Publisher Marvel Comics First appearance X-Men #107 (Oct 1977) Fictional universe Marvel Universe | Team affiliations Imperial Guard Species Cyborg | |
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Created by Chris Claremont
Dave Cockrum Abilities Superhuman intellect and tactical ability Creators Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum Similar Electron, Imperial Guard, Trader, Hobgoblin, Flashfire | ||
Mentor is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Contents
Publication history
Created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, Mentor first appeared in [Uncanny] X-Men #107–109 (October 1977 – February 1978) as a member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.
The character subsequently appears in The Uncanny X-Men #157 (May 1982), ROM Annual #4 (1985), X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers #2 (June 1990), Uncanny X-Men #275 (April 1991), Quasar #32 (March 1992), Imperial Guard #1–3 (January–March 1997), Inhumans Vol. 4 #4 (September 2000), JLA/Avengers #1 (September 2003), Uncanny X-Men #477 (October 2006), #479–480 (December 2006 – January 2007), #485-486 (June–July 2007), and X-Men: Emperor Vulcan #4–5 (February–March 2008).
He is also involved in the War of Kings storyline and the writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have described their take on the character: "We want to show Mentor as being terrifyingly able, and one of the most dangerous and capable members of the Imperial Guard. His astonishing brainpower is enhanced (in military terms) by sheer, analytical ruthlessness".
Mentor appeared as part of the "Imperial Guard" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #6.
Fictional character biography
Mentor is a long-time member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, an army of powerful beings that enforce Shi'ar Imperial law on all planets within the Shi'ar Galaxy and serve the rulers of the Shi'ar Empire. Mentor was among the first of the Imperial Guard to clash with the X-Men and Starjammers as they fought to free Shi'ar Empress Lilandra Neramani from her brother, D'Ken and Davan Shakari. Mentor swore his allegiance to Lilandra after D'Ken's defeat.
Unlike many of his fellow guardsmen, he remained steadfast in his loyalty to Empress Lilandra during the attempted coup of the Shi'ar throne by her sister Deathbird, which pitted X-Factor and Excalibur against the Guard once again.
Mentor was one of the Imperial Guard members stationed on Earth for a time.
In the battle between the Imperial Guard and Vulcan, he acted as a tactical advisor to Gladiator on Vulcan's weakness, and oversaw the temporary neutralization of his powers, establishing him as one of the survivors of the battle that proved otherwise disastrous for the Guard.
Mentor serves as Praetor of the Imperial Guard after Gladiator becomes the new Shi'ar Majestor.
During the Civil War II storyline, Mentor represented the Shi'ar as a member of the Alpha Flight Space Program's Board of Governors.
Inspiration
Several of the members of the Imperial Guard are at least partly based on members of the DC Comics team Legion of Super-Heroes. (Dave Cockrum, co-creator of the Guard, also had a long run as artist on the Legion). Mentor is based on LSH member Brainiac 5.
Age of Apocalypse
Mentor made an appearance with the Imperial Guard in Gambit and the X-Ternals #2 (April 1995).