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Shi'ar
Typical Shi'ar Male
The main race of a huge empire in another galaxy, the Shi'ar are an ancient avian-based race with advanced technology. Their
bird-like physical features are today limited to the feathers they sport instead of hair, but some (such as Deathbird) are
genetic throwbacks and have actual full-sized wings, with which they can fly. Shi'ar hair comes in two forms, triangular and
vertically flat (like Lilandra and D'Ken) and swept back to both sides, similar to Wolverine (like Deathbird).
In addition, Shi'ar have facial markings around the outside of their eyes, curving above and below before the cheekbones.
It appears that the Royal House itself may have distinctive markings indicating their exalted family status. Finally, Shi'ar
still lay eggs as a means of reproduction, and these eggs are taken to a creche and cared for until they hatch. It should
be noted that Shi'ar can cross-breed with other species (see Alanna from Team X 2000 and probably X-Treme, Black Light and
White Noise). How gestation works in these cases is unclear.
The Shi'ar are a generally peaceful race, but they have at times gone on conquests to incorporate other races into their empire
(mostly under the mad Emperor D'Ken). They believe in emulating their chief gods, Sharra and K'ythri, who were forced to marry,
but grew stronger as a result of their union, so they look for cultures to "marry" to their own, thereby (theoretically) strengthening
the Empire. Among the races conquered by the Shi'ar are the D'Bari, Mephistoids, P!ndyr and most recently, the Kree.
The "Married Gods" Sharra and K'ythri
Known Shi'ar history starts around 1200 years ago, with their near-destruction at the hands of the Mephistoids (see separate
entry) and the subsequent sweeping recovery of Shi'ar military might and victory. Ruled by hereditary Emperors and Empresses
and protected by a multi-ethnic "Imperial Guard," the Shi'ar Empire flourished until the mad Emperor D'Ken claimed the throne
following the banishment of his eldest sister Cals'yee (Deathbird). About 20 years ago, during D'Ken's reign, a Shi'ar spaceship
entered Earth's atmosphere and destroyed the aircraft of Chris Summers, abducting him and his wife Katherine Anne and leaving
their sons Scott and Alex to parachute to safety.
Years later, after Scott and Alex had joined the X-Men as Cyclops and Havok, the X-Men's mentor Professor X began to experience
vivid dreams of a spacesuited figure. The vision haunted him for weeks as he tried to contact the figure. Finally, the figure
materialized in the X-Mansion, and revealed herself to be D'Ken's sister Lilandra, who as Grand Admiral of the Shi'ar fleet
had led a failed revolt against the Emperor. Lilandra's reasons were not selfish: she had uncovered a plot by D'Ken to release
"The End of All That Is." D'Ken hoped to use the upcoming alignment of the Nine Stars to activate the legendary M'Kraan Crystal
and harness the energy of the neutron galaxy it contains to become omnipotent. Unfortunately doing so would annihilate this
reality as well. Faced with the imminent destruction of the universe, the X-Men agreed to help Lilandra and used a portable
Stargate to travel to the world of the M'Kraan Crystal.
The X-Men fought the Imperial Guard, who were loyal to the mad Emperor, and with the help of the Starjammers stopped D'Ken.
After a waiting period spent on Earth, Lilandra was crowned Majestrix. However, Deathbird allied with the Brood in a coup
attempt, which also entailed the capture of the X-Men, who were turned into Brood hosts. The X-Men eventually the Brood with
the help of the Acanti, but Deathbird succeeded in usurping the throne. Lilandra went into exile with the Starjammers and
the Empire lay in Deathbird's hands for a few years.
Following the events of the "X-Tinction Agenda" imbroglio in Genosha, Lila Cheney transported the X-Men to the Shi'ar Empire
at Deathbird's behest, just in time to see Lilandra (and the Starjammers) finally defeat the Imperial Guard and regain the
throne. All was not as it seemed, however, as Deathbird brought the X-Men to the ravaged P!ndyr world, which she said was
Lilandra's fault. In reality, Xavier and the Starjammers had been captured and replaced by Warskrulls, who used technology
to allow themselves to duplicate superpowers. The Warskrulls were using telepathy copied from Xavier to control Lilandra and
some of the Imperial Guard. After Wolverine killed "Xavier," the real Professor X freed himself and knocked out the Prime
Warskrull, who was weakened from re-copying him. Lilandra retained the throne, and the galaxy was at peace (though the X-Men
returned home to battle the Shadow King).
Under Lilandra's rule, the Shi'ar again increased in power and prestige. However, peace did not last, as the Kree Supreme
Intelligence manipulated his own people as well as the Shi'ar into a war. The focus of the Intelligence's plan was to detonate
a Nega-Bomb on the Kree homeworld of Hala to jumpstart their evolution again. The Shi'ar actually built bomb, under the influence
of the Intelligence's agents, and the detonation went as planned, activated by a Skrull agent, However, the presence of the
Avengers kept the Shi'ar from losing the war and they conquered Hala and the Kree Empire. When the X-Men were invited to the
official induction of the Kree into the Empire and the installation of Deathbird as its regent, they discovered terrible living
conditions, Shi'ar condescension and a fierce Kree resistance to the new rulers. Though a Kree "terrorist" helped Lilandra
and the X-Men stop his comrades from detonating a new super-weapon, Lilandra had no choice but to arrest him, causing a rift
between Professor X and Lilandra.
Months later, the Shi'ar were attacked by the Phalanx, and Gladiator was sent to Earth to beg the X-Men for assistance. The
X-Men arrived too late to save many of the outposts, but in time to stop the Phalanx from destroying the entire Empire. They
were hailed as heroes and Lilandra consolidated her reign again. By this point, the Shi'ar was recognized as the leader of
the known galaxies, and as Majestrix, Lilandra ran the galactic council. It was in that role that she was pressured by a Ru'ul-led
coalition of worlds to declare humanity a menace and implement a blockade of Earth and its institution as a prison planet.
Forutnately, Earth's heroes, aided by Cadre K, Professor X and Bishop, managed to uncover the Ru'ul (Kree) plot to reanimate
Ego the Living Planet and take control of the galaxy.
By this point, Lilandra had reconciled with Professor X, so some months later she arrived at Earth to take him away on a much-needed
vacation. Unfortunately, none of the Shi'ar knew that the Xavier they had picked up was really his "twin" sister Cassandra
Nova, possessing Professor X's body. Cassandra used her vast mental powers to suborn the Shi'ar fleet and send them rampaging
through the worlds they were supposed to protect. The Shi'ar suffered heavily in these onslaughts, with many worlds battered
to broken ruins. After Cassandra returned to Earth and the X-Men defeated her, the mutants began to set up a rescue and aid
mission to the Shi'ar, to help rebuild the Empire. However, when the Council realized that the Phoenix had returned, it rejected
the X-Men's offer of assistance and threatened to have the planet destroyed.
Note: While fending off an alien invasion in Madripoor, former X-Man Lifeguard transformed into the form of a Shi'ar royal,
indicating that she has some Shi'ar DNA. Who her biological parents are is still unknown, however.
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