Northstar just can’t catch a break in any universe, can he?
After surviving the worst coming-out scene in comics history, a mystery cough and an extended stay in Asgard — during which time he thought he wasn’t a mutant but half-elf, or something — he was killed off in the span of one month in three different Marvel timelines: Wolverine #25, X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, and X-Men: The End.
Granted, he was resurrected in the mainstream universe as a zombie. Or something. So I suppose he should count his blessings.
That leaves the Ultimate Universe, where Northstar is happily dating Colossus, right? Right?
Well … Apparently, the latest Ultimate X-Men storyline, which introduces Alpha Flight to that imprint, also keeps Northstar’s depressing impressive Redshirt record intact.
At AfterElton.com, Lyle Masaki addresses the “troubling turns” for Colossus and Northstar, and talks with new Ultimate X-Men writer Aron E. Coleite (Heroes) about the “Absolute Power” arc:
“I wanted to tell an epic love story. Whether its Romeo & Juliet or Colossus & Northstar, everybody loves an amazing love story and I think what I really wanted to be able to tell was that Colossus -– especially with Northstar -– was a relationship that people found relatable and ended tragically. There are some surprises to come but getting to that point –- doing everything that he’s done only to lose him in that moment while he was desperate to save him. For me it doesn’t matter if it’s Scott and Jean or Colossus and Northstar, it’s a love story and I think the audience is adult enough and sophisticated enough and savvy enough, it doesn’t matter if they’re heterosexual or homosexual. It’s just a love story between two people who really care for each other.”
August 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Excellent post. The Northstar = redshirt issue is one that’s been irking me of late as well. I was talking to some friends about underrated characters the other day, and we all came to a consensus that written well Northstar could be one of the Marvel U’s top tier characters. I mean, his powerset, personality and status as being THE premire gay superhero in the Marvel Universe? But weirdly (or perhaps by design) instead of an icon, he’s pretty much been squandered at every turn. Such a waste.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Ditto. He’s one of my all time favourites and definitely one of the more interesting characters in the Marvel U. Tell the epic love stories but when you’re dealing with the most prominent gay character in the Marvel U, don’t get rid of him.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Back in June, Pink Kryptonite called out Marvel on Northstar’s presence in their books. Check it out here …
http://www.pinkkryptonite.com/2008/06/has_northstar_never_been_kisse.html
August 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I’m pretty sure Northstar is supposed to show up in non-zombie form in the Secret Invasion: X-Men series. That doesn’t make the repeated killing of the character any better, but maybe at least his fans will be happy to see him back in action.
November 1st, 2008 at 7:02 am
It really does annoy me that Marvel point blank refuse to do anything cool with Northstar: it just sends out the wrong message and it’s part of the reason I’ve stopped reading Xmen. If you introduce a gay character, at least do something with him-if only for dramatic purposes! (By the way, his deaths have been so lame I don’t count them dramatic). I mean, what was the point of him falling for Iceman if nothing came of it? It’s just painful to read and BORING.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:15 am
There are arguments that could be made about the (mis-)usage of all the classic Alpha Flight characters, yes?