extraterrestrial race
(Shann)

Classification: Semi-humanoid extraterrestrial race 

 

Location/Base of Operations: Planet, star system, galaxy, and time period (see comments) undefined;
    Andromia was largely Earth-like, with futuristic cities, which contained foliage

Known Members: Shann, others unidentified;
    the race was ruled by a monarchy

Affiliations: Andromian race (conquered and absorbed into empire)

Enemies: Andromian race (conquered and absorbed into empire)

First Appearance: Tales to Astonish I#54/3 (April, 1964)

Powers/Abilities: Shann's race has no known superhuman powers. They have an advanced interstellar fleet with weaponry capable of devastating an entire planet's spaceships, urban centers, and farmland in short order. They also had advanced scanning equipment, such as the Spectro-Scope, which could scan the surface of a nearby planet.

Traits: Shann's people were happy in peace and prosperity. They were (at least in the past) easily swayed by Shann's opinions, but they also recognized and fulfilled their responsibilities.
    They were easily swayed by Shann to believe

Type:  Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; colors unidentified)
Fingers: Four (including opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: Pink/"white"
Average height: Approximately 6' (there's no scale of reference. Shann is probably more like 6'6" or bigger)

History:
(Tales to Astonish I#54/3 (fb) - BTS) - Under King Shann's rule, his realm became serene, and his subjects prosperous and happy.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Lonely and discontent, Shann came to feel that things ran so smoothly and were so content that they took her for granted and were no longer awed by his greatness. He resolved to win their respect and admiration anew, and he determined that conquering another planet, leading his army to victory in battle, would lead to him being remembered through the ages as "Shann, the Conqueror!"

 

 

 


(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - At Shann's command, the once-peaceful civilization prepared for war, readily believing they were soft and complacent and that battle and conquest would strengthen them. They considered the invasion of an alien world the greatest undertaking in their history, and believed the when victory was theirs, they would have fame and glory such as few mortals had ever known.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3 (fb) - BTS) - Shann's army prepared for months until they were battle ready.

 

 

 

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Shann's army blasted off and scoured the galaxy in search of a planet to victimize. Locating the planet Andromia, determining it to be inhabited and its people weak, unable to withstand their superior armed might, Shann gave the order to attack. Shann's armada struck swiftly and without warning, catching the Andromians unaware and destroying their spaceships before the natives could even get them off the ground.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Rallying their forces, the Andromians defended their homeland valiantly, but the superior alien foe leveled their cities and laid waste to their fertile lands with the destructive weapons aboard their spaceships.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - With all resistance crushed, their leader surrendered to Shann, handing over his sword to him. Shann considered this achievement to be the proudest moment of his life.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Shann returned to his world to a cheering crowd.

 

 

 

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Shann's advisors soon explained that the Andromians, their cities demolished and lands ravaged, were now destitute and hungry, and that it was the conqueror's responsibility to care for them. Shann agreed to feed them and help rebuild their civilizations until they were again self-sufficient.

 

 

 

 

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Mammoth efforts were put into effect, transporting food, farm equipment, and technicians to help rebuild the Andromians' society.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - The massive rehabilitation program took much money and effort, leading to increases in taxes and forcing Shann'speople to work longer hours to manufacture goods for the captive people as well as themselves. Appreciating the burden, the people came to resent Shann, realizing they were worse off now and that Shann had waged the war to enhance his own prestige.

(Tales to Astonish I#54/3) - Realizing his people loathed him and blamed him for their present hardships, Shann appreciated the irony in the situation and the true price of vanity.

 

 

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Sol Brodsky.

    Shann's world was described as "a planet far away in time and space." This description would fit, too, for the Andromians. It is unrevealed whether this occurred in the past or in a potential future...I prefer the former, because the latter would place these events in an alternate reality, and we'd probably never know if the race(s) even existed in Reality-616.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Shann's race has no known connections to

images: (without ads)
Tales to Astonish I#54/3, pg. 2, panel 3 (Shann's people content);
            panel 4 (Shann's world's sky/constellations);
            panel 5 (Shann's armies);
        pg. 3, panel 1 (armada gathered over Andromia);
            panel 4 (starship close-up);
        pg. 4, panel 2 (Shann's advisors);
            panel 3 (transport ships carrying supplies and workers);
            panel 4 (disgruntled people at work);
            panel 5 (disgruntled populace, faces only);
        pg. 5, panel 1 (disgruntled populace, mostly full body)

Appearances:
Tales to Astonish I#54/3 (April, 1964) "Conquest" - Stan Lee (plot, editor), Larry Lieber (script, pencils), Sol Brodsky (inker)

Last updated: 11/20/12

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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