Lilandra in the MC2

 

I am thoroughly enjoying the X-Men ’97 animated series on Disney + which acts as a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series. Inspired by recent episodes, today’s post will be about Professor Charles Xavier’s long-time lover, Lilandra Neramani, the Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire. This is Lilandra in the MC2.

 

First appearing in X-Men #97 as an unidentified mental projection, Lilandra’s dynastic surname of Neramani and royal status as a Princess is revealed in X-Men #103 with her first name revealed in her first full appearance in X-Men #105.

Princess Lilandra Neramani is coronated in X-Men #125, officially becoming Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire. Her lover Professor Charles Xavier accompanies her during this time and is referred to as her ‘consort,’ which may or may not be an official title. Are they married? Well, that’s unclear as there is no on-panel confirmation nor ceremony but perhaps Shi’ar culture considers the role of consort as equivalent to a marriage. In the real world, a consort is generally the spouse of a monarch. Lilandra’s profile in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #7 lists her marital status as ‘Inapplicable. Charles Xavier is her consort’. Back in the first volume of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8, Xavier’s profile lists his marital status as ‘single’ but notes that he and Lilandra forged a telepathic bond and ‘later became romantically involved and engaged to marry’. In The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #10, Charles is again listed as ‘single’ and Lilandra is not among the list of his known relatives.

 

Regardless, the couple often spend significant time apart due to their sperate responsibilities and eventually ended their relationship in X-Men Unlimited #5. I bring this up because various sources online cite New X-Men #133 as the point that their marriage is annulled by the Shi’ar Empire. So, ironically the first time they are ever explicitly referred to as being married is when it is ended. The Marvel Encyclopedia Vol. 2: X-Men from 2003 refers to Xavier as Lilandra’s ‘husband’ during the time after the Dark Phoenix Saga. Conversely, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004 profile for Xavier refers to his marital status as ‘single, former consort to Princess-Majestrix Lilandra Neramani of the Shi’ar Empire’.  But these sources are all obviously past the point of divergence for the MC2 so let’s move on!

 

In the MC2, we witness Galactus’ latest herald Dominas the Wavemaster arrive in the area of space ruled by the Shi’ar Empire, effortlessly going through all their defensive satellites on his way to the Imperial Throneworld of Shi’ar.  Dominas is confronted by the Shi’ar Imperial Guard led by Gladiator as he gives the population it’s only warning to evacuate or die (Last Planet Standing #1).

 

With Galactus’ arrival, Lilandra is advised to flee upon her personal starship alongside the High Council. The Majestrix blames herself for not having enough ships to evacuate the entire planet nor foreseeing this eventuality. Despite the Imperial Guard’s efforts, Galactus activates his elemental converter, draining every precious quanta of biochemical and kinetic energy from the Throneworld, bleeding the planet dry in moments. Lilandra Neramani watches on helplessly while her planet is destroyed (Last Planet Standing #1).

 

While that’s the only appearance we have for Lilandra in the MC2, at the conclusion of the Last Planet Standing series the threat of Galactus is ended for good when Galactus and the Silver Surfer merge into a new being and reverse the destruction caused by Galactus. This newly birthed being uses a new form of energy- The Power Essential -to repair the damage wreaked during his former self’s plot. So, it’s possible -though again, not stated- that Lilandra’s Throneworld was restored afterwards at some point (Last Planet Standing #5).

 

Until I figure out if I should have included Lilandra and the Shi’ar Royal Family on Xavier’s Family Tree, I remain

 

frogoat

Wild Thing in X-Men '92: House of XCII

 I’ve taken a hiatus from the blog recently and today’s post will only be brief. With the X-Men ’97 animated series releasing soon as a continuation of the iconic X-Men: The Animated Series, I thought it might be nice to take a quick look at an MC2 character who made a surprising appearance in that world…well, sort of?

 

The X-Men: The Animated Series has at this point had various continuations which inevitably exist as alternate universes. In 2022 Marvel Comics published one such example in the form of the mini-series X-Men ’92: House of XCII which sees the story of the cartoon continue by adapting elements from the recent ‘Krakoa Era’ of the numerous X-Titles.

 

We learn in X-Men ’92: House of XCII #1 that the sentient island Krakoa became a safe-haven for all mutants following the tragic death of Jubilee. However, the account of Jubilee’s death is greatly exaggerated, as she is kept hidden on the island by Professor Xavier and Magneto, maintaining her status as martyr.

 

As it turns out, Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee discovered she had the secondary mutation ability of ‘Explosive Reality Reset’ (meaning she lived multiple lifetimes) after she was initially killed by Sentinels. Having died multiple times by the mutant hunting machines and learning that her remaining lives were finite, she faked her final death and in the process unified Mutantkind against the Sentinels (X-Men ’92: House of XCII #2).

 

During her ninth life, Jubilee led a Generation X team whose members included the recently deceased Morph (aka Kevin Sidney), Genesis ( aka Evan Sabahnur, a clone of Apocalypse), Cable (apparently Nathan Summers merged with Krakoa), Diamondheart (aka Emma Frost), another unidentified member and Wild Thing aka Rina Logan (X-Men ’92: House of XCII #2).

 

 

When the Generation X team faced the Nimrod Sentinels, it was revealed Jubilee had only one remaining life left, leading to her aforementioned final bid to ensure Mutantkind survived. Inevitably, Jubilee’s own survival in her last life was revealed and she ultimately sacrificed herself using the Phoenix Force to reset the universe once more, albeit with no recollection of her past lives. Series writer Steve Foxe intentionally left the ending vague, with one potential interpretation being that Jubilee reset the universe to the one of X-Men: The Animated Series (X-Men ’92: House of XCII #3-#5).

 

So, a version of Wild Thing exists in an X-Men: The Animated Series-adjacent universe, if nothing else! Artist Salva Espin does a fantastic job rendering Rina in a style which is so close to the animated series, it’s uncanny.

Until I get back on my feet and give some attention to this blog, I remain

 

frogoat