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For alternate meanings of Thunderbird, see Thunderbird.
Thunderbird (John Proudstar) was a Marvel Comics superhero, a short-lived member of the X-Men. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975).
An Apache Native American, Thunderbird possessed superhuman strength and speed. He was a member of the "Second Genesis" group of X-Men gathered together in Giant-Size X-Men #1 but died on their second mission.
Character history
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 third group of X-Men. Although Proudstar was reluctant to join another white man's crusade, he agreed and took the superhero title Thunderbird. Unfortunately, he was so volatile and ill-mannered that he constantly threw off the team's synchronization. Thunderbird's tenure with the team was short. During the new team's second mission, he leapt onto an airplane that was carrying the supervillain Count Nefaria. Despite the urging of Banshee, Thunderbird refused to get off of the plane, sealing his fate. The plane 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. It should be noted that his brother, Warpath (James Proudstar), has similar powers and is also to become an X-Man in the future. Also, Thunderbird has never been revived, which, in the X-Men universe, is a little odd.
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.
Powers and Abilities
A mutant, Thunderbird has superhuman strength and speed. He has extra dense skin as well as superhuman endurance.
External links
Marvel Comics mutants | Native American superheroes | Fictional people from Arizona | X-Men members | X-Men
"Thunderbird (comics)"