SCINTILLA
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race of origin unrevealed)
Occupation: Member of Shi'ar Imperial Guard
Group Membership: Imperial Guard
Affiliations: Alake, Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Cosmo, Deathbird,
D'ken,
Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire/Tempest, Gladiator,
Hobgoblin/Shapeshifter, Hussar, Impulse,
Ka'ardum, K'tor,
Magic/Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron/Quasar, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Praetorians (Pn'zo, Strontian (Xenith), Symbiote, Uncreated),
Schism, Davan Shakari, Shi'ar Death Commandos (Blackcloak, Colony, Devo, Flaw, Hypernova, Krait, Offset, Sega, Shell, Warshot), Smasher (Vril Rokk), Smasher (Salac Tuur), Squorm, Starbolt, Titan, Voyager, Vulcan, Warstar, White Noise;
formerly Lilandra
Enemies: Captain Atlas, Avengers (Dr. Pym, Falcon, Gilgamesh, Mockingbird, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman
(Julia Carpenter), USAgent, Wasp), Cosmo, Doctor Minerva, Excalibur (Captain Britain (Brian Braddock),
Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix (Rachel Summers), Widget),
Guardians of the Galaxy (Angela, Drax, Gamora, Groot, Jack Flag, Mantis, Martyr, Moondragon, Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord, Adam Warlock), Her, Inhumans (Black Bolt, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak, Lockjaw, Medusa, Triton), Kree, Lobo (DC), Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Ronan the Accuser, Scy'ar Tal,
Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee,
Havok, Hepzibah, Korvus, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey), Lilandra Neramani, Polaris, Raza), T'cahr, Uncreated, X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops,
Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Storm, Wolverine), X-Men (Angel (teen), Beast (teen), Cyclops (teen), Jean Grey (teen), Iceman (teen), Shadowcat, X-23);
formerly Vulcan
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Micro, Midget
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout Shi'ar Empire
First Appearance: (Unidentified) X-Men I#107 (October, 1977); (as Midget) X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2 (1990); (as Scintilla) Avengers West Coast#81 (April, 1991)
Powers/Abilities: Scintilla can shrink to as little as 1/20 of her normal size and has used a Shi'ar anti-gravity device to fly. Scintilla can also restore others to their natural height by focusing her powers through an amplifying device. She can increase her weight to its natural state while still in miniature size. It is unknown if her abilities are possessed by her entire race or solely by her. The full extent of her abilities are likely unknown.
Height: 5’1’’
Weight: 100 lbs.
History:
(X-Men I#107) - Members of the Imperial Guard fought the X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Storm, Wolverine) and Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza) at the M’kraan Crystal, in order to stop them from rescuing Lilandra from D’ken and Davan Shakari. When the X-Men arrived, Astra demanded to know who they were. After a fierce battle, during which Wolverine startled Astra by wearing Fang’s costume, D’ken was rendered comatose and Lilandra took over as the new Majestrix. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Electron, Fang, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magic, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Quasar, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, and Titan.
(X-Men I#108) - The Guard lay unconscious as the battle resolved.
(X-Men I#109 (fb) - BTS) - The Guard was stopped by Lilandra from killing the X-Men. Later the Guard watched the X-Men return to Earth.
(X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2) - At Deathbird’s orders, a large group of the Guard attacked the Starjammers and Excalibur (Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix (Rachel Summers), Widget) on Earth, but they retreated when Deathbird was put at risk. Guard members who participated in this assault: Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Earthquake, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magik, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, Titan, and White Noise.
(Avengers West Coast#81) - Scintilla and Nightside (who was put in charge of the mission much to Scintilla’s chagrin) infiltrated Project: PEGASUS to liberate the captives Warstar, Hobgoblin, and Shi’ar soldiers. Scintilla restored the captives to their natural sizes (as they’d been held in miniature state) by focusing her power through an amplifying device. Scintilla defeated the Wasp when the Avengers (Dr. Pym, Falcon, Gilgamesh, Mockingbird, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), USAgent, Wasp) attacked by increasing her weight and landing on Wasp, then shrank down and hid on Hobgoblin’s form. Hobgoblin disguised himself as Minerva of the Kree and convinced Atlas to return with them to the Guard ship, where Starbolt and Neutron waited. Hobgoblin revealed himself and stole Atlas’ Nega-Bands, then fled back to Shi’ar space with Scintilla while Starbolt and Neutron battled Quasar (Wendell Vaughn) and Her.
(Quasar#33) - Members of the Imperial Guard attacked Quasar and Her when the heroes neared the Guard ship. He boarded their ship and the Guard agreed to release Atlas to him so as not to damage the ship. Quasar quickly departed before they could pursue him. Guard members in this mission: Electron, Hobgoblin, Manta, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Starbolt, Tempest, and Warstar.
(X-Men Legends I#2) - The Imperial Guard was summoned to the Blue Area of the Moon by Corsair and the Starjammers, and they helped return X-Treme (Adam-X) to Chandilar for judgment.
(Starjammers I#4) - Members of the Guard were summoned to aid Lilandra against the Uncreated, but the Starjammers saw the threat defeated first. They stood by when Lilandra ordered T’cahr arrested. Members of the Guard in this mission included: Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.
(JLA/Avengers#1) - The Imperial Guard fought Lobo. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Fang, Electron, Flashfire, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar.
(Uncanny X-Men I#477 - BTS) - The Imperial Guard was dispatched to defeat Vulcan, who’d been destroying ships in Shi’ar space.
(Uncanny X-Men I#480) - The Guard finally defeated Vulcan (keeping him alive at the orders of K’tor) after a deadly battle which left some Guard members, including Cosmo, Impulse, Smasher, and Titan, seemingly slain. Scintilla was furious about Vulcan being allowed to live. Guard members in this mission: Astra, Cosmo, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#3) - The Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Manta, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar) greeted the Starjammers, who agreed to an alliance against the Scy'ar Tal. Soon, Araki entered with his private guard, the Shi'ar Death Commandos (Blackcloak, Colony, Devo, Flaw, Hypernova, Krait, Offset, Sega, Shell, Warshot). 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.
(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#5) - The Imperial Guard (Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Titan, Warstar) stood by Deathbird, Araki, and Ka'ardum as the Shi'ar cheered on Vulcan. The Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Polaris, Raza) lay captive.
(X-Men: Kingbreaker#3) - Vulcan ordered the Imperial Guard to intervene in a battle between the Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Lilandra, Marvel Girl, Korvus, Polaris, Raza) and new Guard members Hodinn, Pn'zo, Strontian, the Symbiote, and the Uncreated. Guard members present: Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Starbolt, Titan, and Warstar.
(X-Men: Kingbreaker#4) - Joined by Smasher (Salac Tuur), the Guard fought off the Starjammers, who eventually escaped after putting Deathbird into a coma. During the battle, the Hodinn and Pn'zo were killed. Later, Vulcan authorized the Imperial Guard to join the military in expanding the Shi'ar empire.
(War of Kings#1) - Vulcan surveyed, with Gladiator, the assembled Imperial Guard,. Mentor reported they were all battle ready and Vulcan announced his intentions to attack the Kree. They soon engaged in a massive battle with the Inhumans and Starjammers, successfully capturing Lilandra before retreating. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Black Light, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Plutonia, Schism, Scintilla, Shapeshifter, Smasher, Squorm, Starbolt, Titan, Voyager, Warstar, and White Noise.
(Guardians of the Galaxy II#14) - As Warlock battled Vulcan, the Imperial Guard (Fang, Mentor, Oracle, Scintilla) rushed to help, seeking Magique for aid when they realized Warlock wielded magic. They attacked, with Neutron and Hussar joining them, and Magique put Warlock in a glamour snare, but he easily dispelled it and painfully drained her glamours from her. Vulcan was furious with them when Warlock escaped, but Oracle sensed Magique had marked him with a witch-mark, with which they could track him. They followed to Knowhere, using Voyager to transport them, and found a battle breaking out between the Guardians of the Galaxy (Gamora, Jack Flag, Mantis, Martyr, Moondragon, Star-Lord, Warlock) and the Inhumans (Black Bolt, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak).
(Guardians of the Galaxy II#15) - The Imperial Guard (Fang, Hussar, Magique, Mentor, Oracle, Scintilla, Voyager) landed on Knowhere, where the Inhumans and Guardians of the Galaxy, with Cosmo, were already battling. Mentor ordered the Guard to kill Black Bolt, but Black Bolt knocked them back with a small scream and the Inhumans teleported off-site through Lockjaw. Mentor ordered the Guard, with their Shi'ar operatives, to separate and find Warlock and the others, knowing Voyager's needed time to recuperate before seizing reinforcements. After a pitched battle, in which Magique was killed, the Guard fled.
(All-New X-Men I#23) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Oracle, Titan, Impulse, Manta, Smasher, Electron, Plutonia, Mentor, Hussar, Flashfire, Scintilla, Warstar) and the Shi'ar Death Commandos (Krait, Flaw, Devo, Offset, Sega, Colony, Hypernova, Warshot) were ordered by Gladiator to stand by while they put the young teenage Jean Grey on trial for crimes she would commit in the future as the Phoenix.
(All-New X-Men I#24) - The Imperial Guard (Oracle, Warstar, Impulse, Mentor, Manta, Hussar, Flashfire, Plutonia, Smasher, Astra, Electron, Titan, Scintilla) stood by at the trial, debating among themselves the guilt of Jean Grey, who pushed her powers to the limits and briefly defeated the entire team. When the X-Men, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Starjammers arrived, they fought the Guard.
(Children of the Vault I#2 (fb) - BTS) - A group of brainwashed backup Superguardians (for Manta, Oracle, Smasher, Warstar, Titan, Scintilla) were mind-controlled by a rogue faction of the Shi'ar (possibly the Kin Crimson) into destroying Earth.
(Children of the Vault I#2 - BTS) - The Superguardians were defeated by the Children of the Vault in Nairobi.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Green.
Midget/Scintilla has a partial entry in OHotMU Deluxe Edition#6.
Per her mention in the original OHOTMU#8 Appendix she was also called Micro.
--Loki
The Imperial Guard was a takeoff of DC's Legion of Super-Heroes, making Scintilla a takeoff of Shrinking Violet.
--John Kaminski
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Scintilla
has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#6, p18, pan4 (main image)
Avengers I#81, p10, pan3 (2nd)
Uncanny X-Men I#480, p14, pan1
(3rd)
Appearances:
X-Men I#107 (October, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Dan Green (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#108 (December, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#109 (February, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2 (1990) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Jeff Albrecht (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Avengers West Coast#81 (April, 1991) - Roy & Dann Thomas (writers), Dave Ross (penciler), Tom Dzon (inker), Nelson Yomtov (editor)
Quasar#33 (April, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rurik Tyler (penciler), Fred Fredericks (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Starjammers I#4 (January, 1996) - Warren Ellis (writer), Carlos Pacheco (penciler), Cam Smith, Bob Wiacek (inkers), Suzanne Gaffney (editor)
JLA/Avengers#1 (September, 2003) - Kurt Busiek (writer), George Perez (artist), Tom Brevoort & Dan Raspler (editors)
Uncanny X-Men I#477 (October, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#480 (January, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts, Nick Lowe (editors)
X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#3 (January, 2008) - Christopher Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#5 (March, 2008) - Christopher Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men: Kingbreaker#3-4 (April, 2009) - Christopher Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque & Dustin Weaver (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes & Jaime Mendoza (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
War of Kings#1 (May, 2009) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
(writers), Paul Pelletier (pencils), Rick Magyar (inks), Bill Rosemann
(editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy II#14 (July, 2009) - Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (penciler), Victor Olazaba (inker), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy II#15 (August, 2009) - Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (penciler), Victor Olazaba, Livesay (inkers), Bill Rosemann (editor)
All-New X-Men I#23 (April, 2014) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Stuart Immonen (penciler), Wade Von Grawbadger (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
All-New X-Men I#24 (May, 2014) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Stuart Immonen (penciler), Wade Von Grawbadger (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men Legends I#2 (May, 2021) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Brett Booth (penciler), Adelso Corona (inker), Mark Basso (editor)
Children of the Vault I#2 (November, 2023) - Deniz Camp (writer), Luca Maresca (artist), Jordan White (editor)
First Posted: 07/20/2007
Last updated: 12/20/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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