Warpath (comics)

Template:Redirect Template:In-universe Template:Infobox comics character James Proudstar, known first as Thunderbird and then as Warpath, is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Proudstar first appears as the second Thunderbird in New Mutants #16 (June 1984).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Blaming the X-Men for the death of his brother Thunderbird, Proudstar joins the Hellions, a group of young mutants led by Emma Frost. He later becomes a longtime member of the militant X-Men offshoot X-Force.

Proudstar is an Apache and one of the few Native American superheroes in Marvel Comics. His powers are superhuman strength, speed, and flight.

Warpath appeared in the 2014 film, X-Men: Days of Future Past, portrayed by Booboo Stewart.

Publication history

Proudstar first appears as the second Thunderbird in New Mutants #16 (June 1984),<ref name=Marvel-Warpath>Template:Cite web</ref> created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Sal Buscema. The character initially appears as an antagonist of the New Mutants and the X-Men, but eventually joins the New Mutants in issue #99 of that series. The character appears regularly as a member of that team for most of the duration of the title.

Fictional character biography

Early life

James Proudstar was born on the Apache reservation at Camp Verde, Arizona.<ref name=Marvel-Warpath/> As a child, he once visited the roadside carnival that employed Chondu the Mystic and that Tabitha Smith also attended and had his fortune read by Destiny. He was targeted by the geneticist Edwin Martynec secretly researching radiation mutation who was finally foiled by his brother John Proudstar and his friend reporter.<ref>X-Force #-1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

His brother John is the mutant Thunderbird and a member of the X-Men. John is killed on one of the team's missions,<ref>X-Men #95 (October 1975). Marvel Comics.</ref> and James blames the X-Men's founder Professor X for his brother's death.

Operating as Thunderbird

Seeking revenge for his brother's death, James is recruited for Emma Frost's Hellions. As a Hellion, James clashes with the New Mutants and Kitty Pryde, but to his chagrin, Frost feels they are not ready to take on the adult X-Men.<ref>New Mutants #16-17. Marvel Comics.</ref> James defies Frost's orders, dons his brother's costume, and kidnaps former X-Man Banshee to draw the team to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, where John was killed. However, when the opportunity to kill Professor X arrives, James finds he has too many doubts about how John joined the X-Men. James is reconciled with the X-Men; Professor X offers him membership in the New Mutants, but he declines out of loyalty to his friends in the Hellions.<ref>Uncanny X-Men #193 (May 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Months later, James leaves the Hellions and returns home to his family's reservation. Cable makes him another offer to join the New Mutants but he turns it down. After a meeting in New York City, James returns home to find his entire tribe murdered. Finding a Hellfire mercenary's mask at the scene, James deduces that Emma Frost committed the act to punish him for leaving the team.<ref name="NM99">New Mutants #99. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Operating as Warpath

James joins the New Mutants, hoping to track down the Hellions and gain revenge.<ref name="NM99" /> The New Mutants cut ties with the X-Men and become the militant adventurers X-Force, and James changes his codename to Warpath. With the team, he fights the likes of Toad's Brotherhood of Mutants,<ref>X-Force #6-7, 9. Marvel Comics.</ref> and Weapon P.R.I.M.E.<ref>X-Force #13. Marvel Comics.</ref> As a member of X-Force, James becomes more calm and controlled and strikes up a close friendship with his teammate Theresa Rourke Cassidy.Template:Volume needed Despite his strong attraction to her, Theresa only sees James as a friend.Template:Volume needed In a meeting with Emma Frost, she swears she was not involved with the deaths of his tribesmen.Template:Volume needed

Warpath meets Risque, who helps James with his confidence, and the two begin a love affair.Template:Volume needed However, Risque is being blackmailed by Sledge, and she drugs Warpath and brings him to his lair. Sledge's partner, the Vanisher, has disappeared in the Darkforce dimension, while teleporting. Sledge reveals to James that his enhanced senses would allow him to survive in this alternate dimension without going insane.Template:Volume needed James locates and rescues the Vanisher, who is being held captive by natives of the Darkforce Dimension, and in turn Sledge gives information on one of his tribesman, Michael Whitecloud, whom James had presumed deceased.<ref>X-Force #71. Marvel Comics.</ref> Whitecloud tells him that Stryfe, X-Force's adversary, was behind the killing of his tribe. James goes to Hell to gain revenge but is returned to the living world by Blackheart.Template:Volume needed When James finds out Risque's involvement, he ends their relationship.Template:Volume needed

After X-Force's disintegration, Warpath joins the Mumbai branch of the international mutant agency X-Corporation. His new team is a mix of old and new friends: Feral, Sunfire, and Thornn. He stays there for a while, helping to save Professor X's life.<ref>New X-Men #133 (December 2002). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Cable and Domino enlist Warpath's help against the Skornn.<ref>X-Force vol. 2 #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> After Cable kills the demon once again,<ref>X-Force vol. 2 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref> the X-Force disbands.Template:Volume needed

Warpath is one of the few mutants to retain his powers after the events of Decimation. He begins living in the Mutant camp at the X-Mansion.Template:Volume needed

Shortly afterwards, he joins the X-Men at Professor X's request.<ref>Uncanny X-Men #475</ref> Warpath has a bond of sorts with fellow X-Men Hepzibah; Hepzibah remarks that his presence has helped her mourn her loss of Corsair.Template:Volume needed Together, they confront one of the X-Mansion's guardian Sentinels when Caliban, a long time X-Men ally, runs onto the grounds.<ref>Uncanny X-Men #487. Marvel Comics.</ref> Warpath enters the Morlock tunnels along with Hepzibah, Storm, and Caliban, to investigate the Morlocks' increased activity, which has included the capture of X-Men ward Leech. They see Warpath's name written on a Morlock wall, along with the names of the other X-Men.<ref>Uncanny X-Men #488. Marvel Comics.</ref> After the Morlock encounter, Hepzibah and Warpath begin a relationship.<ref>Uncanny X-Men #491. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Warpath rejoins X-Force as they search a Cooperstown hospital to pick up the trail of the fugitive Cable.<ref>X-Factor vol. 2 #26. Marvel Comics.</ref> As X-Force dispatches the remaining Reavers, Caliban sacrifices himself to save Warpath by intercepting bullets meant for him.<ref>New X-Men #45. Marvel Comics.</ref> Warpath and the rest of X-Force are charged with taking down Predator X.<ref>New X-Men #46. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Warpath, Hepzibah, and Iceman meet up with Archangel in San Francisco, California. All four are caught in the effects of an illusion, created by Martinique Jason, which has transformed the city into a hippie paradise.Template:Volume needed Warpath (calling himself "Running Sun") and the others are sent by Jason to confront Cyclops and Emma Frost. After Emma breaks through Jason's illusion, Warpath and the others return to normal.Template:Volume needed They begin to reestablish the X-Men organization in San Francisco.<ref>Uncanny X-Men #499. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Warpath is one of the founding members of the new X-Force, Cyclops's covert wetwork team, charged with finding and eliminating Purifiers cells. James joins out of a desire for revenge for the death of Caliban at the hands of the Purifiers.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> During X-Force's encounter with the Purifiers, James comes across Eli Bard attacking X-23; after rescuing her, Eli swears a personal vendetta against him.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref> Since the team is not allowed to contact anyone from the outside world, he cannot be with his girlfriend, Hepzibah.

James takes a break from duty to make peace with the deaths he has caused and to visit his brother's grave.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #7. Marvel Comics.</ref> En route, his truck is destroyed by the Demon Bear.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #8. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is badly beaten before being rescued by Ghost Rider.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #9. Marvel Comics.</ref> After defeating the Demon Bear with the aid of Ghost Rider, he learns that this creature was created when the animal spirits of his people were disturbed. They tell James that Eli Bard has dug up Thunderbird, Caliban, and everyone else buried there.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #10-11. Marvel Comics.</ref>

When Surge, Hellion, and Boom-Boom are kidnapped, Warpath and the X-Force attempt to save them but are teleported off to the future to find Cable and Hope Summers.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #13. Marvel Comics.</ref> Arriving in the future, X-Force is ambushed by a future version of Deadpool, who leads them to Cable.<ref>X-Force/Cable: Messiah War #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Eventually they come across Stryfe's Celestial city, learning he is in control of that era.<ref>Cable vol. 2 #13. Marvel Comics.</ref> After his forces are defeated, Stryfe kidnaps Hope and Warpath, taking them back to his fortress where he tortures James.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #14. Marvel Comics.</ref> After the final battle against Stryfe, James flies Domino and X-23 back where they first appeared in the future.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #16. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Warpath is caught up in the Necrosha events when his Blackbird crashes after a lightning strike. Making it to shore, the group encounters a resurrected Pyro and Berzerker.<ref>X-Necrosha #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> After taking them out, James is confronted by his ex-girlfriend, Risque, where she pleads with him to get away before she is controlled again by the T-O Virus.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #21. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is rescued by Archangel, who informs him this is Eli Bard's doing. They meet up with Cyclops and are confronted by Selene's Inner Circle.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #22. Marvel Comics.</ref> During the battle, Eli takes on Warpath, who wants the knife responsible for creating the Demon Bear. James is kidnapped by Selene's Inner Circle and taken to Genosha.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #23. Marvel Comics.</ref> There he fights and kills his deceased brother John. With the help of ancient rituals from his tribe and Selene's knife, James stabs Selene in the heart and frees his brother's soul at last. After the battle, James quits X-Force with Wolverine, claiming that he "has made his peace".<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #24-25. Marvel Comics.</ref>

James sides with Cyclops in the Schism.Template:Volume needed

After working with War Machine to stop a war in Eastern Europe, Warpath's teammate Jubilee is captured by vampires.Template:Volume needed Warpath and the rest of this X-Squad have been attacking vampire hordes trying to find their friend.Template:Volume needed

Warpath appears as a target for the newly revamped Weapon X Program and is opted to join Old Man Logan's new team.<ref>X-Men Prime Vol 2 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Warpath is among the mutants residing on Krakoa. After Thunderbird rescues some of his people from Heritage Initiative operatives funded by Orchis, Warpath comes through the Krakoan Gate planted on the Apache reservation and meets his grandmother Lozen.<ref>Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Powers and abilities

Physical characteristics

Warpath is Template:Convert in height and weighs Template:Convert.<ref name=Marvel-Warpath/>

Physical capabilities

Warpath is a mutant who possesses superhuman physical ability in virtually all areas.

He possesses superhuman strength. The air pressure from one of his claps causes a Sentinel to collapse.<ref>"Uncanny X-Men" #493. Marvel Comics.</ref> He has even managed to hold his own in a direct fight against the Juggernaut.<ref>X-Force #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>

He possesses superhuman resistance to injury, at least enough to withstand short-range gunfire,<ref>X-Force #115. Marvel Comics.</ref> grenade explosions,<ref>Deadpool #11. Marvel Comics.</ref> and direct telekinetic attack from Exodus.<ref>X-Force vol 1 #25 (August 1993). Marvel Comics.</ref> He also repairs, and regenerates damaged and destroyed tissue much faster than a normal human,Template:Citation needed as well as revives and recuperates from exhaustion and fatigue much faster than a normal human.Template:Citation needed

He possesses superhuman agility and flexibility. He can "move with the grace an Olympic gold-medalist would envy"<ref>X-Force #65. Marvel Comics.</ref> and "swim with the ease of a porpoise."<ref>X-Force #81. Marvel Comics.</ref>

His power of flight was discovered by his one-time mentor and team leader Pete Wisdom, who analyzed his mutation after the High Evolutionary devolved and re-evolved all mutants on Earth, and Wisdom forced James to incorporate this ability in his fighting style.<ref>X-Force #104</ref> This power was ignored for a while, as writer Ed Brubaker did not understand how Warpath's speed and strength would allow it.Template:Citation needed However, Warpath's fighting style in the Messiah Complex storyline showed his flight powers,<ref>Uncanny X-Men #493</ref> and X-Force shows him flying for long distances.Template:Volume needed Writer Christopher Yost suggested that Warpath felt "rather embarrassed by the whole flying thing."<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Warpath's senses – particularly sight, smell, and hearing – are enhanced to levels beyond the capabilities of a normal human. He is able to see with perfect clarity at much greater distances than an ordinary human, even in near-total darkness.<ref>X-Force Vol. #51. Marvel Comics.</ref> His hearing is similarly heightened, enabling him to clearly hear sounds beyond the range of ordinary human hearing and to hear sounds that they can detect but at much greater distances.Template:Citation needed

After nearly getting killed by Reignfire,Template:Volume needed Warpath experienced an increase in senses and speed that allowed him to perform feats he had previously not been aware he was capable of. For example, he can run at high speeds up to at least Template:Convert for long distances and quickly climb building walls by digging his hands and feet into the bare concrete.<ref>X-Force #51. Marvel Comics.</ref> He can even evade weapon fire with rapid reflexes and reactions.<ref>X-Force #94. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In new publishing coinciding along Marvel's new ResurrXion event, Warpath has showcased regenerative abilities able to recover from mild to serious injuries inflicted upon him by new Weapon X cyborgs.<ref>Weapon X Vol 3 #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Training

Warpath is well versed in hand-to-hand combat, which is enhanced by his superhuman reflex/reaction rate and eye/ear-hand/foot coordination. He was trained in unarmed combat under the guidance of Emma Frost. He gained extensive training in the use of the staff by his long-time teammate Shatterstar, whom he eventually matched in a record time of only a dozen tries.<ref>X-Force #52. Marvel Comics.</ref> He wields a pair of bowie knives composed of vibranium, given to him by Storm,<ref>Uncanny X-Men #475. Marvel Comics.</ref> with which he has proved to be highly proficient.

James is also a skilled hunter and tracker in his native Apache tradition.

Supernatural capabilities

Ghost Rider activated limited Apache shaman abilities within James to help him fight the Demon Bear. He could perceive the creature's wounds and the resulting spirit energy when it was destroyed.<ref>X-Force vol. 3 #10. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Reception

• In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Thunderbird and Warpath 62nd in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 2018, CBR.com ranked Warpath 9th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Comics: X-Men storyline, James Proudstar is a member of the mutant liberation in the Southwest.<ref>Ultimate Comics: X-Men #18. Marvel Comics.</ref>

What If

James Proudstar appears in the What If story "What If the X-Men Died on their First Mission?" Following the death of his brother and the X-Men on Krakoa, he joins Beast's hastily assembled mutant team – consisting of himself, Theresa Cassidy (who named herself Banshee in honor of her late father), Rahne Sinclair, Namorita, Scarlet Witch, and her brother Quicksilver – to combat Count Nefaria and his Ani-Men. James joined only to kill Professor X, whom he held responsible for his brother's death. However, he avoids John's fate in the mainstream comics and, finally acknowledging that his brother laid down his life to save others, joins the new X-Men team afterwards.<ref>What If vol. 2 #9 (1990). Marvel Comics.</ref>

In other media

• Warpath appears in X-Men: Days of Future Past, portrayed by Booboo Stewart.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> This version is a member of the X-Men from a post-apocalyptic, Sentinel-dominated future.
• Warpath appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Marvelwiki
• UncannyXmen.net Spotlight on Warpath