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| Lilandra Neramani | |
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Cover art to New X-Men #122 (March 2002)
Art by Frank Quitely (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), and Hi-Fi Design (colors) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Uncanny X-Men #97 (February 1976) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont Dave Cockrum |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Lilandra Neramani |
| Species | Shi'ar |
| Place of origin | Aerie |
| Team affiliations | Shi'ar Imperium Starjammers |
| Abilities | Limited telepathy Shi'ar armor and ceremonial staff |
Princess-Majestrix Lilandra Neramani (/lɪˈlændrə/) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. She is the Empress, or Majestrix, of the Shi'ar Empire and shares a lifelong bond with the leader of the X-Men, Charles Xavier. She and Xavier were married, but their marriage was annulled after the Cassandra Nova incident.
As the Empress, Lilandra is protected by the Imperial Guard, led by Gladiator.
Lilandra has often been a pivotal secondary character in the X-Men's history, from her participation in the Phoenix Saga, to her role in Grant Morrison's experimental and controversial run on New X-Men. Her role as one of Professor X's most cherished loves has played a significant part in the development of both characters, as well as many of the plots throughout the X-Men books.
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Lilandra Neramani first appeared in X-Men #97 (February 1976) and was created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum.
Lilandra is the sibling of D'Ken, Deathbird, and an unnamed older sister. Lilandra was hatched on the Aerie (now known as Chandilar, native world of the Shi'ar). Deathbird, the oldest of the surviving three, was denied the throne for "unspeakable" crimes (the murder of her mother and older sister) and was exiled. Instead the throne went to D'Ken, who turned out to be a power mad dictator. Lilandra became a Grand Admiral of the Imperial Guard, in the Shi'ar fleet, but turned against D'Ken, when she found out about his plans involving the M'Kraan Crystal. Branded a traitor, Lilandra fled to Earth, hoping to find allies among its large population of superheroes and found them in Charles Xavier and his X-Men. She began sending visions of herself to Xavier as she traveled to Earth.[1]
Finally meeting Xavier in person, she was captured by Davan Shakari.[2] She was held captive by D'Ken, and revealed D'Ken's plot to gain ultimate power. She was saved by the space pirates known as the Starjammers and the X-Men, and reunited on Earth with Xavier.[3] She ultimately invited Xavier to accompany her to the Shi'ar throne-world.[4] During the Phoenix Saga, the X-Men, in particular Phoenix, managed to stop D'Ken's plan, who ultimately was banished after being driven mad.[3]
Lilandra took the throne as Majestrix-Shi'ar (empress of the Shi'ar Imperium) with Xavier as her official consort.[5] She staged a trial by combat to determine the fate of Phoenix.[6] She overcame Deathbird's first attempted coup.[7] However, a short while later her position was usurped by Deathbird, who had made a pact with the Brood and Badoon. She managed to escape along with the X-Men, and Lilandra became Majestrix-in-Exile on Earth.[8] She became a freedom fighter and allied herself with the Starjammers and decided to take back her throne.[volume & issue needed]
As monarch, Lilandra has taken a leading role in interstellar affairs, such as dealing with the menace of Dark Phoenix and indicting Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four for daring to save the life of the planet consumer, Galactus.[9]
When Charles Xavier suffered a near-fatal heart attack, the Starjammers saved him and cured him, but due to enemy spacecraft, they could not return to Earth.[10] It was later recounted how Lilandra escaped D'Ken and first had mental contact with Xavier.[11] She then nearly killed Deathbird in combat.[12] With the help of Xavier and the Starjammers, Lilandra eventually managed to retake the throne and her exile was revoked. She was freed from control by the Warskrulls and parted with Xavier.[13]
Before much longer, interstellar war erupted between the Shi'ar and the Kree. Lilandra ordered the Starjammers to transport the nega-bomb into Kree space.[14] She survived an assassination attempt by the Kree Starforce, and decided to recall the nega-bomb.[15] She discovered that a Skrull impersonating Araki helped cause the Kree-Shi'ar War.[16] At the end of the war, she took control of the devastated Kree Empire, and appointed Deathbird as her viceroy there.[17] Fearing the Kree would seek retribution against the Avengers for their part in ending the war, Lilandra dispatched the Shi'ar warrior, Deathcry (who has recently been revealed to be Lilandra's niece and Deathbird's daughter) to Earth as their protector as atonement for killing one of her platoon members in a drunken rage over a mutual lover.[18]
While Lilandra is a peaceful and beloved empress, her reign has proven to be tumultuous. During her reign, the Skrull tried to infiltrate and control the Shi'ar government, an intergalactic war with the Kree erupted and there were attacks by the Phalanx and the Uncreated. The most damage done to the Shi'ar Empire was done by Cassandra Nova, who, in the body of Charles Xavier, mind-controlled Lilandra and made her order the Shi'ar fleets to attack the Empire's territory, and then used them in an attempt to destroy mutant-kind. Lilandra was lost for a while on earth and attempted to kill Xavier, not understanding he was his own self again. Several Shi'ar noblemen took her away. This and Jean Grey turning into the Phoenix again, were the reasons for the Shi'ar Council to annul the marriage between Lilandra and Xavier. It appears the Shi'ar Council was responsible for ordering the recent mass extermination of the Grey family by the Shi'ar Death Commandos as Lilandra has been recovering from her ordeal with Cassandra Nova on the planet Trellerri and is apparently unaware of their machinations. As she was making preparations to return to her duties as Empress, she was ambushed by Chancellor Araki, who was revealed to be in league with the Shi'ar Vice Chancellor K'Tor and the Empire's Secret Order as part of a coup to remove Lilandra from the throne, and return D'Ken as Emperor. With the aid of a guard still loyal to her, Lilandra was rescued from captivity by the X-Men and the Starjammers and told them of D'Ken's return.[volume & issue needed]
This was all part of a plan by Vulcan, a powerful mutant, to gain control of the empire. During the incident, many members of the Imperial Guard die at his hands. D'Ken is soon killed after Vulcan officially marries Deathbird. Thus, Vulcan is now the ruler of the Shi'ar Imperium. Lilandra is currently in the company of the Starjammers, opposing Vulcan's tyranny. Most of the Starjammers are eventually captured by Vulcan. However, Korvus, Marvel Girl and Lilandra remain free.[19]
Lilandra appeared as a central character in the Emperor Vulcan sequel, X-Men: Kingbreaker and in the War of Kings miniseries, which began in early 2009.[20][21]
In issue #4 of the War of Kings crossover, Lilandra is assassinated by Darkhawk, who is being controlled by Razor, who is in turn impersonating a Shi'ar citizen. She dies in the arms of Gladiator.[22]
As a member of the alien Shi'ar race, Lilandra's physical abilities are somewhat greater than those of a human woman. Lilandra also has limited telepathic abilities whose extent have yet to be clearly defined.
Lilandra is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant, trained in Shi'ar methods of armed and unarmed combat. She is also a good starship pilot.
Lilandra sometimes wears battle armor of unknown composition. She uses a variety of Shi'ar weaponry as needed.
Although Lilandra does not make an appearance, it is known that in this reality Lilandra was the Admiral of the Shi'ar Grand Fleet and leader of the Imperial Guard. She was killed by her brother D'ken before she could try to stop him from taking control of the M'kraan Crystal.[23]
An alternate, older version of the original Lilandra has been revealed in MC2's miniseries, Last Planet Standing. There, the Shi'ar Empire is eaten by the planet devourer Galactus and Lilandra's Imperial Guard help her and her servants escape right before Galactus consumes the entire empire. What has become of her since is at this point still unknown.
An alternate version of Lilandra has turned up in the Ultimate Marvel universe's Ultimate X-Men title (starting in issue #66). Lilandra Neramani is not an alien, but the "Majestrix" of the Church of Shi'ar Enlightenment, and claims to represent an ancient religion that worships the Phoenix. They wish to finance the X-Men in return for the study of Jean Grey.[24] She is later seen attending Charles Xavier's funeral.[25]
Prior to this, in Ultimate X4 #1, a mental projection of seemingly alien origin, showing an attractive female humanoid calling herself General Lal-Qil-Atrox, asks Charles Xavier to assist her in capturing dangerous mutants whose powers are classed at "sun-eater" level. However, this was revealed to be a ruse staged by Rhona Burchill, the Mad Thinker, to send the X-Men on a wild goose chase so she could steal components of their Cerebro computer system.[26]
Lilandra is featured in this alternate future storyline, still heavily affected by the attacks of Cassandra Nova.[volume & issue needed] While Nova was possessing Xavier's body, Lilandra became pregnant with their son.[volume & issue needed] Both he and Lilandra would later be murdered by Nova.[volume & issue needed]
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