Lilandra Neramani

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 fictional character appearing in American comic books published byMarvel Comics,most commonly in association with theX-Men.She is the Empress, or Majestrix, of theShi'arEmpire and shares a lifelong bond with the leader of the X-Men,Charles Xavier.She and Xavier were married, but their marriage wasannulledafter theCassandra Novaincident.

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 thePhoenixSaga, to her role inGrant Morrison'sexperimental and controversial run onNew X-Men.Her role as one ofProfessor 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.

Publication history

Lilandra Neramani first appeared inX-Men#97 (February 1976) and was created byChris ClaremontandDave Cockrum.

Fictional character biography

Lilandra is the sibling ofD'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 theM'Kraan Crystal.Branded a traitor, Lilandra fled to Earth, hoping to find allies among its large population ofsuperheroesand found them inCharles Xavierand hisX-Men.She began sending visions of herself to Xavier as she traveled to Earth.

Dealing with D'Ken

Finally meeting Xavier in person, she was captured byDavan Shakari.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 theStarjammersand the X-Men, and reunited on Earth with Xavier.She ultimately invited Xavier to accompany her to the Shi'ar throne-world.During thePhoenix Saga,the X-Men, in particularPhoenix,managed to stop D'Ken's plan, who ultimately was banished after being driven mad.

Majestrix-in-Exile

Lilandra took the throne as Majestrix-Shi'ar (empress of the Shi'ar Imperium) with Xavier as her official consort.She staged a trial by combat to determine the fate of Phoenix.She overcame Deathbird's first attempted coup.However, a short while later her position was usurped by Deathbird, who had made a pact with theBroodandBadoon.She managed to escape along with the X-Men, and Lilandra became Majestrix-in-Exile on Earth.She became a freedom fighter and allied herself with the Starjammers and decided to take back her throne.

Trial of Reed Richards

As monarch, Lilandra has taken a leading role in interstellar affairs, such as dealing with the menace ofDark Phoenixand indictingReed Richardsof theFantastic Fourfor daring to save the life of the planet consumer,Galactus.

Return to the throne

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.It was later recounted how Lilandra escaped D'Ken and first had mental contact with Xavier.She then nearly killed Deathbird in combat.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 theWarskrullsand parted with Xavier.

Kree-Shi'ar War

Before much longer, interstellar war erupted between the Shi'ar and theKree.Lilandra ordered the Starjammers to transport the nega-bomb into Kree space.She survived an assassination attempt by the KreeStarforce,and decided to recall the nega-bomb.She discovered that a Skrull impersonating Araki helped cause the Kree-Shi'ar War.At the end of the war, she took control of the devastated Kree Empire, and appointed Deathbird as her viceroy there.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.

Cassandra Nova

While Lilandra is a peaceful and beloved empress, her reign has proven to be tumultuous. During her reign, theSkrulltried to infiltrate and control the Shi'ar government, an intergalactic war with theKreeerupted and there were attacks by thePhalanxand theUncreated.The most damage done to the Shi'ar Empire was done byCassandra 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 andJean Greyturning 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.

Emperor Vulcan

This was all part of a plan byVulcan,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.

X-Men: Kingbreaker & War of the Kings

Lilandra appeared as a central character in the Emperor Vulcan sequel,X-Men: Kingbreakerand in theWar of Kingsminiseries, which began in early 2009.

In issue #4 of theWar of Kingscrossover, Lilandra is assassinated byDarkhawk,who is being controlled by Razor, who is in turn impersonating a Shi'ar citizen. She dies in the arms ofGladiator.

Powers and abilities

As a member of the alienShi'arrace, 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.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

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.

MC2

An alternate, older version of the original Lilandra has been revealed inMC2's miniseries,Last Planet Standing.There, the Shi'ar Empire is eaten by the planet devourerGalactusand 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.

Ultimate Marvel

Ultimate Lilandra. Art byTom Raney.

An alternate version of Lilandra has turned up in theUltimate Marveluniverse'sUltimate X-Mentitle (starting in issue #66). Lilandra Neramani is not an alien, but the "Majestrix" of theChurch of Shi'ar Enlightenment,and claims to represent an ancient religion that worships thePhoenix.They wish to finance the X-Men in return for the study ofJean Grey.She is later seen attending Charles Xavier's funeral.

Prior to this, inUltimate X4#1, a mental projection of seemingly alien origin, showing an attractive female humanoid calling herselfGeneral 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, theMad Thinker,to send the X-Men on a wild goose chase so she could steal components of theirCerebrocomputer system.

X-Men: The End

Lilandra is featured in this alternate future storyline, still heavily affected by the attacks ofCassandra Nova.While Nova was possessing Xavier's body, Lilandra became pregnant with their son.Both he and Lilandra would later be murdered by Nova.

In other media

Television

• Lilandra Neramani appears inX-Men: The Animated Series,voiced byCamilla Scott.This version met Xavier after the foundation of the X-Men while fighting D'Ken and offered to have the former join her, but he declined to do so for as long as there is no peace between mankind andmutants.Lilandra left, but eventually returned to Earth in the series finale to heal Xavier after he is gravely wounded byHenry Peter Gyrich.
  • Lilandra returns inX-Men '97,voiced by Morla Gorrondonna.By this time, she has resumed her relationship with Xavier.
• Lilandra Neramani appears in theHulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.episode "It's a Wonderful Smash", voiced byNika Futterman.She and theSupreme Intelligenceare considering a peace treaty between the Kree and the Shi'ar, and recruit theGuardians of the Galaxyto bring them the Orb of Truth to assist in their endeavors.

Video games

• Lilandra Neramani appears inX-Men.
• Lilandra Neramani appears in thePlayStation Portableversion ofX-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.
• Lilandra Neramani appears inMarvel: Ultimate Alliance,voiced by Marabina Jaimes.

External links

• Lilandra Neramaniat the Marvel Universe wiki