Sunfire (comics)

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox comics character Sunfire (Template:Nihongo) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Sunfire is a mutant and sometime member of the X-Men.

Sunfire is a Japanese mutant who can generate superheated plasma and fly. Not suited for teamwork due to his temperament and arrogance, Sunfire was briefly a member of the X-Men and has kept limited ties to the team since.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Concept and creation

Roy Thomas recalled that, during his first run on X-Men,

I wanted to add a young Japanese or Japanese-American whose mother had been at Hiroshima or Nagasaki as a corresponding character to the X-Men, whose parents were, at that time, assumed to have been at the Manhattan Project. Stan [Lee, X-Men editor/co-creator] didn't give me any good reason [for rejecting the character]—he just didn't want to, I think... I didn't bring it up again, but when I came back to the book, with Neal Adams, I created Sunfire, who is pretty much the character I had wanted to do some years earlier. I didn't make him an X-Man right away. By that time, Stan gave me a little more free Template:Sic. In fact, he was included in Giant Size X-Men #1, along with Banshee, precisely because I had gone around creating some 'international mutants,' with the goal of expanding the team at some time. I thought the X-Men shouldn't all be white Americans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Thomas later commented on the character's costume "I had Don Heck design the character from my verbal suggestion of a costume that was an embodiment of the imperial Japanese Rising Sun flag, as Japanese or Japanese-American.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In a future interview Thomas noted the unique mask of the character "Don Heck gave him that mask — kind of a weird dragony kind of mask — it wasn't just a standard mask."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Publication history

Template:Expand section Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Don Heck, Sunfire first appeared in X-Men #64 (January 1970).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> As of 2025, Sunfire has appeared in 87 comic book issues.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sunfire also appeared in the Iron Man comics issues #67-70 & 98 (1974-1977) and the Wolverine issues #55-60 (June-September of 1992).<ref name=":0" />

In 1998, Marvel published the miniseries Sunfire and Big Hero Six, presenting Sunfire's brief membership in a new superhero team sanctioned by the Japanese government.

Maximum Security issues #1 & 3 featured Sunfire.<ref name=":0" />

Sunfire became part of the Exiles in issue #7 (December 5, 2001), manifesting as the woman version of the character from an alternate reality.<ref name=":0" />

Writer Rick Remender included Sunfire as a member of the Uncanny Avengers, starting with issue #5 (March 27, 2013).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />

He joined X-Men Unlimited Infinity in issue #106 (September 25, 2023), and as of 2025, his latest appearance was in Doom's Division issue #2 (April 30, 2025).<ref name=":0" />

Fictional character biography

Shiro Yoshida was born in Agarashima, Japan. His mother suffered radiation poisoning due to exposure to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima; as a result, Shiro was born as a mutant possessing solar radiation powers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Shiro's mother died of radiation poisoning when he was young. Shiro grew to hate the United States, despite the influence of his father, an ambassador to the United Nations who was more tolerant of the US.<ref name="mnyc">Template:Cite book</ref> Shiro's greedy uncle Tomo inspired him to become "Sunfire" and engage in a one-man battle against the U.S. As Sunfire, he attacked the United States Capitol and battled the X-Men, after which he witnessed Tomo murder his father; distraught, he killed Tomo and surrendered to the authorities.<ref>X-Men #64</ref>

Sunfire battled Namor the Sub-Mariner but then fought alongside him against the Dragon Lord.<ref>Sub-Mariner #52-54. Marvel Comics.</ref> Sunfire also fought Iron Man but was abducted by the Mandarin and used to power one of the Mandarin's machines. Once freed, he and Iron Man fought Ultimo.<ref>Iron Man #68-70. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Professor X recruited Sunfire to a new team of X-Men to rescue the originals from the living island Krakoa.<ref>Giant-Sized X-Men #1</ref> However, after the mission, he rejected X-Men membership.<ref>X-Men #94. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Although Sunfire has had one solo story in the anthology Marvel Comics Presents,<ref>Marvel Comics Presents #32. Marvel Comics.</ref> Sunfire has appeared mainly in stories teamed with other characters.<ref>Iron Man #98-99. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>X-Men #118-119. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Marvel Super-Hero Contest of Champions #1-3. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Uncanny X-Men #181. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>New Mutants #93-94. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Avengers West Coast #71. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Uncanny X-Men #284-286. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Wolverine #55-56. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Sunfire becomes involved with the X-Men once again when Apocalypse kidnaps him, as Sunfire is one of the Twelve, a group of mutants Apocalypse required to obtain reality-warping powers.Template:Volume needed Sunfire then became a member of the Mumbai branch of X-Corporation, a non-government organization devoted to the protection of mutant rights.<ref>New X-Men #133 (2001). Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the early story arcs of the latest edition of Marvel Team-Up, Sunfire attempts to combat the powerful villain known as Titannus, a reject of the Super-Skrull program who had made his way to Earth after being brainwashed by an alien race to serve as their ultimate weapon. Attempting to contain Titannus, Sunfire summons the Japanese army to confront him, but the powerful foe defeats them army with ease, and is only barely beaten by a new team hastily assembled by Doctor Strange to combat this threat.Template:Volume needed

File:Sunld.png
Sunfire is critically injured in his battle with Lady Deathstrike. Art by Karl Moline.

Later, it was revealed that Sunfire had worked with Rogue and Mystique back when Sunfire was still working with Tomo and Rogue was a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants. Also working with them was a girl called Blindspot, who had the power to erase and restore memories. The four were on a mission to steal the process to bond adamantium from Lord Dark Wind, the father of Lady Deathstrike.

Since Blindspot always erased her tracks once a contract ended, she wipes the minds of everyone involved so no one would remember her.<ref name="auto1">Rogue (vol. 3) #10 (June 2005)</ref> Blindspot discovers Lord Dark Wind wanted all four dead for trying to steal his adamantium process. Realizing that the others would be in danger while having no memory of their mission, Blindspot went back to Japan to erase Lord Dark Wind's memory. When she got there, she discovered that his daughter (who later became Deathstrike) had already killed him. Blindspot erased Deathstrike's memories but, as Deathstrike was more machine than woman, Deathstrike was able to restore her own memories from an electronic backup. Deathstrike kidnapped Blindspot, who released a group photo of Sunfire, Rogue, and Mystique to attract their attention to save her. Rogue joined Sunfire, whose reputation had been ruined by the photograph, in Tokyo to discover why they were framed and who was responsible.<ref name="auto">Rogue (vol. 3) #11 (July 2005)</ref> The two ran into Lady Deathstrike who, in a heated battle, cut off Sunfire's legs, leaving him in critical condition. Rogue surrendered to Deathstrike, who imprisoned the two.Template:Volume needed While imprisoned, Rogue met Blindspot, who restored Rogue's memories and explained what was going on.<ref name="auto1"/>

File:Roguesunf.png
A weakened Sunfire, with Rogue and Blindspot. Art by Derec Donovan.

When Deathstrike discovers that the three were not responsible for stealing the adamantium, she attempted kill them to destroy any evidence of what she had done. A weak Sunfire asks Rogue to absorb his powers so she could properly battle Deathstrike. Rogue had previously lost the powers of Carol Danvers that she had taken and was hesitant. She worries that she could harm Sunfire, but Blindspot pushes her on Sunfire's face, causing her to absorb all his powers and possibly killing him. With it, Rogue now also contains Sunfire's personality, similar to how she also once had Danvers' personality within her. With Sunfire's personality controlling her, Rogue seeks revenge on Deathstrike and severely injures the woman. The X-Men arrive in time to intervene, but Blindspot erases Rogue's memories of being an X-Man causing her to see her teammates as her enemies.<ref name="auto"/> After a brief altercation, Rogue's memories are restored and she tells the X-Men what had happened to Sunfire. They discover that his body is missing, leading some of the X-Men to believe he is still alive.<ref>Rogue (vol. 3) #12 (August 2005)</ref>

File:Sunfireapoc.PNG
Sunfire as Famine, one of Apocalypse's Horsemen. Art by Salvador Larroca.

Sunfire loses his powers before M-Day and his X-gene during that moment.Template:Volume needed It is revealed that Sunfire is rescued by a mysterious ninja group and taken to a hospital in Aspen. After being revived from his coma, the world's leading specialist in prosthetic limbs, Masanori Kuzuya, offers him his services. Before the reasoning behind the rescue is revealed, Apocalypse appears and offers Sunfire the chance for vengeance, as well as the recovery of his lost limbs and power, in return for his service as Famine, one of Apocalypse's Horsemen.<ref>X-Men (vol. 2) #182 (April 2006)</ref> However, Famine is defeated by Rogue and returned to his normal form.<ref>X-Men (vol. 2) #184 - 185 (May - June 2006)</ref> Sunfire joins the other X-Men in their battle against Apocalypse. After Apocalypse escapes, Gambit helps his fellow Horseman Gambit overcome his brainwashing and the two are recruited by Mister Sinister into his Marauders.<ref>X-Men (vol. 2) #186 - 187 (July - August 2006)</ref>

In "Messiah Complex", Sunfire and the Marauders clash with the X-Men and other groups for the first mutant child born after the events of M-Day.<ref>X-Men: Messiah Complex #1 (October 2007)</ref> In the final battle on Muir Island, Sunfire is knocked out while the remaining Marauders flee or are killed.<ref>Cable (vol. 2) #1 (May 2008)</ref>

Feeling disgraced and humiliated, Sunfire retires his mantle and wanders around Tokyo in a drunken stupor until Wolverine approaches him to join the Avengers Unity Squad for a chance of redemption.<ref>Uncanny Avengers #5 (May 2013)</ref> Sunfire joins the Avengers against the Apocalypse Twins and sides with Wolverine, Rogue and Thor after the Twins cause a division within the team.<ref>Uncanny Avengers #7-9 (June - August 2013)</ref> The team is able to put aside their differences to fight the Twins and Kang the Conqueror. In the final fight against Kang, Sunfire's body is destroyed but due being in prior contact with a Celestial, he is reborn in a state of pure energy and uses his new powers to destroy the Twins' armada and defeat Kang.<ref>Uncanny Avengers #21-22 (August - September 2014)</ref>

Sunfire and the Avengers are affected by the inversion spell cast in "AXIS", which reverses their morality into becoming villains, with Sunfire joining the affected X-Men into declaring mutant supremacy.<ref>Avengers & X-Men: AXIS #4 (January 2015)</ref> Sunfire and the other affected heroes are eventually cured of the inversion spell.<ref>Avengers & X-Men: AXIS #9 (February 2015)</ref> Afterwards, Sunfire left the Avengers to join X-Factor.<ref>All-New X-Factor #18 (February 2015)</ref>

During the events of Inhumans vs. X-Men, Sunfire initially joins Cyclops' faction of X-Men against the Inhumans. When Sunfire's destroys of one of the Terrigen Clouds, the Inhumans publicly execute Cyclops in retaliation.<ref>Death of X #2-4 (December 2016 - January 2017)</ref> Sunfire later defends Asian mutant refugees with the help of Storm's faction of X-Men and joins in the final assault against New Attilan.<ref>Extraordinary X-Men #6-7 (March - April 2016)</ref><ref>IVX #1-2 (February - March 2017)</ref>

Sunfire eventually regains is reputation and standing as Japan's prime hero and is invited by Black Panther to attend an international summit at Avengers Mountain.<ref>Avengers (vol. 8) #11 (February 2019)</ref> He is also recruited by Jean Grey to help oppose the crazed Nate Grey from remaking the world in his image.<ref>Uncanny X-Men (vol. 5) #9-10 (March 2019)</ref>

In the Krakoan Age, Sunfire is one of the many mutants who relocates to the mutant nation of Krakoa.<ref>House of X #1 (September 2019)</ref> During the events of "King in Black", Krakoa is targeted by Knull, but Sunfire is instrumental in defending the island from the symbiotes due to their weakness to fire. Sunfire's powers are further amplified by Fabian Cortez, turning him into the "Krakoan Sun". Sunfire is killed by a symbiote-infected Cable, but is later resurrected by Krakoa's resurrection protocols.<ref>S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #2-4 (February - May 2021)</ref> At the Hellfire Gala, Sunfire is elected to the X-Men due to his heroics.<ref>X-Men (vol. 5) #21 (August 2021)</ref>

Sunfire eventually develops an interest in Arakko and begins spending time in the new mutant world.<ref>X-Men (vol. 6) #6 (March 2022)</ref> Arakko itself reaches out to Sunfire and requests that he rescue its Voice, Redroot, from Orchis.<ref name="X-Men (Vol. 6) #9"/> Sunfire travels to Otherworld and battles Redroot's captors, but Moira X stabs him in the heart with Redroot herself.<ref name="X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #110">Template:Cite comic</ref> Sunfire escapes with Redroot embedded in his chest.<ref name="X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #111">Template:Cite comic</ref><ref name="X-Men (Vol. 6) #24">Template:Cite comic</ref> The pair are eventually saved by Apocalypse and participate in the ritual to raise Kaorak to fight against the forces of Genesis in the civil war on Arakko.<ref name="X-Men (Vol. 6) #28">Template:Cite comic</ref><ref name="X-Men Red (Vol. 2) #17">Template:Cite comic</ref><ref name="X-Men Red (Vol. 2) #18">Template:Cite comic</ref> After the war's end, Redroot is separated from Sunfire and fully restored, able to serve as Arakko's Voice once more.<ref name="X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #120">Template:Cite comic</ref> In mutantkind's war against Orchis, Sunfire leads the army of Arakko alongside Apocalypse.<ref>Fall of the House of X #4 (June 2024)</ref> Apocalypse later asks Sunfire to succeed him as his heir but he declines the offer.<ref>X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 (August 2024)</ref>

During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Sunfire leads a resistance group based out of Asia against Emperor Doom, who orders the South Korean government to send the Tiger Division, renamed as Doom's Division, after him.<ref>Doom's Division #1 (May 2025)</ref> Sunfire and his forces lure Doom's Division into an ambush off the coast of Hokkaido, revealing that Wave and Karma have been working for him as double agents.<ref>Doom's Division #2 (June 2025)</ref> Sunfire convinces Taegukgi to form a truce with him against Doom, but White Fox appears, kills Sunfire, and has Doom's Division arrested for disobeying Doom.<ref>Doom's Division #3 (July 2025)</ref> Sunfire is revealed to have faked his death with White Fox, who is secretly supporting his resistance. Sunfire joins the renamed Tiger Division to help take down Doom while White Fox covers up their escape.<ref>Doom's Division #5 (September 2025)</ref>

Powers and abilities

Sunfire is a mutant with the ability to absorb solar radiation, and convert it to ionize matter into a fiery plasma state which bursts into flame when exposed to oxygen. Referring to his plasma output as "solar fire", he can release this energy through his hands as blasts of searing heat, deadly radiation, explosive concussive force, or simple flames. By ionizing the air around him, he can surround himself with an aura of heat intense enough to melt steel, or fly by focusing his aura downwards in a tight stream of ionized gas to propel him through the air like a rocket. Sunfire can see heat, by shifting his vision from visible light to infrared. Sunfire has the ability to form a psionic force field while using his plasma as protection from heat and radiation, both that of his own generation and that from outside sources. In a similar fashion to the Human Torch's nova burst, Sunfire is capable of increasing his plasma output to temperatures around 1,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and emitting it as an omnidirectional blast.

Sunfire transferred his powers to Rogue to defeat Lady Deathstrike who had just cut off his legs. This (like Ms. Marvel before him) left him still a mutant but powerless.Template:Volume needed After his transformation into Famine, a Horseman of Apocalypse, his powers and legs were returned, and he could now also use them to create flashes of light that affected the sections of the human brain which control hunger, causing any people who saw his light flashes to feel as if they were starving.Template:Volume needed Due to further genetic enhancement from Apocalypse, Sunfire is also able to secrete a specialized bio-oxygen from his skin, which allows him to breathe and conjure his flames even in the vacuum of space.<ref>Uncanny Avengers #9. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Shiro also seems to be quite an accomplished martial artist. He has displayed impressive hand to hand skills on several occasions and stated that he did not need to employ his powers to defeat Hand ninjas.Template:Volume needed He is trained in karate, judo, and kendo (Japanese Samurai swordsmanship). He is also an expert in the combat use of his superhuman powers. He has at least peak human physical ability.

Reception

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

In Age of Apocalypse, Japan was destroyed by Holocaust, one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse. Shiro, a survivor of the massacre, was captured and given to Maximus (the Horseman of Death), as a test subject for his experiments. Shiro's powers were pushed to their limits, causing his whole body to be set aflame, injuring him as a result. Shiro was rescued by the X-Men and joined them, taking on the codename Sunfire. Sunfire wore a containment suit to control his powers, although he was constantly on fire. Haunted by the destruction of his nation, Sunfire joined Rogue's task force of X-Men when they were sent to Chicago to fight Holocaust, who had begun a new series of Cullings.<ref>Astonishing X-Men #1-4 (1995). Marvel Comics.</ref>

After the regular reality's X-Force crossed over into the Age of Apocalypse, Shiro was one of the few X-Men to return to prevent the destruction of Earth-616 by Archangel. During a battle with Iceman, Shiro is killed while attempting to siphon energy from Holocaust's weapon of mass destruction.<ref>Uncanny X-Force #18 (February 2012)</ref>

Age of X-Man

In the Age of X-Man reality, Shiro Yoshida is the Civil Management Instructor of the 10th Year class within the Summers Institute Of Higher Learning, located in Winchester, NY.<ref>Age of X-Man - NextGen #1 (February 2019). Marvel Comics.</ref>

House of M

In the House of M reality, Sunfire became the Emperor of Japan. Under his rule, the country had prospered, though the poverty levels were extremely high among the baseline human population. In secret, Sunfire was one of the masterminds of Project: Genesis, a project sanctioned by the Japan branch of S.H.I.E.L.D. with the goal of forcefully mutating baseline humans. When the S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives-in-training dubbed the Hellions investigated a terrorist attack, they discovered the existence of Project: Genesis and its link to Emperor Sunfire. Sunfire lied to the Hellions and told them that Project: Genesis's purpose was to recycle organic waste into food for poor baseline humans.<ref>New X-Men: Academy X #19. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Marvel Zombies

In Marvel Zombies, a zombie version of Sunfire and Silver Samurai can be briefly seen slaughtering civilians, while the Silver Surfer travels the globe, as a result of Quicksilver being infected and thus able to spread the zombie plague all over the world.Template:Volume needed The zombie version of Wolverine traveled to Earth-Z, where at Marvel Zombies Return, seeks an uninfected Sunfire that battles Zombie Wolverine, but was killed instead.Template:Volume needed

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel reality, Sunfire appears as a member of Alpha Flight. His power levels enhanced by Banshee, the Ultimate Marvel version of the Mutant Growth Hormone, he squares off against new X-Man recruit Firestar.<ref>Ultimate X-Men #94. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Ultimate Universe

An alternate universe variant of Sunfire from Earth-6160 appears in the Ultimate Universe imprint. This version is the "Sun Emperor" of the Harada-Yoshida Alliance, a consolidated union of three clans that rule over "Hi no Kuni", a regional power bloc which includes Japan's territories.<ref>Ultimate Invasion #2 (September 2023)</ref>

In other media

File:Sunfire in X-Men Legends II.jpg
Sunfire as he appears in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse

Television

Video games

Influence

In an interview with Wizard, Alex Ross stated that Sunfire's mask served as the inspiration for Kyle Rayner / Green Lantern's original costume mask, which debuted in Green Lantern #51 (in 1994).Template:Citation needed

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:X-Men characters Template:Big Hero 6 Template:Flight Program Template:Avengers characters

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