Northstar # 1-4 (Ltd. 1994) (Marvel) [COMICS]

From one perspective, Northstar is a third-rank Marvel superhero: although he's appeared in hundreds of issues of the team books Alpha Flight and X-Men over the years, he's never held down a solo book apart from this four-issue limited series, hasn't made any movie appearances, and one would be hard-pressed to find much in the way of merch relating to the character.  Even his powers (super-speed) aren't remarkable.  But from another perspective, Northstar is a landmark in the history of the mainstream comic book industry (very . . . slowly) representing Queer lives.  Northstar coming out as gay in 1992's Alpha Flight # 106 was a big deal at the time (I remember it), as he was the first Marvel character to do so.  People who could read between the lines would've figured out the character was gay years previously, but the announcement still caused a backlash.  It's worth remembering the time-frame here (the early 1990s) where the AIDS crisis, gays in the military, and the "Defense of Marriage" were often front-page news.  From the perspective of thirty years later, there are some obvious aspects of Northstar that lead to eye-rolling, if not outright cringing--but still, progress moves in fits and starts, and this was a start.

Issue # 1 is SO nineties it hurts my eyeballs to look at the splash-page where a new, villainous team called "Weapon: P.R.I.M.E." is introduced (if you've ever heard of Tigerstryke, Killspree, Double Trouble, and Yeti, you're a more devoted comics' fan than me).  Weapon: P.R.I.M.E. is hired by Canada's Department K to bring Northstar into custody.  Northstar, however, is partying in Ibiza and being hounded by paparazzi.  He's framed for the murder of a reporter, barely escapes Weapon: P.R.I.M.E. by fleeing to Paris, and realises he's being set up by Arcade.  The issue is actually not bad, once one builds up tolerance to the early 1990s artwork and naming conventions.  Also, I really like the cover--it makes clever use of the character's white and black costume.

In Issue # 2, Northstar is still in Paris when he realises his own friend Mariel is missing.  There's some genuinely exciting action scenes as he rescues her in the metro after fighting off Arcade and his robot mimes(!).  I really like Jean-Paul Beaubier's personality, in that he's intentionally unlikable (prickly, sometimes selfish, etc.), which are not common personality traits for super heroes and so add some originality to the character.

Issue #3 has Northstar rejoining (?) a circus in Russia, but he's beaten badly by Arcade's mind-controlled performers.  He overcomes them, but then (*sigh*) Weapon: P.R.I.M.E. shows up and Northstar barely escapes to New Orleans.  Some of Northstar's backstory is filled in, though I don't 100% follow it.

Issue # 4 explains what's been going on.  A wealthy old man and noted homophobe named Carl Kerridge has arranged for both Arcade and Weapon: P.R.I.M.E. to wear Northstar down to the point where he could be killed.  Fortunately, as foreshadowed in a previous issue, Guardian arrives to help out and the good guys win.

Despite the 90s trappings, there is a real story and character arc for Northstar here, so I'm going to consider the limited series a success.  If you're a fan of Northstar, it's worth digging up.