If there is one kind of character I really appreciate its the "So good on TV we put her in the comics" kind of character! Harley Quinn, Mercy Graves, Phil Coulson (yeah he isn't a woman, but he looks good in makeup) and today's Z-Lister, Firestar from Marvel Comics!
Firestar was created by-oh, boy-Dennis Marks, Dan Spiegle, Christy Marx, John Romita Sr., and Rick Hoberg in the NBC cartoon "Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends" in 1981. She appeared as a main character alongside Spider-Man and Iceman. The writers were planning on using The Human Torch, but the network couldn't get the character due to studio rights. Even back then we were struggling with character rights! Firestar was given the name Angelica Jones (not related to that obscure character you all care about now) by Dennis Marks who had an ex-girlfriend of the same name. Firestar's TV origin was that she was a mutant bullied in high school and framed for stealing a school trophy. Using the hero identity of Firestar she found the real culprits were the ones who set her up. She joined the X-Men after that and accompanied Iceman in helping Spider-Man in New York.
Angela would by remade in the comics in 1985's "Uncanny X-Men #193" where her new backstory is that she was trained and manipulated by Emma Frost and brought into The Hellfire Club's little junior squad, The Hellions. She had been used by Emma for various missions both with and against The X-Men, finally she had been given a bodyguard who found out Emma was manipulating Jess with mind-control and he told her the truth. Emma killed the bodyguard, but Jess retaliated by defeating Emma Frost and burning down the training room of The Hellfire Club mansion.
Now having independence, Firestar would be a member of The New Warriors and shared many adventures with them, she had developed a relationship with their leader Justice as well. After she helped Spider-Man during "Maximum Carnage" she and Justice joined The Avengers. Interesting enough, The Wasp had designed a new costume for Firestar that bared some cleavage. Although early covers of those Avengers books showed Firestar in that costume, Firestar had modified the suit to be more modest. I only bring this up because it was a glimmer of self-respect by both the character and the people working on the book. Around this time it was revealed Firestar's powers were actually based around microwaves which caused heating effects, but they also made Firestar unable to have children. After making peace with Emma Frost, Jess started college and retired from being Firestar. She also broke things off with Justice as she felt she needed more life experience before moving forward with marriage.
She remained retired through the Civil War era of Marvel Comics and reappeared as Firestar once again in a series called "Marvel Divas" alongside Hellcat, Black Cat, and Photon. Jessica learns she is diagnosed with cancer as a residual effect of her powers. Jess had asked Hellcat to write a blog about her experiences in hopes that it would help other cancer patients. Desperate to save her friend, Hellcat almost accepted an offer from Daimon Hellstrom (The Son of Satan) to remove the cancer in return for Hellcat's love and soul. Firestar and her friends were able to save Hellcat and stop this deal. Through chemotherapy, Firestar would beat her cancer.
The next phase of her life included being a reluctant member of The Young Allies, being co-leader to an Initiative team, and being confronted by Emma Frost to join her X-Men. The latter conversation ended with a burning hotel room and a "no". We see Firestar again applying for a job as a Physics Teacher at The Jean Grey School of Higher Learning. She would accompany The X-Men on a mission to help Nightcrawler save heaven itself.
Firestar has had the kind of history that's typical for a superhero. Great rises, great tragedies, and great recoveries too. In my personal opinion, most people share those life patterns both in and out of fiction. Life works in a downward/upward/downward again kind of motion. Firestar is one example of the hardest points in life making you stronger after you experience them. I really respect Firestar's humility, she refused to make the cancer vanish via magic, she refused to wear a slutty costume, and she refused to rush into marriage. Firestar is a very thoughtful character and it's a bummer "Amazing X-Men" was cancelled. I hope to see Firestar in another Marvel title soon as she is a rarity of characters who actually make human decisions.
Thanks for reading!
Do you like Firestar? Comment below!
Angela would by remade in the comics in 1985's "Uncanny X-Men #193" where her new backstory is that she was trained and manipulated by Emma Frost and brought into The Hellfire Club's little junior squad, The Hellions. She had been used by Emma for various missions both with and against The X-Men, finally she had been given a bodyguard who found out Emma was manipulating Jess with mind-control and he told her the truth. Emma killed the bodyguard, but Jess retaliated by defeating Emma Frost and burning down the training room of The Hellfire Club mansion.
Now having independence, Firestar would be a member of The New Warriors and shared many adventures with them, she had developed a relationship with their leader Justice as well. After she helped Spider-Man during "Maximum Carnage" she and Justice joined The Avengers. Interesting enough, The Wasp had designed a new costume for Firestar that bared some cleavage. Although early covers of those Avengers books showed Firestar in that costume, Firestar had modified the suit to be more modest. I only bring this up because it was a glimmer of self-respect by both the character and the people working on the book. Around this time it was revealed Firestar's powers were actually based around microwaves which caused heating effects, but they also made Firestar unable to have children. After making peace with Emma Frost, Jess started college and retired from being Firestar. She also broke things off with Justice as she felt she needed more life experience before moving forward with marriage.
She remained retired through the Civil War era of Marvel Comics and reappeared as Firestar once again in a series called "Marvel Divas" alongside Hellcat, Black Cat, and Photon. Jessica learns she is diagnosed with cancer as a residual effect of her powers. Jess had asked Hellcat to write a blog about her experiences in hopes that it would help other cancer patients. Desperate to save her friend, Hellcat almost accepted an offer from Daimon Hellstrom (The Son of Satan) to remove the cancer in return for Hellcat's love and soul. Firestar and her friends were able to save Hellcat and stop this deal. Through chemotherapy, Firestar would beat her cancer.
The next phase of her life included being a reluctant member of The Young Allies, being co-leader to an Initiative team, and being confronted by Emma Frost to join her X-Men. The latter conversation ended with a burning hotel room and a "no". We see Firestar again applying for a job as a Physics Teacher at The Jean Grey School of Higher Learning. She would accompany The X-Men on a mission to help Nightcrawler save heaven itself.
Firestar has had the kind of history that's typical for a superhero. Great rises, great tragedies, and great recoveries too. In my personal opinion, most people share those life patterns both in and out of fiction. Life works in a downward/upward/downward again kind of motion. Firestar is one example of the hardest points in life making you stronger after you experience them. I really respect Firestar's humility, she refused to make the cancer vanish via magic, she refused to wear a slutty costume, and she refused to rush into marriage. Firestar is a very thoughtful character and it's a bummer "Amazing X-Men" was cancelled. I hope to see Firestar in another Marvel title soon as she is a rarity of characters who actually make human decisions.
Thanks for reading!
Do you like Firestar? Comment below!
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