| Deathcry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Avengers #363 (June 1993) |
| Created by | Bob Harras (writer) Steve Epting (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Sharra Neramani |
| Species | Shi'ar |
| Team affiliations | Avengers |
| Notable aliases | Lifecry |
| Abilities |
|
Deathcry (Sharra Neramani) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character has been depicted as a former honorary member of theAvengers and later revealed to be the niece ofLilandra Neramani through an as-yet-unidentified mother.
Deathcry first appeared inAvengers #363 (June 1993) and was created by writerBob Harras and pencillerSteve Epting.[1]
Deathcry was one of the feature characters in the 2011 three-issue limited seriesChaos War: Dead Avengers created by scenaristFred Van Lente and pencillerTom Grummet.[2] In an interview withComic Book Resources, Fred Van Lente explained "Deathcry was a character who I knew nothing about until we started talking in the room about who we could use in the series. She was terrific in Annihilation: Conquest, and that's definitely the incarnation of the character I'm going to be using. To me, her real name should be "The '90s" because she's the classic stereotypical bad girl with cleavage and a shitty attitude. She's a Shi'Ar who may or may not be descended from the X-Men villain Deathbird. So she's a female, berserker, bird person with crazy hair, which means she's awesome."[3]
Deathcry has entries in theAll-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z (2006) #3 -Copperhead to Ethan Edwards,The Marvel Encyclopedia andOfficial Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z (2008) HC vol. 03 -Captain (Nextwave) to Elements of Doom.
Deathcry is aShi'ar whose true name was taken by royal decree for reasons yet unrevealed, but it was heavily hinted that she was the daughter ofDeathbird. When the Earth hero team Avengers defeated theKree, the EmpressLilandra Neramani feared for the team's safety should the Kree attempt revenge.
Lilandra then orders Deathcry, by the same decree that took her name, to join the Avengers as their protector.[4] Deathcry served with the Avengers for several months while hiding her youth (being the equivalent of a teenager). She eventually softened and revealed her true age as she formed close friendships with her teammatesVision andHercules.[volume & issue needed]
Later, after the Avengers survive an attack by the villainImmortus, Deathcry decides her services are no longer required. She bade Hercules to return her to the Shi'ar Empire, where she remained.[5]
Eventually finding herself in the Kree empire, Deathcry is captured and charged with multiple murders. She was kept in a Kree high-security prison. She is selected to joinPeter Quill's 'dirty dozen' team to fight thePhalanx.[6] Unfortunately, her throwback-Shi'ar nature (and berserker rage she may have inherited from her likely-mother Deathbird) causes her to be hostile toCaptain Universe when the man kills two of her opponents. Believing that taking another person's kill is an insult to that person, she attacks Captain Universe who raises an energy ball in self-defense. Deathcry hits this ball and explodes.[7]
During theChaos War storyline, Deathcry is among the dead people that return from the dead followingAmatsu-Mikaboshi's victory in the death realms.[8] It was revealed that her true name is Sharra Neramani, the niece of Lilandra and apparently the daughter of Deathbird as was previously implied. Lilandra had stripped Sharra of her name and assigned her to protecting the Avengers on Earth after she killed a member of her own platoon in a drunken rage over a mutual lover.[9] It is possible that she, along withSwordsman andYellowjacket, could have survived too, but is not clear.
Deathcry possesses super-strength, stamina, sturdiness, sharp talons, and enhanced senses.
Newsarama ranked Deathcry as the worstAvengers member commenting that "Deathcry forced her way onto the team, where she became close friend with Hercules and the Vision, who were able to overlook her cripplingly stupid code name and ridiculous tattoos."[10]