| Bluebird | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bluebird as depicted inMarvel Legacy: The 1990s Handbook #1 (February 2007). Art byPat Olliffe. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962) |
| Created by |
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| In-story information | |
| Full name | Sally Avril |
| Species | Human |
| Partnerships | Spider-Man |
| Abilities |
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Bluebird (Sally Avril), sometimes renderedBlue Bird, is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. She is usually depicted as asupporting character in theSpider-Man series.
In other media, Sally Avril has appeared in the animated seriesThe Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced byGrey DeLisle; in the filmThe Amazing Spider-Man (2012), portrayed byKelsey Asbille; and in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmsSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017),Avengers: Infinity War (2018), andSpider-Man: No Way Home (2021), played byIsabella Amara.
Created byStan Lee andSteve Ditko, Sally Avril first appeared inAmazing Fantasy #15 (1962).[1] Sally was a minor member ofFlash Thompson's entourage, appearing in only one issue during theSilver Age. Her "Bluebird" career was created byKurt Busiek (scripts) andPat Olliffe (pencils) in 1996.
Sally Avril is a fellow student ofPeter Parker's at Midtown High who turned him down for a date, preferring Flash Thompson.[2][3][4]
Thirty years later, Sally was reintroduced inKurt Busiek's seriesUntold Tales of Spider-Man. She is revealed to be an ambitious, thrill-loving girl who took blue ribbons ingymnastics. With fellow popular kidJason Ionello, she attempts to cash in on aDaily Bugle contest offering a thousand dollars to a reader who brought in pictures ofSpider-Man. Although their mission is a bust, Sally loves the thrill and becomes smitten with Spider-Man when he touches her cheek just before leaving her and Jason with a warning to give it up.[3]
Sally and Jason tail Spider-Man, who has been hypnotized into working forElectro. The flash from Sally's camera rouses Spidey from his hypnotic state, and a well-placed kick by Sally takes Electro by surprise long enough for Spidey to defeat him. Spider-Man poses for a shot with an ecstatic Sally and Jason that theBugle ran.[5]
Sally attempts to get a permanent gig on theBugle, but is told that the photographer's job is already taken by Peter Parker.[6] Sally dons an eccentric blue-and-white costume and decides to become a superheroine utilizing her aerobic skills. She asks Peter to take pictures of her doing stunts, but Peter refuses. Angered, she threatens to blackmail him by revealing that he took pictures of Spider-Man, but he undercuts her by telling them himself.[7]
Bluebird's zeal but lack of experience causes trouble for Spider-Man during fights with Scarlet Beetle andElectro. Her "ether egg" weapons detonate prematurely or have little effect, once even allowing the villain to escape.[7][8] Considering Bluebird more trouble than she is worth, Spider-Man allowsBlack Knight's men to hurt her to dissuade her from interfering in his fights again, although he later feels remorse for his actions.
Bruised but undaunted, Sally and Jason head to an area where Spider-Man is fighting the Black Knight, with Sally's camera.[9] Sally begs Jason to speed in his car, and the two run a red light. Their car strikes an oncoming bus, with Jason sustaining mild head trauma and Sally being killed.[10]
InDead No More: The Clone Conspiracy, Sally Avril is resurrected byBen Reilly posing asJackal.[11]
Bluebird has no superpowers. However, she uses a retractablerope line, insulated boots for protection against electricity, blue paint pellets, and ether-filled "eggs."[12] Additionally, Bluebird is a skilledgymnast.[13]
In 2022,Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked Sally Avril 2nd in their "10 Best Comic Book Characters Grey DeLisle Has Played" list.[14]
Sally Avril appears inThe Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced byGrey DeLisle.[15] This version is a cheerleader at Midtown High School,Randy Robertson's girlfriend, and a member of the school's popular clique who displays "mean girl" traits. As a result, she is unkind to her peers and bears particular animosity towards Peter Parker, though she gradually softens up to him during the second season.
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