Warpath (comics)
| Warpath | |
|---|---|
 Warpath. Art by Billy Tan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | New Mutants Vol. 1 #16 (June 1984) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont Sal Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James Jonathan Proudstar |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men, Hellions, New Mutants, X-Force, X-Corporation |
| Notable aliases | Thunderbird II |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, speed, durability and reflexes. Trained in armed and unarmed combat. |
Warpath (James Proudstar), previously known as the second Thunderbird, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Sal Buscema, he first appeared in The New Mutants #16 (June 1984).
An Apache Native American, Proudstar possesses mutant superhuman strength and speed, like his older brother, the short-lived X-Man Thunderbird, though Warpath's power-levels are much higher.
He originally blamed the X-Men for his brother’s death and joined the villain group the Hellions to get revenge. He later reconsidered his views and became a longtime member of the militant X-Men offshoot X-Force. He is currently a member of the Uncanny X-Men team.
Fictional character biography
Origin
James Proudstar was born at the Apache reservation at Camp Verde, Arizona. James' brother, John Proudstar, was one of the "All New, All Different" X-Men who debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975). He was killed on one of the team's earliest missions. James angrily blamed the X-Men for his brother's death and made it his life's mission to murder its founder, Professor Charles Xavier.
Taking retribution
In Uncanny X-Men #193 (May 1985), which celebrated the tenth anniversary of the X-Men's revival, James reappeared, donning his brother's costume, and kidnapped the X-Men's Banshee to draw the team to Cheyenne Mountain where John was killed. However, when the opportunity arrived, James was unable to kill Professor X in cold blood. Professor X offered membership into the New Mutants to James, but he declined. Instead, James became a member of the Hellions, a team of young mutants led by the supervillain The White Queen.
A quiet life interrupted
Months later, James came to realize that the Massachusetts Academy wasn't the place for him. So, he left to return home to his family's reservation, in Camp Verde, Arizona. James enjoyed his stay at home so much, that he originally turned down Cable's offer to join the New Mutants. After the meeting, in New York, James returned home, to find his entire tribe murdered. James originally thought that the Hellions committed the act to punish him for leaving the team, due to a Hellfire Club foot soldier's mask he found alongside the bodies of his fallen tribesmen. He then joined the New Mutants, hoping to track down the Hellions and gain revenge.
X-Force
Before long, the New Mutants cut ties with the X-Men and became the militant X-Force and James changed his codename to Warpath. Warpath was a part of X-Force for the duration of the team. As a member of X-Force, James became more calm and controlled and struck up a close friendship with his teammate Siryn (ironically Banshee's daughter). Despite his strong attraction to her, Theresa only saw James as a friend.
Coming to terms with life
James finally had a face to face with Emma Frost. The two talked about the deaths of his tribesmen, but Emma swore she wasn't involved. Warpath eventually met a woman, by the name of Risque. Risque was instrumental in helping James with his confidence. She introduced him to a man called Sledge. Sledge gave him information about a member of the tribe that was still alive. James found this tribesman, Michael Whitecloud, who told him that Stryfe, X-Force's adversary, was behind the killing of his tribe. James went to Hell to gain revenge, but was returned back to the living world by Blackheart.
James returned to X-Force and stayed a devoted member. When the former British intelligence agent Pete Wisdom became X-Force's mentor, he helped James learn how to use his powers to fly. James was presumed dead in a violent altercation, along with most of his team-mates.
X-Corporation
After X-Force's disintegration, Warpath joined the Mumbai branch of the international mutant agency, X-Corporation, in India. His new team was a mix of old and new friends. Feral, Sunfire and Thornn. He stayed there with the X-Corporation for a while, helping to save Professor Xaiver's life, who was surprised that he was still alive. Later her rejoined X-Force at Cable's request. X-Force has since disbanded, with Cannonball, Cable and Warpath joining separate teams of X-Men. Rictor and Siryn have joined X-Factor Investigations, and Boom Boom is in the superhero group Nextwave.
The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire
Warpath was one of the few mutants to retain their powers after the events of Decimation, and soon after found himself living in the Mutant camp at X-Men's mansion. Shortly afterwards, he joined the ranks of the X-Men for the first time (Uncanny X-Men #475), at Professor X's request. Along with Professor X, Marvel Girl, Nightcrawler, Havok, Darwin, and Polaris, he journeys into space to track down Vulcan. He shows his superb fighting prowess while fighting cyborg drones as the X-Men attempt to commandeer a Shi'ar ship. After a big fight with Vulcan, Warpath survived and made it back to Earth with half of the original team.
Powers and abilities
Art by Billy Tan.
Warpath is a mutant who possesses superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, dexterity, reflexes, coordination, balance, endurance, and a high degree of resistance to physical injury. He has previously demonstrated the ability of flight, although this power has not been depicted in recent comic storylines.
He also possesses heightened senses which enable him among other things to see in near-total darkness and hear whispers from great distances. After nearly getting killed by Reignfire, Warpath experienced an increase in senses and speed that allowed him to perform feats he had previously not been aware he was capable of, such as run at high speeds for long distances and quickly climb building walls by rapidly digging his hands and feet into the bare concrete.
Aside from his natural physical attributes, Warpath is well versed in hand-to-hand combat. He has been trained in the use of the bo staff as a weapon in battle ( at the insistence of Cable ) and currently wields bowie knives composed of vibranium, using them with great skill and experience.
Bibliography
List of titles
- Cable #21, 29 & 73-75
- Deadpool Vol. 2 #12, 22 & 61
- Excalibur #82
- New Mutants #16-17, 39, 43, 53-54, 56, 62 & 99-100
- New Mutants Annual #7
- New Warriors Vol. 1 #31 & 46
- New Warriors Annual #1
- Quasar #38
- Spider-Man #16
- Thunderbolts #25
- Uncanny X-Men #193, 294-296, 331, 379, 388, 416, 475-476, 478-479
- Uncanny X-Men Annual #15
- Wonder Man Vol. 2 #13
- X-Factor Vol. 1 #84 & 106
- X-Force Vol. 1 #-1, 1-7, 9-17, 25-53, 57, 69-87, 89-95, 97-115, 117
- X-Force Annual #1-3, 1995 Annual, 1997 Annual, 1998 Annual, 1999 Annual
- X-Force Vol. 2 #2-3
- X-Men vol. 2, #14, 17, 30, 41 & (New X-Men) 133
- X-Men: Prime
- X-Men Unlimited Vol. 1 #23
Significant stories
- Uncanny X-Men #193; "Warhunt 2" (May 1985, Marvel Comics) - James Proudstar kidnaps Banshee, to get revenge on the X-Men.
- X-Force Minus 1 (July 1997, Marvel Comics) - A young Thunderbird and Warpath investigating an unusual medical facility.
- Blaze #4-5 (November-December 1995, Marvel Comics) - helps Wyatt Wingfoot and Johnny Blaze investigate a murder and faces a Wendigo creature.
- X-Force v1 42 (January 1995, Marvel Comics) - investigates the murder on his family in Camp Verde, discovers Stryfe is responsible and not Emma Frost, as he had thought.