ARAKI
ARAKI
Real Name: Araki
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Shi'ar)
government official;
apparently is a clonal succession of beings
Occupation: Lord Chamberlain/Imperial Sage
Group Membership: Secret Order, Shi'ar Empire
Affiliations: Deathbird, D'ken, G-Type,
Imperial
Guard (Cosmo, Electron, Flashfire, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar), Ka'ardum, K'tor, Shi'ar Death Commandos (Blackcloak, Colony, Devo, Flaw, Hypernova, Krait, Offset, Sega, Shell, Warshot), Shi'ar Imperial Council, Vulcan;
formerly Karanda,
Lilandra, Maelen,
Samédàr,
Professor Charles Xavier;
Enemies: The Brood,
Ka'ardum's rebel forces, Karanda,
Korvus,
Lilandra, Cassandra
Nova, Phoenix, Samédàr,
Scy'ar Tal, Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Havok, Hepzibah, Korvus, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey), Polaris, Raza), X-Men;
formerly Major-General
Ka'ardum
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile, usually Chandilar or the Shi'ar Imperial Flagship
First Appearance: X-Men I#109 (February, 1978)
Powers/Abilities: As one of the Shi'ar, Araki possesses enhanced strength and endurance. He has some degree of military experience, though he has never been seen to engage in direct combat. He is noted for his wisdom.
History:
(X-Men I#135 - BTS) - Lilandra considered Araki an old friend.
(X-Men II#125 (fb) - BTS) - Araki new the future Superguardian G-Type in the stellar nurseries of Hodinn, where she was engineered to serve the Empire.
(X-Men I#108 - BTS / X-Men I#109 (fb)) - D'Ken was driven incurably insane by his experiences within the M'Kraan Crystal and rendered virtually catatonic. As he had no wife or children, Lilandra would normally have succeeded him, but as Araki explained that she had led a rebellion against the Empire she was still considered a traitor. Araki spoke for the Shi'ar High Council who recognized that Lilandra had been justified in her actions, and she was exiled to Earth until such time as they could resolve how best to handle the situation.
(X-Men I#122) - On "Imperial Center" (Chandilar?) , Araki stood by Lilandra, her handmaiden Maelen, and her lover Charles Xavier, as the ceremony began to name Lilandra Majestrix Shi'ar. Lilandra made a joke about the large crowd being well paid to show their support for her, but this was lost on Araki, who noted that they truly loved her.
(X-Men I#125) - Araki attended the first state ball hosted by the newly crowned Lilandra
(X-Men I#135) - Araki awakened Lilandra, notifying her of the Phoenix's assault on a Shi'ar crew. They witnessed the Phoenix utterly annihilate the starship of Captain Juber, after which she instructed him to summon her ministers.
(X-Men I#136) - Araki called together the meeting of ministers, which swiftly reached the decision that Phoenix must be destroyed.
(X-Men I#137) - Araki stood beside Lilandra and Gladiator as
the X-Men -- including Jean Grey, who had submerged her Phoenix persona -- were
summoned aboard the Shi'ar Imperial Dreadnought. Lilandra announced that Phoenix
must be destroyed, but Xavier issued a challenge of honor, which Lilandra was
forced to accept.
The Imperial Guard indeed overpowered the X-Men, but
Phoenix's powers surfaced again, and Lilandra authorized Plan Omega to burn the
moon, the system, or this entire stellar cluster if necessary to ensure the
Phoenix was destroyed. However, Phoenix ultimately sacrificed herself to end
her threat .
(Uncanny X-Men#154 (fb)) - A meeting of the Shi'ar Grand Council was raided by a terrorist commando force. Most of the ministers were slaughtered in the attack, and some were executed even after they'd surrendered. Majestrix Lilandra was kidnapped. The Starjammers were implicated and the trail left by the terrorists led straight to Earth. A fast battle force, led by Chancellor Araki and Lord Samédàr, Admiral of the Fleet, set out to rescue Lilanda and soon arrived in local Earth space. The fleet prepared to go to any lengths to liberate Lilandra or to avenge her, including reducing Earth to a cinder.
(Uncanny X-Men#155 (fb) - BTS) - Araki provided Samédàr tapes on their past encounters with Earth and the X-Men, though Samédàr apparently ignored them.
(Uncanny X-Men#154 - BTS) - Shi'ar forces pursued the Starjammer Corsair to Earth as he sought to inform the X-Men of the threat to their planet and to acquire their help. The Shi'ar sent Sidrian hunters to capture or slay them, but the X-Men defeated the Sidri and Corsair slew them.
(Uncanny X-Men#155) - The Shi'ar transported Corsair, Cyclops,
and Storm, as well as Colossus, Nightcrawler, Professor X, Kitty Pryde, and
Wolverine to their dreadnought. Araki revealed Lilandra's kidnapping, and he
announced his intent to use Xavier's rapport with Lilandra to help locate her
then to send a force of the Imperial Guard and combat troopers to effect her
release. Fearing this course would lead to Lilandra's death and much collateral
damage on Earth, Xavier invoked his right as Shivarn'n Halanau (Imperial consort) of Lilandra
to forbid this. Samédàr considered humanity to be the barbarians and their lives and
planet to be beneath their concern, but Araki agreed to delay the invasion of
Earth for 24 hours, allowing Xavier and his X-Men to try to free Lilandra
without harm; however, Araki required two of Xavier's students as hostages as a
show of good faith. After discussion with Cyclops and Storm, Xavier chose Kitty
and Nightcrawler to stay aboard the dreadnought, and Xavier telepathically
shared all of his knowledge of the Shi'ar with Kitty.
Back on Earth, the X-Men sought help from the Avengers and
Fantastic Four, receiving only Tigra from the former. In trying to reach
Lilandra telepathically, Xavier was struck by a psionic ambush, though he did
learn she was in Manhattan. Ultimately, Deathbird captured Xavier and nearly slew Colossus, taking
the former with her as she and her allies escaped in a starship.
(Uncanny X-Men#156) - The Starjammers (Ch'od, Hepzibah, Raza)
picked up Corsair and the remaining X-Men and then took Colossus to emergency
surgery. Samédàr then reported to Deathbird that Earth would be destroyed on
schedule, promising that he would deal with anyone who tried to interfere.
The X-Men and Starjammers fought their way past the Brood, rescued Lilandra, and escaped.
However, the Starjammer had been damaged and would take 24 hours to effect
repairs and return to Earth...and there was only six hours left in Araki's
deadline.
(Uncanny X-Men#157 - (fb) - BTS) - Samédàr slew Araki and took command of the operation.
(Uncanny X-Men#157) - The X-Men expedited repairs on the
Starjammer, but when Xavier tried to reach across space and telepathically
contact Kitty or Nightcrawler, he was struck down and rendered comatose by an
alien presence within him (a Brood embryo). The crux of his message got through
to its targets, however, but not only could they not reach Araki, they then
heard the Shi'ar fleet being called to battle stations. Shi'ar guards were sent
to slay the captive X-Men, but they defeated their attackers and escaped their
cells, only to find Araki had been murdered. Correctly suspecting Samédàr, they
plotted to gain aid from the Imperial Guard, who were loyal to Lilandra.
Wishing his defeated foes -- including the Shi'ar Captain K'rk N'Kzaii who had opposed him -- to witness his final victory, Samédàr then ordered his
ships' weaponeers to fire, and a bolt of anti-matter plasma erupted forth, aimed
at San Francisco and intended to devastate North America. However, the
Starjammer then flew in, flying far faster than the speed of light as it skidded
out of warp space, and intercepted the beam, defusing it with its shields.
Lilandra transmitted a message to the Shi'ar revealing that
she was unharmed and insisted that no harm be done to Earth. Gladiator informed
her that the attack had been initiated by Samédàr, who was in league with
Deathbird and had murdered Araki. Lilandra ordered the arrest of Samédàr and the
release of the loyal Imperial Guard. She put K'rk in command of the Shi'ar fleet
and instructed him to withdraw beyond Earth's moon pending her imminent arrival.
(X-Men II#133 (fb) - BTS) - With Araki's death, he was succeeded by other Arakis (clones or otherwise).
(X-Men II#124) - Araki stood beside Lilandra while Cassandra Nova manipulated her into an assault on Earth, intending to wipe out all of its mutants. Their prisoners, Cyclops and Xorn, tried to reason with Lilandra but were silenced. Araki commanded Lilandra's instruction of execution of the prisoners be carried out, after which he departed with Lilandra. Cyclops and Xorn broke free soon after.
(X-Men II#125) - As the Cassandra-controlled Lilandra began ordering Shi'ar crafts to immolate themselves as part of a plan to burn the Empire to cinder, Araki appealed to her to stop, telling her that Cassandra had taken her soul. Araki collapsed to the ground in despair, while Cassandra mocked him and Lilandra ignored him. Upon learning of Cyclops and Xorn's escape, Cassandra had Lilandra accuse Araki of unleashing war and chaos upon the Empire during a fit of madness. Cassandra ordered the Superguardian G-Type to burn the mutant mind-plague from Araki, but as she reluctantly prepared to do so, Xorn arrived and neutralized G-Type's power.
(X-Men II#126) - Cyclops and Xorn escaped to Earth with Araki and Lilandra.
(X-Men II#133) - Identifying himself as Araki 6, he brought Xavier to Lilandra and announced that their marriage was officially annulled and that all Shi'ar were to withdraw from Earth during the disinfection period -- the mutant species had registered toxic levels of aggression, notably in Cassandra Nova's near destruction of the Shi'ar Empire, and that the Phoenix had now hatched as nature's way of dealing with mutantkind.
(Uncanny X-Men#481) - On the retreat of Trellerri, Araki spoke to K'tor, confirming that Deathbird had been freed from prison, and so Araki then used his hand-blaster to take out Lilandra's guards and handmaiden, Karanda, then struck Lilandra across the face with the blaster, knocking her out. He then revealed his plans to restore the Empire's true greatness.
(Uncanny X-Men#483 (fb)) - Araki met with Deathbird & Vulcan. He initially opposed the idea of Vulcan seeing D'ken due to their blood feud (revealed by an Imperial Guard probe), but Deathbird assured Araki that it would be OK, and she convinced Vulcan to put aside his plans of vengeance so they could focus on larger things. Araki took them to D'ken, revealing that a number of telepaths had cured D'ken's insanity, but that the "three divisions of his mind" were still unable to communicate. Vulcan, despite Araki's objections, restored the electrical connections and returned D'ken to the waking world. As Araki greeted D'ken, one of his aides reported a battalion of ships that had located and were advancing on their position. Araki's Secret Order, aided by Deathbird & Vulcan, fought off the Shi'ar soldiers until D'ken and his allies could escape in a ship.
(Uncanny X-Men#482) - Araki announced the reawakening of D'ken, rightful ruler of the Shi'ar, to a group of supporters.
(Uncanny X-Men#483) - Araki stood behind D'ken, with Vulcan & Deathbird, as he greeted his supporters
(Uncanny X-Men#485) - Araki informed D'ken of Major-General
Ka'ardum's message, recruiting support against D'ken. Though annoyed that the
message could not be ended, D'ken wasn't too worried because they still
outnumbered the rebellion 2-to-1, had the Imperial Guard beside them, and were
choosing their own battleground: the World, under the M'Kraan Crystal. They then
departed to plan the royal wedding of Deathbird & Vulcan, intending to cast
Xavier into the Crystal during the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Araki announced the approach of the
Starjammers, X-Men, and Shi'ar rebel forces. During the ensuing battle, Vulcan
surprised everyone by slaying D'ken and announcing himself ruler of the Shi'ar
Empire.
(Uncanny X-Men#486 - BTS) - Araki's fate during the battle is unclear.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#1) - Vulcan incinerated a Shi'ar who tried assassinating him, then turned to hear Araki's claims that the Shi'ar didn't support him. With Gladiator standing by, Deathbird slashed Araki's face, then Vulcan demanded a report on the Starjammers.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#2) - The Scy'ar Tal waged war on the Shi'ar and destroyed the planet Feather's Edge. Vulcan and Gladiator fled to Araki's ship during the battle and narrowly avoided the deadly weapon, which teleported a star onto the planet.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#3) - Araki entered Vulcan and Deathbird's ship with his private guard, the Shi'ar Death Commandos (Blackcloak, Colony, Devo, Flaw, Hypernova, Krait, Offset, Sega, Shell, Warshot), where they were shocked to find Marvel Girl. Marvel Girl grew furious and lashed out in a powerful attack, sending the Commandos scattering and threatening Araki's life, even accusing him of running the secret order of the Shi'ar and ordering the death of her family, until Polaris stopped her. The Commandos and Araki were dismissed from the mission.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#4) -Lilandra joined Ka'ardum on his ship, with Araki there as well. She argued with him over his betrayal of her and argued that the Scy'ar Tal should not be exterminated. After he called Lilandra a weak empress, Ka'ardum silenced them and ordered his ships to fire. The Shi'ar were losing the battle until Vulcan managed to cut off all Scy'ar Tal communications, then the Shi'ar started winning.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#5) - Lilandra and Araki watched as the Scy'ar retreated, then Lilandra realized that Vulcan intended to use the Finality weapon against the remaining Scy'ar Tal. They watched as Marvel Girl and Korvus tried stopping the weapon, but Gladiator attacked them to stop them. Korvus nearly stopped the weapon, but Ka'ardum switched allegiances and fired on Korvus to stop him. Lilandra was horrified, but Ka'ardum would not be swayed. He teleported away before the star exploded, then allowed Lilandra to escape in a separate vessel, claiming he recognized that Vulcan had the best interests of the Shi'ar in mind now. Days later, Araki, Ka'ardum, Deathbird, and the Imperial Guard (Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Titan, Warstar) stood by as the Shi'ar cheered on Vulcan. The Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Polaris, Raza) lay captive.
Comments: Created by by Chris Claremont John Byrne, and Terry Austin (inker).
I thought Araki showed up somewhere in the Inhumans four issue series by Pacheco and Ladronn, but I couldn't find him in there. Ditto for Captain Universe/Daredevil.
Given the information in Uncanny X-Men#481-486, it would seem likely that the D'ken supporters seen in shadows at the end of the Starjammers mini-series were part of the Secret Order, of which Araki was a part. Hence, Araki may have been in shadows in that crowd. If so...
(Starjammers#4) - In a dark place in the high boughs of Chandilar's royal Aerie, D'ken loyalists gathered. Though T'cahr was lost to them, the values he stood for remained, and they resolved that someone must keep the strong claw of the Imperium buried in the throat of the galaxy. If Majestrix Lilandra will not be that person, then they would see what must be done.
Araki showed up several times after his death, and so explanations had to be made...hence Araki 6.
In the Emperor Vulcan series, Marvel Girl surmised that Araki was secretly behind the secret order of the Shi'ar that has fought against Lilandra's rule all these years.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Araki should be distinguished from:
images: (without ads)
X-Men I#137, p3 (full body)
p12, panel 5 (face)
Appearances:
X-Men I#109 (February 1978) - by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler),
Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#122 (June, 1979) - by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler),
Terry Austin (inker), Roger Stern (editor)
X-Men I#125 (September, 1979) - by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler),
Terry Austin (inker), Roger Stern (editor)
X-Men I#135-136 (July-August, 1980) - by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler),
Terry Austin (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
X-Men I#137 (September, 1980) - by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler),
Terry Austin (inker), Jim Salicrup & Louise Jones (editor)
X-Men II#124-126 (May-June, 2002) - by Grant Morrison (writer), Igor Kordey
(artist), Mark Powers (editor)
X-Men II#133 (December, 2002) - by Grant Morrison (writer), Ethan van Sciver (penciler),
Norm Rapmund (inker) Mike Marts (editor)
Uncanny X-Men#481 (February 2007) - by Ed Brubaker
(writer), Billy Tan (penciler), Danny Miki w/ Allen Martinez (inker),
Mike Marts (editor)
Uncanny X-Men#482 (March 2007) - by Ed Brubaker (writer), Billy Tan (penciler),
Danny Miki w/ Allen Martinez (inker), Sean Ryan (assistant editor), Nick Lowe
(editor)
Uncanny X-Men#483 (April 2007) - by Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler),
Mark Morales (inker), Sean Ryan (assistant editor), Nick Lowe (editor)
Uncanny X-Men#485 (June 2007) - by Ed Brubaker (writer), Billy Tan (penciler),
Danny Miki w/ Allen Martinez (inker), Sean Ryan (assistant editor), Nick Lowe
(editor)
Uncanny X-Men#486 (July 2007) - by Ed Brubaker (writer), Billy Tan (penciler),
Danny Miki w/ Allen Martinez (inker), Sean Ryan (assistant editor), Nick Lowe
(editor)
X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#1-5 (November, 2007-March, 2008) - Christopher
Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes (inker),
Nick Lowe (editor)
First Posted: 11/27/2006
Last updated: 02/07/2011
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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