The Imperial Guard (the so-called Superguardians) is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Imperial Guard are a multi-ethnic group of alien beings who act as enforcers of the laws of the Shi'ar empire; the Superguardians are the personal guard of the leader of the Empire.
Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, the original Imperial Guard characters were pastiches of prominent members of rival publisher DC Comics' superhero team the Legion of Super-Heroes. Many other characters were later added to the roster, not all of whom are based on Legionnaires.
The Imperial Guard first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #107 (October 1977). Since then, they have been featured periodically in the X-Men titles; crossed paths with the Starjammers, the Kree, the Skrulls, Nova Corps, the Inhumans, and the Guardians of the Galaxy; and been featured in a number of limited series, including Imperial Guard (1997), the War of Kings crossover series (2009), and Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard (2010).
More than 50 Imperial Guard Superguardians have appeared in Marvel Comics' titles; the core members number about 20, with the most notable being Gladiator, Oracle, Starbolt, Neutron, Smasher, Flashfire, Warstar, Electron, Manta, Mentor, Titan, Pulsar, Hussar, Nightside, and Fang.
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Structure and organization
The Imperial Guard numbers about 300 members, and is made up of elite soldiers from throughout the Empire. The Imperial Guard is led by a praetor.
The Superguardians (who comprise the vast majority of the named characters) are the guards of the Shi'ar leader. Those closest to the leader are known as the Royal Elite.
The Guard academy trains replacements called Subguardians for Superguardians who are killed or incapacitated.
Imperial Guard oath of allegiance
This is the Imperial Guard's oath of allegiance to the Shi'ar empire:
I will not falter, and I will not swerve. From the rising of the suns to the setting of the stars. With Sharra and K'ythri to guide me, I will serve out the term of my duty with courage and conviction, for it is the greatest honor any being of any species can know to be allowed to guard the Imperium of the Shi'ar and stand, each of us, as a light in the darkness. So I make my oath of allegiance.
Concept and creation
As X-Men creators Claremont and Cockrum were devising a team to battle the X-Men in the first part of the Phoenix Saga, Cockrum suggested modeling their powers and costumes after characters from DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Cockrum previously had a two-year run as artist on the Legion of Super-Heroes backup feature in the Superboy comic book.
In a 2002 interview, Cockrum said that he showed the character designs to Legion writer Paul Levitz. Asked if he thought there might be trouble between the companies, Cockrum said, "Not really... I showed the designs to Paul Levitz, and he didn't say, 'You can't do that.' If anything, he said, 'Geez, these costumes are better than the ones the Legionnaires are wearing.' No, I don't think we ever once thought that we were going to get in trouble over it."
The first Guardsmen introduced (with their Legion of Super-Heroes analog in parentheses) were Gladiator (Superboy), Astra (Phantom Girl), Electron (Cosmic Boy), Fang (Timber Wolf), Hobgoblin (Chameleon Boy), Impulse (Wildfire), Magic (Princess Projectra), Mentor (Brainiac 5), Midget (Shrinking Violet), Nightshade (Shadow Lass), Oracle (Saturn Girl), Quasar (Star Boy), Smasher (Ultra Boy), Starbolt (Sun Boy), Tempest (Lightning Lad), and Titan (Colossal Boy).
Over time, for various reasons, some of the members' code-names were changed: Nightshade to Nightside, Magic to Magique, Midget to Scintilla, Quasar to Neutron, Tempest to Flashfire, and Impulse to Pulsar.
Fictional team history
Many centuries ago, the Phoenix Force entity ends up in Shi'ar space, where it bonds with a citizen of the Empire named Rook'shir. In conjunction with his blade, Rook'shir learns to control the Phoenix Force, but is ultimately overwhelmed by its power, becoming the first known host to succumb to and go insane from its destructive impulses. Becoming the first Dark Phoenix, Rook'shir rampages throughout the Empire, destroying many planets in the process.
T'korr, Majestor of the Shi'ar empire, creates the Imperial Guard to battle Rook'shir; some of the first members are Gladiator, Magic, Mentor, and Quasar. Defeating Rook'shir, the Guard becomes the first line of defense of the Shi'ar empire.
In The X-Men #107 (Oct. 1977), the Shi'ar empire comes into conflict with the X-Men regarding the Phoenix entity, with the Guard battling them at the command of Emperor D'Ken and his sister, the Grand Admiral, Princess Lilandra Neramani.
Some time later during "The Dark Phoenix Saga", the Guardsmen again come into conflict with the X-Men regarding Dark Phoenix, this time at the behest of Lilandra.
The Borderers division is introduced — a group of Guardsman stationed on one of the Shi'ar's conquered worlds to help its governor enforce Shi'ar law. A renegade faction of the Imperial Guard — mainly made up of Borderers, but also including Fang, Hussar, Quasar, and Warstar — become traitors, deciding to serve Lord Samédàr, Deathbird, and the Brood in a conspiracy to overthrow Shi'ar Princess-Majestrix Lilandra. The renegades battle the Guardsman who remain loyal to Lilandra and the X-Men. After defeating the Brood and the renegades, Lilandra resumes her position as the head of the Shi'ar empire. Despite many of the Imperial Guard having joined with Deathbird against Lilandra, most team members are pardoned for their actions, although Quasar, Warstar, Hussar, and Webwing are later banished.
Some time later, Deathbird stages a successful coup and becomes the new Shi'ar Empress. She sends the Imperial Guard to Earth to battle the combined forces of the Starjammers and the superhero team Excalibur, so that she can claim the power of the Phoenix Force for herself. The Guard are forced to retreat when Deathbird realizes the Starjammers are led by Lilandra.
Membership
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
In an alternate reality depicted in the miniseries Age of Apocalypse, Lilandra becomes the Admiral of the Shi'ar Grand Fleet and leader of the Imperial Guard. However, she is killed by her brother D'ken before she can stop him from taking control of the M'Kraan Crystal.
Heroes Reborn
In an alternate reality depicted in the miniseries "Heroes Reborn", the Imperial Guard is associated with Hyperion and most of its members are infected by the Brood.
MC2
An older, alternate reality version of the original Lilandra appears in the MC2 miniseries Last Planet Standing, where she escapes the Shi'ar empire after it is attacked and devoured by Galactus.
In other media
The Imperial Guard appear in X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97, consisting of Gladiator, Starbolt, Flashfire, Oracle, Smasher, Titan, Hobgoblin, Warstar, Earthquake, Hussar, Astra, Manta, and Vulcan.
The Imperial Guard appear in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, consisting of Gladiator, Neutron, Hussar, Starbolt, and Warstar. Several members of the Imperial Guard assisted Deathbird in taking the Shi'ar empire's throne from her sister Lilandra while others refused to take part. Meanwhile, a group of heroes come to obtain a shard of the M'Kraan Crystal and defeat the traitorous guards, Shi'ar soldiers, and Deathbird in the process.
The Imperial Guard appear in the Christopher L. Bennett novel, X-Men: Watchers on the Walls, consisting of Smasher, Manta, Flashfire, Astra, Nightside, Magique, Blackthorn, N'rill'iree, and Empress Lilandra.
Reception and characterization
Nick Hemming of Looper described the Imperial Guard as perhaps "the most interesting facet of the Shi'ar," describing them as "an elite team of super soldiers who enforce the law within the empire. The Guard has played both friend and foe to Earth's favorite heroes over time, boasting a diverse roster of various species."