| Thunderbird | |
|---|---|
 Thunderbird as depicted inClassic X-Men #3 (November 1986). Art byArt Adams. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975) |
| Created by | Len Wein (writer) Dave Cockrum (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | John Proudstar |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men United States Marine Corps |
| Abilities |
|
Thunderbird (John Proudstar) is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerLen Wein and artistDave Cockrum, the character first appears inGiant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975).[1] Thunderbird was a short-lived member of the Second Genesis group ofX-Men gathered in the issue, as he died on their second mission, where they tried to chase downCount Nefaria. His death is also depicted inX-Men: Grand Design – Second Genesis #1, where his death is witnessed by Banshee, and felt deeply by the X-Men andCharles Xavier.
AnApacheNative American andHuman Mutant, John Proudstar possesses superhuman athletic ability. Since his death, Thunderbird was temporarily brought back to life during theNecrosha andChaos War storylines, before being permanently resurrected after the establishment ofKrakoa.[2] His brother James Proudstar, known first as Thunderbird, and then asWarpath, is also a mutant and X-Men with similar capabilities.
In addition to hismainstream incarnations, Thunderbird has been depicted in otherfictional universes. The most notable alternative version of the character is a member of the originalExiles team. In other media, Thunderbird is one of the main characters in thelive-action television seriesThe Gifted, portrayed byBlair Redford.
WriterLen Wein and artistDave Cockrum created Thunderbird for the newX-Men, specifically to be a member of the team who would fail the entrance exam. Having already decided that the previously introduced charactersSunfire andBanshee would fail the exam, Wein and Cockrum felt it would be unrealistic for only older characters to "flunk out", and set about creating a new character to fit this role. After developing Thunderbird, however, they decided that they liked the character — his costume in particular — too much to write him off after only one issue, and decided to keep him on.[3]
The character debuted inGiant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975). While working on the first issues of the regular series, the creative team realized that having Thunderbird as a regular character was problematic. According to Cockrum, "...we created him as an obnoxious loudmouth, and we already had an obnoxious loudmouth inWolverine. So one of us decided to kill him off after all, just for shock value."[3]Chris Claremont, who scripted the story, confirms that it was Wein who decided to kill the character, and added, "He figured there are two ways to do this. One, you spend years, if not decades, building up a relationship between the audience and a character, building the emotional bonds between them so when something happens to that character the audience is devastated. Or you do it right off the bat, when no one is expecting it."[4][5] The story culminating in Thunderbird's death appeared inX-Men #94-95.[6]
In 2000, for the 25th anniversary of the introduction of Thunderbird, writerScott Lobdell and artistAaron Lopresti did a two-issue series about the character, with a cover byArt Adams. Marvel Comics never published the series. At the same period, after nine years of absence, Chris Claremont returned to the X-Men to take over the titles. According to Brian Cronin fromComic Book Resources, there were likely two events that led to the cancellation of this mini-series. Firstly, Claremont introduced a new X-Man characterNeal Shaara with the codename Thunderbird. Secondly, Claremont had his own project for the 25th anniversary:X-Men: Black Sun, which had a spotlight comic on the various members of the All-New, All-Different X-Men, including one on Thunderbird with his partner Wolverine.[7] In 2010, the character appeared in the front of a teaser featuring X-Men characters believed to be dead titled "All New, All Different".[8] Thunderbird was one of the feature characters in the 2011 two-issue limited seriesChaos War: X-Men.[9]
John Proudstar was resurrected in the main comics continuity inX-Men: The Trial of Magneto #5 (2021), over 45 years after his death.[2] He starred in a solo one-shotGiant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1 (2022), where he received a new costume.[10]
Thunderbird will be getting a solo X-Men project.[11]
John Proudstar was born into anApache tribe on a reservation inCamp Verde,Arizona. As a teenager, he discovered he possessed themutant abilities of superhuman senses, strength, speed, stamina, and sturdiness.[12]
While he was a teenager, John's mother Maria fell sick asEdwin Martynec lied to her that she had cancer. He also targeted John's brotherJames only for John and his reporter friend to thwart him.[13]
Proudstar wasdrafted into theUnited States Marine Corps during theVietnam War and earned the rank of corporal. He returned to his tribe after the war, but he was unhappy and listless.
He was then recruited byProfessor Charles Xavier to join his third group of X-Men.[14] Eager to prove his prowess, Proudstar agreed and assumed the superhero codenameThunderbird. He assisted the other X-Men in rescuing the original X-Men fromKrakoa the mutant island.[C 1]
During the weeks of training that followed, the ill-tempered and individualistic Thunderbird often found himself going head to head with the X-Men's leaderCyclops. The new team's second mission took them to Valhalla Base, Colorado, to combatCount Nefaria and theAni-Men.[C 2][15] When Nefaria attempted to make his escape in a jet plane, Proudstar leapt on board. DisregardingProfessor X's orders to jump to safety, Thunderbird hammered at it with his bare fists. The plane exploded, killing Proudstar.[15][C 3] Nefaria is later revealed to have survived the crash.[C 4][16]
James Proudstar has similar powers, although to a much greater degree. He is also an X-Man who first used the codename Thunderbird and then switched toWarpath when he joinedX-Force team.[12]: 220 [17]
When Warpath goes to visit Thunderbird's grave during theNecrosha storyline, he encounters theDemon Bear. After defeating the creature, with the aid ofGhost Rider, he learns that formerPurifierEli Bard has dug up Thunderbird and everyone else buried there.[C 5] It is revealed that Bard used a version of theTechnarch virus to resurrect Thunderbird and the others as his servants.[C 6] Thunderbird is later seen withSelene's Inner Circle andCaliban being led to the ruins of Genosha, which she dubs Necrosha.[C 7] Thunderbird fights Warpath, who snaps his neck and then kills Selene. Thunderbird's spirit is seen departing, telling his brother that he "can let go now".[C 8]
During the "Chaos War" storyline, Thunderbird is among the fallen X-Men members (along withBanshee,Moira MacTaggert, Esme and Sophie of theStepford Cuckoos, and three clones ofMultiple Man) to return from the dead after what happened to the death realms. He remembers the last time he was revived briefly during the events of Necrosha, albeit faintly. Thunderbird leads the revived X-Men members to looking for a diary written byDestiny that might hold the key to defeatingAmatsu-Mikaboshi while evading Carrion Crow, Eater of the Dead.[C 9][18] Thunderbird called upon the mythical Thunderbird to get him and his group away from the Carrion Crow. He and the group discover that MacTaggert has been possessed by Destiny's ghost. In the aftermath of the defeat of theChaos King, Thunderbird is returned to the afterlife after reality is restored byHercules. Thunderbird contemplates that his life finally means something and hopes that next time he is resurrected, it will be with Sophie.[C 10][19]
When the X-Men made Krakoa a mutant paradise, the resurrection protocols brought back many dead mutants, including Thunderbird. His resurrection is shown in theTrial of Magneto arc (duringReign of X).[2]
Thunderbird is amutant who possesses superhuman strength (sufficient to rip apart afighter jet with his bare hands), speed (he is fast enough to outrun abison, possibly much faster), and stamina due to his dense musculature.[12] His senses are also enhanced, enabling him to be a highly adepttracker.
Thunderbird has military training in hand-to-hand combat.
InNative Americans in Comic Books - A Critical Study, Michael A. Sheyahshe compared John Proudstar toTupac Shakur, noting that "Thunderbird becomes even more popular, posthumously, than he ever was while living."[20]
In September 2001, Bill Rosemann, the marketing communications manager of Marvel Comics, announced that "The death of Thunderbird!",Uncanny X-Men #95 had been classed number 32 in the 100 best Marvel Comics.[21]
In 2014,Entertainment Weekly ranked Thunderbird and Warpath 62nd in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[22]
In theAge of Apocalypse universe, John Proudstar is at the head of the religious group Ghost Dance whose members perform nightly dances asking the ancient spirits to bring an end to Apocalypse's reign. WhenNightcrawler is tasked with retrieving the mutantDestiny, he forces Proudstar to provide him passage.[C 11] Betrayed byDanielle Moonstar, the Madri learn of Proudstar and the Infernal Gallop's location at Ghost Dance, killing all its members.[C 12]
An alternate universe variant of John Proudstar / Thunderbird from Earth-9997 appears in "Earth X".[C 13][C 14]
An alternate universe variant of John Proudstar / Thunderbird appears inExiles. This version is a member of theeponymous team who is in a relationship withNocturne and was transformed byApocalypse into theHorseman of War, gaining enhanced strength and retractable armored plates.[C 15][23]
An alternate universe variant of John Proudstar from Earth-58163 appears inHouse of M. This version is a detective for theNew York Police Department and the leader of the strike force known as the "Brotherhood."[C 16][24]
An alternate universe variant of John Proudstar from Earth-1610, amalgamated withShaman, appears in theUltimate Marvel imprint.[25]
Alternate versions of the character are present in some issues ofWhat If? which is a series of comic books whose stories explore how theMarvel Universe might have unfolded if key moments in its history had not occurred as they did in mainstream continuity.
w: writer, p: penciler, i: inker