266: UXM #475 - 486 (Ed Brubaker and the Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire)

What’s Covered?

UXM V1 #475 - 486, Emperor Vulcan

Roster Watch

Synopsis

UXM #475 - 486: The Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire

Writer - Ed Brubaker

Pencils - Billy Tan, Clayton Henry (483)

In Uncanny X-Men #475-486, Ed Brubaker delivers an epic space opera that follows Professor Xavier and a handpicked team of X-Men—Havok, Polaris, Nightcrawler, Rachel Summers, Warpath, and Darwin—as they embark on a desperate mission to stop Vulcan, the long-lost Summers brother, from exacting vengeance on the Shi’ar Empire. Vulcan was originally introduced by Ed Brubaker during Deadly Genesis.

The journey begins with Xavier, now powerless, assembling his team to track down Vulcan before he can overthrow the Shi’ar.

Vulcan is enraged at Emperor D'Ken for killing his mother and enslaving him. The team faces immediate obstacles, from stealing a hidden Shi’ar ship on Earth to being stranded in space when Vulcan destroys key jump points. Along the way, they battle Skrulls, encounter Korvus—a warrior wielding an ancient Phoenix-powered blade—and form a fragile alliance with the Starjammers.

Meanwhile, Vulcan carves a path of destruction through the Shi’ar, slaughtering the Imperial Guard until he is subdued by Gladiator.

However, a rogue Shi’ar faction loyal to the exiled D’Ken rescues him. After breaking out of the Shi'ar prison, Vulcan frees Deathbird and the two fall in love.

They eventually learn that the same faction that freed him has been trying to revive D'Ken. Deathbird/Vulcan (who I'll call V Bird) are put in a position to help, but while Vulcan wants to murder him, Deathbird seemingly convinces him to let the past go and move forward by her side. It ends up being Vulcan who uses his power to bring D'Ken out of his coma!

The newly awoken (and crowned) D’Ken proposes for Vulcan to marry Deathbird and officially join his camp, which he does.

As Xavier is tortured and the X-Men regroup, Lilandra—struggling to reclaim her empire—gathers forces, including the war-hardened General Ka’ardum.

At first the X-Men & Starjammers win a great battle...

and take time to celebrate. ..

The climactic battle sees Vulcan hurling Xavier into the M’Kraan Crystal, only for Darwin to follow and save him. This trip into the crystal restored Xavier's powers.

In a shocking turn (not that shocking), Vulcan betrays and kills D’Ken, crowning himself emperor. The X-Men, victorious but battered, watch as Vulcan and Deathbird flee.

With Corsair dead (having sacrificed himself for Lilandra)...

Havok vows to lead a new Starjammers crew to hunt down Vulcan and liberate the Shi’ar once and for all.

Brubaker’s arc blends political intrigue, cosmic warfare, and personal vendettas into a gripping saga, redefining the Shi’ar mythos and cementing Vulcan as one of the X-Men’s most ruthless antagonists.

X-Men: Emperor Vulcan # 1 - 5

Writer - Christopher Yost

Pencils - Paco Diaz Luque

After wresting control of the Shi'ar Empire at the end of X-Men: The Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire, Vulcan (Gabriel Summers) installs himself as emperor. But instead of stabilizing the galaxy, Vulcan, consumed by his lust for power and vengeance, sets out to expand the Shi'ar’s dominance through war.

Meanwhile, Havok (Alex Summers), Polaris (Lorna Dane), Rachel Summers, and the Starjammers regroup after their crushing defeat. They vow to overthrow Vulcan and restore peace, even if it means battling Alex’s own brother. However, their plans are complicated when the Scy'ar Tal—an ancient race nearly exterminated by the Shi'ar centuries ago—reemerge. Having nursed a grudge for eons, the Scy'ar Tal declare war, not on Vulcan alone, but on the entire Shi'ar race.

The Scy'ar Tal unleash a devastating weapon known as the Finality, a cosmic superweapon capable of destroying entire planets and star systems. They plan to use it to wipe out the Shi'ar homeworld of Chandilar. Sensing the existential threat, Vulcan offers a temporary ceasefire to Havok and the Starjammers.

As battles erupt across space, Havok is forced into an impossible position: continue fighting Vulcan, or temporarily align with him to save billions of Shi'ar lives. In a desperate move, Havok and the Starjammers team up with Vulcan’s forces, with Rachel using her residual Phoenix powers to telepathically slow the Scy'ar Tal assault.

The climactic conflict sees Vulcan seize a brutal victory—not through diplomacy or alliance, but by sheer overwhelming force. He slaughters the leaders of the Scy'ar Tal, asserts the might of the Shi'ar Empire, and cements his rule in blood. The final battle results in a crazy battle between Havok and his brother Vulcan. After Vulcan threw Havok into a star, Havok comes back more powerful than ever and the only one able to withstand his power. Havok may have won, if Deathbird and the Imperial Guard hadn't shown up and threated Lorna and the others. It also appeared as though Korvus may have been killed, but I doubt it.

Afterward, rather than embracing his brothers or acknowledging their help, Vulcan betrays the Starjammers. He captures Havok, Polaris, Rachel, Ch'od, and Raza, sentencing them to lifelong imprisonment, declaring the age of Vulcan has only just begun. Korvus narrowly escapes, left to mount a future rescue.

The series ends on a dark, ominous note: Vulcan has become not just a ruler—but a galactic tyrant whose ambition may someday threaten the entire cosmos.

My Connections and Creators

Boring or Great?

I dig this! I've talked a lot over the years that if a writer spends too much time with the team away from their natural habitat, it can grate on the readers. I'll never forget how the terrible 12 issue Judgment War arc was in X-Factor from 1989. But you know what, I didn't feel any of that fatigue. That's a pretty strong opening act here from Mr. Ed Brubaker. Especially considering how I've never been a big fan of Xavier, Havok, or Rachel.

One funny note I need to call out is that while I was reading about Xavier being throw into the M'Kraan Crystal, I wrote in my notes "I bet he gets his powers back." Then later when he did, I wrote "called it." I don't think I get a lot of credit here as Marvel is slowly finding alternative ways to "re-power" heroes. Cable lost his powers, but then used technology to get a different form of telepathy and telekinesis. Quicksilver lost his powers and then used the Inhuman's Terrigenesis to get a new form of speed powers. Polaris got a form of her powers back after being transformed into a Horseman by Apocalypse. It was only a matter of time before this happened.

Thoughts on Art

I'm immediately a fan of Billy Tan (ha, that rhymed!) You all know I love those 90's Image artists and this is pretty darn close. I hope he sticks around!

Larger Impacts

D'Ken brought back to life was a pretty big deal! I didn't realize he was just in a coma, but I looked at old issues and that was indeed the case. I'm surprised it took this long for that to happen, but it was well executed, that's for sure!

Is it me, or is Rachel maybe not the worst character ever? The more muted portrayal we get, the more I'm ok with her.

Things to keep an eye on

Will Deathbird and Vulcan stay together for a while?

Will we keep seeing what's going on with Havok and that group or will they fade off into irrelevancy?

Is Hephzibah going to join the X-Men or something!?

Is Vulcan still the Shi'ar Emperor at the moment!?

Characters

Professor Xavier

He's back. He's walking, he's re-powered, and he's not being too big of an asshole (yet.) I don't hate Professor Xavier, I've just noticed that his comics representation is much less pristine than in movies and in cartoons. I love that Cyclops is furious with him following Deadly Genesis and isn't welcoming him at the Institute.

Nightcrawler

He's really not given much to do. With Havok leaving (I THINK he was team leader), Nightcrawler really has the resume to step into this role, however I believe Storm is coming back next month, so maybe not.

Warpath

Ok, so this is it! I know people who are huge Warpath fans and while he's been aight, I didn't really understand why he had any sort of fanbase. This is probably it. He's a badass, weilding two vibranium knives.

Polaris

She's got her powers back thanks to Apocalypse. There's also this...

We've been dancing around them getting back together over 3 different runs. It makes sense that Polaris would just be like "Eff it, the world might end, let's make out."

Havok

Maybe the least annoying Havok has ever been? Wait, am I an Ed Brubaker fan? I must be.

Rachel

A very, very strong Rachel. We also get an interesting romance with another wielder of the Phoenix Force.

Darwin

This guy is pretty cool!