From marrying the founder of the X-Men to putting a Fantastic Four member on trial, Lilandra, the Empress of Shi’ar partook in a multitude of varied comic lines prior to her death. Despite being a secondary character, she held many pivotal roles, several of which occurred after the events of the Phoenix Saga.
First appearing in 1976’s X-Men #97 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Sam Grainger, Don Warfield and Annette Kawecki, Lilandra Neramani was a member of the royal family of the Shi’ar Empire. Known for her strength, speed, endurance, and limited telepathic ability, Lilandra was a fierce hand-to-hand fighter and talented pilot.
After her sister Deathbird was exiled for killing their mother and sister, her brother D’ken took the throne while Lilandra’s talents saw her serve with the Imperial Guard. However, her stint as Grand Admiral came to an end upon learning of her power-hungry brother’s plans for the M’Kraan Crystal, a pink stone thought to be the nexus of all realities. Though Lilandra’s opposition led to an arrest and scheduled execution, she managed to escape and subsequently fled to Earth where, aware of Charles Xavier’s psychic powers, she sent him visions warning of her arrival. However, when she arrived to meet him she was captured by an awaiting Davan Shakari (the Shi’ar observer of Earth) who took her to the M’Kraan Crystal through a stargate – with an expectant Xavier and the X-Men following in pursuit. With their help, D’ken’s plot failed and, though he survived, his state was almost catatonic.
Soon crowned the new Majestrix by the Shi’ar High Council, Lilandra employed a willing Xavier – believing his X-Men to have perished in battle – as her official consort. However, upon learning the truth about his team, Xavier returned to Earth to help a struggling Jean Grey who had since been consumed by the Phoenix Force and, in her new state (Dark Phoenix), destroyed an inhabited Shi’ar planet. Seeking retribution for her people, Lilandra demanded Jean Grey’s capture and execution. In response, Xavier invoked the Shi’ar tradition of trial by combat which enabled the X-Men to duel the Imperial Guard to decide her fate. Honour-bound, Lilandra agreed and the two sides battled it out. However, fearing the inability to control the darkness within her, Jean Grey chose to sacrifice herself to curb the threat of further mass destruction.
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Meanwhile, Deathbird had allied herself with the alien Badoon, the Brood, and Shi’ar Admiral Lord Samedar to usurp Lilandra. Fleeing again, Lilandra became a freedom fighter after seeking asylum with a group of space pirates known as the Starjammers. She also went on to organize the intergalactic trial of Reed Richards for having spared the planet-devouring cosmic entity Galactus. In 1985’s Uncanny X-Men #200 by Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr., Dan Green, Glynis Oliver and Tom Orzechowski, Lilandra sensed Xavier’s ailing health through their psychic bond. Rushing to Earth with the Starjammers to retrieve him, they employed Shi’ar technology to heal him.
A new threat appeared in the form of Cassandra Nova who, having taken control of Xavier’s body, convinced Lilandra to launch an attack on the Empire and send the Imperial Guard to rid Earth of all mutants. Despite the X-Men’s successful intervention, Xavier’s image was past the point of repair for the Shi’ar people, and, to this end, his marriage to Lilandra was annulled. Lilandra’s final appearance came in 2009’s X-Men: War of Kings #4 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Paul Pelletier, Rick Magyar, Will Quintana and Joe Caramagna, where, upon killing D’ken (whom loyalists had awoken from his coma), Deathbird’s new husband Vulcan was proclaimed Emperor. Aided by the Starjammers, Lilandra sought once more to regain her position, but in the skirmish was shot by Darkhawk, an assassin loyal to Vulcan. Succumbing to her injuries, Lilandra passed away in the arms of Gladiator, a loyal servant and leader of the Imperial Guard.
In summation, Lilandra’s inclusion within the Phoenix Saga indisputably impacted the lives of all those involved – be that for better or worse. Though her seeking of justice led to Jean Grey’s death, her Shi’ar technology successfully healed Xavier.
Despite the hardships she endured over the course of various storylines, Lilandra proved herself to be steadfast and honorable, and traits like her ability to separate personal relations from the best interests of her people that suggests she is one of Marvel’s most admirable auxiliaries.