[20]
• Oracle - Oracle is a long-time member and warrior serving in the Royal Elite of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.^[21]
• Rook'shir - A Shi'ar who is the ancestor of Korvus and one of the hosts of the Phoenix Force.[22]
• Samédàr - Lord Samédàr became Grand Admiral after Lilandra was made Shi'ar Empress.^[23]
• Sharra - One of the two chief deities of the Shi'ar. Wife of K'ythri.^[24]
• Sovel Redhand - Captain of a group of salvagers of various races.^[25]
• T'Cahar - A friend of D'Ken's before his fall and formerly the Minister of Peace for the Shi'ar.
• Urizen Ul'var - ^[26]

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

In the

In the Age of Apocalypse reality, the Shi'ar Empire was almost decimated by the Brood. However, D'Ken remains as Majestor of the Imperium, while Lilandra has been executed and Deathbird leads the Starjammers.

Last Planet Standing

In Last Planet Standing, a limited series set in the alternate timeline known as MC2, the Shi'ar homeworld is destroyed by Galactus.

In other media

Television

• The Shi'ar Empire appears in the 1990s X-Men TV series, the first appearance being part of the Phoenix Saga, with other appearances later on including the Dark Phoenix Saga.

• The Shi'ar are briefly referenced in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Live Kree or Die." They appear as one of the Kree's enemy races.

Film

• In May 2015,
  20th Century Fox held the film rights for the Shi'ar and Kang the Conqueror.^[27]