View source for Starjammers

{{Short description|Comic book team of space pirates}}
{{Infobox comics team and title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!-- Group section -->
|image               = XEMPVUL001 cov2.jpg
|caption             = The new Starjammers.<br />Art by [[Billy Tan]].
|publisher           = [[Marvel Comics]]
|group               = y
|debuthead           =
|debut               = ''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]]'' #104
|debutmo             = April
|debutyr             = 1977
|creators            = [[Dave Cockrum]] (writer-artist)<br>[[Chris Claremont]] (writer)
|type                = Team
|organization        = y
|base                =
|members             = [[Ch'od]]<br />[[Cr'reee]]<br />[[Corsair (character)|Corsair]]<br />[[Korvus]]<br />[[Raza Longknife]]<br />[[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]]<br />[[Hepzibah (character)|Hepzibah]]<br />[[Sikorsky (Starjammers)|Sikorsky]]<br />Waldo
|fullroster          =

<!-- Series section -->

|cvr_image           = <!-- filename format only -->
|cvr_caption         =
|schedule            = Monthly
|format              =
|limited             = Y
|SciFi               = first
|Superhero           = y
|multigenre          = y
|pub_series          =
|1stishhead          = X-Men Spotlight On...Starjammers
|1stishyr            = 1990
|1stishmo            = May
|endishyr            = 1990
|endishmo            = June
|1stishhead1         = vol. 1
|1stishyr1           = 1995
|1stishmo1           = October
|endishyr1           = 1996
|endishmo1           = January
|1stishhead2         = vol. 2
|1stishyr2           = 2004
|1stishmo2           = September
|endishyr2           = 2005
|endishmo2           = February
|issues              = '''X-Men Spotlight On...Starjammers'''<br />2<br />'''(vol. 1)'''<br />4<br />'''(vol. 2)'''<br />6
|main_char_team      =
|writers             =
|artists             =
|pencillers          =
|inkers              =
|letterers           =
|colorists           =
|editors             =
|creative_team_month =
|creative_team_year  =
|creators_series     =
|TPB                 =
|ISBN                =

<!-- Category section -->
|cat                 = teams
|subcat              = Marvel Comics
|hero                = y
|sortkey             = Starjammers
}}
The '''Starjammers''' are a [[fiction]]al team of [[space pirate]]s appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The Starjammers have often appeared in pages of the ''[[X-Men]]'' [[comic book]]s. The Starjammers first appeared in ''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]]'' #104 (April 1977) and were created by [[Dave Cockrum]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=356}}</ref> The name "Starjammers" was created on the basis of the type of sailing ship known as "[[Windjammer]]".

==Concept and creation==
[[Dave Cockrum]] created the Starjammers with the intent of having them star in their own series. However, when he submitted the concept for Marvel's two try-out series, ''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' and ''[[Marvel Premiere]]'', he was repeatedly informed that these series were booked for two years solid. Cockrum showed the Starjammers to ''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]]'' writer [[Chris Claremont]] and convinced him to use the characters for this series. In order to provide a plausible excuse for the Starjammers to make repeat appearances in ''X-Men'', they decided to make [[Corsair (character)|Corsair]], the leader of the Starjammers, be the father of [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]], the leader of the X-Men.<ref>{{cite news | last = Meth | first= Clifford | date = August 1993 | title = How a Typhoon Blew in Success | work = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]: X-Men Turn Thirty | pages = 50–52}}</ref>

==History==

===Origin===
The story of the Starjammers began with [[Corsair (character)|Christopher Summers]], a [[military]] [[Aviator|pilot]] returning with his family from a trip to [[Alaska]]. Without warning their plane was attacked. Chris's wife, Katherine, strapped their two sons (Scott Summers and Alexander Summers, who later became the X-Men [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]] and [[Havok (character)|Havok]]) to their only [[parachute]] and pushed them out of the plane, saving their lives. The husband and wife were then [[Teleportation|teleported]] from their plane to the ship of an advanced [[extraterrestrial life|alien]] race called the [[Shi'ar]]. This had been a [[zoology|zoological]] scouting mission to bring in a [[human]] [[Biological specimen|specimen]]. They were brought before [[D'Ken]], the then ruler of the Shi'ar Empire, who was immediately smitten with Katherine, making her his [[wiktionary:concubine|concubine]] and sending her husband to the slave pits. Eventually, Christopher escaped and reached D'Ken's private quarters to try to [[assassination|assassinate]] him. However, he was caught and punished by having his wife murdered before his eyes, and his [[Vulcan (Marvel Comics)|unborn son]] cut out of her womb. His spirit broken, he was sent to a [[mining]] camp on another planet.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Starjammers1.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Cover to ''X-Men Spotlight On...Starjammers'' #1.<br>Art by [[Dave Cockrum]].]] -->

===Formation of the team===
While working in the mining camp, Christopher witnessed the guards mercilessly beating a [[felidae|feline]]-like female. He stepped in, trying to get them to stop, but was then beaten himself. The woman was taken to the holding cells and Christopher huddled up in a corner, ashamed of himself. A little while later, Raza and Ch'od passed by and asked Christopher for the whereabouts of their comrade Hepzibah. Christopher was too afraid to answer. After they had left, he felt guilty and went to the guards' quarters, starting a fight after killing one of them. Raza and Ch'od jumped in, and together they got past the guards, freed the cat-woman, and sneaked on board a Shi'ar starship. Christopher used his pilot call-sign, Corsair. Naming Christopher their captain, they became the Starjammers, a group of space pirates rebelling against D'Ken's tyranny.

===Further adventures===
The Starjammers have had many adventures across the universe, many of them on Earth with the [[X-Men]], during which Christopher Summers finally met his long lost sons, now X-Men. At times, the group ran with [[Professor X]] and even his consort, the [[Shi'ar]] ruler, [[Lilandra Neramani]]. The group participated in the defeat of the cosmic threat [[Magus (Marvel Comics)|Magus]], assisted by Professor X and the [[New Mutants#New Mutants Vol. 1|New Mutants]]. When the [[Skrull]]s made an incursion into Shi'ar territory, the Starjammers were overwhelmed, kidnapped and duplicated. They were later rescued from their imprisonment by the X-Men.

The [[Hulk]] and [[Silver Surfer]] recruited the Starjammers to assist in a raid on Troyjan held space, to rescue several friends of the Hulk. A violent fight broke out, with the Starjammers slaying several enemies. It was ended with an alien bureaucrat offered the option of the Starjammers and allies simply asking to see the person they wished to confront. The group was also temporary allies of the Avengers. For some time, they were prisoners of the [[Collector (character)|Collector]], a cosmic being interested in preserving unique specimens of life. They became trapped in a conflict between the Collector, [[Galactus]] and the well-meaning but dangerous efforts of Wolverine of the X-Men.

A recent ''Starjammers'' series introduced a new member of the Starjammers. Although some readers believed it was out of [[Marvel Universe]] [[continuity (fiction)|continuity]], the events of the series were referenced in a recent entry in the ''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe]]'' series, confirming its canonical status.

===The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire===
{{Main|The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire}}
The Starjammers figured significantly in the ''Uncanny X-Men'' story arc "The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire", a 12-issue story arc following on the events of ''[[X-Men: Deadly Genesis]]''.

Within this story arc, the long-lost third son of Corsair, Gabriel Summers, now the powerful mutant known as [[Vulcan (Marvel Comics)|Vulcan]], travels from Earth to Shi'ar space seeking revenge against the mad emperor D'Ken and the Shi'ar empire for the death of his mother and his own mistreatment by the Shi'ar. Through the course of the story, Vulcan allies himself with Deathbird to depose her brother the emperor, but later seems to side himself with D'Ken against the X-Men and the Starjammers, who seek to stop his plans for revenge. Vulcan soon turns on and kills D'Ken, and by marrying his ally (and sister of D'Ken) Deathbird, assumes the throne of the Shi'ar empire himself. In the course of the finale, Corsair, Vulcan's father, is seemingly killed. Hepzibah is returned to Earth with the X-Men, while Havok, [[Polaris (Marvel Comics)|Polaris]] and [[Rachel Summers|Marvel Girl]] remain behind. Havok decides to assume his father's position as leader of the Starjammers. Polaris opts to stay with him. Marvel Girl remains behind as well, having developed an intimate relationship with [[Korvus]], a Shi'ar warrior whose ancestor was once a host of the Phoenix force (like Marvel Girl); his giant sword allows him to access the force to a degree as well. The Starjammers' new mission is to defeat Havok's brother and return Lilandra to the throne of the Sh'iar Empire.

Hepzibah expresses no wish to return to the Starjammers following Corsair's death, and has decided to stay on Earth and become an X-Man. The Starjammers are now: Havok, Polaris, Ch'od, Marvel Girl, Raza, Korvus, [[Sikorsky (Starjammers)|Sikorsky]], and [[Cr'reee]].<ref>''Uncanny X-Men'' #486</ref>

===''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan''===
{{Main|X-Men: Emperor Vulcan}}
The further adventures of the Starjammers are continued in the series: ''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan'', this miniseries (5 issues) is written by [[Chris Yost]] and pencilled by [[Paco Diaz]]. Havok and the Starjammers attack Shi'ar space. Vulcan appears with an armada to kill them, and a new alien race gets involved. The new race's name translates to "Death to the Shi'ar", and they destroyed the Shi'ar flagship.<ref>''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan'' #1</ref> In the aftermath of the miniseries, most of the Starjammers were captured and subsequently imprisoned by Vulcan. Lilandra, Korvus, and Rachel Summers escaped and remain free.

===''X-Men: Kingbreaker'' and ''War of Kings''===
{{Main|X-Men: Kingbreaker|War of Kings}}
Marvel has announced that the Starjammers will play a large role in the upcoming sequel to ''Emperor Vulcan'' called ''[[X-Men: Kingbreaker]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080823-XMenKingbreaker.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121153143/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080823-XMenKingbreaker.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 21, 2008 | title=Chris Yost Talks X-Men: Kingbreaker | work=[[Newsarama]] | date=August 23, 2008}}</ref> They will also be seen prominently in the ''[[War of Kings]]'' storyline, which also features Vulcan, the [[Inhumans]], [[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]], and the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17456 | title=CCI: DnA and Rosemann on 'War of Kings' | work=[[Comic Book Resources]] | date=July 27, 2008}}</ref>

=== Poison X ===
When Chris was talking to Cyclops from the past, the Starjammers are attacked by mercenaries with [[Symbiote (comics)|symbiotes]]. The mercenaries wanted them so they could go to steal with the help of their navigator. The [[X-Men Blue]] team, with the help of a reluctant [[Eddie Brock|Venom]], went to space so they could save the Starjammers. When the symbiotes bonded with the Starjammers, the X-Men went to the mercenaries' ship and Cyclops freed the team. While the symbiotes were battling amongst themselves, the Poisons arrived, consumed the mercenaries, and began attacking the X-Men since they themselves were now bonded to symbiotes. They survived and after escaping the Poisons and the X-Men gave their symbiotes to the Starjammers to return them to Klyntar.<ref>''Venom X-Men Blue: Poison X.'' Marvel Comics.</ref>

=== Death of Thanos ===
In the aftermath of the "[[Infinity Wars]]" storyline, the Starjammers were present at [[Thanos]]' funeral. [[Starfox (comics)|Starfox]] shows all the guests a recording of Thanos stating that he uploaded his consciousness in a new body before his death. The funeral is attacked by the [[Black Order (comics)|Black Order]], who steals Thanos's body and rip open a black hole in space, sending everyone into the rip. Though [[Silver Surfer]] was able to rescue the Starjammers with the cost of his own wellbeing, everyone else were still trapped.<ref>''Silver Surfer Black'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Everyone is saved by the arrival of Gladiator and the Shi'ar Empire.<ref>''Guardians of the Galaxy'' Vol 5 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Membership==
<!-- needs updating with info from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #486-->
Characters marked in '''bold''' lettering are current members of the Starjammers.

* [[Carol Danvers|Binary]]: Carol Danvers. A human/Kree hybrid who controls vast amounts of cosmic energy, has super strength, flight, and the ability to survive unaided in space. Now Captain Marvel, she is currently a member of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]].
* '''[[Corsair (character)|Corsair]]''': Leader, father of the X-Men [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]] and [[Havok (character)|Havok]], as well as the villain [[Vulcan (Marvel Comics)|Vulcan]]. He was the lover of fellow Starjammer Hepzibah until his death,<ref>''Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #486 (2007)''</ref> but since his return<ref>''All-New X-Men #23 (2014)''</ref> has rekindled his romance with her. 
* '''[[Ch'od]]''': Large reptilian creature, a member of the Saurid race.
* '''[[Cr'reee]]''': A white, furry companion for Ch'od which only he can understand.
* [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]]: Scott Summers, member of time-displaced original X-Men, fires optic blasts; joined Starjammers to bond with his father.<ref>''Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 #13 (2014)''</ref><ref>''Cyclops Vol. 3 #1 (2014)''</ref>
* [[Havok (character)|Havok]]: Alexander Summers, former interim leader/captain, former X-Man, fires plasma blasts.
* '''[[Hepzibah (character)|Hepzibah]]''': Corsair's lover until his death. A member of the Mephitisoid race; her true name is nearly unpronounceable to humans. She left the Starjammers after Corsair's death, joining the X-Men and later X-Force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-greg-rucka-takes-cyclops-on-a-cosmic-road-trip/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Greg Rucka Takes "Cyclops" on a Cosmic Road Trip|website=CBR |last=Ching |first=Albert|date=February 12, 2014}}</ref> She had Corsair resurrected by The Shrouded<ref>''Cyclops Vol. 3 #3 (2014)''</ref> and rejoined the Starjammers to be with him.   
* Keeyah: A [[Kree]] who formerly acted as [[Aviator|pilot]].<ref>''Starjammers Vol. 1 #1-4 (1995)''</ref>
* '''[[Korvus]]''': Descendant of a Shi'ar host for the Phoenix Force.<ref>''Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #479 (2006)''</ref>
* '''[[Raza Longknife]]''': The last surviving member of an unknown race exterminated by the Shi'ar Emperor [[D'Ken]].
* [[Rachel Summers|Marvel Girl]]: Rachel Summers, former member of the X-Men and Excalibur; telepath/telekinetic, has been a host for the Phoenix Force.
* [[Lilandra Neramani]]: Former Empress of the Shi'ar Empire. Killed by [[Darkhawk]] (who was controlled by Razor) in ''War of Kings''.
* [[Polaris (Marvel Comics)|Polaris]]: Lorna Dane, the lime-haired former X-Men member with the mutant power of magnetism. 
* [[Professor X]]: Founder of the X-Men; [[telepath]]. Briefly a member after the events of ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #200.
* '''[[Sikorsky (Starjammers)|Sikorsky]]''': An insect-like alien and expert physician.
* Tolo Hawk: Former cadet in the Union Defense Corps.<ref>''Starjammers Vol. 2 #4-6 (2004)''</ref>
* Waldo: The [[artificial intelligence]] of the Starjammers' ship, destroyed beyond repair.

==Other versions==

===Age of Apocalypse===
In this reality, the formation of the Starjammers is essentially the same as in the main reality. They consisted of slaves that broke free during the reign of Emperor [[D'Ken]]. They included Earthman [[Corsair (character)|Christopher Summers]], [[Ch'od]], [[Hepzibah (character)|Hepzibah]], and Raza Longknife. Early on in their time together, Chris was infected with a Brood embryo and would return to Earth leaving the Starjammers without a leader; however, the circumstances behind this would be unrevealed.<ref>''Tales From the Age of Apocalypse'' #2</ref>

The Starjammers would eventually find someone who could lead them in the form of [[Deathbird]], the former ruler of the Shi'ar Empire, who had been removed from the throne by her evil brother D'Ken.<ref>''Gambit and the X-Ternals'' #2</ref> When the X-Ternals arrived in the Shi'ar galaxy, they were saved by the Starjammers from the crystallization wave caused by the destabilized [[M'Kraan Crystal]].

The group took the X-Ternals to the planet where the Crystal was kept so that they could collect a shard of it to save the universe. Only Deathbird would accompany the X-Ternals to the planets surface where their mission would be a success. It would also see D'Ken left in a paralyzed state, trapped within the crystal.<ref>''Gambit and the X-Ternals'' #3</ref>

===Mutant X===
In this reality, the Starjammers consist of [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]], [[Ms. Marvel|Binary]], [[Lockheed (character)|Lockheed]], [[Nova (Frankie Raye)|Nova]], and [[Silver Surfer]].

==In other media==

===Television===
The Starjammers appeared in the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series|X-Men]]'' episodes "The Phoenix Saga" and "Orphan's End".

== Collected editions ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Material collected
!Published date
!ISBN
|-
|''X-Men: Starjammers by Dave Cockrum''
|''X-Men'' (vol. 1) #107-108, ''Uncanny X-Men'' (vol. 1) #154-158, 161–167, ''X-Men: Spotlight On Starjammers'' #1-2
|October 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1302920463}}
|-
|''Starjammers''
|''Starjammers'' (vol. 1) #1-4, ''Starjammers'' (vol.2) #1-6, material from ''X-Men Unlimited'' #32
|June 2019
|{{ISBNT|978-1302918699}}
|-
|''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan''
|''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan'' #1-5
|May 2008
|{{ISBNT|978-0785125518}}
|-
|''War Of Kings: Road To War Of Kings''
|''X-Men: Kingbreaker'' #1-4 and ''Secret Invasion: War of Kings'', ''War of Kings Saga''
|June 2009
|{{ISBNT|978-0785139676}}
|-
|''War of Kings Omnibus''
|''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan'' #1-5, ''X-Men: Kingbreaker'' #1-4 and ''Uncanny X-Men'' #475-486, ''Secret Invasion: War of Kings'' #1, ''War of Kings: Darkhawk'' #1-2, ''War of Kings: Warriors'' #1-2, ''War of Kings'' #1-6, ''War of Kings: Ascension'' #1-4, ''War of Kings: Savage World of Sakaar'' #1, ''Nova'' #23-28, ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' #13-19, ''War of Kings: Who Will Rule?'' #1, ''Marvel Spotlilght: War of Kings'' and material from ''X-Men: Divided We Stand'' #2
|November 2016
|{{ISBNT|978-1302902254}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.marvel.com/teams-and-groups/starjammers Starjammers] at ''[[Marvel.com]]''
* {{Marveldatabase}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051214114734/http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/pov/showquestion.asp?faq=6&fldAuto=55 Starjammers] at UncannyXmen.net
* {{comicbookdb|type=team|id=301|title=Starjammers}}

{{X-Men characters}}
{{Marvel Cosmic}}
{{Chris Claremont}}
{{Dave Cockrum}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Characters created by Chris Claremont]]
[[Category:Characters created by Dave Cockrum]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics extraterrestrial superheroes]]
[[Category:Space opera]]
[[Category:Space pirates]]
[[Category:X-Men supporting characters]]
[[Category:X-Men titles]]