Most characters in the MCU draw inspiration from those in the pages of Marvel’s comics. Sometimes, two characters are combined. But usually, it’s a character or characters with a long history, often going back decades. And then, there’s Prince Yan D’Aladna (Park Seo-joon), soon to star in The Marvels. He’s making it to the big screen after only one appearance in an issue of Captain Marvel. Here everything you should know from Marvel Comics about alien royalty Prince Yan D’Aladna.
Prince Yan’s First Marvel Comics Appearance
In the comics, Prince Yan’s first and so far only appearance happened in 2014’s Captain Marvel (Vol.8) issue #9. The issue has Carol Danvers, only recently having become Captain Marvel, and her alien sidekick Tic journeying to the distant world Aladna to help a mutant rock star, one who also happened to be a cosmic adventurer. Lila Cheney had the mutant power to teleport across the cosmos, which led her to many entanglements with the X-Men and Carol over the years. Now, Lila found herself trapped in an unwanted engagement with alien royalty, and needed her old friend Carol to bail her out. In his world, everyone has to rhyme when they speak. Good times.
Prince Yan’s Connection to an X-Men Character
When she was a child and her mutant powers first manifested, young Lila Cheney transported herself to Aladna and fell for the planet’s handsome prince. Lila was an Earth mutant of considerable power, who once dated Xavier’s student Cannonball. In his world, only women could choose their lifemates. Being from Earth, she didn’t realize that when she chose him it was a real commitment that would have to be honored. When she returned to Aladna as an adult, they forced her to marry Prince Yan, even though neither of them wanted that.
Yan asked Carol Danvers to help him stop the ceremony by formally objecting. During the ceremony, Marlo of Sleen, who wished to rule Aladna, appeared, intending to defeat Lila in combat and marry Yan. Carol represented Lila in battle, and won. Now officially betrothed to Yan, Carol offered him the right to choose whoever he wanted to marry. To avoid the possibility that the crown would be denied to Yan if he didn’t marry, Tic volunteered to become Yan’s wife. As the king, Yan would abolish said Aladnean practice altogether.
What Are Prince Yan’s Powers?
As far as we know, Prince Yan doesn’t have any super powers. At least not in the comics. However, like everyone on his home planet, he can always speak and carry on a full conversation totally in rhyme. Essentially, they all speak musically. So, that’s kind of a power?
Is Prince Yan Captain Marvel’s Husband?
Although Carol Danvers won the right to marry Prince Yan, she decided not to. She allowed the Prince to choose his own consort. Or rather, the consort chose him. So no, Carol is not married to the Prince in the comics, and is therefore not secret alien royalty. However, that did not stop him from being flirty with her.
Park Seo-joon as Prince Yan D’ Aladna in the MCU
We don’t know yet how Park Seo-joon’s version of Prince Yan will differ from his comic book counterpart. We don’t think Lila Cheney is in this movie, so that aspect of his comic book storyline probably won’t play out. And he doesn’t have the Davie Bowie-esque lightning bolt image over his eye. He definitely feels like a warrior prince in this film, something the 616 universe Prince Yan really wasn’t. Or didn’t seem to be.
We’ll learn more when The Marvels hits theaters on November 10.
