As Avengers: Doomsday nears ever closer, now is a fantastic time to learn more about the complicated weave of intergalactic politics that comprise Marvel's cosmic stories. Together, these great empires and planets form the highly revered Galactic Council, which is charged with shaping the landscape of power that defines Marvel's cosmos. However, these great empires are ever-changing and continue to face even greater uncertainty ahead.

Marvel's cosmic empires have evolved from generic, enemy-of-the-week alien threats into intricate political entities with distinct cultural ideologies, power structures, and ideals of leadership. These civilizations often embody the epitome of imperialism, rebellion, and war, reflecting Earth's complicated politics on an intergalactic scale. This ongoing evolution of ever-changing power sets the stage for stories like Avengers: Doomsday, where shifting alliances and ancient enemies shape the fate of the known Marvel universe.

This list will be specifically discussing of Marvel's Galactic Council.

10 The Kree/Skrull Alliance

Leader: Emperor Dorrek VIII (Hulkling)

Before ing forces, the Kree and Skrull Empires were caught in a bitter and bloody war that spanned eons. Their ongoing battles have repeatedly impacted Earth and its many heroes, and have shaped interstellar politics on a fundamental level. Both races are historically imperialist supremacists, believing that one should serve the other, if not exterminate the competition completely. However, thanks to the young Avenger Hulkling, the two empires were forced to see each other as equals.

Hulking, the child of the Kree hero Mar-Vell and Princess Anelle of the Skrull royal family, was prophesied to become a great unifier. In the Empyre event, the Cotati waged a genocidal campaign against all animal life in response to previous atrocities against the people at the hands of the Kree and Skrull Empires. Fortunately, Hulking proved to be the great unifier needed to these monumental empires and forged a new path of peace and harmony between the two warring factions.

9 The Shi’ar Empire

Representative: Majestrix Xandra Neramani

Alongside the Kree and Skrull factions, the Shi’ar Empire ranks as one of Marvel’s most prominent intergalactic powers, with political and militaristic control over large swaths of the known universe. Currently, the intergalactic empire is ruled by Xandra Neramani, the daughter of Professor X and the previous Majestrix Lilandra. Xandra’s rise to power marked a new generation for the Shi’ar Empire, which had historically committed as many war crimes as the previous entry.

Her rise was formalized during Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men (2019) series, marking a new era for the empire, free from the constant war, conquests, and subjugation that defined the empire’s history. Today, the Shi’ar struggle to marry Xandra’s progressive ideals with their militaristic past, causing schisms within the royal military. Fortunately for Majestrix Xandra, both her parents are returning to Shi’ar space in time for Marvel’s Imperial event. For now, tensions remain high as the Shi’ar Empire struggles through its current, transitionary period.

8 The Spartax Empire

Representative: Empress Victoria

Long before Empress Victoria took the throne, the Spartax Empire was ruled by Victoria’s villainous father J’son. Emperor J’son, who also happens to be the legendary Star-Lord’s father, was, to no surprise, an imperialist conqueror who sought to subjugate the galaxy under Spartax’s rule. After facing defeat at the hands of his son, J’son was deposed, leaving Peter Quill to take momentary control over the alien empire. However, Star-Lord’s loyalties were split between his royal duties and his true ion, creating a rift in rulership that his sister Victoria would later fill.

Empress Victoria, a more grounded and stable leader than her father, steered Spartax away from its imperial conquests to achieve a new alliance-building future. Since then, the galactic power has reformed itself into more of a democratic monarchy with a notable presence in modern galactic politics and trade routes. However, the Spartax Empire hasn’t been seen in the comics for some time, but it will make a notable return in Marvel’s Imperial event.

7 The Rigellian Empire

Representative: Mentacle

Rigel and its people are a particularly technologically advanced society that, like many of this list’s entries, used their far-future tech to expand their reach in colonial conquests throughout the stars. Rather than being ruled by a distinct royal bloodline, the technocratic empire chooses its leaders for their high intelligence. As may be expected, the Rigellians are relatively emotionless people who prioritize the collection of information and logical thinking above all else.

For the majority of its existence in the comics, the Rigellian Empire was ruled by its elected emperor called the Grand Commissioner, until he spoke in defiance of the Rigellian Empire’s colonial practices. In his place, the empire is now represented by Mentacle, a Rigellian telepath whose powers have previously challenged those of Charles Xavier’s. While the empire tends to be more peaceful than its other imperial counterparts, their cold, emotionless personalities have removed the ability to truly empathize with the subservient population of mutants that it believes are failed experiments.

6 Great Kymellia

Representative: Nymbis Sternhoof

The Kymellians are an advanced horse-like race of aliens who have mastered the scientific fields of bioengineering and molecular manipulation. Thousands of years ago, the Kymellians experimented with antimatter technology which inadvertently destroyed their homeworld. Fortunately, many of these great scientists survived their homeworld’s destruction and forged a new planet of their own design. Now, the Kymellians are more commonly known for their expertise in biology and their latent superpowered abilities.

Currently, Great Kymellia is represented by Nymbis Sternhoof, a sociable and charismatic leader who has forged a deep friendship with Earth’s mutant population. While the Kymellians inherently specialize in bio-sciences, they are considered one of the universe’s more technologically advanced societies next to that of the Rigellian Empire. But, despite their advancements, the Kymellians often advocate for strict ecological responsibilities, citing the past destruction of their homeworlds as warnings against unchecked technological power.

5 The Galactic Rim Collective

Representative: Orbis Stellaris

The Galactic Rim Collective is a relatively new player to Marvel’s cosmic scene, first debuting in Guardians of the Galaxy #7 (2020). Unlike the other major empires on this list, the Collective is, as it sounds, a collective of smaller planets and alien governments who aren’t powerful enough to speak for themselves at the Galactic Council. When the Olympian god Hercules was first introduced to the Galactic Rim Collective, he likened it to Earth’s European Union.

The Collective is currently represented by a being known as Orbis Stellaris, one of three Nathaniel Essex clones created to bring rise to the Enigma Domain. When he and his wife were created, their goal in Sinister’s conquest was to find a solution that could defeat the eventual machine uprising against humanity. As a member of the Galactic Council, Orbis represents the rising threat of technocratic societies and the dangers of technology unchecked by morality. Yet, the Essex clone remains an unpredictable wildcard who drives the Galactic Rim Collective toward utter uncertainty.

4 The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda

Representative: Regent M’Baku

This complex empire of far-future technocratic elitists first began in the humble, Earth-born nation of Wakanda. In Black Panther #12 (2019), it was revealed that King T’Challa sent a team of Alpha Flight researchers to discover the interstellar source of the Mena Ngai and Wakanda’s precious vibranium. However, while exploring the far reaches of space, Alpha Flight was taken through a temporal anomaly and sent close to 2000 years into the past. Stranded and alone, the exploration crew established a new nation of Wakanda.

Thousands of years later, the temporally displaced team of Wakandans grew into a multi-galaxy-spanning empire, known for its merciless imperialistic tendencies. Under the rule of the evil N’Jadaka, the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda was well-known for frequently breaking away from peace to further obliterate any competing planet, species, or culture that stood in the way of their conquests. Fortunately, King T’Challa was able to depose N’Jadaka and install M’Baku as the empire’s new regent.

3 The Zn’rx Empire

Representative: Empress Kuga

The Zn’rx, also known as Snarks, are an insectoid/reptilian alien race obsessed with stealing superpowers from their neighboring empires. These war-loving tyrants, who are especially known for their antagonism against the superpowered Kymellian people, continue to push their intergalactic control while the rest of the Galactic Council’s representatives seek to establish a modern, peaceful relationship. Under Empress Kuga’s control, the Zn’rx Empire has only fallen further from grace, having pushed its colonial efforts tenfold.

In the wake of the Cotati-led genocides and the subsequent restructuring of the Galactic Alliance, the Zn’rx re-launched a new campaign of intergalactic conquests that has further defined this space-faring empire as one of brutal utilitarianism, tribal feuding, and horrific genetic experimentations. Although the empire is frequently dismissed as being a lesser power, the Zn’rx have established a stronger presence in the black market, underhanding the legitimate powers of the other Galactic Council seats it calls neighbors.

2 The Nova Corps

Representative: Richard Rider

This entry is a notably different situation than every empire mentioned previously. The Nova Corps originally served as peace-keeping enforcers for the Xandarian Empire until the planet’s utter destruction at the hands of the Annihilation Wave. Now, the Nova Corps has noticeably shrunk in size, more modernly serving as a loose coalition of powers than a notable intergalactic presence. That said, Richard Rider, the Nova Corps’ current leader, still holds a seat as a representative on the Galactic Council.

Unlike their bureaucratic PST, the Nova Corps now follows Rider’s morally ethical leadership, which often clashes with larger political powers like the Kree/Skrull Alliance. With no official homeworld or proper hierarchy, the Nova Corps survives on little more than the symbol the organization once stood for. While the Corps doesn’t have the same law-enforcing powers as its fellow Galactic Council, their resilience in the face of chaos has cemented their reputation as the galaxy’s rogue heroes.

1 Earth

Representative: Doctor Doom

While Earth lacks a formal intergalactic government, its vast assortment of superpowered people, elder gods, and primordial powers have landed “Terra’s” recognition among the empires that form the Galactic Council. During the X-Men’s Krakoan era, the mutant nation of Karkoa found a quick seat on the Galactic Council, spurring a great backlash from Victor Von Doom. Doom believed that Krakoa had no right to represent Earth alone, seeing their elevation of status as a claim on Earth’s sovereignty.

Rather than electing any official representative, Doom asserted himself as Earth’s galactic diplomat, which the Galactic Council would formally recognize. Now that Doctor Doom “rules” over Earth as the Emperor Supreme, his position as Earth’s official representative has only strengthened. However, Earth’s ever-changing politics don’t bode well for Doom’s growing power, and Earth often finds itself temporarily represented by Richard Rider or of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.