The Shi'ar - Out of Place?

[Zeta]

I gotta say, there have always been two concepts n the comics that I've absolutely detested.

1) Secondary Mutations (but everyone's listed the problems with that already)

And

2) The Shi'ar.

I mean, is it just me, or are the Shi'ar totally out of place in the X-men, when you consider the theme? So much of the X-men is based on global politics and human problems, that it seems a bit weird to suddenly pluck the characters in the middle of intergalactic warfare. If anything, it kind of dilutes the rest of the stories by making the problems on earth seem insignificant in comparison.

Also, I think it's kind of out of place. I mean, humans are worried about mutants because of how different they are. Wouldn't you think they'd be more upset about the - you know, aliens? The discovery of aliens would make genetic superhumans seem kind of dull in comparison.

I just thought it didn't fit, and was kind of bizarre. And I was annoyed by how much they wore focused on for so long. X-men doesn't work as a space opera. It's kind of like having Spider-man fight demons from Hell, or having Batman regularly interact with werewolves or something. It just doesn't mesh well.

Any other thoughts on this?

[milhouse123321]

I dont really have much to say, but I agree with you, I dont like many aliens i the Marvel U, and Im not really a fan of any of their 'cosmic' characters.
So yeah...

[Huzzah!]

i hate all mutant in space stories


But taht being said Corsair came from that...so they cant all be bad.

[Brian M.]

I think if done right they can have a good influence on the story. Look at the Phoenix Saga and the Dark Phoenix Saga. What would that be like w/o the Shi'ar?

[Zeta]

I think if done right they can have a good influence on the story. Look at the Phoenix Saga and the Dark Phoenix Saga. What would that be like w/o the Shi'ar?

I think it actually would've been more touching, relevant, and well - more "down to earth" if Dark Pheonix had toasted a major American city instead of a planet. True, that's nerfing her abilities a bit. But the Dark Pheonix saga was a little too grand for my tastes.

Yes, yes - I know, blasphemy. But I'd feel more sympathy for the city of say, Philidelphia or something getting blowed up by Jean than a planet of nameless aliens.

[Blackcat]

i hate all mutant in space stories


But taht being said Corsair came from that...so they cant all be bad.

WHAT??? I love them!

[Tenebrae]

I think its always interesting to see any character taken out of their natural environment and forced to deal with something beyond their normal scope. The Shi'ar provide ample opportunity for that to be done with the X-Men and some great stories have resulted from it.

I agree that the Shi'ar (and the Savage Land and Mojoworld and the Brood etc) don't fit in with the X-Men's general theme and reason for being but beyond the team's struggle for peaceful co-existence between mutants and humans, the X-Men comics are about the characters. If taking them off into space to fight the Imperial Guard lets us see a different side of them or even just keeps the comic from becoming stale or samey, then I'm all for it.

[TinMan]

I agree with you Zeta, I've never enjoyed all of the outer space crap they've done. It just doesn't fit the characters, I can see the Fantastic Four going into space, and maybe the Avengers, but it just doesn't fit the X-Men.

On a second note though, I don't mind the Brood so much out of all of the different alien races the muties have dealt, because they were and always have been an immediate threat to earth (and those stories usually took place ON earth). When it comes to the context of earth being threatened, then I can deal with some aliens, but when its just kind of random and forced to take a trip to space (i.e. the x-men having to save the shi'ar, circa late nineties) I don't even care to read it.

[fishtaco]

In order to establish coexistance on a world, there needs to be a world to establish co-existance. More than once, the X-men have had to deal with Shiar matters that involve the fate of the world. It has also become part of their responsibility from the moment Xavier "met" Lilandra in Uncanny X-men 97.

[Babylon23]

I tend to agree with Tenebrae. If the X-Man focused entirely on earth-based social and political matters, the book would grow stale. Sometimes removing characters from their natural environment freshens things up.

Also, the X-Man have a long history of dealing with such matters. They journeyed to the Savage Land and battled the Stranger in their first 11 issues. Although the global politics and human issues are always present, the X-Men has always been a superhero book.

Also, the Shiar Empire has been included in some classic stories in the past, including their initial appearance, the Dark Phoenix Saga, and the original Brood story.

The Marvel universe is a vast and wondrous place, filled with alternate dimensions, galactic empire, hidden cities and lands, etc. I don't see why any writer producing superhero comics would want to limit themselves to 1 type of story when they have so many options available to them.

[ibrakeforchinwe]

I LOVE THE SHI'AR!!

Don't diss the Shi'ar, they have Shi'ar technology that can kick your ***. The Shi'ar are the coolest out there. Of course the Shi'ar encompases quite alot of races, but I love them all.

[Asian Knight]

i hate all mutant in space stories


But taht being said Corsair came from that...so they cant all be bad.

Don't forget about Hepzibah, Raza & Ch'od.

[Huzzah!]

Gotta love Corsairs catwoman hallucinigene secreating girlfriend Hepzibah

[Deus ex Chris]

I agree that the Shi'ar are out of place in regards to the X-Men, but I think the Shi'ar as a concept is great. I'd like to see that concept explored on its own or in the Fantastic Four or the Avengers, where alien mega empires don't undermine the major themes.

[Shellhead]

Gotta love Corsairs catwoman hallucinigene secreating girlfriend Hepzibah

Look again, she's obviously a skunkwoman.


It would be a mistake to banish the Sh'iar from the X-comics. Too much focus on mutant-hatred has nearly banished the X-titles from the Marvel Universe, leading them down into a creative deadend. Rather than subtracting another element for X-writers to work with, why not find a way to address a new theme, or even the old mutant-hating theme, using the Sh'iar as foils or allies? Are there Sh'iar mutants? If so, there's the tie-in. If not, why not? Were they exterminated? Is mutation a particularly human development? What is the source of the super-powers displayed in the various members of the Imperial Guard? etc.