History

Despite being the eldest sibling, she was denied right to rule the Shi'ar due to a prophecy that declared that she would comit great evil. She was immediately exiled after murdering her sister and mother in order to sieze the throne.

Thense she fled to Earth, fought with Ms. Marvel, who at the time was trying to save two small children, and severely injured her.

Lilandara came to inherit the title of Majastrix of the Shi'ar empire, whereupon Deathbird decided it was high time that she took the throne for herself. Despite having allied herself with Samedar and the alien parasites called the Brood, but was defeatd by the X-Men. Later she hatched another plot to take the throne, and this time suceeded. She was deposed by War Skrulls impersonating Charles Xavier & the Starjammers who aided Lilandra and restored her to her rightful throne. However, with Lila Cheney's help Deathbird and the X-Men defeated the War Skrulls. Deathbird handed the empire back to Lilandara, having grown bored of the endless beaurocracy.

She aided her sisters in a war against Kree in the Kree-Shi'ar war and was granted rulership of it in the aftermarth.

Bishop

A while later, the Phalanx invaded the Shi'ar empire and called upon the X-Men to help. Deathbird was amazed at Bishop's fearlessness and amazed that he stood up to her. They were physically attracted to each other and soon a romantic involvement began.

During their wanderings, the pair encountered the inert planetary mass of the Living Monolith on their way to Terra Firma. Curious, the two landed their craft and investigated the manshaped planet. Suddenly Deathbird betrayed Bishop to a group of War Skrulls and was transported to Earth, to play his part in Apocolaypse's plans. Deathbird was herself betrayed and transformed by Apocalypse into one of his Horsemen. With the title of War, Deathbird helped Apocalypse assemble the rest of the X-Men he whom referred to as "the Twelve." However, Apocolaypse was defeated and Deathbird and the rest of the horsemen were scattered.

Earth had been made a prison planet, with an energy barrier around the solar system, and Deathbird has the key to unlocking it. Bishop confronted her, and the two fought. Deathbird still half-loved Bishop, and wanted him to prove his love to her, and opening the airlock, ejected herself into space. Bishop was able to close the airlock, and then admitted to himself that he hated her.

Vulcan

When Vulcan was sprung from his cell by a member of the Shi'ar secret order, he was told to go down two levels in the prison. He did so, killing all in his path and when he destroyed the cell door, Deathbird emerged. It turns out that she was not killed when she was ejected into space--the Shi'ar Imperial Guard came and captured her before she died and locked her up in the highest security prison with the intention of keeping her there permenantly.

Vulcan was captivated by Deathbird instantly, both by her beauty and by her ruthlessness. When Vulcan reconnects D'ken's neurological pathways and restored him to sanity, D'ken invokes an ancient Shi'ar custom that allows Deathbird and Vulcan to marry.

The couple are married in front of the M'Kraan Crystal, but decide to execute Xavier at the same time. The X-Men, the Starjammers and the Shi'ar loyal to Lilandara attack almost instantly. During the chaos that ensues Vulcan kills D'Ken (never having promised not to kill him) and assumes the throne of Emperor of the Shi'ar empire, with Deahtbird as his Empress. During the fight Polaris crushes the ribs of Deathbird's husband and she instructs the Imperial Guard, still loyal to the ruling family, to protect them as they flee.

Powers

Deathbird has many of the traits and characteristics common to the Shi'ar race including enhanced strength, humanoid form, feathers, and hollow bones. She is a Mutant to her own race, often referred to as a "genetic throwback" giving her more birdlike features that most of her race has evolved past. Because of this her body has more feathers than a normal Shi'ar including winged arms that give her the ability to fly under her own power and a larger crest of feathers on her face and head than normal. Her strength, durability, and agility are also enhanced past the other members of her race (normally Shi'ar can lift/press around a ton with Earth-like gravity, however Deathbird can lift upward of six tons). She also possesses dense, razor-sharp talons instead of nails which she uses offensively for hand to hand combat.

Along with her physical features which make her an expert combatant, Deathbird has a violent and aggressive personality making her a dangerous opponent.