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| Lilandra Neramani | |
|---|---|
 Cover art toNew X-Men #122 (March 2002) Art byFrank 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 | Limitedtelepathy Shi'ar armor and ceremonial staff |
Princess-Majestrix Lilandra Neramani (/lɪˈlændrə/) is a character appearing in American comic books published byMarvel Comics, most commonly in association with theX-Men. She is the Empress, or Majestrix, of theShi'ar Empire and shares a lifelong bond with the leader of the X-Men,Charles Xavier.[1][2][3] As the Empress, Lilandra is protected by theImperial Guard, led byGladiator.
Lilandra has often been a pivotal secondary character in the X-Men's history, from her participation in thePhoenix Saga, to her role inGrant Morrison's experimental and controversial run onNew 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.
Lilandra has appeared in various media outside comics, including animated series and video games. She was voiced byCamilla Scott inX-Men: The Animated Series, Morla Gorrondona in the sequel seriesX-Men '97, andNika Futterman in a guest appearance inHulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
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Lilandra Neramani first appeared inX-Men #97 (February 1976) and was created byChris Claremont andDave Cockrum.[4] She continued to appear in the series as an ally of the X-Men throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, frequently residing at theX-Mansion.
After her return to space, she would continue to make appearances as part of the Shi'ar Empire, appearing inOperation: Galactic Storm, andStarjammers, among others, throughout the 1990s. In the 2000s, Lilandra appeared inNew X-Men,Uncanny X-Men, as well as the limited seriesX-Men: Emperor Vulcan. She also appeared in the crossover bookWar of Kings before her death in the fourth issue. Years after her death, Xavier resurrects Lilandra using aKrakoan egg.[5]
Lilandra is the sibling ofD'Ken,Deathbird, and an unnamed older sister.[6] Lilandra hatches on the Aerie (now known as Chandilar, native world of the Shi'ar). Deathbird, the oldest of the surviving three, is denied the throne for "unspeakable" crimes (the murder of her mother and older sister) and exiled. Instead the throne went to D'Ken, who becomes a power-mad dictator. Lilandra becomes a Grand Admiral of the Imperial Guard in the Shi'ar fleet, but turns against D'Ken after learning of his plans involving theM'Kraan Crystal.
Branded a traitor, Lilandra flees to Earth and becomes an ally ofCharles Xavier and hisX-Men.[7][8] Finally meeting Xavier in person, she is captured byDavan Shakari before being rescued by the X-Men and theStarjammers.[9] She invites Xavier to accompany her to the Shi'ar throne-world.[10]
Lilandra takes the throne as Majestrix-Shi'ar (empress of the Shi'ar Imperium) with Xavier as her official consort.[11] She stages a trial by combat to determine the fate of Phoenix and overcomes Deathbird's first attempted coup.[12][13] However, a short while later her position is usurped by Deathbird, who had made a pact with theBrood andBadoon.[14] She escapes along with the X-Men to Earth.[15] She becomes a freedom fighter and allies with the Starjammers to retake her throne.[volume & issue needed]
As monarch, Lilandra takes a leading role in interstellar affairs, such as dealing with the menace ofDark Phoenix and indictingReed Richards of theFantastic Four for daring to save the life of the planet consumer,Galactus.[16]
When Charles Xavier suffers a near-fatal heart attack, the Starjammers heal him, but due to enemy spacecraft, they cannot return to Earth.[17] With the help of Xavier and the Starjammers, Lilandra eventually manages to retake the throne and separates from Xavier.[18]
Before much longer, interstellar war erupts between the Shi'ar and theKree. Lilandra orders the Starjammers to transport the Nega-Bomb into Kree space.[19] She survives an assassination attempt by the KreeStarforce, and decides to recall the Bomb before discovering that a Skrull impersonating Araki helped cause the Kree-Shi'ar War.[20][21] At the end of the war, she takes control of the devastated Kree Empire and appoints Deathbird as herviceroy.[22] Fearing the Kree will seek retribution against the Avengers for their part in ending the war, Lilandra sendsDeathcry to protect Earth.[23]
While Lilandra is a peaceful and beloved empress, her reign proves to be tumultuous. During her reign, theSkrull attempt to infiltrate and control the Shi'ar government, an intergalactic war with theKree erupts, and thePhalanx and Uncreated attack. The most damage done to the Shi'ar Empire was done byCassandra Nova, who, in the body of Charles Xavier, mind-controls Lilandra and takes control of the Shi'ar fleet. Lilandra is lost for a while on Earth and attempts to kill Xavier, not understanding he was his own self again. Afterwards, Lilandra and Xavier's marriage is annulled.[24][25]
Vulcan attempts to gain control of the Shi'ar, kills D'Ken and several members of the Imperial Guard, and becomes the ruler of the Shi'ar Imperium. Lilandra is 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.[26]
Lilandra appears as a central character in the Emperor Vulcan sequel,X-Men: Kingbreaker and in theWar of Kings miniseries, which began in early 2009.[27][28] InWar of Kings, Lilandra is killed byDarkhawk's Razor persona.[29][30]
It was revealed inMr. & Mrs. X #3 (September, 2018) that following Lilandra's death, the Shi'ar Empire used her genetic material and combined it with Xavier's to birth their daughter.[31][32][33] The child grew in an egg and was cared for byCerise, who eventually reached out toRogue andGambit on their honeymoon to help her defend it from the likes of theImperial Guard,Technet, andDeadpool. She was protected by the group of heroes and left with theStarjammers.[34] Xandra would later go on to lead the Shi'ar Empire as the new Majestrix.[35]
After Shi'ar rebels attack Xandra, she reaches out her father Xavier for help which prompts him to escape Graymalkin Prison during the crossover event storylineX-Manhunt (March 2025). He teams up withStorm to reach San Francisco'sUtopia and battles bothCyclops's X-Men andX-Factor in order to obtain the lastKrakoa resurrection egg. After feigning being kidnaped, Xavier is extracted bySage so he can begin to hatch the egg. This egg contained Lilandra's body, which Xavier hadThe Five secretly create during theKrakoan Age. Using his telepathy, Xavier restores her memories, and upon learning of Xandra's danger, Lilandra agrees to help. Boarding a VTOL vehicle, the couple prepares to aid their daughter while evading the X-Men.[5][36][37]
As aShi'ar, Lilandra has heightened strength and stamina to that of a human. Lilandra also has limited telepathic abilities whose extent have yet to be clearly defined.[1]
Lilandra is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and pilot and wields various Shi'ar weaponry.
Screen Rant ranked Lilandra 9th on "The 10 Most Powerful Members Of The Xavier Family", 6th on the "11 Most Dangerous Shi'ar Warriors in Marvel History" and as one of the "Best Non-Mutant Supporting Characters".[38][39][40]CBR ranked Lilandra 9th on "The 10 Most Powerful Shi'ar".[41]
Ramzi Fawaz, in the academic journalAmerican Literature in 2011, opined that "arguably the most canonical storyline in the X-Men's publishing history, 'The Phoenix Saga' tells the story of the alien princess Lilandra Nermani's desperate effort to gain allies in a cosmic struggle against the machinations of her tyrannical brother, D'Ken".[42]: 376 Fawaz highlighted that "in her time of need, Lilandra discovers a psychic rapport across the galaxies that leads her to Earth and Xavier's X-Men, calling forth a monstrous mutant kinship against the tainted bonds of blood and empire".[42]: 376 Fawaz, in the bookNew Mutants: Superheroes and the Radical Imagination of American Comics (2016), highlighted the "The Dark Phoenix Saga", noting that "if the Hellfire Club stands in for the machinations of global capital, the Shi'ar Empire functions as its political double, representing the corruption of governmental power by the interests ofeconomic imperialism".[43]: 223–224 Fawaz highlighted that Lilandra "dramatizes the threat Dark Phoenix" and "disavows the Shi'ar Empire's own imperialist claim to the galaxy by equating Jean with a political tyrant, her brother D'Ken, while basing the value of Jean's life on her level of 'benecence' or lack thereof to the Shi'ar Empire".[43]: 224
Arnold T. Blumberg ofIGN commented that "takeaway" of Lilandra "is that she has a convoluted backstory" and noted her deep impact "in Marvel cosmic history".[30] He highlighted that she "overthrew D'Ken", married Xavier, "assumed her position as Empress Majestrix, eventually presiding over the proceedings that led to the death of Phoenix; she also played a part in putting Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four on trial for saving Galactus' life".[30]
An alternate universe variant of Lilandra Neramani from Earth-1610 appears inUltimate X-Men. This version is the human leader of theChurch of Shi'ar Enlightenment, and claims to represent an ancient religion that worships thePhoenix.[44][45]
An alternate universe variant of Lilandra Neramani from Earth-41001 appears inX-Men: The End.[volume & issue needed]
