Northstar

**Northstar** (real name **Jean-Paul Beaubier**) is a Marvel Comics superhero. He was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, and first appeared in *X-Men* #120. Northstar is the first major openly gay superhero at Marvel Comics, and has been a prominent member of both the X-Men and Alpha Flight.

## History

### Early years

Jean-Paul Beaubier and his twin sister Jeanne-Marie were born to unknown parents who were killed in a freak car accident when the twins were just infants. Jean-Paul was adopted by their mother's cousin, Louis Martin, while Jeanne-Marie was taken in at Madam DuPont's School for Girls. The two would not be aware of their existence until decades later.

When Jean-Paul was six years old, the Martins were also killed in an accident. Jean-Paul was placed in a foster home and grew up unaware of his history, though he kept the Martin surname. Jean-Paul became rebellious in his teen years, becoming a thief on the streets of Montreal. He encountered the charismatic Raymonde Belmonde while attempting to steal a book. Raymonde saw the loneliness and confusion in Jean-Paul and became a father figure to the young man. It was with Raymonde that Jean-Paul discovered his mutant powers of superhuman speed and flight, as well as his homosexuality.

A few years later, Jean-Paul joined a French circus where he befriended Clementine D'Arbanville. Clementine recruited Jean-Paul into the radical Separatist movement called "Front de Libération du Québec". However, Jean-Paul abandoned the organization after he discovered their terrorist activities.

Jean-Paul then turned his attention to skiing, and quickly rose to prominence as a celebrity skier. Jean-Paul used his super speed to win the Olympic Games. Guardian, leader of Alpha Flight, contacted Jean-Paul and revealed Jeanne-Marie's existence to him. Jean-Paul was reluctant to believe that Jeanne-Marie was truly his twin sister, but he agreed to join Alpha Flight as long as she was there with him.

## Powers and abilities

Northstar is a mutant with the following abilities:

* **Superhuman Speed**: He possesses the ability to propel his body at superhuman speed, becoming a living projectile. Through an act of concentration, Northstar can channel a portion of the kinetic energy of the atomic motion in his body's molecules in a single direction. This can accelerate his body in a velocity in direct proportions to the amount of kinetic energy he has tapped. It is possible for him to reach 99% of the speed of light (186, 272 miles per second in a vacuum), although he never traveled at anywhere near that speed since if he did, he would wreak great damage upon himself and his environment. He once claimed to be able to move at 189,299 miles per second, exceeding the speed of light in the vacuum, although it may have been said in jest. Northstar can also move a portion of his body at superhuman speed at a time.

* **Superhuman Durability**: As a side effect of partially robbing his molecules of their atomic motion, the binding forces within and between the molecules increase. This enhances the sheer toughness of Northstar's entire body. This effect gives his skin enough durability to withstand the ravages of wind, friction and air turbulence.

* **Flight**: He has the ability to propel himself through the air. To hover in mid-air Northstar applies thrust downward in a carefully controlled manner. When carrying another, unprotected human being aloft, Northstar does not move faster than 60 miles per hour in order that his "passenger" may be able to breathe easily (Northstar himself can breathe at somewhat higher rates due to training) and so that the "passenger" will not suffer harm from wind, friction, or air turbulence.

* **Photokinesis**: He can generate from his body a bright white light equivalent at maximum intensity to half million-foot candles. He does so by varying the rate of acceleration of the molecules of his body out of phase with one another, thereby generating a cascade of photonic discharges.

## Appearances

Main article: List of Northstar appearances

## External links

* Northstar on Wikipedia
* Northstar on Marvel Database