By Rebecca Gault — The Krakoa Era of the X-Men line has had resurrection at its heart from the outset; from Moira X’s revealed ability to the resurrections in the Arbor Magna. It’s not a surprise then that the first X-Man to die in service of Charles Xavier would eventually be given his time to shine. John Proudstar is a character with less than 30 appearances as of this issue being published and yet, he is also one who has a legacy within the pages of these books.

Giant-Size X-Men - Thunderbird #1 tackles some very interesting questions for John with regards to what his resurrection means, on a personal and philosophical level. Rooting this story in Thunderbird’s identity, both as mutant and as Apache, is a smart move from the writing team of Nyla Rose (well-known as a professional wrestler) and Steve Orlando, giving the issue a grounded feel in real issues faced by Indigenous people.

Rose and Orlando’s writing here is strong — thoughtful where it counts but with the familiar stakes and build audiences have come to expect from comic book superheroes. There is a clear throughline here of identity and legacy and using Thunderbird to explore these issues is definitely a strong decision. With feet in both worlds — Apache and mutant — John clearly is struggling with his place in a world that he feels has moved on so significantly since he first died.

The issue also benefits significantly from the involvement of people with Indigenous heritage; Nyla Rose herself does excellent work in the writing sphere and artist David Cutler, who is a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, creates an incredibly strong and eye-catching new design for Thunderbird that is inspired by his heritage and his culture, helping to inform the character work being done here.

This inspiration is lampshaded in the issue — in a hand-written letter (expertly lettered by Travis Lanham) where Thunderbird explains his own personal reasoning for reclaiming his heritage through his costume. Making this explicit in the text is a good move, rooting Thunderbird even further into the grounded reality of his story here.

Of course, Cutler also does some excellent work in illustrating the more explicitly superhero aspects of the issue, with some great action sequences and a particularly horrific transformation sequence for one of the main antagonists. The compositions are tight but clear - guiding the audience through what is ostensibly a lot of events without feeling overwhelming - and matching the general house style of the X-Men line without sacrificing individual style. Irma Kniivila’s colors add a naturalistic feel but the work on Thunderbird’s new costume is bright and vibrant, as are the opening and closing panels of the issue, both drenching in varying shades of sunlight and bringing the chapter of Thunderbird’s story to a beautiful cyclical parallel.

Giant-Size X-Men - Thunderbird #1 is a bold return for a character that has had comparatively very little page time compared to the legacy he has left behind. Rose and Orlando do great work in balancing legacy with perseverance and the news that Thunderbird will be returning in X-Men Red is hopefully welcomed by many.

Overall: A thoughtful issue concerned with themes of legacy and identity while still forging a new path for this character, all backed by Indigenous creators and strong new design choices. 8.5/10

REVIEW: Giant-Size X-Men - Thunderbird #1

Giant-Size X-Men - Thunderbird #1
Writer: Steve Orlando & Nyla Rose
Penciller: David Cutler
Inkers: Jose Marzan Jr & Roberto Poggi
Colorist: Irma Kniivila
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
All Elite Wrestling superstar Nyla Rose slams into Krakoa with a back-breaking one-shot featuring the first X-Man to die in action! In this mega-sized one-shot, Rose teams up with comics star Steve Orlando and First Nations artist David Cutler to grapple with the ramifications of Thunderbird's recent resurrection! 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?
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: Digital

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Rebecca is a literature student by day, a freelance writer by night, and a comics fan always. She is a big fan of everything superheroic and horrific. Right now, she can be found on Twitter at @phoenixfcrce.