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The X-Men had a powerful ally in Lilandra Neramani. Where did it all go wrong, and where do the Shi’ar now stand?
The X-Men have had several strong cosmic associations over the years. Lilandra Neramani is perhaps one of the X-Men’s most powerful allies. X-Men leader Charles Xavier became her romantic interest and consort. Sadly, this courtship didn’t last forever and Lilandra’s eventual death is a loss still felt by mutants.
Lilandra was introduced to the Marvel universe through long-time X-Men writer Chris Claremont. She appears at a pivotal time in the X-Men’s history, just as Jean Grey obtains the power of the Phoenix. Her family are the rulers of the Shi’ar Empire, an aggressive intergalactic empire that is one of the most powerful and feared throughout the universe. A series of events placed Lilandra as the Majestrix (Primary leader). Her time as sole ruler of the Shi’ar ultimately ended in forced exile and her assassination at the hands of the villainous Vulcan.
Lilandra’s death was incredibly significant to the X-Men for a number of reasons. Her relationship with Xavier created an important bond between the Shi’ar and the mutants of earth. This relationship was mutually beneficial and saw both sides coming to the others’ aid on multiple occasions. Both Lilandra and the X-Men were surrounded by enemies on their own homeworlds. With those kinds of threats lurking around, outside help can mean the difference between survival and complete annihilation, and the fruits of that relationship are clearly seen throughout its short existence.
The other significance came from the grief felt by the Summers family. Both Havok and Cyclops clearly felt significant guilt at their inability to stop Vulcan’s actions. Both War Of Kings and X-Men: Kingbreaker saw Havok questioning the capability of his own flesh and blood for such atrocities. Not only had the X-Men lost a friend and a powerful empire, but Vulcan had also only fueled the fire of anti-mutant bigots who believed all mutants were capable of such sadism. Surely it had to affect the Shi’ar’s opinions on mutants of earth, as it was an outsider who came in and sewed so much destruction and discord among their people. The consequences of Lilandra’s death weakened mutantkind on all fronts.
Lilandra’s end is tragic, but her legacy lives on through her and Xavier’s daughter Xandra. She was born and was granted her mother’s former position of Majestrix over the Shi’ar throughout Gambit and Rogue’s Mr. and Mrs. X run (written by Kelly Thompson). Recently she’s been shown to have the wisdom and leadership skills of both of her parents. She also inherited Charles’ telepathy. That makes her even more powerful than her mother, with the same intergalactic empire at her command. So, it would be fair to say the X-Men and Krakoa once again have a very powerful ally. Time will tell if that alliance pays off, or if the enemies of Lilandra are plotting her daughter’s downfall as well.
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