Powers
Plasma Generation: Sunfire is able to generate superheated plasma with Unearthly ability, which he uses for a
variety of effects. He is able to perform the following power stunts:
- Generate a bolt of plasma which inflicts either Unearthly physical or Monstrous heat or radiation damage.
- Fly at Excellent airspeed
- Create a flaming sheath around himself which provides Amazing protection from energy attacks and Good protection from physical attacks.
Talents
Martial Arts A B, Oriental Weapons, Bi-Lingual: Japanese, English
Contacts
Yoshida clan, X-Men, X-Corporation, Alpha Flight, Beta Flight IV, The Twelve, Big Hero 6, Unknown Champions
History
Sunfire's mother, although many miles from the center of Hiroshima, was severely affected by the explosion of the atomic bomb that the United States dropped on Hiroshima towards the end of World War II. She was left a hopeless invalid and she died years later giving birth to her son Shiro. Shiro's father, Saburo Yoshida, was a diplomat who was one of postwar Japan's greatest statesmen. When Saburo was absent from home on diplomatic missions, Shiro was left in the care of Saburo‘s brother Tomo, who was, however, fanatically anti-American. Ironically, while Saburo labored to maintain good relations between the United States and Japan, Tomo taught Shiro to share his hatred of Americans, whom Shiro regarded as his mother's murderers.
Tomo came to suspect that Shiro was a superhumanly powered mutant due to the effect of radiation on his mother's genes. Tomo brought Shiro to a site in Hiroshima and had him pick up some of the still slightly radioactive soil there. Touching the soil somehow triggered Shiro's first major release of his power. Under his uncle's encouragement, Shiro vowed to avenge Japan's wartime defeat by using his powers against the United States. Shiro trained himself in the use of his powers, assumed the name Sunfire, and adopted a costume reminiscent of the Japanese rising sun emblem.
Sunfire went to the United States where he destroyed a monument at the United Nations and clashed with the X-Men as he attempted to destroy the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Saburo Yoshida was present and attempted to persuade Sunfire not to destroy the Capitol. While Sunfire listened to Saburo, Tomo Yoshida fatally shot the diplomat. Furious, Sunfire then killed his uncle. Charges were not pressed against Sunfire due to his diplomatic immunity, and the upper levels of the United States and Japanese governments kept his true identity secret, allowing him to return to Japan.
Sunfire's anti-Americanism has considerably lessened over the years, although his nationalist pride is still strong. Professor Charles Xavier invited Sunfire to join the X-Men, but after a single mission with them, Sunfire resigned for various reasons including his unwillingness to leave Japan, his preference for operating solo, and his lack of ambition to act as a full-time costumed adventurer. However, Sunfire remained an ally of the X-Men and worked with them on various occasions. He has used his powers on special missions for the Japanese government as well.
Though generally considered an ally by most American crimefighters, Sunfire once fell under the hypnotic influence of the criminal called Dr. Demonicus, and thus became a member of his so-called Pacific Overlords. This brought Sunfire into conflict with the Avengers' West Coast branch, and, fortunately, he was freed from Demonicus's thrall with the Avengers' aid. Sunfire returned to performing missions for his government as needed.
Recently, Sunfire was recruited by Department H, the recently reactivated branch of the Canadian Ministry of Defense, as a member of their government-sponsored super hero team, Alpha Flight.
|
