THE UNCANNY X-MEN #120-121 (April and May 1979)
| ALPHA FLIGHT #1 (August 1983) Story and art: John Byrne The team finally obtains its own monthly series and the characters can now be explored in more detail. Jean-Paul is more and more aware that something is very wrong with his sister, whom he suspects to be schizophrenic. He notices that she speaks of Aurora and Jeanne-Marie as if they were two completely different people. The two heroes are interrupted by a summons to join in the battle against the gigantic "Tundra". The twins' powers become more clear. They can fly, are endowed with superhuman speed and, when they touch, emit a dazzling light that completely blinds the enemy. At the end of the story, Northstar accepts to become a permanent member of the team, to everyone's surprise. He is quick to point out that he is only doing it to remain at his sister's side. |
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ALPHA FLIGHT #3 (October 1983) Story and art: John Byrne During their first battle against one of their most powerful enemies, the self-proclaimed "Master of the World", all the members of Alpha Flight learn with amazement that Aurora suffers from a grave psychological disorder. In the middle of the crisis, the heroine slips back into her Jeanne-Marie personae. With no memory of Aurora's actions, she is lost, confused and terrified to find herself among unknowns in a "scandalous" costume. The most surprised of them all is Walter Langkowski, better known as the Alphan Sasquatch, a teacher at Montréal's McGill University. He shared a romance with Aurora a few weeks before, but now he has difficulty to recognize her at all! "Even her accent has changed, he thinks, as if she's having trouble with English!" |
| ALPHA FLIGHT #7-8 (February and March 1984) Story and art: John Byrne During this adventure that takes place in Montréal, all the other Alpha Flight members are put aside so that the two Québécois can have the spotlight. In order to help a man that has raised Jean-Paul like a father, Northstar and Aurora must face "Deadly Ernest" (a.k.a. Ernest St-Ives). This cruel and infamous man is at the head of a powerful criminal organization and, on top of that, is capable of killing simply by touching his prey. A new heroine called Nemesis also joins the fray. She seems to have a personal crusade against St-Ives. In the end, Northstar tells his sister that he disapproves of her affair with Sasquatch and that he believed for a while that she had attempted to seduce Deadly Ernest. Outraged by this accusation and his judgement of her personal life, Aurora flies away, declaring to the bewildered Northstar that she never wants to see him again. |
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ALPHA FLIGHT #9 (April 1984) |
It is night. Jeanne-Marie is 13 years old and she is standing on the roof of Madame Dupont's school for girls, where she was raised and educated by the nuns. In complete despair, she has decided to put an end to it all. She asks God to forgive her and, she jumps. But the impossible happens, and instead of crashing to the ground, Jeanne-Marie flies away in the skies of "LaVelle, Québec" (the spelling isn't getting any better, as you can see). The young girl then makes the mistake of telling what happened to Sœur Anne, the school's principal. She is severely punished for telling the truth. Accused of blasphemy, she is beaten, deprived of food and sent to the chapel to recite a thousand prayers. It is following these dramatic events that the Aurora personality first emerges. Contrary to Jeanne-Marie, Aurora likes to wear make-up, fears nothing and only wants to have fun. One night, coming out of a disco, Aurora (then aged 18) is attacked by two thugs. She effortlessly knocks the first one unconscious, but is terrified to see the second one pull a knife on her. That's when a stranger suddenly appears from the darkness to save her. His name is Wolverine and he invites her to come with him to Ottawa so she can meet other specially gifted individuals like herself. |
ALPHA FLIGHT #10 (May 1984)| After Aurora's origin, Byrne now tells us how Northstar was first recruited!
James MacDonald Hudson, Alpha Flight's founder and leader, has just made a wondrous discovery. Jeanne-Marie, his most recent recruit, has a twin brother! He is the famous Jean-Paul Beaubier, the well-known ski champion. The young man is immediately invited to Ottawa. As his limousine nears the Parliament, Jean-Paul thinks: "Not so very long ago, I would not have come here without a bomb under my arm." Beaubier is greeted by a government official with whom he refuses to speak English. He then meets with Hudson who makes him a surprising revelation. After the death of their parents, the twins were seperated, the boy sent to live with some of her mother's cousins (who also died a few years later) and the girl was sent to Madame Dupont's. For the first time since, the twins are reunited! So begins the career of the heroic Québécois duo. |
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ALPHA FLIGHT #20-21 (March and April 1985) Story: John Byrne, Art: Byrne, Williams and Wiacek Aurora was not kidding when she told her brother she never wanted to see him again (in #9). The twins have come across each other again since, but she refused to address him despite Northstar pleading for forgiveness (in #12). Aurora has left Montréal to go live with Walter Langkowski in Vancouver. The beautiful woman then takes very concrete steps to differentiate herself from her brother. With Langkowski's help, she modifies the nature of her powers (in #17), she also cuts her hair and radically modifies her costume. During a conflict opposing Aurora and Sasquatch to the terrible Gilded Lily, Walter is shocked to observe that his lover is behaving like never before. He begins to fear that a third personae is beginning to emerge! |
ALPHA FLIGHT #22 (May 1985)| The next day, to get her mind off her recent troubles, he takes her to visit a circus that belongs to an old friend of his, Clémentine D'Arbanville. But when she is suddenly attacked by a terrorist called Pink Pearl, Jeanne-Marie reverts to her Aurora personae. She seems to be completely unaware of the events that occurred in the previous issue, which seems to prove that there is a third personality emerging. During the fight, Pearl reveals that Jean-Paul and Clémentine are ex-"séparatistes" terrorists (many English-speakers do not differentiate between the FLQ terrorist movement of the 1960s and the democratic and peaceful separatist movement in Québec). Pearl is finally beaten, but Aurora then leaves her brother once more, expressing her disgust for his criminal past. |  |
ALPHA FLIGHT #29 (December 1985) |
It is during a terrible battle against the incredible Hulk that Walter Langkowski is apparently killed. The shock is terrible for Aurora who throws herself in her brother's arms. When she suddenly sees a tear on his cheek, she says with surprise: "J-Jean-Paul, you… You're crying! You too!" Could it be that Northstar was also secretly in love with Langkowski? Many clues in the previous issues could have been interpreted as pointing to Northstar's possible homosexuality, but the truth will not be known until much later. For now, our two heroes are finally back together and Alpha Flight charges after the green behemoth. Northstar strikes the giant and actually manages to stagger the most powerful creature on Earth! Later on, when the twins touch hands to generate their powerful bursts of light, they cancel each others' powers instead! It is the result of Langkowski's modifications of Aurora's power... not exactly the kind of thing you want to find out in the middle of a fight with the Hulk! |
| MARVEL FANFARE #28 (September 1986) Story: Bill Mantlo, Art: Ken Steacy It is when a mysterious assassin calling himself "Scourge" begins his personal bloody crusade against ex-FLQ members that Northstar's past is finally revealed. After the death of his adoptive parents, Jean-Paul joined the ranks of the FLQ, a group dedicated to Québec independence through terrorist activity. Because of his superhuman speed, Jean-Paul could carry their communiqués without risk of detection or interception. When he later learned that his friends were planning an attack on an RCMP outpost, Jean-Paul tried to talk them out of it, in vain. Northstar then proceeds to explain : "I never gave up my principles, only their realization through violence!" Will Northstar be able to save his old companions before they are found by Scourge? What will be his teammates' reaction when they learn of his criminal past? |
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ALPHA FLIGHT #41 (December 1986) |
Disgusted to see his sister throw herself at Box, another member of Alpha Flight, Northstar decides to take a leave of absence and resume his skiing career. He is not interested in competing anymore, but is rather more interested in exhibition meets. Shortly afterwards, in Banff, after a particularly impressive demonstration of his skills, Jean-Paul is signing autographs when a young girl falls from a cliff. He rushes to save the girl, thus revealing to all present his secret identity. He is immediately accused by some of the skiers to have used his superhuman powers in order to win his races. These allegations wound him deeply. |
| ALPHA FLIGHT #50 (September 1987) Story: Bill Mantlo, Art: June Brigman and Whilce Portacio Following a battle with the creature called Pestilence (in #37), Northstar develops a strange illness that only got worse as time passed. He develops a severe cough and his wounds stop healing. To beat this plague, Northstar has to seek the mystic artifact called the Firefountain. This adventure leads him to Svartalfheim, realm of the Dark Elves of Nordic myth. There, Aurora seemingly sacrifices her powers to save her brother. Loki then explains to the twins that they are not mutants as they had always suspected, but are instead half-elves. Let's not forget that Loki is the god of lies and trickery! Northstar remains trapped in Asgard, while the powerless Aurora leaves the team to enter a convent. |
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ALPHA FLIGHT #104 (January 1992) Story: Scott Lobdell, Art: Tom Morgan and Ivy When Aurora accidentally finds herself stuck in the containment cell of Headlok, a criminal endowed with powerful telepathic abilities, her fragile psychological balance is once again shattered. Headlok holds her prisoner for weeks and invades her most private thoughts. In the end, Aurora is victorious, but the repercussions of this terrible ordeal will be felt for a long time. Slowly but surely, Jeanne-Marie sinks ever deeper in a complete psychosis. |
| ALPHA FLIGHT #106 (March 1992) Story: Scott Lobdell, Art: Pacella and Panosian During a fight against Mr.Hyde, Northstar hears a sound coming from a back street. To his stupefaction, he finds a baby abandonned in a rubbish bin! He quickly takes the child to the nearest hospital. The doctors soon inform him that the baby has contracted AIDS while inside the womb and that it has not very long to live. Jean-Paul is flabbergasted. He decides to adopt the baby and names her Joanne Beaubier. Alpha Flight launches a vast media campaign to inform the public about AIDS. After the baby's demise, Jean-Paul realizes that he is a well-known public figure and a popular role-model. He could do a lot of good and break a lot of taboos by publicly coming out. A press conference is called during which Northstar officially announces his homosexuality. The clues had been adding up for years, the rumors are now confirmed. |
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NORTHSTAR #1 to 4 (April to July 1994) Story: Simon Furman, Art: Dario Carrasco Jr In the last issue of the Alpha Flight series (#130), the Canadian government orders the members of the team to stand down and put all their activities on hold. Northstar is quick to rebel against the order. He declares that he is not a soldier, but a free man and immediately leaves the premises. He soon finds himself in Paris where he must face two great threats. First of the two, he is hounded by agents of the Canadian government (codenamed: Weapon P.R.I.M.E.) who have been ordered to capture him and repatriate him to Canada. Second, he is being harrassed by Arcade, the legendary enemy of the X-Men, who is kidnapping former associates of Jean-Paul for reasons unknown. |
| X-MAN #27-28 (May and June 1997) Story: Kavanagh, Art: Cruz and LaRosa Aurora's condition only worsens with time. The two personalities fighting for dominance, she switches from one to the other almost constantly, which is why she is held at a psychiatric hospital. A secret Canadian organization called Department H (qualified of being a "rogue agency" and on which the Canadian parliament chooses to turn a blind eye) kidnaps Aurora, pumps her full of calming drugs and proceeds to covertly slip her back to their installations aboard a heavily armored train. But the convoy is attacked by a group of mutants calling themselves "The Brotherhood" who frees Aurora and brings her to their secret H.Q., situated in old abandoned tunnels below New York City. Their goal is apparently to provide her with proper treatment for her mental illness. |
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WOLVERINE #142-143 (September and October 1999) Story: Erik Larsen and Eric Stephenson, Art: Leinil Francis Yu, Vines and Koblish After the Brotherhood's dissolution, Aurora rejoins her brother in Alpha Flight. Her powers appear to have reverted to what they originally were, before Langkowski's genetic manipulations. Just like in the good old days, all physical contact between the twins creates a blinding flash of light. The young woman's mental state appears to have stabilized, at least temporarily. Alpha joins up with Wolverine to battle the criminal organization A.I.M. and rescue their leader, James Hudson. |
| EVE OF DESTRUCTION (April to June 2001) (The Uncanny X-Men #392-393, X-Men #112-113) Story: Scott Lobdell, Art: Salvador Larroca, Tom Raney and Leinil Francis Yu The world is on the brink of World War III. Magneto, one of the X-Men's most powerful enemies, is at the the head of an entire army of mutants and is about to launch his war against humanity. It is to intervene in a situation like this that the X-Men were originally founded… but the problem is, they are nowhere to be found! In a desperate move, Jean Grey begins gathering new recruits. Jean-Paul Beaubier is in the middle of his book tour to promote his autobiography: "Born Normal". During a signing session, a homophobic maniac pulls out a gun on him, but before he can pull the trigger, the super-fast mutant has already pushed the weapon down his throat. It is at this moment that Jean Grey chooses to ask him for his help. He declines at first, but finally changes his mind, thus becoming a member of these temporary X-Men. Their first mission, their baptism of fire, will determine the fate of the world! |
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WOLVERINE #172 (March 2002) Story: Frank Tieri, Art: Sean Chen and Rapmund Wolverine is barely conscious. He has lost a lot of blood during his battle against Mauvais, an old French sorcerer who originated at the time of the British conquest. But before he can deliver the coup de grâce, Alpha Flight arrives on the scene, the beautiful Aurora among them. In the course of the story, we learn that she is still suffering from a MPD (multiple personality disorder) but that both personalities have access to Aurora's super-human powers. Both are also in love with Walter Langkowski (Sasquatch, Aurora's old lover). Although Aurora speaks English (with an accent), Jeanne-Marie speaks exclusively French. |
| WEAPON X: THE DRAFT - WILD CHILD #1 (October 2002) Story: Matt Nixon, Art: Ethan Van Sciver & Norm Rapmund Whatever happened to Aurora since that issue of Wolverine must have had devastating effects on her. When this story begins, she has been interned in a psychatric hospital in Ontario. She has been reduced to a state of drooling vegetable and a small scar on her forehead seems to indicate a possible lobotomy or brain operation. The organization known as Weapon X sends one of its agents (Wild Child, another ex-member of Alpha) to retrieve Aurora. Wild Child is quite in love with Jeanne-Marie (following events in X-Factor #116). He slaughters everyone who gets in his way and breaks her loose. She is brought back to the Waepon X base where they endeavour to «make her all better.» Three monthes later, Aurora does indeed appear in very good health, but more cold-hearted than ever. When Wild Child brings her a bouquet of flowers, she thanks him and then asks the gruesome mutant to leave because she is eating «and trying to keep it down.» |
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WEAPON X #1 (November 2002) Story: Frank Tieri, Art: Georges Jeanty & Dexter Vines Aurora joins the ranks of Weapon X in time for their first mission. Her powers seem to have been considerably modified. By touching an opponent, she is now able to «speed up» his metabolism. This new ability allows her to make the toughest enemy bite the dust in seconds. As for her personality, it appears more stable than ever (for now, at least). Sadly, after a bloody confrontation with Sabretooth that almost kills her, Aurora's face is left horribly mutilated. |
| THE UNCANNY X-MEN #414 (December 2002) Story: Chuck Austen, Art: Sean Phillips When Professor Xavier travels to Montréal to recruit Jean-Paul Beaubier to teach at his school, it first appears that he made the trip for nothing. Jean-Paul is intrigued by the offer, but not particularly interested. He confesses to having no «deep-rooted urge to make mutant unity» his personal mantra. But once he participates to the X-Men's mission in Ontario, he is faced with the difficult reality some young mutants are faced with when their new powers first emerge. In the end, he accepts the professor's offer and becomes the school's new business and economics teacher. |
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