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| Thunderbird | |
|---|---|
 Thunderbird as depicted inX-Men Unlimited #27 (June 2000). Art byBrett Booth. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | X-Men (vol. 2) #100 (March 2000) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont Leinil Francis Yu |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Neal Shaara |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men X-Corporation |
| Abilities |
|
Thunderbird (Neal Shaara) is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character was depicted briefly as a member of theX-Men. Created by writerChris Claremont and artistLeinil Francis Yu, he first appeared inX-Men (vol. 2) #100 (May 2000). He is the firstIndian member of the X-Men.
An Indianpyrokinetic, he has no connection to the previous X-Men characters calledThunderbird. He was intended to be calledAgni, after theHindu god of fire.
Neal Shaara comes from an affluent family inKolkata, where his father is the city's chief of police. His family also owned a large tea estate, where they all lived.
He was popular among girls because of his good looks. When his journalist brother Sanjit disappears, Neal decides to investigate, against his parents' wishes. Neal is shadowed by his father's best detectiveKarima Shapandar, and after Karima saves him from a group of thugs, the two begin a romantic relationship while they search for Neal's missing brother.[1]
Neal and Karima are captured by the villainBastion, who plans to turn them intoPrime Sentinels as he has done to Sanjit. However, the shock of the transformation causes Neal's latent mutant powers to manifest, the power to generate and control solar plasma and heat.[2]
Sanjit disables the other Sentinels, but is severely wounded in the attempt. Karima, who is able to temporarily defy her programming, tells Neal to leave her as her own transformation process commences, which will result in her killing him when the transformation is complete.[1]
Neal, now lost, alone, and with powers that he neither comprehends nor wants, goes to see family friendMoira MacTaggert onMuir Island, and he meets the X-Men, although he does not know this when he first meets them. Later, the X-Men revealed themselves, when they used their powers to stopCable when histechno-organic virus runs out of control. Neal is initially frightened, but is eventually convinced to join the team. He chooses the codename Thunderbird, becoming the third bearer of the name after the Proudstar brothers (John andJames).[1]
While with the X-Men, Thunderbird struggles with his fear of killing or hurting someone with his plasma. In addition, he also falls in love with the X-ManPsylocke, even though she is in a relationship withArchangel. Thunderbird and Psylocke often engage in flirtatious behavior in front of Archangel, who makes his displeasure felt to Thunderbird.[2][3][4] The couple eventually breaks up, and Psylocke pursues a romantic relationship with Thunderbird.[5][4]
Thunderbird becomes friends withColossus, who like him, has also lost his brother.[1] He also introduces him to the game ofcricket. During one of their conversations, he says that though he is happy with Psylocke, he still retains his feelings for Karima, who is a Prime Sentinel.[3]
Thunderbird's lack of control over his powers often causes problems during combat. He refrains from using them on his opponents due to the fear of killing them. Archangel mocks him and questions his place in the X-Men.[2]
For a short while, Thunderbird and five other X-Men form a splinter group of X-Men dubbed theX-Treme X-Men, cutting all ties with the rest of the team while searching forDestiny's diaries.[6] He trains with Psylocke to gain better control of his powers, and learns to use only a small amount of plasma to blind or singe his opponents.[7] Psylocke dies at the hands ofVargas, leaving behind a grief-stricken Thunderbird.[5]
For a time he is seen working with the X-Man from the future,Lucas Bishop, who also possesses energy-related powers, in an attempt to overcome his fears and gain greater control over his powers.[8] He comes to think of Bishop as his mentor. After Psylocke's death, he begins questioning the purpose of his life. Bishop tells him that while none of the X-Men are mentioned in the history books of his time, Neal is, a revelation that greatly motivates him.[7]
During this time, he also visits the ruins ofGenosha, which was devastated in a Sentinel attack.[9]
Some time after, Neal started a relationship with Heather Cameron, also known asLifeguard.[10][11] She and her brother Davis (who would becomeSlipstream) join the offshoot group of the X-Men. After the inter-dimensional Invasion atMadripoor by the villain Khan, Thunderbird and Lifeguard leave to search for Slipstream, who has left the team.[12]
Neal and Heather later appear as members of theX-Corporation in Singapore.[13] Following a synchronized attack on several of the X-Corporation offices after the catastrophic events ofM-Day,Cyclops calls for the organization to disband.[14]
Thunderbird is one of the few mutants to retain their powers after the "Decimation" storyline.[volume & issue needed] During the X-Men battle versus X-Man, akaNate Grey,Jean Grey summons all current and former X-Men to assist in the fight, including Thunderbird.
He later appears in theReign of X phase of the X-Men reboot, being interviewed byMonet andAngel for a seat in the X-Corp directors' board.[15]
Thunderbird can transform the molecules of his body into solar plasma, enabling him to convert portions of himself into thermodynamic energy furnaces that release luminescent radiance, pyrotechnic displays, concentrated plasma beams, shaped plasma charges that can deflect solid matter or displace volumes of air on impact for a heatless release of concussive force, and explosive thrust from his legs for flight or projection of focused blasts, flashes, or explosive spheres. Because plasma is a superheated, ionized state of matter, it can melt or destroy most objects, with the exception ofadamantium. Thunderbird can also use his power to generate sufficient propulsive thrust to fly at supersonic speeds.
