WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #5 by Leah Williams, Lucas Werneck, Edgar Delgado and Clayton Cowles, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
John Proudstar, Marvel Comics' original Thunderbird, returns for his very own Giant-Size X-Men one-shot in 2022.
Set to hit comic shops on Wednesday, April 27, Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1 is co-written by All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Nyla Rose, the second-ever AEW Women's World Champion. Rose is joined on the book by co-writer Steve Orlando (Curse of the Man-Thing, Commanders in Crisis) and artist David Cutler (Marvel's Voices: Indigenous Voices, United States of Captain America). What's more, the legendary X-Man has an all-new look, courtesy of Cutler.
This announcement follows the release of the fifth and final issue of writer Leah Williams and artist Lucas Werneck's X-Men: The Trial of Magneto, which shockingly resurrected the long-dead Thunderbird. Created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, John Proudstar/Thunderbird first appeared in 1975's Giant-Size X-Men #1. The first member of the X-Men to die in action, Thunderbird met his demise that very same year in X-Men #95. John's younger brother, James Proudstar, became the second Thunderbird before later adopting the name of Warpath and becoming a founding member of X-Force.
"This mega-sized one-shot will mark the exciting Marvel Comics debut of All Elite Wrestling superstar Nyla Rose who will team up with comics star Steve Orlando and First Nations artist David Cutler," Marvel said of Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird in its official press release. "Together the trio will grapple with the ramifications of Thunderbird’s recent resurrection while setting him up for a bright future on Krakoa and beyond."
An official synopsis for the one-shot reads, "The world John Proudstar has returned to is completely different from the one he once knew. Looking to find refuge in the familiar, Thunderbird seeks out someone from his past at an Apache reservation… and uncovers a horrifying threat to the Indigenous mutant community. Will Thunderbird be able to save his people? Or will his justified rage lead him astray?"
"At last, the news is out! Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird is coming, and I couldn't be prouder to be a part of it! But this book wouldn't exist without the incredible work of Nyla Rose and David Cutler, who are joining me on this blockbuster to tell a Thunderbird story that's as raw, real and riveting as possible," said Orlando said. "With their invaluable help, we're taking Thunderbird on a two-fisted quest to reunite with his family and carve out a place for himself in this brave, new, Krakoan era. The world has changed while Thunderbird was away. The threats might've gotten more complex, but Thunderbird's still sure there's not a problem out there he can't solve with his own two hands."
Written by Nyla Rose and Steve Orlando and illustrated by David Cutler, Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1 goes on sale April 27, 2022 from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel Comics