The Imperial Guard (the so-called Superguardians) is a superhero team appearing in American

comic books A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

. The Imperial Guard are a multi-ethnic group of alien beings who act as enforcers of the laws of the

Shi'ar The Shi'ar ( ) are a fictional species of aliens appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Shi'ar Empire (or Imperium) is a vast collection of alien species, cultures, and worlds situated close to the Skrull and Kree Em ...

Empire; the Superguardians are the personal guard of the leader of the Empire. Created by writer

Chris Claremont Christopher S. Claremont (; born November 25, 1950) is an English-born American comic book writer and novelist. Claremont is best known for his 16-year stint on ''Uncanny X-Men'' from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer,Clarem ...

and artist

Dave Cockrum David Emmett Cockrum (; November 11, 1943 – November 26, 2006) was an American comics artist known for his co-creation of the new X-Men characters Nightcrawler (character), Nightcrawler, Storm (Marvel Comics), Storm, Colossus (character), Colos ...

, the original Imperial Guard characters were pastiches of prominent members of rival publisher

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

' superhero team the

Legion of Super-Heroes The Legion of Super-Heroes is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st centuries of t ...

.Cronin, Brian
"Wolverine: Every Costume Marvel's Latest Resurrected Mutant Has Worn, Ever,"
''CBR'' (AUG. 25, 2018).Blumberg, Arnold T
"Lilandra Explained: Who Is the X-Men: Dark Phoenix Character?,"
''IGN'' (5 Jul 2017). Many other characters were later added to the roster, not all of whom are based on Legionnaires. The Imperial Guard first appeared in ''The

Uncanny X-Men ''Uncanny X-Men'', originally published as ''The X-Men'', is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics since 1963, and is the longest-running series in the List of X-Men comics, X-Men comics franchise. It features a team of super ...

'' #107 (October 1977). Since then, they have been featured periodically in the X-Men titles; crossed paths with the

Starjammers The Starjammers are a fictional team of space pirates appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Starjammers have often appeared in pages of the ''X-Men'' comic books. The Starjammers first appeared in ''X-Men'' #104 (April ...

, the

Kree The Kree, briefly known as the Ruul, are an List of fictional extraterrestrials, alien race appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are native to the planet Hala in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and have a scientificall ...

, the

Skrulls The Skrulls () are a race of List of fictional extraterrestrials, extraterrestrial shapeshifters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They first appeared in ''Fantastic Four (comic book), Fantastic Four'' #2 and were crea ...

Nova Corps The Nova Corps is a fictional intergalactic military and police force appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman, the Corps first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #205 (April 1979). They have since ...

, the

Inhumans The Inhumans are a superhuman race of super beings appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The comic book series has usually focused more specifically on the adventures of the Inhuman Royal Family, and many people associat ...

, and the

Guardians of the Galaxy The Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Comic book teams 1969 team The 1969 version of the Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team), Guardians of the Galaxy were the origi ...

; and been featured in a number of

limited series In the field of comic books, and particularly in the United States, a limited series is a comics series with a predetermined number of issues. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is finite and determined ...

, including ''Imperial Guard'' (1997), the ''

War of Kings "War of Kings" is a comic book crossover storyline written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, published by Marvel Comics, and set in Marvel's main shared universe. The six-issue limited series was published between March

crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Music Albums * ''Cross Over'' (album), a 1987 album by Dan Peek, or the title song * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'', an album by Intrigue * ''Crossover'', an album by ...

series (2009), and '' Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard'' (2010).Fuller, Kevin
"Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1 Review: Marvel's cosmos deal with the effects of its war,"
''IGN'' (12 Nov 2009). More than 50 Imperial Guard Superguardians have appeared in Marvel Comics' titles; the core members number about 20, with the most notable being

Gladiator A gladiator ( , ) was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their ...

Oracle An oracle is a person or thing considered to provide insight, wise counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. If done through occultic means, it is a form of divination. Descript ...

, Starbolt,

Neutron The neutron is a subatomic particle, symbol or , that has no electric charge, and a mass slightly greater than that of a proton. The Discovery of the neutron, neutron was discovered by James Chadwick in 1932, leading to the discovery of nucle ...

, Smasher, Flashfire, Warstar,

Electron The electron (, or in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary charge, elementary electric charge. It is a fundamental particle that comprises the ordinary matter that makes up the universe, along with up qua ...

Manta Manta or mantas may refer to: * Manta ray, large fish belonging to the genus ''Mobula'' Arts and entertainment App & Website * Manta (platform), a Korean digital comics provider Fictional entities * Manta (comics), a character in American Marve ...

Mentor Mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the perso ...

Titan Titan most often refers to: * Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn * Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology Titan or Titans may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional entities Fictional locations * Titan in fiction, fictiona ...

Pulsar A pulsar (''pulsating star, on the model of quasar'') is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its Poles of astronomical bodies#Magnetic poles, magnetic poles. This radiation can be obse ...

Hussar A hussar, ; ; ; ; . was a member of a class of light cavalry, originally from the Kingdom of Hungary during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry ...

, Nightside, and

Fang A fang is a long, pointed tooth. In mammals, a fang is a modified maxillary tooth, used for biting and tearing flesh. In snakes, it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland (see snake venom). Spiders also have external fangs, ...

Structure and organization

The Imperial Guard numbers about 300 members, and is made up of elite soldiers from throughout the Empire. The Imperial Guard is led by a

praetor ''Praetor'' ( , ), also ''pretor'', was the title granted by the government of ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected ''magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to disch ...

. The Superguardians (who comprise the vast majority of the named characters) are the guards of the

leader.Austin, Michael
"X-Men: The 10 Most Dangerous Members of The Shi’ar Imperial Guard: The X-Men Comics are filled with powerful and dangerous people. But few are as dangerous as the members of the Shi-ar Imperial Guard,"
''CBR'' (AUG. 18, 2019). Those closest to the leader are known as the Royal Elite. The Guard academy trains replacements called Subguardians for Superguardians who are killed or incapacitated.

Imperial Guard oath of allegiance

This is the Imperial Guard's oath of allegiance to the Shi'ar Empire:

Concept and creation

As ''X-Men'' creators Claremont and Cockrum were devising a team to battle the X-Men in the first part of the Phoenix Saga, Cockrum suggested modeling their powers and costumes after characters from DC's

."X-Men's Imperial Guard and Cockrum's Legion of Super-Heroes,"
''The Scoop'' (Gemstone Publishing, Dec. 1). Cockrum previously had a two-year run as artist on the

backup feature in the ''

Superboy Superboy is an identity used by several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. These characters have been featured in several eponymous comic series, in addition to ''Adventure Comics'' and other series ...

'' comic book. In a 2002 interview, Cockrum said that he showed the character designs to ''Legion'' writer

Paul Levitz Paul Levitz (; born October 21, 1956) is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002 to 2009, he worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn ...

. Asked if he thought there might be trouble between the companies, Cockrum said, "Not really... I showed the designs to Paul Levitz, and he didn't say, 'You can't do that.' If anything, he said, 'Geez, these costumes are better than the ones the Legionnaires are wearing.' No, I don't think we ever once thought that we were going to get in trouble over it." The first Guardsmen introduced (with their

analog in parentheses) were

(

Astra Astra (Latin for "stars") may refer to: People * Astra (name) Places * Astra, Chubut, a village in Argentina * Astra (Isauria), a town of ancient Isauria, now in Turkey * Astra, one suggested name for a hypothetical fifth planet that became t ...

(

Phantom Girl Phantom Girl (Tinya Wazzo) is a superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. In post-'' Zero Hour'' continuity, she is known as Apparition. She has the power to ...

(

Cosmic Boy Cosmic Boy (Rokk Krinn) is a superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is from the 31st century, and is a founding member and original leader of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Cosmic Boy has appeared in various media outside comics, p ...

( Timber Wolf),

Hobgoblin A hobgoblin is a household spirit, appearing in English folklore, once considered helpful, but which since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck in his '' A Midsummer Nigh ...

(

Chameleon Boy Reep Daggle, also known as Chameleon Boy and Chameleon, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. Reep Daggle as Chameleon Boy has ...

), Impulse (

Wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...

), Magic (

Princess Projectra Princess Projectra (later Sensor Girl) is a fictional character, a Superhero#Female superheroes, superheroine in the DC Comics DC Universe, universe. Typically portrayed as a haughty member of an alien royal family, she is from the 30th and 31st ...

(

Brainiac 5 Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox) is a superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is from the planet Colu and is a long-standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. Brainiac 5 has been substantially adapted int ...

), Midget ( Shrinking Violet), Nightshade (

Shadow Lass Shadow Lass (Tasmia Mallor) is a superheroine appearing in books published by DC Comics. She first appeared as a statue in ''Adventure Comics'' #354 (March 1967), and was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan. She was called Shadow Woman, was depi ...

(

Saturn Girl Saturn Girl (Imra Ardeen) is a superheroine appearing in comics published by DC Comics. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Saturn Girl is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Imra's "Saturn Girl" title refers to her homeworld ...

), Quasar (

Star Boy Thom Kallor is a character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. The character has also been known as Star Boy and Starman. Kallor as Star Boy has appeared in various media outside ...

), Smasher (

Ultra Boy Ultra Boy (Jo Nah) is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He gained his powers after being eaten by a whale-like beast in space and being exposed to large amounts ...

), Starbolt (

Sun Boy Sun Boy (Dirk Morgna) is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He has the ability to generate internal solar energy to whatever degree he wishes, ...

), Tempest (

Lightning Lad Garth Ranzz, also known as Live Wire and Lightning Lad, is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, usually those featuring the Legion of Superheroes, a 30th and 31st century group of which he is a founding member. He has the supe ...

), and

(

Colossal Boy Gim Allon, also known as Colossal Boy, Leviathan, and Micro Lad, is a superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artis ...

).Cronin, Brian
"Comic Legends: Why New Imperial Guard Members in Dark Phoenix Saga?"
''CBR'' (APR 09, 2018). Over time, for various reasons, some of the members' code-names were changed: Nightshade to Nightside,X-Men #157 (May 1982). Magic to

Magique Magique is the French word for magic and may refer to: * Magique, a fictional character in the Marvel Universe * Magique (mascot), a mascot for the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France * Magique (footballer) (born 1993; Judikael Magiq ...

, Midget to

Scintilla Scintilla (the Italian and Latin word for spark) may refer to: * Scintilla AG, a Swiss electrical engineering company, a 100 percent subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH since 2005 * Scintilla (comics), a fictional character in the Marvel Universe * S ...

,''Quasar'' #33 (April 1992). Quasar to

, Tempest to Flashfire, and Impulse to

Reception and characterization

Nick Hemming of

Looper Looper may refer to: Animals * Cabbage looper (''Trichoplusia ni''), a member of the moth family Noctuidae * Inchworm, of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies People * Looper (surname), a Dutch-language surname with the meani ...

described the Imperial Guard as perhaps "the most interesting facet of the Shi'ar," describing them as "an elite team of super soldiers who enforce the law within the empire. The Guard has played both friend and foe to Earth's favorite heroes over time, boasting a diverse roster of various species."

Fictional team history

Many centuries ago, the

Phoenix Force The Phoenix Force is a fictional entity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, the Phoenix Force is famous for its central role in ''The Dark Phoenix Saga'' storyline, and is in ...

entity ends up in

space, where it bonds with a citizen of the Empire named Rook'shir. In conjunction with his blade, Rook'shir learns to control the Phoenix Force, but is ultimately overwhelmed by its power, becoming the first known host to succumb to and go insane from its destructive impulses. Becoming the first

Dark Phoenix "The Dark Phoenix Saga" is an extended X-Men comic-book storyline published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, the storyline first appeared in ''X-Men'' #129 (January 1980). It focuses on the superhero Jea ...

, Rook'shir rampages throughout the Empire, destroying many planets in the process. T'korr, Majestor of the Shi'ar Empire, creates the Imperial Guard to battle Rook'shir; some of the first members are

Magic Magic or magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces ** ''Magick'' (with ''-ck'') can specifically refer to ceremonial magic * Magic (illusion), also known as sta ...

, and

Quasar A quasar ( ) is an extremely Luminosity, luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN). It is sometimes known as a quasi-stellar object, abbreviated QSO. The emission from an AGN is powered by accretion onto a supermassive black hole with a mass rangi ...

.''War of Kings: Warriors'' #1 (Sept. 2009). Defeating Rook'shir, the Guard becomes the first line of defense of the Shi'ar Empire.''The Uncanny X-Men'' #479 (Dec. 2006). In ''The

X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...

'' #107 (Oct. 1977),''The Uncanny X-Men'' #107 (Oct. 1977). the Shi'ar empire comes into conflict with the

regarding the Phoenix entity, with the Guard battling them at the command of Emperor

D'Ken The Shi'ar ( ) are a List of fictional humanoid species in comics, fictional species of Extraterrestrial life, aliens appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Shi'ar Galactic empire, Empire (or Imperium) is a vast collect ...

and his sister, the Grand Admiral, Princess

Lilandra Neramani Princess-Majestrix Lilandra Neramani () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. She is the Empress, or Majestrix, of the Shi'ar Empire and shares a life ...

.Connell, Mike
"X-Men: Whatever Happened to the Phoenix Saga's Original Villain? The original Phoenix Saga is one of the most important X-Men stories of all time, but its primary villain disappeared after a few appearances,"
''CBR'' (MAY 28, 2020). Some time later during "

The Dark Phoenix Saga "The Dark Phoenix Saga" is an extended X-Men comic-book storyline published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, the storyline first appeared in ''X-Men'' #129 (January 1980). It focuses on the superhero Jea ...

", the Guardsmen again come into conflict with the X-Men regarding

, this time at the behest of Lilandra.''The Uncanny X-Men'' #137 (Sept. 1980). The Borderers division is introduced — a group of Guardsman stationed on one of the Shi'ar's conquered worlds to help its governor enforce Shi'ar law. A renegade faction of the Imperial Guard — mainly made up of Borderers, but also including

, and Warstar — become traitors, deciding to serve Lord Samédàr,

Deathbird Deathbird (Cal'syee Neramani) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Keith Pollard, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''Ms. Marvel'' #9 (September 1977). Cal'sye ...

, and the

Brood Brood may refer to: Nature * Brood, a collective term for offspring * Brooding, the incubation of bird eggs by their parents * Bee brood, the young of a beehive * Individual broods of North American periodical cicadas: ** Brood X, the largest br ...

in a conspiracy to overthrow Shi'ar Princess-Majestrix Lilandra. The renegades battle the Guardsman who remain loyal to Lilandra and the X-Men. After defeating the Brood and the renegades, Lilandra resumes her position as the head of the Shi'ar Empire. Despite many of the Imperial Guard having joined with Deathbird against Lilandra, most team members are pardoned for their actions,''Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard'' #4 (Apr. 2010). although Quasar, Warstar, Hussar, and Webwing are later banished.''The Uncanny X-Men'' #157–158 (May–June 1982).''The Uncanny X-Men'' #162 (Oct. 1982). Some time later,

stages a successful coup and becomes the new Shi'ar Empress.''Rom'' Annual #4 (Dec. 1985). She sends the Imperial Guard to Earth to battle the combined forces of the

and the superhero team

Excalibur Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...

, so that she can claim the power of the

for herself. The Guard are forced to retreat when Deathbird realizes the Starjammers are led by Lilandra. Later, War Skrulls impersonating

Charles Xavier Professor X (Prof. Charles Francis Xavier) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 ( ...

and the Starjammers depose Deathbird and restore Lilandra to the throne. Deathbird cedes the empire back to Lilandra as she has grown bored of the bureaucracy. When the Shi'ar and the Kree wage an intergalactic war, the Imperial Guard are commissioned to lead the fight. The Guard steals the original Captain Marvel's Nega-Bands from his tomb. Using Kree artifacts, including the Bands, the Sh'iar create a massive superweapon, the "Nega-Bomb." Ultimately, the Nega-Bomb device is successfully detonated, killing 98% of all Kree. The Shi'ar annex the remnants of the Kree Empire, with Deathbird becoming

viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...

of the Kree territories. Some time later, the Imperial Guard are informed about a hijacked Shi'ar craft, and join Quasar in a battle against a group of interplanetary marauders known as the Starblasters, who attempt to push the moon away from Earth's orbit. When many of Earth's heroes vanish (sent to the

pocket universe A pocket universe or bubble universe, also called pocket dimension, is a concept in inflationary theory, proposed by Alan Guth. Description It defines a realm like the one that contains the observable universe as only one of many inflationary ...

after defeating Onslaught), Lilandra orders the Imperial Guard to help protect Earth.

Ronan the Accuser Ronan the Accuser is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #65 (August 1967). In his comic book appearances, Ronan is d ...

leads the Kree in a surprise attack against the Shi'ar, using the

as an army to disrupt the Shi'ar control of the Kree. Ronan seizes control in a surprise attack. Threatening to destroy the Inhumans' home of

Attilan The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features. Places Certain places fe ...

, he orders the Inhumans and their king,

Black Bolt Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #45 (December 1965). Black Bolt is the ruler of A ...

, to obey. Ronan compels

Karnak The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak (), comprises a vast mix of temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings near Luxor, Egypt. Construction at the complex began during the reign of Senusret I (reigned 1971–1926 BC) in the ...

Gorgon The Gorgons ( ; ), in Greek mythology, are three monstrous sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, said to be the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They lived near their sisters the Graeae, and were able to turn anyone who looked at them to sto ...

, and

Triton Triton commonly refers to: * Triton (mythology), a Greek god * Triton (moon), a satellite of Neptune Triton may also refer to: Biology * Triton cockatoo, a parrot * Triton (gastropod), a group of sea snails * ''Triton'', a synonym of ''Triturus' ...

to covertly join the Imperial Guard, while Black Bolt and

Medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; ), also called Gorgo () or the Gorgon, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in place of hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her wa ...

attempt the assassination of the Shi'ar ruler Lilandra at a ceremony ratifying an alliance between the Shi'ar and the Spartoi. Black Bolt manages to defeat Ronan in personal combat; the attempt on Lilandra's life fails because the Imperial Guardsman

dies in her place.''

'' vol. 3 #4 (Oct. 2000).

Cassandra Nova Cassandra Nova Xavier is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, the character first appeared in '' New ...

, in

's body, contacts Majestrix Lilandra, Xavier's lover. Cassandra drives Lilandra insane and uses her to make the Shi'ar fleet destroy the empire. Cassandra forces Lilandra to send the Shi'ar Superguardians to sterilize the entirety of mutantkind, starting with the X-Men.''New X-Men'' #123 (Apr. 2002). After a battle with the X-Men, the Imperial Guard come to realize Cassandra's treachery and the danger she poses.

Jean Grey Jean Elaine Grey-Summers is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''Uncanny X-Men, The X-Men'' #1 ...

, using Xavier's consciousness, and with the help of the Imperial Guard, is able to force Cassandra out of Xavier's body and imprison her. The Imperial Guard's loyalties are tested when Vulcan, a powerful mutant intent on conquering the Shi'ar Empire, comes on the scene at the start of the " Emperor Vulcan" storyline. He fights the Guard, killing and wounding a number of them, before he is defeated by

, who puts out his left eye.''The Uncanny X-Men'' #480 (Jan. 2007). Ultimately, however, Vulcan returns and assumes the Shi'ar throne, and the Imperial Guard are honor-bound to do his bidding.''X-Men: Kingbreaker'' #1–4 (Feb.–May 2009). Emperor Vulcan and his fleet battle the Scy'ar Tal, who have devoted their culture and society to the destruction of the Shi'ar Empire. After many battles, including Vulcan fighting his brother Havok and the

, the Shi'ar prevail. Vulcan declares that he will return the Shi'ar Empire to its former glory. Emperor Majestor Vulcan begins to expand the empire, leading to a war with the Kree. Things start off well for the Imperial Guard when they slaughter a cadre of new recruits to the

.''

Nova A nova ( novae or novas) is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. All observed novae involve white ...

'' vol. 4 #20–25 (Feb.–July 2009). The Guard follows this by attacking and hospitalizing

on his wedding day.''War of Kings'' #1 (May 2009). The Kree's retaliation, however, leads to the deaths of a number of Guardsmen. Two new Smashers, recruited from the ranks of the Subguardians, die,''War of Kings'' #3 (July 2009). as does Warstar. When ordered to kill Lilandra Neramani, Gladiator abandons his post to protect her. Nonetheless, during an attempt to return her to the throne, Lilandra is assassinated. Vulcan is seemingly killed during a battle with

. With no one in line to inherit the throne, civil war threatens the Shi'ar empire. To avoid further conflict, the Imperial Guard's praetor,

, accepts the offer to become Emperor; Mentor becomes praetor in his place. During the "

Realm of Kings A realm is a community or territory over which a sovereign rules. The term is commonly used to describe a monarchical or dynastic state. A realm may also be a subdivision within an empire, if it has its own monarch, e.g. the German Empire. Etymo ...

" storyline, the Shi'ar team up with the Starjammers to investigate "The Fault," a space-time anomaly that not only threatens Shi'ar space but all of reality. This crisis leads to another spate of Imperial Guard deaths: Starbolt is killed by a group of mutants from the Cancerverse, and Black Light, Neutron, and

are killed in a later battle. The storyline ends with the Guardsmen

and Plutonia choosing to bond with Raptor amulets; Mentor is taken over by Strel and Plutonia becomes the Raptor Kyte; both vanish. During the "

Infinity Infinity is something which is boundless, endless, or larger than any natural number. It is denoted by \infty, called the infinity symbol. From the time of the Ancient Greek mathematics, ancient Greeks, the Infinity (philosophy), philosophic ...

" storyline, a fourth Smasher is recruited by the Imperial Guard: a human member of

the Avengers Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes **Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...

named Izzy Kane.''Avengers'' vol. 5 #1 (Dec. 2012). Receiving an all-points distress signal on Earth, she comes with the Avengers to assist the Shi'ar in fighting off a new threat: the

Builders Builder may refer to: Construction * Construction worker, who specializes in building work * Carpenter, a skilled craftsman who works with wood * General contractor, that specializes in building work ** Subcontractor * Real estate developer, who ...

. The Builders threaten all the galactic civilizations, leading the Shi'ar to join forces with the Kree, Skrulls, Spartoi, Brood, and

Annihilus Annihilus () is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as an adversary to the Fantastic Four. The character debuted in ''Fantastic Four (comic book), Fantastic Four Annual'' #6, which was published ...

' Annihilation Wave to resist them.''

'' #1–6 (Oct. 2013–Jan. 2014). After many battles and losses — including the death of

Earthquake An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...

''Avengers'' vol. 5 #21 (Dec. 2013). — the Avengers and Imperial Guard earn a convincing victory against the main Builders' fleet.

helps take command of a Builder World Killer and turn it against the Builders. The Imperial Guard and the Avengers proceed to free the occupied worlds — including Earth, which has fallen to

Thanos Thanos () is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-artist Jim Starlin, the character first appeared in '' The Invincible Iron Man'' #55 (cover date February 1973). An Eternal– Devia ...

in their absence. The Imperial Guard helps retake the Peak, the

S.W.O.R.D. S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) is a fictional counterterrorism and intelligence agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Its purpose is to deal with extraterrestrial threats to world s ...

space station headquarters. Soon afterward, Gladiator kidnaps the time-displaced incarnation of

, placing her on trial for the destruction done by the

years earlier. The

All-New X-Men ''All-New X-Men'' was a comic book series published by Marvel Comics that debuted in November 2012, with the launch of Marvel NOW!. The series centers on the five original X-Men, brought from the past to the present to confront their future counte ...

team up with the

to rescue Jean from the Shi'ar homeworld, but Jean ends up awakening a new power, enabling her to absorb massive amounts of psionic energy and combine her telepathy and telekinesis, which she uses to defeat Gladiator and the Imperial Guard.''Guardians of the Galaxy'' #13 (May 2014). When the Shi'ar find out that the reason for the "decay of the universe" is on Earth, they decide to destroy the planet. The

Sunspot Sunspots are temporary spots on the Sun's surface that are darker than the surrounding area. They are one of the most recognizable Solar phenomena and despite the fact that they are mostly visible in the solar photosphere they usually aff ...

, A.I.M., and

S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism government agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, this agency first appeared in ''Strange Tal ...

's Avengers fight back, planning to use a Planetkiller against the Shi'ar. The Planetkiller, however, overheats and explodes, destroyed by

Annihilation Wave "Annihilation" is a 2006 crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics, highlighting several outer space-related characters in the Marvel Universe. The central miniseries was written by Keith Giffen, with editor Andy Schmidt. Publication hist ...

. The Avengers are ready to meet their end, but the

Illuminati The Illuminati (; plural of Latin ''illuminatus'', 'enlightened') is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name usually refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on 1 ...

intervenes, using the controller disk of a rogue planet that shares the same space with Earth, while

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...

uses Sol's Hammer to destroy the Shi'ar fleet, including the Imperial Guards. The Guard are resurrected, along with the rest of the universe, as part of the

All-New, All-Different Marvel All-New, All-Different Marvel (ANADM) is a 2015–2019 branding for Marvel Comics' entire main line of comics. Taking place after the crossover storyline "Secret Wars", it details the new Marvel Universe, with nearly 60–65 titles relaunched wi ...

relaunch.

Membership

Core members

Other members

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

In an alternate reality depicted in the miniseries, ''

Age of Apocalypse "Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 comic book crossover storyline mostly published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The ''Age of Apocalypse'' briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616 and had ramifications in the main Marvel Comic ...

'', Lilandra became the Admiral of the Shi'ar Grand Fleet and leader of the Imperial Guard. However, she was killed by her brother D'ken before she could stop him from taking control of the

M'Kraan Crystal The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features. Places Certain places fe ...

Heroes Reborn

In an alternate reality depicted in the miniseries " Heroes Reborn", the Imperial Guard is associated with Hyperion and most of its members were infected by the

MC2

An older, alternate reality version of the original Lilandra appears in MC2 miniseries, ''

Last Planet Standing ''Last Planet Standing'' is a 5-issue comic book limited series, published by Marvel Comics in 2006. The series was written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Pat Olliffe (who also co-plotted the series). It stars many characters from the MC2 Universe ...

'', escaping the Shi'ar Empire after it is attacked and devoured by

Galactus Galactus () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Formerly a mortal man, he is a cosmic entity who consumes planets to sustain his life force, and serves a functional role in the upkeep of the p ...

In other media

* The Imperial Guard appear in '' X-Men: The Animated Series'' and ''

X-Men '97 ''X-Men '97'' is an American animated television series created by Beau DeMayo for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the X-Men. It is a revival of '' X-Men: The Animated Series'' (1992–1997) produced b ...

'', consisting of

, Starbolt, Flashfire,

, Smasher,

, Warstar, Earthquake,

, and Vulcan. * The Imperial Guard appear in the video game '' Marvel: Ultimate Alliance'', consisting of Gladiator,

, Hussar, Starbolt, and Warstar. Several members of the Imperial Guard assisted

in taking the

Empire's throne from her sister

Lilandra Princess-Majestrix Lilandra Neramani () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. She is the Empress, or Majestrix, of the Shi'ar Empire and shares a life ...

while others refused to take part. Meanwhile, a group of heroes come to obtain a shard of the

and defeat the traitorous guards, Shi'ar soldiers, and Deathbird in the process. * The Imperial Guard appear in the Christopher L. Bennett novel, ''X-Men: Watchers on the Walls'',Bennett, Christopher L. ''X-Men: Watchers on the Walls'' (Simon and Schuster, 2006). consisting of Smasher, Manta, Flashfire, Astra, Nightside,

, Blackthorn, N'rill'iree, and Empress Lilandra.

Notes

References

External links

Imperial Guard entry
The Appendix to the ''Handbook of the Marvel Universe''
UncannyXMen.net article on the Imperial Guard / Superguardians
{{Marvel Cosmic Characters created by Chris Claremont Characters created by Dave Cockrum Comics characters introduced in 1977 Science fiction comics Shi'ar Space opera comics Superhero comics X-Men X-Men supporting characters

Structure and organization

Imperial Guard oath of allegiance

Concept and creation

Reception and characterization

Fictional team history

Membership

Core members

Other members

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

Heroes Reborn

MC2

In other media

See also

Notes

References

External links