Shi'ar

The Shi'ar are a fictional species of aliens in the Marvel Comics universe. The Shi'ar are humanoids of avian descent; they resemble humans with feathered crests atop their heads in lieu of hair. The Shi'ar have played a major role in numerous space-based Marvel Comics, notably X-Men and The Avengers. The first Shi'ar to appear was Lilandra Neramani, in X-Men (volume 1) issue #97 (February 1976). The term "Shi'ar" was first used in issue #104 (April 1977). The Shi'ar were created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum.

The Shi'ar Empire (or Imperium; the exact name varies according to the writer) is a vast collection of alien species, cultures and worlds situated close to the Skrull and Kree Empires. The Shi'ar race originally created the empire and still control most of the Imperium's key offices, though the empire has grown to include hundreds of thousands of different sentient species and worlds. The galaxy ruled by the Shi'ar Empire is known as the Shi'ar Galaxy. Its center of power is located in the "throneworld" Aerie, or Chandilar, which is the homeworld of the Shi'ar race themselves. The leader of the empire is given the title Majestor (male) or Majestrix (female), which is a hereditary position occupied by members of the Neramani family of the Shi'ar race. The current Majestrix is Lilandra Neramani.

The Shi'ar Empire played a pivotal role in the Phoenix Saga. D'Ken Neramani, its corrupt ruler at the time, attempted to use the powerful M'Krann Crystal to take over the universe. His younger sister Lilandra and her new allies, the X-Men, foiled his plans. He was rendered comatose by the crystal, and may have been subsequently killed. Lilandra then took over as the Majestrix of the Shi'ar Empire; and the X-Men, as well as most of Earth's other superheroes, have had cordial if not friendly relations with the Shi'ar Empire ever since.

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 1994 crossover "Operation: Galactic Storm", the Shi'ar annexed the Kree Empire at the end of the Kree-Shi'ar War, and Deathbird was placed into a prominent position as viceroy of Hala, the Kree homeworld. However, Deathbird did not last long in this position and the current status of the Kree territories is unclear.

The Shi'ar Empire is one of the most advanced and expansive civilizations in the universe, spanning galaxies. Its is mainly an economic co-operative with trade being its main internal industry and driving force. It seems to be an empire where not all races have the same rights, as the Aerie appear to have an disproportionate influence on its governance.

It is nominally ruled over by a high council, of which Lilandra is the leader, which is representative of all the alien races that encompass the Empire. However in practice it appears that in most situations the Majestrix exercises strong executive powers and can institute policy pretty much by decree.

The Shi'ar Majestrix is protected by her own personal bodyguard, the Imperial Guard, which is also made up of a variety of the most powerful beings from throughout the Empire and is led by Gladiator. The military itself (outside of the Guard) has been depicted as consisting almost exclusively of the Shi'ar race, at least in its bridge and command staff.

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. As Ellis had a character explain "...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."

However, under Lilandra this philosophy has been blunted somewhat and the Shi'ar have largely occupied the role of peacekeeper in interstellar affairs. She used the position to try and broker peace between the Kree and the Skrull Empires before the end of their war, to end the threat of the Dark Phoenix, and to avenge the destruction of the Skrull Throneworld by Galactus.

The Centauri from Babylon 5 bear a superficial resemblance to the Shi'ar, although the Centauri have hair rather than feathers atop their heads.