Review: Giant Sized X-Men: Thunderbird

Giant Size X-Men Thunderbird brings back one of the least developed but most famous X-Men of all time. Thunderbird was unceremoniously killed in the original Giant Sized X-Men. Now John Proudstar is back thanks to the resurrection powers within Krakoa. This issue serves as a solid character piece although it’s not quite clear how he’ll be different than Warpath in action. John immediately leaves Krakoa and sets out to find his roots.

John goes to an Apache development looking for his grandmother. He quickly learns that the cops have arrested much of the village for refusing to reveal which of them are mutants. Thunderbird dons one of the coolest costume designs ever to take down the cops. John is a man of action but these actions can get him in trouble. His attack brings on the Heritage Initiative with military weaponry. They’re out to capture all Native Americans with mutant genes as raw genetic material for Orchis experiments.

He takes on the leader Ed Martynec who quickly transforms into a rabid beast. John takes him down but stays his hand from killing Ed when Grandma Lozen asks him to. Ed taunts they for their mercy but they find peace in showing strength coupled with restraint. They celebrate and are joined by John’s brother Warpath.

John establishes himself as a mutant hero of the Apache people. It is a different mission than we have seen over the decades from Warpath. The hope is that we see more of him in this setting and he does not simply revert to form as a Warpath substitute when he joins X-Men Red. The art in this issue truly elevated it. The look is classic and clean with a very real feel to it courtesy of First Nation member David Cutler. The colors, environments, characters and expressions all feel fresh and give us something genuinely different. This issue is excellent and we can only hope for more of this exceptional, original and fun story-telling going forward.

Writer: 4.0 of 5 stars
Art: 4.6 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.8 of 6 stars

Overall: 4.5 of 5 stars

Writers: Steve Orlando and Nyla Rose
Art: David Cutler
Inks: Jose Marzan Jr, Roberto Poggi
Colors: Irma Kniivila
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.