Thunderbird (comics)
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For alternate meanings of Thunderbird, see Thunderbird. Template:Superherobox Thunderbird is a name used by several Marvel Comics superheroes all of whom have been related to the X-Men.
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John Proudstar
The first Thunderbird, John Proudstar, was created by Dave Cockrum and Len Wein and first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975).
Proudstar was born into an Apache tribe in Camp Verde, Arizona. As a teenager, Proudstar discovered he possessed the mutant abilities of superhuman strength, speed and resistance to damage.
Proudstar was drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and earned the rank of corporal. He returned to his tribe afterwards but felt unhappy and listless.
He was recruited by Professor Charles Xavier to join his second group of X-Men. Although Proudstar was reluctant to join another white man's crusade, he agreed and took the superhero title Thunderbird.
Thunderbird's tenure with the team was short. During the new team's second mission, he leapt onto an airplane he thought was carrying the supervillain Count Nefaria. Unfortunately the plane was a decoy. It exploded, killing Proudstar (in X-Men #95 1975). It is interesting to note that, metatextually, Marvel editors decreed Proudstar should die because he and Wolverine were too similar, personality wise; if things were just a little different, Wolverine may have been chosen to die in his place.
Fans have speculated that Thunderbird is the mysterious villain of the limited series Deadly Genesis. The first issue’s cover mimics that of Giant-Size X-Men but Thunderbird is noticeably absent, prompting speculation that he is about to return. It is also theorized that he is absent because he is dead and will thus will not contribute to the story. It should also be noted that in issue #2 the villain addressed Wolverine as if the two had never met, which basically rules him out.
In other media
In the 1980's cartoon television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Thunderbird/John Proudstar was one of the X-Men who appeared though only briefly. In this incarnation, he possessed the ability to become a variety of North American animals (and seemed to lack the strength, speed, and durability of the comic version), much resembling Alpha Flight's Snowbird in that respect.
James Proudstar
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The second Thunderbird, Proudstar’s younger brother James Proudstar possessed powers similar to those of his brother. He first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #193 and was created by Chris Claremont and Sal Buscema. He eventually took the name Warpath.
Neal Shaara
Template:Main In X-Men #100 (2000), Chris Claremont and Leinil Francis Yu introduced the third Thunderbird Neal Shaara, who did not have any connection to the Proudstars. Shaara is an Indian pyrokinetic who can generate large blasts of solar plasma.