NEUTRON

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Stygian)

Occupation: Imperial guardsman

Group Membership: Shi'ar Imperial Guard

Affiliations: Astra, Blackthorn, Cosmo, Deathbird, Delphos, D'ken, Electron, Fang, Flashfire/Tempest, Gladiator, Glom, Hobgoblin/Shapeshifter, Hussar, Impulse, K'tor, Lilandra, Magic/Magique, Mandroids, Manta, Mentor, Moondancer, Nightside, N'rill'iree, Oracle, Plutonia, Presence, Scintilla/Midget, Davan Shakari, Smasher, Solar Wind, Starbolt, Starhammer, Titan, Voyager, Warstar, Webwing, Zenith

Enemies: Anti-Bodies, Captain Atlas, Binary, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Darkstar, Eson, Her, Ikaris, Inhumans (Black Bolt, Gorgon, Karnak, Medusa, Triton), Jack of Hearts, Jason of Sparta, Lobo (DC), Lockjaw, Maker, K'rk N'Kzaii, Perun, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Rook'shir, Shock Troop (Blazing Skull, Dr. Druid, Living Mummy, Shadowoman), Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza), T'cahr, Vanguard, Vulcan, X-Men (Banshee, Cable, Colossus, Cyclops, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Rogue, Storm, Wolverine)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Quasar

Base of Operations: Mobile throughout Shi'ar Empire

First Appearance: (Unidentified) X-Men I#107 (October, 1977); (named as Quasar) X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2 (1990); (as Neutron) Avengers West Coast#81 (April, 1991)

Powers/Abilities: Neutron possesses the ability to absorb electromagnetic and kinetic energy into his body cells to enhance his physical strength. He can survive in space and travel interstellar distances without needing to eat, drink, or breathe. He can fly, either under his own power or by utilizing a Shi'ar anti-gravity device, enough to propel himself across vast distances in space. It is unknown if his abilities are possessed by his entire race or solely him. The full extent of his abilities are likely unknown. It appears that Neutron is incredibly long-lived as he appears to have been around hundreds of years ago.

Height: 6'2''
Weight: 680 lbs.

History:

(Uncanny X-Men#479 (fb) - BTS) – The first Imperial Guard was formed centuries ago to fight Rook'shir, possessor of the Phoenix force (also called the Phal'kon). Among its first members were Gladiator, Magic, Mentor, and Quasar.

(Uncanny X-Men#479 (fb)) - The Guard apprehended Rook'shir, and Gladiator beheaded him.

(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. During the battle, Quasar was knocked aside by Wolverine. Quasar later punched Wolverine away, but was ultimately defeated by the mutant. 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.

(Uncanny X-Men I#157) - Members of the Guard were assigned to assist Lord Samèdar in attacking the Earth. Nightcrawler and Shadowcat convinced Gladiator, N'rill'iree, Oracle, and Starbolt that Dark Phoenix was attacking the ship, then had Oracle read their minds to prove that Samèdar was acting against Lilandra's orders. Other members of the Guard loyal to Samèdar attacked and a fight ensued until a Brood weapon attached to B'nee (of the Warstar duo) knocked them all unconscious. During the battle, Quasar had been easily knocked aside by Gladiator. Samèdar prepared to destroy the Earth with the four guard members, two X-Men, and Captain K'rk watching, but Lilandra revealed herself and stopped him. Guard members in this mission included: Blackthorn, Fang, Gladiator, Hussar, N'rill'iree, Oracle, Quasar, Starbolt, Warstar, Webwing, and others.

(X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2) - Members of the Imperial Guard participated in an initial assault on the Starjammers (Binary, Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza) at Deathbird's orders. When Binary blew a hole through the ship's wall, they briefly tried to save the Shi'ar on board while Quasar worked to protect Deathbird, but Deathbird ordered them to teleport away, leaving the soldiers to their fate. They battled with the Starjammers, and Quasar protected Deathbird from Corsair. Cr+eee appeared and knocked Quasar into machinery, which put Quasar unconscious. Zenith was killed during the battle. Guard members who participated in the initial assault: Hussar, Manta, Quasar, Warstar, and Zenith.

(Avengers West Coast#81) - Neutron and Starbolt waited aboard the Guard ship while Hobgoblin and Scintilla brought Atlas of the Kree aboard, stealing his Nega-Bands. Starbolt and Neutron left to fight Quasar (Wendell Vaught) and Her while Hobgoblin, Scintilla, and Atlas fled back to the Shi'ar Empire. Neutron immediately got Quasar in a hold and began draining his energy.

(Quasar#33) - Members of the Imperial Guard attacked Quasar and Her when the heroes neared the Guard ship. Neutron was absorbing Quasar's energy and turning it into strength, but Quasar deposited Neutron in the Quantumverse and left him there. 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.

(Quasar#45 (fb)) - Quasar managed to get his hand in Quasar's warp hole into the Quantumverse, and remained trapped there in space for an undetermined amount of time before Presence grabbed his hand and was pulled through to where Quasar was. He at some point decided to use the name Neutron instead, and identified himself as “fourth lieutenant” in the Imperial Guard. He and Presence realized they both wanted revenge on Quasar on Earth, and spent the following month utilizing their powers to travel at warp speed propulsion to Earth. They tracked Quasar down and found the hero battling the Anti-Bodies. Presence attacked Quasar, who propelled Presence into space. Neutron pursued them and accidentally punched Presence, breaching his ally's armor and causing a large explosion. Presence and Quasar fell back to Earth, where the Shock Troop (Blazing Skull, Dr. Druid, Living Mummy, Shadowoman) arrived to help Quasar against the Anti-Bodies.

(Quasar#46) - Neutron returned to Earth and attacked Quasar anew, resisting Quasar's attempts to reason with him. (Neutron identified himself as a Stygian). Quasar convinced Presence to leave the battle, but Neutron kept fighting until Glom, Moondancer, and Voyager, of the Imperial Guard, arrived to retrieve Neutron. They reminded him that he hadn't activated his locator, and he was shamed, admitting he'd been negligent and focused on revenge. After Glom ate all the Anti-Bodies, Neutron departed with the Guard, promising Quasar he'd still get his revenge.

(Starblast#2) - Gladiator ordered the humans aboard the battle-cruiser (Binary, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Darkstar, Ikaris, Lockjaw, Perun, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Vanguard) to leave, but they refused. After some brief explanations by Gladiator, more of the Imperial Guard teleported aboard to investigate. After a deadly battle, during which Neutron traded blows with Perun, the humans agreed to surrender the ship if the Shi'ar would help the humans pursue the Black Fleet. Guard members in this mission included: Gladiator, Manta, Moondanacer, Neutron, Nightside, Smasher, Solar Wind, Starbolt, and Voyager.

(Quasar#55) - The Guard helped Earth's heroes to get to the Stranger's Lab World where the Starblasters resided. Neutron didn't join them in their fight against.

(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.

(Inhumans IV#3) - The Shi'ar Empire decided to join in alliance with the massive Spartoi Empire. Religious ceremonies were to be held on the neutral planet, Kritnah. Lilandra arrived with the Guard flanking her. Guard members in this mission: Astra, Gladiator, Hussar, Neutron, and Oracle.

(Inhumans IV#4) - Lilandra represented the Shi'ar Empire on the planet Kritnah in the marriage ceremony with Emperor Eson of the Spartoi while the Imperial Guard stood by. Black Bolt moved to attack Lilandra, who set up a shield and activated the Guard against the Inhumans. Black Bolt screamed, seemingly slaying Lilandra. The Guard moved in at full force. The Inhumans teleported away, escaping. Lilandra's form was revealed to be Hobgoblin, who appeared to be dead. Lilandra, as a hologram, revealed herself and told the Spartoi that the union was off due to their atrocities. Jason of Sparta was blamed for being behind it. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Delphos, Earthquake, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar, others

(Uncanny X-Men#387 (fb) - BTS) - Hussar, Warstar, Neutron, and Webwing were expelled from the Guard for unknown reasons revolving around treason. When Earth became a prison planet, they were sent there to serve their time. They allied with the D'Bari Starhammer and agreed to go after the X-Men.

(Uncanny X-Men#387) - Starhammer's Mandroids attacked the X-Men (Beast, Cable, Gambit, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Rogue) in New Orleans, with the former Guardsmen acting as backup. Hussar shocked Cable with her whip, setting him up for Neutron to punch him out more than once. Rogue attacked Neutron, whose punches had no effect on her. After he explained the Guard's involvement, Neutron was sent flying with a punch. The Guardsmen, all defeated, were left tied up.

(Thanos#10 (fb)) - Gladiator led Electron, Oracle and Quasar (Neutron) to investigate the sudden disappearance of the entire Shi'ar settlement of Eru-7. There, they discovered that the Maker (formerly the Beyonder) had wiped out 64,000 people, and Oracle contained the threat.

(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#477 - BTS) - The Imperial Guard was dispatched to defeat Vulcan, who'd been destroying ships in Shi'ar space

(Uncanny X-Men#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. During the battle, Neutron and Cosmo leaped on Vulcan, absorbing much of his energy, but Vulcan manipulated the energy against them, and the ensuing blast defeated them, leaving Cosmo's form eaten away. Guard members in this mission: Astra, Cosmo, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Green.

Quasar/Neutron is pictured in OHotMU I#5 and has a partial entry in OHotMU Deluxe Edition#6.

The Imperial Guard members are generally based on DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Neutron is based on Star Boy. His name was changed to Neutron when the character then known as Marvel Man (Wendell Vaughn) changed his name to Quasar.
--Wikipedia

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Neutron has no known connections to

• Neutron, Munchkin of New Genix @ Marvel Comics Presents I#50
• Neutron Bum, Slapstick foe @ Slapstick#3
• Neutron Disintegrator, of Earth-Howard the Duck (movie adaption) @ Marvel Super Special#41
• Neutron Knights, of Earth-Who @ Dr. Who Magazine I#60
• Neutron Mists, Jack of Hearts device @ Marvel Premiere I#44
• Neutronic Imploder of Earth-Fragmented America @ Iron Man I#80
• Quasar, mutated ape @ Iron Man I#79
• Quasar Wendell Elvis Vaughn, Avenger, deceased @ Incredible Hulk II#234
• Quasar, Phyla-Vell @ Captain Marvel VI#16
• or any other "Neutron" or "Quasar" characters

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#6, p19, pan4 (main image)
Quasar#45, p5, pan2
Quasar#46, p18, pan3