This Cosmic Marvel Team Plays a Much Bigger Role Than You Think

by

The story of “Imperial” is undoubtedly one of the most captivating cosmic Marvel tales since the epic saga of “Annihilation.” In recent times, the squabbling factions within the Marvel Universe have found peace – the Shi’Ar’s empire has been stabilized with their alliance with Krakoa, and the endless war between the Kree and Skrull ceased when the hybrid Young Avenger Hulkling became ruler of both races. However, a sense of calm has been disrupted since the conclusion of “Empyre” and “The Last Annihilation.” The mysterious deaths of various universal leaders have caused havoc among the alliances between empires, sending heroes such as the Hulk, She-Hulk, Nova, Black Panther, Shuri, and Star-Lord scurrying across the universe to uncover the truth behind these tragic events. Beneath it all lies a sinister intention that is slowly being revealed.

In the third installment of “Imperial,” the mystery behind the book’s contents unravels, as it is disclosed that the war’s origin was a bet between Maximus and the Grandmaster over whether the latter could dismantle an alliance within a year. The Grandmaster outlines his strategy in the ensuing struggle, and the initial conflict stems from the Shi’Ar Empire. Leveraging the most prominent aspect of the empire – the Imperial Guard – the Grandmaster aims to exert significant influence in “Imperial.” However, it’s important to note that the Imperial Guard has always been a significant force within the Marvel Universe, often engaging in confrontations and collaborations with numerous Earth heroes.

The Shi’Ar Imperial Guard Is a Galaxy Spanning Super-Army

As a devoted comics enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about my first encounter with the Imperial Guard – a formidable team of intergalactic superheroes that made their debut in X-Men issue #107. Back then, the Shi’Ar Empire was under the tyrannical rule of Mad Emperor D’Ken, and his sister Lilandra sought Earth’s help, finding it in the form of the X-Men.
This group was inspired by another DC team, the Legion of Superheroes, which coincidentally, co-creator Dave Cockrum had drawn prior to joining Marvel.

The Imperial Guard consisted of a host of powerful alien warriors under Gladiator’s command, including Smasher, Oracle, Fang, Astra, Electron, Hobgoblin (not the Spider-Man villain), Magic, Mentor, Nightside, Quasar, Starbolt, Tempest, Titans, and Midget. It was a cat-and-mouse game between the X-Men and the Imperial Guard, but Lilandra eventually managed to overthrow her brother and seize the throne.

The Imperial Guard made their return in the timeless X-Men epic, “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” engaging the X-Men in a trial by combat for the life of Jean Grey. Since then, they’ve popped up multiple times in X-Men comics, helping the team against the Brood, turning against them when the Shi’Ar Empire was manipulated by a Skrull pretending to be Professor Xavier during the Kree/Shi’Ar War.

The Imperial Guard also found themselves on the losing side during the Phalanx invasion in the mid ’90s, with an expansion of their roster to include even more members. Their history is rich and complex, and they remain a fascinating aspect of the X-Men’s cosmic adventures.

In my experience following the lore, it’s been fascinating to see how Cassandra Nova, disguised as Professor X, has repeatedly caused trouble for the Imperial Empire. This time, she launched an attack that left them vulnerable. However, they did assist against the Annihilation Wave in various “Annihilation” tales. Later, during “The Rise and Fall of the Shi’Ar Empire”, D’Ken was resurrected, seizing control of the Empire. Eventually, the Imperial Guard teamed up with the X-Men to combat D’Ken, paving the way for Vulcan, the youngest Summers sibling, to take over. The ensuing war against the Inhumans ensued, and Gladiator was eventually appointed leader of the Shi’Ar Empire.

Jonathan Hickman’s run on “Avengers” introduced a captivating detail about the Guard – each member is part of a class, chosen to join the Subguardians first, where they receive enhancements to mimic their class’ powers. Some even ascend to become Superguardians. For instance, a human named Izzie discovered Smasher’s exo-specs and, wearing them, transformed into Smasher herself.

The Guard participated in the wars against the Builders in “Infinity”, also attempting to eradicate Earth to halt the Incursions in “Avengers”. Gladiator eventually stepped down as leader of the Shi’Ar, only to be succeeded by Xandra – the daughter of Professor X and Lilandra. Subsequently, Gladiator returned to his post as the leader of the Imperial Guard, safeguarding the Empire once more.

The Imperial Guard May Break the Balance of Power in the Marvel Universe

The Grandmaster’s strategy for the Guard includes a powerful Superguardian named Electron. However, the Electron class is being phased out, and its Superguardians are retiring. It’s possible that one of these Electrons could be Emperor D’Ken’s illegitimate child. For a long time, the Shi’Ar have been in rebellion against Xandra, but Xavier and Lilandra are currently en route to aid their daughter. Unfortunately, the Grandmaster’s plan has already resulted in disastrous consequences, as this Electron now commands an army of decommissioned Superguardians.

The Imperial Guard, part of the Marvel Universe, are exceptionally powerful. Although they sometimes suffer losses, their diverse abilities and large numbers make them a potential danger for any time period. Interestingly, they tend to lose more due to numerical disadvantages rather than being weaker. When commanded by D’Ken, they were particularly formidable. If Grandmaster’s plans come to fruition, there’s a possibility that they could be unleashed against humanity once again.

Imperial #3 is on sale now.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-best-x-men-stories-20s-marvel-comics/embed/#

Read More

2025-08-22 21:50