Warning: Contains SPOILERS for X-Force #9 (2025) and the X-Traction event.

Marvel just set up an intergalactic civil war, which could threaten everything fans know about the Marvel Universe, and it’s all thanks to X-Men founder Charles Xavier, who has escaped from his imprisonment under the old Xavier’s School and has been on the run since. Until now, no one knew what motivated Xavier to escape his confines, but the tragic truth is about to throw everything into chaos.

In X-Force #9 – written by Geoffrey Thorne, with art by Marcus To – Charles Xavier psychically makes with his long-time ally and daughter-figure Sage. Previously, in X-Factor #8, last existing Krakoan Resurrection Egg.

Sage and fellow mutant John Wraith hid Xavier and the egg in a secure location, where he finally reveals who he resurrected. As the golden exterior of the egg’s shell melts away, Charles its this is the only non-mutant ever to be reborn, as Charles’s long-dead wife and previous Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire Lilandra emerges.

Charles Xavier's Shi'ar Wife, Lilandra, Has Officially Returned In Marvel Canon

X-Force #9 – Written By Geoffrey Thorne; Art By Marcus To; Color By Erick Arciniega; Lettering By VC’s Joe Caramagna; Cover Art By Stephen Segovia & Rain Beredo

Much has changed since Lilandra died in 2009's War of the Kings #4. At the time, an all-out interstellar war between the Shi’ar and the Inhumans ravaged the galaxy. Cyclops’s brother Vulcan seized control of the Shi’ar Empire and dubbed himself its new Emperor. As Lilandra attempted to regain her lost command, she was killed by the hero Darkhawk, whose Raptor armor was controlled by Emperor Vulcan. Vulcan was later deposed by Gladiator who later named Lilandra and Xavier’s daughter, Xandra, the new Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire. However, Xandra is now at risk of a potential hostile takeover.

In this year's Uncanny X-Men #11, readers learned that Xandra’s throne was been seized by a faction of rebels who believe her half-mutant status makes her unfit to rule. Xandra reached out to her father, which galvanized the Professor to break free from his bonds and resurrect Lilandra. Not only is one of the universe’s greatest empires at risk of breaking away from its peace-keeping practices, but now Xandra’s life is at risk too. Yet as the X-Man and ex-Majestrix attempt to flee Earth to save their daughter, the galaxy as a whole has become increasingly unstable and faces war.

With The Shi'ar Empire In Crisis, The Galactic Council Has Taken A Dangerous Turn

The Dark God Perrikus, Gorr The God Butcher, & Thanos Forces

The Galactic Council, an interstellar committee uniting the universe’s eight great empires, has generally held civil peace throughout the last couple of decades. Wars between the Council’s 10,000 lesser planetary representatives have practically ceased, and the universe is now at relative peace. However, something dark has festered inside the Council’s ranks and threatens to upheave the delicate stability that the universe has pieced together. Lately, in Marvel’s Phoenix (2024) series, Jean Grey has become a target of fear across the stars. With Jean now permanently bonded with the Phoenix, the universe fears who the Phoenix Force may next destroy.

Corruption has now seeded its way into the universe’s greatest governing body as Thanos now commands every army in the Council’s arsenal.

Believing that Jean Grey is a threat, Gladiator, the highest-ranking member of the Shi’ar Royal Guard, hired the Dark God Perrikus and Gorr the God Butcher to destroy the Phoenix for good. After Jean defeats Gorr by transforming him into a star, Gladiator convinces the Galactic Council to heed his fears and hire the Mad Titan Thanos to do what Gorr could not. Corruption has now seeded its way into the universe’s greatest governing body as Thanos now commands every army in the Council’s arsenal. Now, it’s become clear which forces are behind Xandra’s deposition and Marvel’s next major event.

Marvel's Imminent "Imperial" Event Begins With The X-Men

A Longtime Marvel Hero Is To Blame

With the cosmic Marvel series Imperial coming soon, readers know an unparalleled intergalactic conflict is ahead, and it’s all thanks to the X-Men . While it’s unknown how deep Gladiator and the Council’s corruption runs, it is enough to have inspired the empires to hand their armies over to three genocidal warlords. It’s highly likely that Gladiator, despite his past for Xandra, is behind the young Majestrix’s expulsion of power, given his new dark alliance with nefarious powers. The entire Galactic Council has now unified against Jean Grey as Charles Xavier and Lilandra head for the stars to save Xandra.

Knowing Jonathan Hickman’s propensity to let his characters’ morality crumble, Imperial promises to shake the cosmic half of the Marvel Universe to its core while long-standing heroes turn in a sinister direction. The Galactic Council is facing total collapse and, in the vacuum of power that follows, the universe will face a gruesome and bloody war as powers from across the stars fight to claim their place at the top. When the X-Men frahcise's Charles Xavier and Lilandra finally arrive at the Shi’ar homeworld, the universe may already be crumbling around them.

X-Force #9 is now available from Marvel Comics.