Marvel’s first Native American hero will star in a new book. Red Wolf returned in the 1872 Secret Wars tie-in title and will star in a new ongoing by Nathan Edmondson in December.
It’s the first new book to be headlined by a Native American in a long time but Marvel has a history of compelling Native American heroes.
Here are six heroes inspired by Red Wolf’s comeback who could return to the Marvel main stage:
Let’s start with the X-Men family since X has always marked diversity in comics.
Danielle Moonstar/Mirage “Dani” is a Cheyenne co-created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod in the New Mutants graphic novel. Dani was born with the power to create illusions from the minds of her enemies’ fears. Dani’s psionic abilties expanded to create arrows and bolts, the ability to sense death and a telepathic/empathic link with animals. During an adventure in Asgard, Dani became a Valkyrie. Dani proved herself to be a strong leader and was even recruited to be an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. infiltrating the Mutant Liberation Front. Even after losing her powers, Dani continues to be a fan and writer’s favorite. With Fox planning a potential X-Men movie spinoff starring New Mutants, we might see Dani on the big screen.
Warpath/James Proudstar. James is an Apache with mutant powers of super strength, speed, stamina, senses with superior hunting, tracking and fighting skills. James blamed Professor Xavier for the death of his older brother John who died on the first mission of the new Uncanny X-Men. An angry James joined the Hellfire Club’s junior team the Hellions, rivals of the New Mutants. James later reformed and joined the X-Men and Wolverine’s covert strike team, X-Force but remained a bad boy badass armed with big knives. Warpath was played by Booboo Stewart in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Forge is a Cheyenne with mystical abilities (he was trained to be the Medicine Man of his tribe) and the mutant power of invention and super intelligence. Part of Forge’s body are bionic after losing limbs in battle. The former Vietnam veteran was recruited by the U.S. Defense Department and worked with Tony Stark creating weapons. Forge created a weapon that was used to neutralize mutant powers. The weapon would be used on Storm and took away her abilities. Forge is a long-running member of the X-Men cast including leader of X-Factor and had a long romance with Storm.
Danielle Moonstar, James Proudstar and Forge were all co-creations of legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont.
Let’s move on two a family act from the far north:
Shaman and Talisman. Dr. Michael Twoyoungmen and his daughter Elizabeth are members of Canada’s First Nations and the super team Alpha Flight. Father and daughter were creations of John Byrne. Michael is a doctor of medicine and a “medicine man” with a mystical bag in which he can summon anything he needs from a pocket dimension. Elizabeth was a geologist who gained supernatural abilities and followed her estranged father’s legacy as Talisman in Alpha Flight.
And finally a longtime hero without powers:
Wyatt Wingfoot was a creation of the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the Fantastic Four. Wyatt has no superpowers and is a member of the fictional Keewazi reservation in Oklahoma. The Olympic champion became Johnny Storm’s best friend and Wingfoot became a longtime ally and friend of Fantastic Four, Black Panther and She-Hulk’s former boyfriend. Wingfoot joined the FF on their adventures against major villains and continued to be a champion for his tribe in government talks.
By Editor