Shi'ar
The Shi'ar are an alien humanoid race that features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
History
Origins
Geneticists amongst the Shi'ar and the Spartoi determined that they were both from a common yet remote ancestry. (Inhumans v3 #3)
Hundreds of years ago, a Shi'ar by the name of Rook'Shir was possessed by a cosmic force known as the Phal'kon. This was in actuality the Phoenix Force that bonded to him and cemented the Phoenix's legend among the Shi'ar. He only possessed the power for days but he managed to destroy numerous worlds in that time. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #481) At some point, the father of T'Korr brought the Strontians into the Shi'ar empire by giving them a cure to the Wraith Plague that afflicted their people. As a result, the Strontians pledged their undying loyalty to the Shi'ar throne. During the reign of Majestor T'Korr centuries ago, a decree was made to create an Imperial Guard to defend the Imperium. This saw candidates from Strontia being selected but T'Korr sought to test their loyalty by having Kallark of Strontia kill his peoples council of elders. After which, he ordered a Shi'ar Starcracker to destroy the system's sun destroying Strontia leaving Kallark among the only survivors with him going through his peoples Gladiator process. He was then admitted to head the newly formed Imperial Guard that was tasked with obeying the Shi'ar throne. (War of Kings: Warriors v1 #1)
At some point, when the empire was very young, they began sending exploration fleets to search for worlds to colonize or races to add to the ranks of the Imperium. The Shi'ar claimed that they brought culture to the heavens and their way of life to such species. Whilst many embraced them, one species actually opposed the Imperium's expansion which were the Mephistoids. A bitter war was fought with this race who had the ability to control others through the secretion of pheromones and they also sought to forge an empire with many Shi'ar lives lost in the conflict. According to legend, around twelve hundred years ago, a young warrior called T'ykll Alabar rose from the decimated ranks who inspired his warriors where they batteld the Mephistoids on an unnamed world where they defeated their foe. In the aftermath, the Mephistoid leader known as the Butcher was brought to Chandilar in chains whilst their homeworld was placed under quarantine. However, a debate emerged in the war weary council of the Imperium on what to do with their prisoner as they believed his exeuction would only incite rebellion against the already fragile quarantine. Thus, it was decided that the Butcher would be placed in stasis and Alabar be similarly placed in the prison to watch over the prisoner. (Avengers v1 #378)
More than a thousand years ago, the Shi'ar were engaged in a war with a species known as the Fianden. The conflict was important to the point that the Shi'ar Empire believed it was essential to the survival of their race. This was because the Fianden were capable of crafting art and music that had an impact on the Shi'ar mind and spread like a disease among their kind. For this reason, the Fianden were completely wiped out and their homeworld was destroyed as all traces of their existence were erased completely. (Astonishing X-Men v3 #57)
At some point, they established a secret base of operations on Earth that was used to determine if the world was worthy of being absorbed into the Imperium. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #476)
Modern Age
They kept perfect records of all known aliens on the planet Earth and associates of those species. (Astonishing X-Men v3 #57)
Intelligence was later passed to Lilandra Neramani that indicated that Kree fanatics from the provinces of the former Kree Empire intended to target Sol-3 in order to get revenge against the Terrans known as the Avengers. This was because they were blamed by these Kree for the destruction of their lost empire which led to Lilandra extracting an oath from Deathcry to travel to Earth to help its inhabitants who were allies of the Imperium. After Deathcry departed, Neramani wondered whether she had sent the Avengers their greatest allies or greatest threat. (Avengers v1 #363)
A formal ceremony was conducted on Hala for the formal joining of the Kree to the Shi'ar empire everlasting. Deathbird was appointed as the Viceroy who was charged with oversight of the surrendered Kree territories. However, a number of renegade Kree refused to be ruled by the Shi'ar and formed the Kree Resistance Front that sought to overthrow them. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #5)
A Shi'ar warbird travelled to Knowhere in order to resupply their delegation at the site but their warriors entered into a bar room brawl with members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result of Adam Warlock's predictions, the Guardians decided to end the war between Vulcan's Shi'ar Imperium and the Inhuman's Kree Empire. (Guardians of the Galaxy 2 #13)
Overview
Biology
They were noted for their ties to having avian ancestors. (X-Men v1 #107) Genetically, the Shi'ar held a common yet remote ancestry with that of the Spartoi people. (Inhumans v3 #3)
They were not capable of surviving long in the cold as their blood did not generate their own heat and as such some Shi'ar had never experienced weather conditions such as snow. (Astonishing X-Men v3 #57)
It was claimed that the humanoid Shi'ar who were descended from avians had more chakra's compared to humans. (A+X v1 #15)
Society
They were described as being a fierce warrior people. (Guardians of the Galaxy v2 #13) For generations, they had been bred as warriors who were held at being at the pinnacle of their civilization. (Galactus the Devourer v1 #5) Shi'ar were also noted for being an arrogant race. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #476) It was said that they respected those that defeated them and those that they feared. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #477) Under the Ninth Vow of Destruction, Shi'ar were taught to strong and to be merciful where they were told to not to falter even when the enemy begged for their lives. (New X-Men v1 #123) Within their society, children had no voice amongst the Shi'ar until they had completed the rite of passage. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #5) Under their unique combat protocols, the taking of another warriors target and kill was considered a grave offence as it implied that the other warrior was inadequate for the task. (Annihilation Conquest Starlord v1 #2) The declaration of Arnin'nn Haelar was a duel of honor that could not be refused once made with participants forced to engage in combat. (X-Men v1 #137) For crimes made on a person, Shi'ar were afforded a bloodright where they were allowed vengeance against the perpetrator. (X-Men v4 #21) Under arcane Shi'ar law texts, any child born in the high palace of Chandilar may rise to become royalty. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #483)
Perception of their species was that they were a rigid race and that death was more flexible compared to a Shi'ar. Some considered their kind as being empty of any light and that they never dream. Those that were capable of dreaming were deemed as defective. Music and art were noted to had a profound impact on the Shi'ar mind as it caused their warriors to lose focus and brought about the emergence of deviant thoughts. This was not the case with all art but the specific kind created by species such as the Fianden that touched their souls. (Astonishing X-Men v3 #57) Shi'ar justice did not acknowledge mental illness as there was no frame of reference for it with such individuals being either innocent or guilty if convicted of a crime. (Thanos v1 #10)
Acts of elegance were considered in line with Shi'ar tradition. (Avengers v1 #378) It was considered rude for individuals to engage in a private psi-talk among those that could not engage in such conversation. (X-Men v4 #19) For extraordinary acts, the Order of K'thari was awarded to specific individuals. (X-Men v4 #22)
Slavery was once common among the Shi'ar with unborn or young children forcibly placed in an incubation-accelerator to mature them so that they could begin acting as servants. (X-Men: Deadly Genesis v1 #6)
They were regarded as the most powerful and sophisticated empire in the known universe. (Galactus the Devourer v1 #5) All Shi'ar colonists were fitted with beacon implants married to a locus grid that tracked their location as well as vitals and biometric readouts to monitor conditions such as stress. (Thanos v1 #10) Over the course of millennia, the Shi'ar had absorbed many cultures into their empire. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #478) Psi-training was held as standard training for Shi'ar that operated off-world. (X-Men v4 #19)
An elite cadre of female Shi'ar warriors known as the Warbirds existed that operated as bodyguards that were able to engage superhuman foes and were skilled in the use of close-quarter weapons such as blades. (Wolverine and the X-Men Annual v1 #1)
Within their empire, there was the Shi'ar Royal Bank that contained millions of credits. (Legendary Star-Lord v1 #5)
A body within the empire was the Supreme Executive Council. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #275) A high ranking position within the government was that of Minister of Peace. (Starjammers v1 #1) Another group within the empire was the Weather Council that was an advisory body who provided counsel and advice to the aviary entire. Members of the council took the title of counselor that was neither a political or military title. (X-Men v4 #19) A division within the empire was Imperial Intelligence that consisted of spies and covert operatives. (X-Men v1 #105) A faction within the empire was the Secret Order who opposed the reign of Lilandra Neramani and sought to bring about the rise of the true empire. Thus, they operated secretly and sought to depose her in order to return her brother D'Ken to the throne. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #480)
The Shi'ar Imperium was described as holding a pan-galactic presence in the universe. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #5) The Shi'ar were noted for holding the most massive military force in existence. (Guardians of the Galaxy v2 #13) It was standard practice for Shi'ar to have psi-protection training if they operated off-world. (X-Men v4 #19) A particular military tactic included the Ehs'tyl (Bursting Cranium) assault designed to decapitate their enemies. (War of Kings v1 #1) Against dangerous threats, the empire was known to make use of atmospheric cremation to destroy an entire alien species with hymns of purification being recited. (New X-Men v1 #123)
Their own language was referred to as Shi'arese. (Cable v1 #46) One of the dialects was also known as High Shi'ar that was a tongue used for formal events. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #5) Glorkon was another dialect that was spoken by members of the Shi'ar. (All-New X-Men v1 #24) Shi'ar Galaxians learn nearly every spoken language allowing them to converse with a wide range of alien races. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #477) The following words exist in the Shi'ar language:
- Aviaryan : Aunt. (X-Men v4 #19)
- Cha/thraff : term for Xandar's soul-matrix. (Nova v2 #1) Possibly their word for the Nova Force.
It was said that gods Sharra and K'ythri did not want to get married to one another but found strength and love through their union. This became the basis of the Imperium's policies of expansion as they forcibly married other cultures into itself. (Starjammers v1 #1) They were the Starmother and the Father of Light who claimed to be the creators of all of space and time as well as being the supreme deities of the true cosmic chosen people who were the everlasting Shi'ar. (Mighty Thor v2 #16) Ky'thri was said to had promised the Eternal Sky to her faithful. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #5) Shi'ar theology held the Phoenix as representing the 'End-of-All-That-Is'. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #468) Despite this belief, there were a number of Shi'ar that did not believe in gods and in fact were atheists. (X-Men v2 #189)
Technology
All Shi'ar technology was described as being sentient. (Astonishing X-Men v3 #9)
Shi'ar holographic projection was said to be hundreds of years beyond that of human technology. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #476) They were known to make use of hard light that was able to replicate any form of matter or color and distort spatial awareness to the point that they were capable of simulating worlds. (Astonishing X-Men v3 #9)
Certain armor worn by Shi'ar served only ceremonial purposes. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #5)
Prisoners were known to go through a process that turned them into cyborgs as a sentence with these being known as Imperial Shockers. Such individuals became grafted with cybernetic implants as part of a series of experiments with devices in their brains keeping them alive. These cyborgs had a desire to die and be free from this fate but were kept in sleeper states at secret Shi'ar installations to be deployed to battle enemies. Due to their nature, they felt no pain and had enhanced visual senses allowing them to determine threats with them having enhanced speeds and able to shoot collapsing energy fields to kill their targets. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #476)
Their starships had access to a naval Shi'ar datasphere. (War of Kings v1 #2) Their vessels tended to be referred to as warbirds whilst others were called star destroyers. (Guardians of the Galaxy 2 #13) Even more powerful craft used by the empire were superdestroyers. (New X-Men v1 #123) A homeport to their vast interstellar fleets was the immense, imprengnable orbital platform known as Starharbor. (Avengers v1 #363)
H'jaht class warbirds were a type of craft used by the Imperium. (Secret Invasion: War of Kings v1 #1) Another type of ship were Apocalypse-class behemoths that served as a flagship of the Imperial fleet and were used to bear the ruler of the Shi'ar empire. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #275)
Known Shi'ar vessels included:
- M'Kaedo : a Shi'ar warbird that was commandeered by Vulcan in order to journey through the Stargates to reach the Shi'ar Throneworld. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #477)
- Domination Through Superior Firepower : a super destroyer that was commandeered by the Starjammers and followed the the Third Battle Group to the edge of the Disradi system where Havok saved a team from the Guardians of the Galaxy from immediate destruction. (Guardians of the Galaxy 2 #13)
- Lamentation's of the Enemy's Widow : a super destroyer in the Third Battle Group that registered an unauthorized course change in the Domination which later self-destructed though unkknown to the Shi'ar crew was that vessel actually allowed the Starjammers to escape. (Guardians of the Galaxy 2 #13)
One method of interstellar travel for the Shi'ar was the use of space based gateways known as Stargates. They were the only means of travelling swiftly to Shi'ar space. Only Shi'ar vessels were able to activate the Stargates. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #477) Smaller portable planet-based versions could also be built to allow for interstellar transportation for individuals. (X-Men v1 #105) Shi'ar jumpships were smaller craft that were capable of creating their own Stargates for faster travel. Prior to building the Stargates, Shi'ar vessels had to make their own jumps that required a set amount of power. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #481)
Among the most powerful weapons in their arsenal were Starcrackers that were large missile warheads that were sent into suns to cause them to go into a nova and destroyed every planet in the system. (War of Kings: Warriors v1 #1) Another weapon within their armaments was the sleeping destroyer. One superweapon the Shi'ar developed was the Hecatomb that was an artificial Mummudrai that devoured the minds of living beings and left the worlds infrastructure intact but the weapon went rogue. (X-Men v2 #198)
Members
- T'Korr : a male black haired Shi'ar who served as Majestor centuries ago when the decree was made for the formation of the Imperial Guard where he ordered the death of the Strontian race with Gladiator serving as the only survivor. He was said to had been a hard man but a good leader who had put his subjects before himself. (War of Kings: Warriors v1 #1)
- Vitana : a white haired female Shi'ar who served as Chancellor to Majestor T'Korr. (War of Kings: Warriors v1 #1)
- D'ken :
- Lilandra :
- Deathbird :
- K'tor : male Vice-Chancellor. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #478)
- T'Cahr : a bald headed male that served as Minister of Peace and served under Majestrix Lilandra during the Uncreated invasion. (Starjammers v1 #1)
- Deathcry :
- Cerise :
- Warbird :
- T'ykll Alabar : a male Shi'ar warrior who lived twelve hundred years ago who was the son of a lesser family that survived the decimation of the Mephistoids where he inspired his comrades to win the war against their enemy thus ensuring him a name in his peoples legends. When the Mephistoid leader known as the Butcher was sentenced to stasis, Alabar who had defeated him was chosen to accompany him in the timeless sleep in order to prevent his release where eventually T'ykll awoke on modern Earth. T'ykll came to believe that he was banished due to his rising success within the empire. (Avengers v1 #378)
- Milyann tec Hilyiani : male messenger of the Branchrise Hilyianis deployed in the Imperium Star Arm whose father was purged by T'Cahr. (Starjammers v1 #1)
- D'Keth : male black haired Shi'ar who was the son of D'Kath and was a counsellor on the Shi'ar Weather Council. (X-Men v4 #19)
Notes
- The Shi'ar were created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum where they mace her first appearance in X-Men v1 #97 (February, 1976).
- In Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe v1 #10 (1983), it was stated that the Shi'ar ruled from an artificial planet constructed by them which was referred to as the Imperial Throneworld.
- On Newsrama, X-Men writer Ed Brubaker compared the Shi'ar to the Romulans in Star Trek where he stated that they were both, "Smart, aggressive and mean."
- Marjorie Liu commented in an interview on Astonishing X-Men that, "Although the Shi'ar have taken on the role of peacekeepers, they remain a very aggressive and militaristic culture. I mean, listen -- they practice interstellar colonialism, which on our world has led to horrific (and insidious) trauma and violence. The Shi'ar don't control that vast sprawling empire of planets because they're nice."
- Writer Keith Giffen commented on the Shi'ar during Annihilation, "We touch base of the Shi'ar. When Nova is getting a report he's told, 'The Shi'ar promised us three combat battalions but you know what they say about a promise from the Shi'ar. We were pretty much told, 'Don't touch the Shi'ar.' I guess the best way to describe the Shi'ar is like they're Peru looking at World War II. They don't really feel the need to get involved but they might be looking out just in case it bumps into their space."
Alternate Versions
- In Ultimate X-Men v1 #66 (2006), an alternate version of the Shi'ar was shown in the Ultimate Marvel universe where they were a religious cult called the Church of Shi'ar Enlightenment.
- In Major Victory's alternate future, the Shi'ar race were extinct and had been for thousands of years. (Guardians of the Galaxy 2 #13)
In other media
Television
- In X-Men, the Shi'ar made appearances in the animated series starting with the Phoenix Saga.
Games
Appearances
- X-Men v1:
- Captain Marvel v5 #4
- Avengers v1 #363, #378
- Inhumans v3 #2-3
- Astonishing X-Men v3 #9, #57-58
- Guardians of the Galaxy 2 #13
- War of Kings v1 #1-6
External Links
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