Saturday Showcase: Sunfire (AoA)

 

SUNFIRE (Age of Apocalypse)

Greetings Nerds,

How the hell have you been?  Me? I've been a busy mofo. Besides that, I have been working on upgrading my technology so that I could get back to doing what I love.  What is that?  Educating my fellow Nerds on everything comic related in this Universe, and my friends, that is one big Universe.

With that said, let's get started by discussing one of my favorite characters from the Age of Apocalypse story-line.  For those of you who don't know the original story, Age of Apocalypse was a future or other dimensional based story arc from Marvel Comics back in the '90s.  It introduced us to a new world starring some of our favorite X-Men characters as well as introducing us to new ones.  One of these characters was the Japanese hero, Sunfire.  I always liked Sunfire in the X-Men comics, but the AoA version took him to a whole new level.  Basically, Sunfire looked like Ghost Rider and the Human Torch were fused together which made him look bad ass!  And that my friends is why he is today's showcase. So, sit back and relax as I fill you in on the vitals of Sunfire.

You Are FREE!

During the beginning of Apocalypse's rise, Magneto approached Japan's greatest heroes, Sunfire & the Silver Samurai, and asked them to work with him and the X-Men to stop Apocalypse. Sunfire accepted the invitation despite his country's isolationist policies and left his cousin behind. During Apocalypse’s blitzkrieg attack on Asia and Europe. Sunfire rushed home to Japan.  When Sunfire arrived in Japan he found his country in flames and Silver Samurai leading refugees away from Apocalypse.

As Samurai continued his evacuation, Sunfire ambushed Apocalypse and his forces. Sunfire fought valiantly but could not stand up to the might of both Apocalypse and his son, Nemesis. Sunfire exploded, releasing a nuclear level blast that destroyed most of Apocalypse's Infinites and scorched a huge area of Japan. The blast did not kill Nemesis or Apocalypse, but it provided Samurai with more time to evacuate Japan. Left a burnt-out shell, Sunfire was captured and given as a test subject to Death, Horseman of Apocalypse, though he was eventually rescued by the X-Men and taken to safety. While Sunfire healed, Magneto created a new suit that would keep him safe from his own powers. Sunfire then returned to the X-Men’s side soon after and continued to fight Apocalypse’s forces.

Sunfire remained a mainstay with the X-Men as Apocalypse continued to overrun North America. Eventually, world tensions led to a cold war between Apocalypse and the Human High Council, which could have potentially ended in a complete nuclear holocaust. In the days leading up to the end of Apocalypse’s reign, Sunfire and Blink discovered a Culling in Chicago, though they were followed by Prelate Delgado. Magneto sent a team of X-Men, including Sunfire, to investigate and they successfully prevented the culling. They also were able to discover the location of an Infinite Processing Plant in Indianapolis and destroyed it.

Later, Sunfire assisted X-Force in their battle against the ascended Archangel. He gave his life absorbing the flames of Genocide, preventing them from scorching the earth through the Doom Fountain. (Information provided by marvel.fandom.com)

Atomic Flame

Origin

Origin: Mutant

Universe: Earth-295

Place of Birth: Agarashima, Japan

Creators: Scott Lobdell & Joe Madureira

First Appearance: Astonishing X-Men #1 (March, 1995)

Appearance of Death: Uncanny X-Force #18 (February, 2012)

Marvel Legends: Sunfire (AoA) 6" Action Figure

Well, I hope you enjoyed this article about Sunfire.  

Until next time, Unleash your inner NERD!

And as always, get your READ on!

Saturday Showcase: the Mandroids

Mandroid Security (as seen in New Warriors)

    For today's Showcase, I thought I would one of my first memories in comics.  In was 1979, and I was infatuated with the X-men.  I go to my local comic store, back then it was a K&B and other local drugstores, and come across issue #118 of the Uncanny X-men.  On the cover, Sunfire is being blasted by what appears to be a robotic hand.  Is this some new version of a sentinel?  I had to have this issue!  What I read inside made me a fan of the Mandroids.  I didn't like that they were used to hunt the X-men, but I loved what the Mandroid armor represented.  It represented the ability to be a superhero without having to be a mutant or having powers of my own.  It meant, that even I, could be a superhero.

the Uncanny X-men Vol. 1, #118 (February 1979)

    My fascination with the Mandroids led me to doing my first non-school related research project.  I had go know more about these suits of armor.  In the hands of Moses Magnum, they were used for evil but I had the feeling they were created for good.  That is when I found out that originally they were designed by Tony Stark for governmental use, mainly for certain missions overseen by S.H.I.E.L.D.   

    The Mandroid armor first appeared in the Avengers #91.  They are the brainchild of Marvel Greats Roy Thomas and Neal Adams.  As I said earlier, they were made for S.H.I.E.L.D. but it didn't take long for such villains as Moses Magnum to get their hands on them and use them to strike fear.

First Appearance: Avengers Vol. 1, #94 (December 1971)

    There has been many versions of the Mandroid, but the mission has always been the same.  The suit gives the person inside the ability to handle all threats, especially those of the superhuman kind.  That's what made them so attractive to villains who were tired of being stopped by the Avengers or the X-men.  Hell, I remember a Hulk story line that had General Talbot put on the "Super Mandroid" suit to try to put an end to the Hulk.  As you may know, that didn't end the way the General had hoped.  

Super-Mandroid (Hulk Vol. 1, #245)

    So, as you can see, as a little child I was infatuated with becoming that hero that I idolized.  I wasn't a mutant, so I needed to find a way that I could become that hero.  I think the Mandroid was the reason I paid attention in Science classes years later, hell, the Mandroid probably also fueled my love for robots.  Most of the toys that I still own from childhood are robotic related.  I never really came to that conclusion until I was preparing this post.  Hmmm, I guess you really do learn something new everyday. 

Mandroid armor as seen in the Marvel Universe Handbook

Until next time, get your READ on and unleash your inner NERD.