Corsair start as a test pilot for the National Aeronautical Space Administration, United States Air Force Major Christopher Summers was flying himself his wife Katherine Anne and their two young sons Scott and Alex in their private plane a rebuilt DeHaviland Mosquito down the Western American coast from Alaska when their plane was attacked by a starship from the alien Shi'ar Empire on an exploratory mission to Earth. The Shi'ar pursued Summers' craft to prevent Summers from making their presence on Earth known to the general public. The Shi'ar craft fired on Summers' plane which was made of wood causing it to burst into flame. Unable to find more than one usable parachute in time Katherine Anne put it on her eldest son Scott, told him to hold onto Alex and pushed them both out the plane door hoping to save them both. Scott and Alex thus escaped the Shi'ar.

Christopher and his wife were teleported aboard the Shi'ar starship and taken to the Shi'ar Imperial Throneworld of Chandilar. There Christopher was separated from his wife and imprisoned. He soon broke free and discovered the mad Shi'ar Emperor D'Ken attempting to rape Katherine Anne. D'Ken responded to the interruption by murdering Summers' wife before his eyes, and then ordered Summers to be sent to the Slave Pits of Alsibar where criminals and political prisoners were incarcerated.