X–Men Explorer v.02
Northstar

Northstar

Jean-Paul Beaubier

Created by Chris Claremont & John Byrne
First Appearance
The Uncanny X-Men #120 (1979)
Appearances
360
Primary Team
X-Men
Debut Era
1970s

A Canadian mutant speedster who can fly and generate blinding light. Jean-Paul Beaubier was one of the first openly gay superheroes in mainstream comics and the first to have a same-sex wedding published by Marvel. A former Olympic skier and Alpha Flight member, he brought speed and sharp-tongued confidence to the X-Men.

Appearances Over Time

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Series

Most Appearances By Series

Alpha Flight (1983) 87 issues

Issues #1 – #99

87 of 130 issues (67%)

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The Uncanny X-Men (1981) 47 issues

Issues #379 – #534

47 of 405 issues (12%)

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Astonishing X-Men (2004) 19 issues

Issues #45 – #68

19 of 68 issues (28%)

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Amazing X-Men (2014) 18 issues

Issues #1 – #9

18 of 19 issues (95%)

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Uncanny X-Men (2019) 12 issues

Issues #10 (629) – #9

12 of 22 issues (55%)

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Alpha Flight (1997) 12 issues

Issues #12 – #8

12 of 20 issues (60%)

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Alpha Flight (2011) 11 issues

Issues #0.1 – #8

11 of 9 issues (122%)

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X-Factor (2020) 10 issues

Issues #1 – #9

10 of 10 issues (100%)

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X-Men: Legacy (2008) 8 issues

Issues #227 – #259

8 of 69 issues (12%)

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X-Men: The Trial of Magneto (2021) 8 issues

Issues #1 – #5

8 of 5 issues (160%)

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Events

Event Participation

First Appearance

The Uncanny X-Men #120

1979

First X-Men Appearance

The X-Men #120

April 1979

Fan Sentiment

Northstar holds a significant place in X-Men history as Marvel's first openly gay superhero, with his coming out in Alpha Flight #106 (1992) and his landmark wedding to Kyle Jinadu in Astonishing X-Men #51 remaining watershed moments for LGBTQ+ representation in comics. While sometimes overshadowed by the later prominence of Iceman's coming out, Northstar's legacy as a trailblazer is widely respected, and his portrayal across Alpha Flight, X-Men, and X-Factor runs showcases both his powers and his role as an unapologetic voice for inclusion. His relationship with Kyle and his brotherhood with twin sister Aurora are particularly beloved elements of his character.

Real Name

Jean-Paul Beaubier

Teams
Created By

Chris Claremont & John Byrne