Major Mapleleaf is the name of two fictionalsuperheroes appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, primarily in the seriesAlpha Flight. Both characters were created by writerScott Lobdell.
| Major Mapleleaf | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Alpha Flight #106 (March 1992) |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell Mark Pacella |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Louis Sadler |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Invaders |
Louis Sadler is the name of the first Major Mapleleaf. He first appeared inAlpha Flight #106.
Louis Sadler is a Canadian superhero duringWorld War II and an occasional ally of theInvaders who gained superhuman strength, durability, and longevity through an unrevealed process.[1] After the war, Sadler goes underground with his crime-fighting and eventually reveals his public identity in 1963 so that he can devote time to raising his son Michael.[2] After Michael dies fromAIDS, Sadler sinks into a depression. Later, when the news is making a cause celebre out of a baby with HIV, Sadler goes on a rampage, believing society did not care about Michael due to him being gay. He is stopped byNorthstar ofAlpha Flight.[3][4][5][6][7]
| Major Mapleleaf | |
|---|---|
 Major Mapleleaf and Thunder as depicted inAlpha Flight (vol. 3) #5 (September 2004). Art byClayton Henry. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Alpha Flight (vol. 3) #1 (May 2004) |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell Clayton Henry |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Louis "Lou" Sadler Jr. |
| Team affiliations | Alpha Flight |
Louis Sadler Jr., the younger son of the original Major Mapleleaf, assumes the mantle of Major Mapleleaf. Lou first appears inAlpha Flight vol. 3 #1.
Louis "Lou" Sadler Jr. is a normal human with no superpowers who rides a super-powered horse named Thunder.[8]
Bearing the rank ofstaff sergeant in theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police, Sadler takes the codename Major Mapleleaf to honor his father.Sasquatch later recruits Sadler into Alpha Flight after aliens kidnap the original team.[9] InNew Avengers, Major Mapleleaf and the majority of Alpha Flight are killed by theCollective, with Sasquatch being the only survivor.[10][1]
Major Mapleleaf has no superhuman powers, but is a skilled combatant and acrobat. His horse, Thunder, possesses flight, superhuman durability, and a degree of enhanced strength.[11]