Merge:Shi'ar

The Shi'ar (pronounced "Shee-ARR"), also called the Aerie, are a species of aliens in the Marvel Comics universe. The Shi'ar Empire is a vast collection of alien species, cultures and worlds situated close to the Skrull and Kree Empires, and alongside them, is one of the three main alien empires of the Marvel Universe. Their first appearance was in X-Men (volume 1) issue #97 (February 1976). They were created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum.

Biology
The Shi'ar are humanoids of avian descent; they resemble humas with feathered crests atop their heads in lieu of hair. There are two different styles. Most Shi'ar have feathers sprouting in a triangular shape away from the face, one peak on the top of the head and one peak on each side slightly over the shoulder. The other hairstyle is bushy on both sides and very flat on the top.

Internally, they have light hollow bones, and on their forearms there are still some feathers left of wings that were lost over millions of years of evolution. Apparently, the average Shi'ar can lift 1 ton in earth-like gravity.

Most Shi'ar have no special abilities, however sometimes genetic setbacks occur. These individuals have wings giving them the natural ability to fly.

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

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."

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

It is nominally ruled over by a high council, of which Lilandra is the current 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 led by Gladiator, which is also made up of a variety of the most powerful beings from throughout the Empire. 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.

The Shi'ar have largely occupied the role of peacekeeper in interstellar affairs. Lilandra tried to 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.

Trial of Galactus
The Shi'ar put Reed Richards on trial for the crimes of genocide. He was guilty of reviving Galactus after he was defeated on Earth. Shortly after his revival, Galactus proceeded to consume the Skrull throneworld, resulting in the death of billions. Uatu the Watcher, acted as his lawyer and with the help of Odin and Galactus himself, convinced the gathered tribunal that Galactus is a necessary force of betterment of the universe, not a villain. This was done by summoning Eternity. The truth as shown by Eternity however, is so grand and overpowering that none of the tribunal's members can remember it fully, although the comprehension stays.

Dark Phoenix Saga
D'Ken Neramani, a corrupt Shi'ar ruler, 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.

Deathbird, the Kree-Shi'ar War and the Spartoi
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 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 have had recent contact with the Spartoi, described as an equally advanced distant race, noted for Star-Lord's citizenship.

Cassandra Nova
Professor Xavier's evil twin sister Cassandra Nova has single-handedly destroyed much of the Shi'ar empire. Inhabiting the body of her brother, Ms. Nova controlled his wife Empress Lilandra so as to make her war against her own people. Ms. Nova's rampages on the Shi'ar empire and on Earth were only stopped thanks to Jean Grey.

Phoenix Endsong & Grey's End
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 Phoenix Endsong series, a group of Shi'ar tried to permanently kill the Phoenix Force and Jean Grey. Jean, however, escaped their suicide bomb attack and returned to the White Hot Room to restore herself. In the recent "Grey's End" story arc, the Shi'ar wanted to wipe out the Grey genome and Quentin Quire with the purpose of eliminating the possibility of new Omega-level mutant becoming a host for the Phoenix Force. The Shi'ar Death Commandoes murdered Jean Grey's father, niece, nephew, and other relatives in an alien invasion on Earth, thus inciting the wrath of Jean's daughter Rachel Summers, who has vowed vengeance on the entire Shi'ar Empire. It remains in question if Lilandra ordered this mass exermination of the Grey family or if the Shi'ar Counsel did so.

Fall of the Shi'ar
The Shi'ar will be the feature of a new 12 issue arc starting with Uncanny X-Men #475 entitled "The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire" and will also feature new X-Men villain Vulcan, in a mad quest for revenge against the emperor D'Ken, who killed his mother years ago.

Ultimate Shi'ar
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, the Shi'ar are not an alien race, but a religious group whose beliefs are said to have descended from alien knowledge. They worship the Phoenix, believing it to be a God of, not only destruction, but renewal (similar to the Shiva). Their beliefs state that all of the Earth was originally a prison to hold the Phoenix, but its presence at the core led to the creation of life on Earth, and the Pheonix's direct influence resulted in all major steps of evolution for man, and specifically, led to the creation of Mutants. The Ultimate version of the Hellfire Club is an off-shoot of the Shi'ar religion that believes the Phoenix only desires destruction.

Recently an alternate version of the Lilandra character has turned up in the Ultimate Marvel universe's Ultimate X-Men title. Ultimate Lilandra is not an alien, but the Majestrix of the Church of Shi'ar Enlightement, and contacts Professor Xavier with the offer of funding his school's immense budget, in exchange for the chance to see if Jean Grey is the human host for The Phoenix.

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.

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