DAVAN SHAKARI

Real Name: Davan Shakari

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Shi'ar)

Occupation: Mercenary;

former Shi'ar military officer

Group MembershipCrystal Claws (leader)

Affiliations: Black Tom Cassidy, Blob, Dai'andral, D'ken, Firelord, Imperial Guard (Astra, Fang, Gladiator (Kallark), Hobgoblin, Imperial Shockers, Impulse, Mentor, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest), Juggernaut, Lorelei, Magneto, Unus the Untouchable, Zey-Rogg;

formerly Havok, Polaris

Enemies: Captain Marvel/Legacy (Genis-Vell), John and Elaine Grey, Jahf, Misty Knight, Lilandra, Jamie Madrox, Modt, Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza), Vulcan, X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Havok, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Polaris, Professor X, Storm, Wolverine), X-Treme

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Eric the Red, Erik the Red, Transcendent Shakari, Brother Shakari

Base of Operations: Aerie in Himalayas;

formerly Aerie in northern New York

First Appearance: X-Men I#97 (February, 1976)

Powers/Abilities: Davan Shakari has the typical abilities of the Shi'ar. His armor enhanced his strength and made him resistant to telepathy and injury. He could also use his armor to fire energy blasts and hypnotize others with a "cerebral lock."

Height: 6'2''
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: White
Feathers: Black

History:

(X-Men I#107 (fb) - BTS) - The Shi'ar Empire sent observers to Earth, as it was a crossroads for many alien races. The head of the colony was Davan Shakari, who came to view his time on Earth as an exile.

(Uncanny X-Men I#476 (fb) - BTS) - Shakari founded a large base in a dormant volcano in upstate New York. He had many servants and would at times entertain Shi'ar dignitaries who sought to view Earth, planning on it being a future colony of the Shi'ar. Shakari and others experimented on some of these servants were experimented on and a device was placed in their brains, keeping them alive indefinitely as the deadly Imperial Shockers.

(Classic X-Men#15 (fb) - BTS/X-Men: Deadly Genesis#6 (fb)) - D'ken sent a youth to Shakari to serve as a slave. At some point, the slave was named Gabriel.

(X-Men: Deadly Genesis#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Gabriel, years later, escaped, killing another slave, Dai'andral. He eventually became Vulcan.

(X-Men I#107 (fb)) - D'Ken's spies sent instructions to Shakari to stop Lilandra from reaching the X-Men on Earth. Shakari disguised himself as Eric the Red (a moniker Cyclops had previously used), in order to inspire confusion in the X-Men.

(X-Men I#97/Classic X-Men#5) - Eric the Red showed up at the residence of Havok and Polaris, taking mental influence over both of them and recruiting them to his cause. The three of them traveled to an airport in New York where X-Men Cyclops, Phoenix, Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler were bidding farewell to Professor X, who was departing on a plane. While Havok traded blows with Cyclops, Polaris knocked Marvel Girl out then entered a stalemate with Storm. During the fight Shakari lost control over Havok, who immediately attacked him, but Shakari regained control when he shot Havok again with his hypno ray. Colossus and Nightcrawler managed to knock Eric the Red down just before Storm defeated Polaris. When Wolverine and Banshee arrived, summoned by Professor X to aid their teammates, Eric the Red grabbed Havok and Polaris and flew off, not willing to risk complete defeat.

(X-Men I#104/Super-Villain Team-Up#14/X-Men II#2 (fb)) - Eric the Red, with Havok and Polaris, stormed Muir Island, subdued Jamie Madrox, and with a ray, changed Magneto from a baby to an adult.

(Champions I#17 (fb)) - He also restored Blob, Lorelei, and Unus the Untouchable to their adult states.

(X-Men I#103 (fb) - BTS) - Eric the Red made alliances with X-Men opponents Black Tom, Juggernaut, and Magneto, and entreated them to kill the X-Men. He briefed his allies on the capabilities of their foes.

(X-Men I#103/Classic X-Men#11) - The X-Men defeated Black Tom and Juggernaut. D'Ken contacted Eric the Red, reporting that Lilandra was nearing Earth. Eric the Red assured D'Ken that Magneto would handle the X-Men.

(X-Men I#104) - The X-Men managed to escape the trap Magneto had set for him, and began rushing back to New York. Meanwhile, Eric the Red, Havok, and Polaris monitored Professor X and Phoenix.

(X-Men I#105 (fb)) - Eric the Red realized that the X-Men had escaped Magneto and briefly thought all was lost, until he noticed the powerful Firelord flying above. He put a new plan in place, and sent Havok and Polaris against Firelord, who easily defeated them. Eric the Red made Firelord believe that all of the X-Men were seeking to murder him, and Firelord agreed to protect him. The duo went back to Professor X's mansion.

(X-Men I#105/Classic X-Men#13) - The rest of the X-Men arrived and immediately attacked Eric the Red, but Firelord sprang to his defense and made short work of the heroes. Eric the Red convinced Firelord to now attack Professor X. Firelord attacked the X-Men (who'd been joined by Lilandra) and Phoenix rushed out to fight him, successfully holding him off. Eric the Red attacked Professor X and Lilandra. He set off a blast that left everyone in the room unconscious (including John and Elaine Grey and Misty Knight). He grabbed Lilandra's form and quickly constructed a stargate on the roof. The X-Men attacked and Shakari blew up their ship then dove through the stargate with Lilandra, shutting the gate off before they could pursue. Phoenix distracted Firelord and then used her powers to charge up the stargate, allowing all of the X-Men to follow.

(X-Men I#107/Classic X-Men#14) - Shakari held Lilandra captive next to D'Ken and in front of the M'Kraan Crystal. The Imperial Guard was assembled to fight the X-Men. After a massive battle, reality blinked out of existence temporarily.

(X-Men I#108/Classic X-Men I#15 - BTS) - The X-Men, joined by the Starjammers, defeated Modt and Jahf, the guardians of the Crystal. When the Crystal threatened to break apart, Phoenix repaired it.

(X-Men I#109 (fb)) - D'ken was driven insane and Lilandra took control of the government.

(Captain Marvel IV#3 (fb) - BTS) - Shakari returned to Earth and led the Crystal Claws, a group of Shi'ar militants that desired to foment chaos in the Shi'ar Empire. They established a new base in the high mountains. Years later, the Crystal Claws planned to put X-Treme, estranged son of D'ken, in control of the Empire. They allied with various Kree rebels in order to manipulate Legacy, the son of Captain Marvel, into detonating another Nega-Bomb, though this one was much smaller.

(X-Men II#41) - As a crystalization wave hit Earth, Shakari apprehended X-Treme.

(Captain Marvel IV#1) - The Crystal Claws' plot worked, and Legacy saw the bomb detonated, fomenting chaos on Shi'ar holdings in the Kree Empire.

(Captain Marvel IV#2) - Seeking those who had set him up, Legacy followed a lead to Earth. Shakari heard from Zey-Rogg that he was coming and sent X-Treme (who was now indoctrinated to Shakari's cause) to find and kill him.

(Captain Marvel IV#3) - X-Treme and Legacy fought until Legacy managed to undo Shakari's control over X-Treme. The two of them returned to the Aerie in the Himalayas to battle Shakari, who was shocked that X-Treme had gotten free. He and the Claws sent a group of Sidri after the two, but they defeated the aliens. Shakari, after learning how X-Treme broke free, explained X-Treme's destiny to him. X-Treme and Legacy then defeated Shakari and blew up the Aerie. They parted ways.

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Sam Grainger.

I think the Crystal Claws are supposed to be Shi'ar characters, but they look awfully Kree in their one and only image.

Classic X-Men reprinted (surprise, surprise) classic issues of the first X-Men series, but most of the reprints included additional pages that weren't originally published.
--Markus Raymond

Although Shakari is only ever shown returning Magneto, Blob, Unus, and Lorelei to their adult forms, Mastermind (who was also de-aged) reappeared around the same time as an adult. Though it isn't shown, perhaps under Notes it should indicate that Shakari likely returned Mastermind to his adult form as well.
--Thomas Wardlow

Davan Shakari got a profile in the All-New OHotMU#4.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Davan Shakari has no known connections to


Crystal Claws

(Captain Marvel IV#3 (fb) - BTS) - Shakari returned to Earth and led the Crystal Claws, a group of Shi'ar militants that desired to foment chaos in the Shi'ar Empire. They established a new base in the high mountains. Years later, the Crystal Claws planned to put X-Treme, estranged son of D'ken, in control of the Empire. They allied with various Kree rebels in order to manipulate Legacy, the son of Captain Marvel, into detonating another Nega-Bomb, though this one was much smaller.

(X-Men II#41) - As a crystalization wave hit Earth, Shakari apprehended X-Treme.

(Captain Marvel IV#1) - The Crystal Claws' plot worked, and Legacy saw the bomb detonated, fomenting chaos on Shi'ar holdings in the Kree Empire.

(Captain Marvel IV#2) - Seeking those who had set him up, Legacy followed a lead to Earth. Shakari heard he was coming and sent X-Treme (who was now indoctrinated to Shakari's cause) to find and kill him.

(Captain Marvel IV#3) - X-Treme and Legacy fought until Legacy managed to undo Shakari's control over X-Treme. The two of them returned to the Aerie in the Himalayas to battle Shakari, who was shocked that X-Treme had gotten free. He and the Claws sent a group of Sidri after the two, but they defeated the aliens. Shakari, after learning how X-Treme broke free, explained X-Treme's destiny to him. X-Treme and Legacy then defeated Shakari and blew up the Aerie. They parted ways.

--Captain Marvel IV#3 (Captain Marvel IV#3 (fb) – BTS, X-Men I#41 (fb) – BTS, Captain Marvel IV#1-3


images: (without ads)
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe#4, Eric the Red entry (main)
Captain Marvel IV#3, p8, pan4 (upper body)
                                    p9, pan1 (Crystal Claws)


Appearances:
X-Men I#97 (February, 1976) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Sam Grainger (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
X-Men I#103 (February, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Sam Grainger (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#104 (April, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Sam Grainger (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#105 (June, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Bob Layton (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#106 (August, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum, Bob Brown (pencilers), Sam Grainger (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#107 (October, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Dan Green (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Super-Villain Team-Up#14 (October, 1977) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Bob Hall (pencils), Don Perlin & Duffy Vohland (inks), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#108 (December, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Champions I#17 (January, 1978) - Bill Mantlo (writer), George Tuska (penciler), John Byrne (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#109 (February, 1978) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Classic X-Men#5 (January, 1987) - Reprint of X-Men I#97 with two additional pages
Classic X-Men#11 (July, 1987) - Reprint of X-Men I#103 with two additional pages
Classic X-Men#13 (September, 1987) - Reprint of X-Men I#105 with three additional pages
Classic X-Men#14 (October, 1987) - Reprint of X-Men I#107 with three additional pages
Classic X-Men#15 (December, 1987) - Reprint of X-Men I#108 with three additional pages
X-Men II#2 (November, 1991) - Chris Claremont & Jim Lee (writers), Jim Lee (penciler), Scott Williams (inker), Bob Harras (editor)
X-Men II#41 (February, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert & Ron Garney (pencils), Matt Ryan (inker), Bob Harras (editor)
Captain Marvel IV#1-3 (December, 1995-February, 1996) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Ed Benes (penciler), Mike Sellers (inker), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
X-Men: Deadly Genesis#4 (April, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Pete Woods (penciler), Mark Paniccia (editor)
X-Men: Deadly Genesis#6 (July, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Trevor Hairsine (penciler), Scott Hanna (inker), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Uncanny X-Men#476 (September, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Billy Tan (pencils), Danny Miki (inks), Mike Marts (editor)


First Posted: 07/01/2007
Last updated: 05/15/2012

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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