ALPHA FLIGHT
A group of Canadian superheroes created by John Byrne for Marvel Comic Group..
Alpha Weapon, later called “Vindicator” (his powers came from his suit) first appeared in “Home Are the Heroes” X-Men, 1-109, Feb. 1978. The story was written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John. “Alpha Weapon” (“James MacDonald Hudson”) attempted to capture “Wolverine” who had been his protégé and a member of a Canadian service.
The full “Alpha Flight” team first appeared in a two-part story, “Wanted: Wolverine Dead or Alive” X-Men, 1-120, Apr. 1979, and “Shoot-Out At the Stampede” X-Men, 1-121, May 1979. Byrne was co-writer and illustrator. We are introduced to: “North Star” (“Jean-Paul Beaubier”) and “Aurora” (“Jean-Marie Beaubier”) a brother & sister team who generate blinding light; “Shaman” (“Dr. Michael Two Horse Men”) a sorcerer; “Snowbird” (“Corporal Anne Mackenzie”) a changeling; and “Sasquatch” (“Dr. Walter Langkowski”) a changeling with great strength. “Alpha Flight” battle the “X-Men” in Calgary in an effort to capture “Wolverine”.
Next “Sasquatch” appears in The Incredible Hulk King-Size Annual, 1-8, 1979. John Byrne and Roger Stern were the writers; Sal Buscema and A. P. Alcala were the illustrators. “Sasquatch” fights “Hulk”. We find that “Dr. Walter Langkowski” has developed the ability to change into “Sasquatch” at will.
“Alpha Flight” then appeared in a two-part story “Something Wicked This Way Comes!” X-Men, 1-139, Nov. 1980, and “Rage” X-Men, 1-140, Dec. 1980. “Wolverine” returns to Canada to make peace with “Vindicator” and becomes involved with “Vindicator”, “Snowbird”, and “Shaman” in a battle with the evil “Wendigo”. John Byrne was plotter and illustrator. We are given more of the history of the relationship between “Wolverine” and “Vindicator” and we learn that “Wolverine’s” name is “Logan”. At the end of the story “Alpha Flight” is disbanded by the Canadian government.
Meanwhile, “Sasquatch”, “Aurora” and “North Star” appear in “Alone Against Alpha Flight,” Machine Man, 1-8, Dec. 1980 written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Steve Ditko. They battle “Machine Man” then join forces with him. We discover that “Aurora” and “North Star” are capable of great speed as well as blinding burst of light.
In a two-part story in Marvel Two-In-One, 1-83, Jan.1982, & 1-84, Feb.1982, by writer Tom DeFalco and illustrator Ron Wilson, “Alpha Flight” appear with the “Thing”. In part 1, the “Thing” comes to Canada for help from “Walter Langkowski” (“Sasquatch”) who is in the north with “Michael Two Horse Men” (“Shaman”) discovering the sacred tomb of an ancient shaman. “Sasquatch” and the “Thing” meet and battle while “Shaman” is psychically compelled to release the evil shaman “Ranark”. “Sasquatch”, “Shaman” and “Thing” then join forces to stop him. Part 2 opens with “Vindicator” joining the group though he is still a reluctant super hero. He asks for help from the twins “Aurora” and “North Star”. “Aurora” (“Jean-Marie Beaubier”) responds but her brother Jean-Paul doesn’t because he feels he has been used by the government while in “Alpha Flight” which is now disbanded. A battle with “Ranark” ensues. A new power in “Vindicator’s” suit is revealed. It can stop his motion while the earth’s motion and everything on it continues. “North Star” finally joins the battle. Brother and sister achieve a blinding burst of light by touching each other. “Ranark” is subdued and “Shaman” casts a spell over him permanently incapacitating him.
A Prehistory of Alpha Flight as related by John Byrne in The Art of John Byrne: 7-8.
When at art college Byrne created a character he called the “Sentinel”. This character became the “Guardian” who evolved into the “Centurian” Byrne left the idea for a while then resurrected him as “Vindicator” The original costume design was very similar to that developed by Richard Comely for “Captain Canuck” and so Byrne changed his design to a wrap around Canadian flag style. Byrne then developed “Sasquatch” as a kind of Canadian “Hulk”
The group’s powers came from various sources. “Vindicator’s” came from his suit. “Sasquatch’s” were gamma ray induced but “Langkowski” was able to control them. The Francophone Canadians “Aurora” and “North Star” were mutants. Snowbird was a shape changer who got her powers from Nelvana of the North Lights. This was a salute to the Canadian heroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940’s. “Shaman” obtained his powers through witchcraft.
“Alpha Flight” got its own title August 1983. John Byrne left the “Alpha Flight” project with the completion of issue 28, November 1985. Dave Ross assumed pencils for issues 1-35, June 1986 to 1-42, January 1987. Chip Zdarsky and Ramón Pérez did a story and cover for Civil War II, 5, October 2016.
MEDIUM:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC Published by Marvel Comics Group
Content serial:
| Alpha Flight….: “…” Car., John Byrne. Let., Tom Orzechowski unless otherwise noted. Col., Andy Yanchus. Marvel Comics Group. |
| 1-1, August 1983:“Tundra”: 1-46. Let., Joe Rosen.
1-2, Sept 1983: “Shadows of the Past”: 1-23. 1-3, Oct. 1983: “Yesterday Man”: 1-22. 1-4, Nov., 1983: “Resolutions”: 1-31. 1-5, Dec. 1983: “What Fools These Mortals Be”: 1-23. 1-17, Dec. 1984: “ Dreams Die Hard …”: 1-30. Assist., Terry Austin, Chris Claremont. Let., Joe Rosen. |
| Alpha Flight….: “…” Car., John Byrne. Let., Michael Higgins. Col., Andy Yanchus. Marvel Comics. |
| 1-6, Jan. 1984: “Snowblind”: 1-30.
1-7, Feb. 1984: “The Importance Of Being Deadly”: 1-30. 1-8, Mar. 1984: “Cold Hands Cold Heart”: 1-24. 1-9, Apr. 1984: “Things Aren’t Always What They Seem”: 1-17. 1-10, May 1984: “ Blood Battle”: 1-22. 1-11, June 1984: “Set-up”: 1-16. 1-12, July 1984: “… And One Shall Surely Die”: 1-46. 1-13, Aug. 1984: “Nightmare”: 1-30. 1-14, Sept. 1984: “Biology Class”: 1-30. |
| Alpha Flight….: “…” Writ. & Pen.,, John Byrne. In., Bob Wiacek. Let., Rick Parker. Col., A. Yanchus. Marvel Comics. |
| 1-15, Oct. 1984: “ Blind Date”: 1-30.
1-16, Nov. 1984: “ … And Forsaking All Others”: 1-30. 1-18, Jan. 1985: “How Long Will A Man Lie In The Earth ‘Ere He Rot?”: 1-30. 1-21, Apr. 1985: “Love Wrought New Alchemy …”: 1-30. 1-22, May 1985: “Rub-out”: 1-30. 1-23, June 1985: “Night of the Beast”: 1-30. (Assistent inker, Keith Williams.) 1-24, July 1985: “Final Conflict”: 1-46. 1-25, Aug. 1985: “And Graves Give Up Their Dead”: 1-30. 1-26, Sept. 1985: “If At First You Don’t Succeed …”: 1-30. |
| Alpha Flight….: “…” Car., John Byrne. Let., Rick Parker. Col., Andy Yanchus. Marvel Comics. |
| 1-19, Feb. 1984: “Turn Again, Turn Again, Time In Thy Flight …”: 1-30.
1-20: Mar. 1985: Gold and Love Affairs”: 1-30. (Background inker, Keith Williams). 1-27, Oct. 1985: “Betrayal”: 1-30. (Assistant inker, Keith Williams). 1-28, Nov. 1985: “Cross-over”: 1-30. (Assistant inker, Keith Williams). (Byrne left “Alpha Flight”). |
| Alpha Flight….: “The Origins Of Alpha Flight …” Unidentified. Team probably same as team for main stories. | |
| 1-2, Sept 1983: “… In The Beginning”: 24-27.
1-3, Oct. 1983: “… Purpose”: 24-27. 1-5, Dec. 1983: “ …Deathwatch”: 24-27. 1-8, Mar. 1984: “… Genesis”: 25-30. |
1-9, Apr. 1984: “A Stranger In My Mirror”: 19-30.
1-10, May 1984: “…Family Ties”: 24-30. 1-11, June 1984: “… Unleash the Beast”: 17-29. |
Cover front:
| Alpha Flight….. Illus., John Byrne sometimes with help. | ||
| 1-1, August 1983. & Terry Austin.
1-2, Sept. 1983. & Terry Austin. 1-3, Oct. 1983. 1-4, Nov., 1983. 1-5, Dec. 1983. 1-6, Jan. 1984. 1-7, Feb. 1984. 1-8, Mar. 1984. 1-9, Apr. 1984. 1-10, May 1984 1-11, June 1984 |
1-12, July 1984.
1-13, Aug. 1984. 1-14, Sept. 1984. 1-15, Oct. 1984. 1-16, Nov. 1984. 1-17, Dec. 1984. 1-18, Jan. 1985. & Wiacek. 1-19, Feb. 1985. 1-20, Mar. 1985. |
1-21, Apr. 1985.
1-22, May 1985. 1-23, June 1985. 1-24, July 1985. 1-25, Aug. 1985. 1-26, Sept. 1985. 1-27, Oct. 1985. 1-28, Nov. 1985. |
Byrne left “Alpha Flight” after issue 1-28, Nov. 1985.
Dave Ross became involved with issue 1-35, June 1986.
Content serial:
| Alpha Flight….: “…” Writ., Bill Mantlo. Pen., David Ross. In., Whilce Portacio unless otherwise noted. Let., Jim Novak unless otherwise noted. Col., Bob Sharen. Marvel Comics Group. |
| 1-35, June 1986: “The Child Is Father To The Man”: 1-30. In., Gerry Talaco.
1-36, July 1986: Labour Pains”: 1-30. In., Gerry Talaco. Let. Jim Rosen. 1-31. 1-37, Aug. 1986: “Death Birth”: 1-30. In., Gerry Talaco. 1-38, Sept., 1986: “Pestilence”: 1-30. In., Gerry Talaco. 1-39, Oct., 1986: “The Invasion Of Atlantis”: 1-30. 1-40, Nov. 1986: “Love”: 1-31. 1-41, Dec. 1986: “It’s Not Easy Being Purple”: 1-30. 1-42, Jan. 1987: “Auction”: 1-31. 1-43, Feb., 1987: “ Strike Across The Border”: 1-31. Let., Ken Bruzenak. 1-44, Mar. 1987: “Plague”: 1-30. |
Cover front:
| Alpha Flight….. Illus., Dave Ross. | |
| 1-37, Aug. 1986. | 1-38, Sept. 1986. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story & Cover front:
Civil War II: Choosing Sides, 5, Oct. 2016. Writ., Chip Zdarsky. Illus., Ramón Pérez: 3-11.
SOURCE:
Book:
The Art of John Byrne. Ed., Sal Quartuccio. Brooklyn: SQ Production Inc., 1980.
Article periodical:
Amazing Heroes, 22, April 1983: “Now Boarding On Alpha Flight.” Writ., Peter Sanderson: 30-42.
Amazing Heroes,117, May 15, 1987: “Alpha Flight: The Super-Team That Never Took Off.” Writ., Garry Jones: 37-41.
Comics Feature, 42, March 1986: “Alpha Flight.” Writ., James Van Hise: 26-35.
GALLERY:
Amazing Heroes, 22, April 1983: Front cover. Car., John Byrne. (Front: Puck & Marrina. Middle: North Star, Aurora, Shaman, Vindicator & Snowbirch. Back: Sasquatch.)