After finally being resurrected on the island of Krakoa the former X-Men member Thunderbird is taking center stage in a new Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird one-shot from Marvel Comics. John Proudstar has been dead for close to 50 years but a new preview for his Giant-Size issue promises a return that will cement him as an undeniably important character for years to come.
John Proudstar was part of the culturally diverse second X-Men team introduced in 1975's Giant-Size X-Men, reluctantly joining the team after being recruited by Charles Xavier. A brash man of Apache heritage whose ability was increased strength and durability, Thunderbird played a key role in rescuing the original X-Men team from their capture at the hands of the living island Krakoa. However, just months later on his second ever X-Men mission, Proudstar attempted to stop a plane carrying the evil Count Nefaria and was killed in an explosion. While John Proudstar has been temporarily resurrected several times since his death in 1975, his younger brother James Proudstar took on his late brother's Thunderbird codename before taking on the mantle of Warpath. After the Scarlet Witch used her eldritch magic to expand the capabilities of the mutants Resurrection Protocols, John Proudstar was the first mutant to be resurrected using the new powers of Cerebro, leading to an emotional reunion 50 years in the making with his brother Jimmy in New Mutants #24.
Now Thunderbird, sporting a fresh new costume design by First Nations artist David Cutler, will star in his own Giant-Size issue, written by All Elite Wrestling star Nyla Rose and Steve Orlando with a gorgeous illustration by David Cutler. The story releasing on May 4th will focus on Thunderbird dealing with the impact of his resurrection, and waking up to a world that looks wildly different then the one he died in, and follows him as he investigates a "horrifying threat to the Indigenous mutant community." Newsarama was given exclusive access to a preview for the new one-shit which can be seen below:
Not only is Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird putting a much-needed spotlight on the maligned Thunderbird, but it also highlightings important issues in Native Indigenous and First Nations communities (much like Marvel's previously released Indigenous Voices) like the continued colonization of Indigenous land and resource. In the issue, Proudstar will discover that the local police force are forcibly rounding up the mutants of his Apache tribe reservation, arresting not only those with an X-Gene but also all of the elders who refused to give up their people. Thunderbird immediately goes to the local police station to beat some sense into them, and rescue the removed Native mutants and elders. This plot is an important one to tell, and will also offer a look at an interesting and only lightly touched upon aspect of the new Krakoan Era: Have all mutants moved to Krakoa and assimilated into mutant culture? Clearly, they have not, as the mutants of Proudstar's tribe were still living on the reservation, which brings up fascinating questions and ideas about Krakoan citizenship, mutant sovereignty, and if Krakoa is colonizing the cultural backgrounds of its people.
Thunderbird's resurrection has already led to some intense confrontations with other members of the X-Men, like Cable insulting John's cause of death directly to his face, so it will also be interesting to see how the rest of Krakoa reacts to Proudstar's actions. Will Thunderbird be able to resist breaking the first law of Krakoa, "Kill no human," and if he does, will the Quiet Council's actions towards him highlight their oppressive and punitive nature? Regardless, it is amazing to see Thunderbird resurrected and highlighted in a story that focuses on such important and intriguing themes.
Make sure to pick up Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird from Marvel Comics when it debuts May 4th, 2022!
Source: Newsarama