In the midst of Pride Month, Marvel Comics is putting the focus on some of its most established gay characters. Renowned heroes like Wiccan, Hulkling, and Iceman are taking center stage, while other less-recognizable superheroes make resurgences.
One of those less familiar faces is the French-Canadian hero Northstar, a speedster with flight, concussive light abilities, and a black and white color palette that makes him instantly recognizable. Though he isn't widely known, Northstar (also known as Jean-Paul Beaubier) has made his mark on the comic book landscape and has accomplished some incredible things.
First Openly Gay Marvel Hero
While it had been hinted at for nearly a decade, Northstar spent many years trapped in the closet, thanks to regulations from the Comics Code Authority. But, after the release of Alpha Flight's 106th issue, Northstar was officially the first openly gay superhero in Marvel Comics.
Though his coming out was a ridiculous affair that involved beating a Canadian dressed like a mountie and named "Major Mapleleaf", the issue was a touching depiction of a gay man attempting to aid others in the Marvel universe by serving as living representation. As the first major gay character, Northstar inspired other gay mutants and superheroes, but he also inspired fans. There's a reason many fan letters on Alpha Flight #110 discuss the difference the character made in their lives.
First Gay Marvel Marriage
Northstar wasn't just the first character to come out, though. After the introduction of Kyle Jinadu, Northstar's boyfriend, the two quickly raced to tie the knot in an event that became the first gay wedding in Marvel Comics. While marriage wasn't entirely in line with the nature of the anarchist Northstar, it was a fitting tribute to the character and opened up the potential for numerous storylines for the character.
The two have braved a range of mind-control plots, disappearances, and separations, yet they've remained close-knit all the same. It's a sweet relationship with a nice degree of snark, and the two complement each other perfectly as a publicist and a celebrity.
Worst Proposal Ever
Despite being the first gay marriage, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Northstar and Kyle. While their wedding went off (almost) without a hitch, the lead-up to it was tumultuous. After Northstar became convinced that he needed to do something small to improve their relationship, he immediately bought a ring and proposed.
The ever-practical Kyle rejected his soon-to-be-husband, saying that Northstar wanted to tie up their problems with a marriage. It was entirely true, and it makes it all the more hilarious that the ensuing marriage, which Kyle agreed to after Northstar rescued him from a kidnapping, is actually the most stable relationship the X-Men have. These two are practically inseparable, even if their proposal didn't go as well as it should have.
A Long-Time Member of Alpha Flight
Northstar didn't get his start with the X-Men, though. First introduced as a member of the Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight, Northstar spent over a decade working under the commands of Guardian and Vindicator. Though he was often a reluctant teammate, having quit numerous times, he was irrevocably tied to it.
As a Canadian mutant at a time when the X-Men weren't actively looking for recruits, Northstar didn't have many other places to go. Besides, when Guardian coerced him onto the team through blackmail, he didn't have much of a choice. There is a reason Northstar tried to leave the team so many times, and it's because he has never been much of a fan of Alpha.
Has A Twin Sister
The major reason Northstar bothered with Alpha Flight at all was that his twin sister, Aurora, was already a card-carrying member of the team. The two were separated in their infancy after an unfortunate accident left them orphaned. The young Northstar was taken in by relatives, while Aurora was sent to a convent. The two didn't know they even had a sibling, until Guardian introduced them when recruiting Northstar onto the team.
Their relationship has often been tumultuous, with Aurora often abandoning Northstar, thanks in part to constant arguments, human experimentations that left them unable to touch, and Northstar's excessive overprotectiveness. Nowadays, the two are on friendlier , and together, they are the fastest speedsters in X-Men comics and can combine their powers to create a blinding flash of light.
Former Olympic Skier
Prior to ing Alpha Flight to spend time with his sister, Northstar was actually an extremely accomplished athlete. Despite having a difficult upbringing that left him orphaned on two different occasions, he managed to get access to a ski slope, and then it was history.
Having earned several gold medals at the Winter Olympics, Northstar — or, as he was known then, Jean-Paul Martin — was widely considered the greatest competitive skier of all time within the Marvel universe. Other athletes often question whether he used his superspeed and flight to ski, but Northstar has consistently insisted otherwise. It makes him an interesting character when viewed through a queer lens, given that many LGBTQ athletes have faced similar criticisms through the years.
Wasn't Always A Hero
Despite decades of heroism under his belt, Northstar didn't start off as a superhero. Instead, he was a criminal who participated in bombing campaigns across Canada during his teenage years. Though it was later established that he never intentionally harmed anyone, he certainly came close to it.
Much of Northstar's early development related to this criminal activity, as Alpha Flight discovered his behavior and lost faith in him. His sister even disowned him and attempted to have her X-gene modified, so that they would no longer be able to use their powers together. While Northstar proved himself by allowing his criminal friends to face justice, his history still played a significant role in his life.
Led Krakoa's X-Factor Team
The mutant island of Krakoa promised amnesty for all mutants, and Northstar's crimes didn't prevent him from taking a role as the head of the island's X-Factor investigations team. A forgotten team considerably cooler than the X-Men, X-Factor tried to find which mutants needed resurrection and why.
Given that the team was brought together to help locate Aurora's body, thanks to Northstar telepathically sensing her death, it made sense to put Northstar in charge of it. With two of the his former students and another a close friend, he managed the team well and even helped to take down the Mojoverse with them.
Ridiculous Career History
Being a mutant detective isn't the strangest job Northstar has had, though. His career history has included time spent as a French teacher, an economics teacher, an Olympic skier, a criminal, a circus acrobat, a superhero, a spokesperson for a company named after himself, and an extreme athlete.
His incredibly varied history has given him experiences and knowledge that he has used numerous times in the field as a superhero. After all, his criminal history lets him track down villains, and his time in the circus gave him enough knowledge of Tarot cards to take down the villain Arcade in his solo comic.
His Daughter Is Being Resurrected
At one point, Northstar actually discovered a sick little girl in a trashcan and raced her to a hospital. There, he discovered that she was terminally ill. Rather than abandoning her to the doctors, Northstar adopted the little girl and stayed with her for months until she ed.
Now, in the Krakoan era, it has been revealed that his daughter was actually a mutant and is ready for resurrection. It's an opportunity that reverses a severely tragic moment in Northstar's history. It also gives him the opportunity to raise a child of his own — something that he has wanted for a long while. Having lost his family at a young age, Northstar is finally taking advantage of the chance to start a family of his own.
