Xandar

Xandar
Profile information
Type	Planet
Location	Tranta system, Andromeda Galaxy
Residents	Xandarians (formerly)
Affiliation	Nova Corps
Real-life information
Appears in	Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: No Guts, No Glory (mentioned)
Debut	Nova #1 (1976)
See Xandar at Marvel Database.

Xandar is a minor location and planet in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. It was the host world for Nova Corps until its destruction by the Chitauri Empire, which marked the beginning of the Galactic War.

Story

A long time ago, the Xandarians discovered the Nova Force, and created a supercomputer known as the Worldmind to serve as a central repository for all their culture and information. Serving as Xandar's head of state, the Xandarians developed the funerary custom of uploading the experiences and personalities of nearly every citizen directly from their brains upon death. They also founded the Nova Corps, which came to be mostly accepted as an intergalactic peacekeeping militia, at an unknown point in time.

Around 7786, Xandar was selected by the Chitauri Empire—having allied with the warlord Thanos—for an unprovoked, surprise attack that triggered the Galactic War. Prime Commandant Rhomann Dey called upon the Xandarian StarCorps fleet to create a blockade against the invading Chitauri forces. During the battle, a squadron led by Samaya on a collision course toward the Leviathans in a last-ditch effort to buy Xandar time. While the blockade was instrumental to the evacuation of Xandar, only Dey, Worldmind, as well as a single, small squadron of Nova Centurions survived the encounter.

After Xandar's fall, Dey begged the Worldmind to reach out to the remote worlds to try to bolster their chances against the Chitauri, but they rejected Dey's request. Disillusioned, Dey took off his uniform, stole a ship, and headed towards Seknarf Nine—found in the projected path for the Chitauri advance—to seek an alliance with Lady Hellbender. Dey would be thus reported as missing-in-action and presumed dead. From the surviving squadron, Worldmind was forced to select its leader, Richard Rider, as Nova Prime. But when Worldmind tried to recall the Centurions to protect their repository of Xandarian history and culture, Rider defied the order and went onto founding the Resistance to fight back against the Chitauri.

In the present day, 7801, Xandar's influence survives through the Worldmind, the restored Nova Corps, and the New Xandar megastructure. For numerous practical reasons, Worldmind chose for the space station to be built in the Tranta system, right next to the old Xandar.

Characteristics

Described as having been "sliced like a ripe dremfruit", the planet's surface has a brown pigmentation. Due to Chitauri technology, Xandar has been divided into at least five flat pieces of various widths, all of which still show igneous activity beneath the crust.

Gameplay

The destroyed Xandar cannot be visited, but it can be seen in the background when the Guardians visit the Tranta system to speak directly with the Worldmind during Chapter 9: Desperate Times. It is also mentioned in the archive Off The Grid, written by Rhomann Dey.

Gallery

Old and New Xandar concept by Arnaud Pheu.

Ships near the destroyed Xandar, seeking help, in Chapter 9.