"KIASHON" race
(see comments)

Classification: Humanoid extraterrestrial race  Location/Base of Operations: Planet Kiasho, unidentified star system, unidentified galaxy, Reality-21394;     Prince Oji (and before him, his emperor father) ruled from Sa'ar City; Known Members: General Kazi, General Nagai, Prince Oji and his armies and servants; Shemales; unidentified Hill Tribes;     Clan Moromai, House of Sa'ar, Yashida Dynasty (see comments) Affiliations: Swashbucklers (Cap'n Kidd, Domino Blackthorne Drake, Logik, Raader, Servitor, Spyeye) Enemies: Colonizers;     as there was not a planetary government, some of the people's warred against each other, such as the hill people warring against the House of Sa'ar First Appearance: Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (November, 1986)

Powers/Abilities: The Kiashon did not have notable superhuman powers.

    Soldiers were experienced swordsmen, and they were brave and willing to sacrifice their lives to defend their people, their lifestyle, and their honor.

    Warriors utilized swords, spears, and bow and arrow, at least.

    Some of the Hill People rode atop winged saurians.

    Despite their relatively primitive weaponry, they did have at least some more advanced technology, such as their Holo-Map.

    They lacked any form of space travel. They had ships in their harbors.

Traits: The Kiashon had numerous similarities to terrestrial Japanese society, notably mirroring bushido, the code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai.

    Their architecture also mirrored that of Japan during the time of the samurai.

    Significantly, they were a male-dominated culture, and "shemales" (women) existed to breed and serve, not to fight.

    Society was divided into clan, dynasties, and houses.

Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; black (or very dark brown (or some other very dark color))
Fingers: Three (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed (likely four from the only image showing the Oji's toes)
Skin color: Green
Average height: Approximately 5'10"?
Other distinguishing features: They have a large bump mid-forehead. Their noses are relatively flat to their face.

History:
(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - The people of Kiasho believed the gods inhabited the Vault of Heaven, and they had no knowledge of extraterrestrials. 

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - The Emperor of Clan Moromai ruled with an iron hand, and he played on the disunity of the hill tribes to rule them.

    The Emperor taught his son, Prince Oji (presumably like many of his people) from birth that the gods inhabited the Vault of Heaven.

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - As the hill tribes had no sea vessels, the ocean was considered the only defense that that quarter of Sa'ar City needed.

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - The Emperor was assassinated by unspecified members of the clans he had ruled. Thereafter, Prince Oji (who had studied to become a priest) came to rule Clan Moromai, but the other clans united and rose up against Oji; perhaps sensing that Oji was not the emperor that his father was, and they attempted to put an end to House of Sa'ar.

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - Enemy forces overran Clan Moromai's borders.

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - A probe beacon from the alien Colonizers shone down on the borders of Prince Oji's father's kingdom; its significance was unknown to the local population.

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (fb) - BTS) - Enemy forces surrounded Sa'ar City.

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10) - Prince Oji assured Generals Kazi and Nagai that they would fight, but he considered that they would lose as soon as the tribes assembled and waged the final battle on Sa'ar City; after the city fell, the Yashida Dynasty would be only a memory.

    A fiery object (the Star-Shadow ship of the Swashbucklers, coming to help them fight the Colonizers) flashed across the sky, as if drawn down from the stars to that beacon on the hills, and landed in the harbor.

    Believing that these beings were gods from the stars, Prince Oji was depressed upon learning that they were mortal pirates.

    The Swashbucklers offered to help for a price, and Captain Raader discussed life on other planets and advised that the people of Kiasho unite to fight the Colonizers.

    However, the Oji told her that they were embroiled in a losing war with their enemies and that they were not certain they believed her about these Colonizers from the stars.

    Regardless, he could not accept her aid because she was a shemale. Even if accepting her aid would save the House of Sa'ar, he could not accept it, because it would bring disgrace upon the dynasty: They may perish, but at least they would perish with honor.

    Nonetheless, the Swashbucklers' Domino flew into the air and used her energy-powers to against the Hill People using flying saurians, causing General Nagai (presumably, or else some other soldier, but not Kazi) to remark that with such powers, they actually be gods.

    The Swashbucklers' Spyeye then bonded to one of the Hillsmen and forced him to attack his allies, after which Servitor leapt atop a flying saurian's neck, bringing it and its rider to the ground; and Cap'n Kidd placed a trip rope that took down a number of Hill People. Despite this aid, the Oni's people lost their will to fight, as exemplified by one who remarked, "Shemales! Animals! Madness! Are we not men that we leave the defense of our realm to such as those?"

    Apparently sensing their foes, lackluster motivation, the Hill People swarmed on, but the Swashbucklers then attacked en masse, turning back an assault by the hillman that would almost certainly otherwise taken down the House Sa'ar. However, still unwilling to accept this aid despite virtually certain victory, the Oji ordered his troops to retreat. 

(Swords of the Swashbucklers#10) - As the Swashbucklers departed Kiasho, they encountered and destroyed an approaching Colonizer ship, appreciating that others would follow unless they destroyed the probe beacon. Resolving to save the people even if they did not want their help, Raader led the return to Sa'ar to find it in flames from hill people assaults. After Prince Oji refused an offer to depart with the Swashbucklers, they finally departed, but not before General Kazi told Raader that it was an honor to have fought beside her. Raader thanked him and wished him good luck.

Comments: Created and owned by Bill Mantlo (or his estate) and Geoff Isherwood.

    Planet Kiasho was named, but the race was not specifically named.
    We know next to nothing about the planet, and I think a race profile is more interesting than a  planet profile...so I did the race profile and chose the name "Kiashon" for the people of the planet Kiasho...that is obviously unofficial at this point...

    It was not clear to me what Oji specifically ruled...House of Sa'ar would seem like a relatively small family, with Clan Moromai being a group larger than the family, with Yashida Dynasty being an even larger group...but, this is not an area of expertise for me.
    Sadly (on many levels), Bill Mantlo is no longer with us and can't provide any clarification.

    It seems to me that perhaps Raader could have compromised somewhat, and she and any other female Swashbucklers could have stayed behind the scenes...perhaps the Ojo would have accepted the aid of the male members, at least? And Raader and the females could have have opposed the Colonizers without their knowledge?

    Further, at the end of the story, Raader and the Swashbucklers could have destroyed the Colonizers beacon in the hopes that the world and people would at least not just be wiped out by the Colonizers.

    The Kiashon seemed to be speaking English, but presumably that was translated for the benefit of the reader. There was also presumably some sort of "universal translator" used by the Swashbucklers.

Earth-21394 When piratical terrestrial society was threatened by alien Colonizers, Domino Blackthorne Drake allied with the alien Swashbucklers, led by Captain Raader, to rescue Drake's parents. Drake continued with the Swashbucklers, pillaging other worlds and opposing the Colonizers. Marvel Graphic Novel #14: Swords of the Swashbucklers (1984)

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Kiashon should be distinguished from:

• KIA (Michael Van Patrick clone) - MVP clone given the Tactigon, after which he began trying to kill everyone involved with MVP's death, slaughtered many present at Camp Hammond, ultimately had his mind stolen by machine designed by Baron von Blitzschlag--Avengers: The Initiative#8
• KAHESHAN race - planet Kahesha; planet's crystals healed Darkhawk and empowered Metahumes--Darkhawk I#46
• KAICHEK - Shadowqueen's dimension--[Dr. Strange II#38], 43
• KAI-SHEK - Tongs druglord, allied with Kingpin--Daredevil I#340
• KAISHEK, GOM - younger son of Yolyn, brother of Haan & Kia, allied with Kia against Haan, kidnapped Yukio and Amiko in attempt to force Wolverine to assist him in defeating Haan, shot in head an killed by Haan. large man,goatee--Wolverine II#150 
• KAISHEK, HAAN - older son of Yolyn, brother of Gom & Kia, nearly killed Silver Samurai in attempt to force him to surrender control of Clan Yashida, killed Gom, duped + shot + killed by Kia--Wolverine II#150
• KAISHEK, KIA - daughter of Yolyn, sister of Gom + Haan, faked alliances with both of them, had Amiko and Yukio kidnapped to force Wolverine to assist them against Haan, slew Yolyn to take control of his fortune and army, killed by Wolverine in a savage battle that culminated in explosion of Yolyn’s castle--Wolverine II#150
  
• KAISHEK, YOLYN - father of Gom + Haan + Kia, Mongolian crimelord, slew own relatives in youth to take over clan, slain in turn by Kia--Wolverine II#150
• other "Kia" or "Kai" characters, groups, items, events, races, or places...

• CLAN AKKABA (Kabar Brashir, Frederick Slade/Ferguson, Hamilton & Margaret Slade, Jack Starsmore) - composed of the descendents of Apocalypse, most slaughtered by Dracula in 1897, leaving only Jack Starsmore and Frederick Ferguson surviving--X-Men: Apocalypse vs. Dracula#1
  
• CLAN CAMBELL - circa 1692 A.D., sent by the king of Scotland to slaughter Clan MacDonald--Marvel Graphic Novel: Punisher: Blood on the Moors (Blood on the Moors (fb)
• CLAN CHOSEN of Earth-4935 (Boak, Cable, Dawnsilk, Eleven, Hope, Tetherblood) - allies of Cable against New Canaanites--Cable II#1
• CLAN CYORSE of Earth-691 (Adzo, Gui Askran (d), Beringa, Bernardo, Mailliw, Murrab (d), Sevachala) - aboard Sol III, worshipped Thanos robot--Cyberspace3000#1
  
• CLAN DESTINE - descendents of a faerie and Adam Destine, paranormal powers--Marvel Comics Presents I#158(ClanDestine I#1-12, X-Men & ClanDestine#1, 2
• CLAN HELLFIRE of Earth-9910 (Sammara Shaw, Fold, Trickster)--Bishop: Last X-Man#5
  
• CLAN MacDONALD (Red Ian Og) - @ 1692, Scottish clan, ambushed and slaughtered by Clan Campbell for the King--Marvel Graphic Novel: Punisher: Blood on the Moors
• CLAN REBELLION of Earth-4935 (Prior Turran, Skerrit, Siddard, Gyak, Redd, Slym)--Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix#3
• other clans or "Moromai" characters, groups, events, items, races, or places...
  

• S'AANTA of Earth-9047- robot agent of Col. Gate, destroyed by Milk & Cookies--What The?#10/2
• SAAL, GARTHAN - see NOVA OMEGA (app)--Avengers I#301
• SAARL the SLAUGHTERER - Badoon--Marvel Voices: Indigenous Voices#1 (February, 2021)
  
• SA'ARPOOL - portal to dimension of N'Garai, three existed on Earth--Giant-Size Dracula#2
• other Sa'ar races, places, groups, items, events, or characters...
  

• YASHIDA, MARI of Earth-1298 - daughter of Logan and Mariko, kidnapped by Creed--Mutant X#28
• YASHIDA, MARIKO - former leader of Clan Yashida of Yakuza, daughter of Lord Shingen, former fiancé of Wolverine--Uncanny X-Men#118
  
• YASHIDA, MARIKO of Reality-2109 - see SUNFIRE--Exiles#2
  
• YASHIDA, SHINGEN - see LORD SHINGEN--Wolverine I#1
• YOSHIDA, LEYU - see SUNPYRE--Uncanny X-Men I#392
• YOSHIDA, SHIRO - see SUNFIRE--X-Men I#64
• YOSHIDA, TOMO - Uncle of Sunfire, formerly manipulated him--X-Men I#64
• other Yashida characters, groups, items, events, races, or places...
  

Like most of their society, they had building structures similar to those of Japan at the time of the samurai. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10

As prepared by their reconnaissance patrols, General Kazi used a holo-map to depict to the Oji the Hill People's locations surrounding Sa'ar City. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 Note: The Holo-Map was the only advanced technology I saw  used by the Kiashon.

General Kazi was one of the leaders/advisors of the Oji's forces, alongside General Nagai, both of whom met directly with the Oji.      As the Hill People surrounded Sa'ar City, General Kazi (alongside Nagai) met with the Oji and used a Holo-Map to depict the location of Hillsmen.      General Kazi attended a dinner meeting with the alien Swashbucklers. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 Note: After that first scene and again in the meal with the Swashbucklers, General Kazi is not clearly seen or identified. He may have perished in battle with the Hill People, just was not seen again, or perhaps was incorrectly depicted without his usual facial hair (or maybe he subsequently shaved it?).      Although not always shown clearly, Kazi had "handlebars" style mustache, while Nagai had no facial hair. Both generals otherwise had a similar hairstyle, with a bald (shaved?) top of head and hair from the back pulled up.      Kazi is also depicted in two of the images in the main profile (right and left below here).

The planet of the "Kiashon," it seemed to be an Earthlike planet with continents and oceans.      Domino was the only human who arrived on the planet, but both she and other types of aliens were comfortable there without external breathing or atmospheric protection suits, etc.      Of course, Domino had superhuman powers, and any or all of them could use some sort of internal technology/chemicals to facilitate survival on alien planets.      Beyond the humanoids, winged saurians were known to exist on Kiasho. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 Note: Civil war raged on Kiasho, with the natives either oblivious to or just disregarding the threat of the Colonizers, who likely conquered and/or slaughtered them shortly after the story ended.      The ships shown are the ships of the Swashbucklers and the Colonizers. The Kiashon had no space travel.

General Nagasi was one of the leaders/advisors of the Oji's forces, alongside General Kazi, both of whom met directly with the Oji. (Swords of the Swashbucklers#10) - As the Hill People surrounded Sa'ar City, General Nagai (alongside Nagai) met with the Oji, stating that honor compelled them to fight; Oji assured him that they would fight.      Nagai attended a dinner meeting with the alien Swashbucklers, during which he wondered if these beings were truly gods as the Oji initially had believed them to be.      Nagai presumably participated in the subsequent battles against the invading Hill People, during which the Swashbucklers -- despite the Oji having refused their aid -- granted the overwhelmed Oji's forces the advantage over the attackers. It may have been Nagai who questioned whether these beings were indeed gods.       As the Swashbucklers departed Kiasho, they encountered and destroyed an approaching Colonizer ship, appreciating that others would follow unless they destroyed the probe beacon. Resolving to save the people even if they did not want their help, Raader led the return to Sa'ar to find it in flames from hill people assaults.      After Prince Oji refused an offer to depart with the Swashbucklers, they finally departed, but not before General Kazi told Raader that it was an honor to have fought beside her. Raader thanked him and wished him good luck.      Wearing his armor, General Nagai joined Prince Oji and his men as they charged against the massive approaching Hill People army. (Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 - BTS) - The Hill People presumably took Sa'ar City and many, if not all, of the Oji's people presumably perished in battle against them.     Regardless, any who survived were presumably conquered and/or slaughtered by the Colonizers. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 Note: Wearing helmets, the soldiers serving the Oji were mostly identical beyond their presence/absence/style of facial hair. It could have been Nagai who harshly advised the Oji that it would have been better for them to have died than to have suffered such disgrace (the involvement of aliens and "shemales."). However, Nagai seemed more in awe of the Swashbucklers rather than being disgusted by them, and he clearly expressed his opinion that serving with them had been an honor...so, I don't think that was him.      Nagai is also depicted in two of the images in the main profile (right and left below here).

Sa'ar City was the city contained in walls and ruled by Prince Oji (and his emperor father before him).      As the hill tribes had no sea vessels, the ocean was considered the only defense that that quarter of Sa'ar City needed.

Shortly after the assassination of the emperor, the Hill Tribes assaulted Sa'ar City.      Although the alien Swashbucklers aided Prince Oji's soldiers and were driving back the Hill People, the Oji ordered his troops to retreat, as they preferred death of the dishonor of being aided by animals, aliens, and shemales.      The Hill People subsequently set Sa'ar City aflame, and the Oji led his remaining warriors against the much larger invading army. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 Note: As discussed above, I'm not sure how the House of Sa'ar is distinguished from the Yashida Dynasty and/or Clan Moromai.      It would seem to me that the House of Sa'ar referred to the direct ruling family.      Presumably Sa'ar City was named after the House of Sa'ar rather than the opposite.

Not radically different than terrestrial pteranodons, they have leathery-winged thoracic (fore) limbs; a curved, maybe-raptor-like beak; dorsal spike-like fins on the head and neck, at least; taloned pelvic (hind) limbs; and an apparently wide-tipped tail.      An unspecified number and group of Hill People rode atop these winged saurians, using a saddle and reins.      Other than the fact that they could fly with an adult humanoid on their backs, we don't know much about these creatures. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10

Sa'ar City / Clan Moromai was ruled by the royal Prince Oji (and before him, his emperor father).      Servants knelt before Prince Oji, opened doors, and generally minimized any physical effort of his part. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10

The people of Kiasho, especially those of Sa'ar City, were a male-dominated society, with the "shemales" (the Kiashon term for females) existing to breed and serve, but not to fight. --Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 Note: "Shemale" was the word of the Oji's people for women. That was more of a transgender derogatory slang term on Earth even back at the time when the story was written.

images: (without ads)
Swords of the Swashbucklers#10, pg. 2, panel 1 (architecture);
          panel 2 (Generals Kazi and Nagai; kneeling; off-color);
          panel 3 (Holo-Map);
       pg. 3, panel 1 (Generals Kazi and Nagai; kneeling; color; Oji full, distant);
          panel 2 (Oji face);
       pg. 4, panel 2 (harbor);
          panel 4 (troops by harbor);
       pg. 7, panel 4 (Oji meal);
       pg. 9, panel 1 (play/show);
          panel 4 (crowd celebrating);
       pg. 10, panel 2 (servants kneeling to open doors);
          panel 3 (three shemales kneeling);
          panel 4 (shemales face);
       pg. 12, panel 1 (Sa'ar city);
          panel 2 (hill-tribes on winged saurians approaching Sa'ar City);
          panel 3 (hill people on foot charging Sa'ar City (from front));
       pg. 14, panel 4 (Sa'ar City archers firing on hill people);
          panel 5 (hill people charging Sa'ar City (from behind);
        pg. 15, panel 1-2 (Spyeye possessing one of the hill people and then making him attack his own people);
        pg. 16, panel 2 (close-up of a saurian-riding hill person's steed being attacked by Servitor);
            panel 5 (defenders of Clan Moromai firing on hill people);
       pg. 17, panel 3 (Captain Raader and other Swashbucklers fight hill people);
       pg. 18, panel 1 (The Oji's order of retreat delivered);
       pg. 19, panel 5 (soldier voicing disgrace due to aid from shemales and animals);
       pg. 29, panel 1 (General Nagai honoring Raader);
       pg. 30, panel 1 (General Nagai in helmet);
       pg. 31, panel 3 (final charge);

Appearances:
Swords of the Swashbucklers#10 (November, 1986) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Geoff Isherwood (artist), Daniel Chichester (assistant editor), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor)

First posted: 02/02/2024
Last updated: 02/03/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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