What If? X-Men - Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire #1
In *What If? X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire #1*, the fate of an entire empire hangs in the balance when Vulcan, after falling into the M'Kraan crystal, awakens with the full power of the Phoenix. Written by Chris Yost and brought to life by Larry Stroman’s dynamic art, this pivotal issue explores the chaos unleashed when one mutant’s ambition meets cosmic might. Cover by Olivier Coipel captures the moment the universe shifts, as Havok and Rachel race back to Earth with a warning — and Vulcan, now unstoppable, follows close behind.
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During the war for the Shi'ar empire, Vulcan falls into the M'Kraan crystal and gains the power of the Phoenix. Havok and Rachel make it back to earth to warn the X-Men but Vulcan is hot on their heels. Rebelling against Vulcan's volatile temper, the Phoenix force retreats, allowing the X-Men to kill him.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).