History

Proudstar was born into an Apache tribe in Camp Verde, Arizona. As a teenager, Proudstar discovers he possesses the mutant abilities of superhuman strength, speed and resistance to injury. This is a result of his mutation making his muscle tissue much denser than that of an ordinary human. His muscle density is distributed in such a way as to greatly enhance the size of his arms, shoulders, and thighs. Thunderbird's skin is also much denser than in ordinary humans, making him more resistant to physical injury. As part of his mutation, Thunderbird possesses oversized lungs and an unusually developed respiratory system. He can apparently run at faster than normal speeds, as he is seen overtaking a buffalo

Proudstar is drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and eventually becoming a corporal. He returns to his tribe afterwards only to find himself depressed and restless.He spends his days running down buffalo and grappling them to the ground. He is later recruited by Professor X to join his third group of X-Men. Although Proudstar is reluctant to be a part of a white man’s team, he agrees and takes on the superhero title Thunderbird.After successfully completing his first mission with the X-Men, Thunderbird turns out to be so volatile and ill-mannered that he constantly throws off the team's synchronization. He often found himself going head to head with Cyclops. It was his anger that helped lead to his untimely end.

To his team mates' surprise, he died after his second mission. During the new team's second mission, he leaps onto an airplane that is carrying Count Nefaria. Ignoring Banshee’s warnings, Thunderbird refuses to get off the plane, insisting that this was his chance to show that he was a true Apache warrior. The plane explodes, killing Proudstar. While Nefaria survived it has been accepted that it was Thunderbird’s pride that killed him.

His brother James (Warpath) later took over the Thunderbird name. He first blamed the death of his brother on the X-Men, later he became a member of the X-Force and X-Men.

A third character has gone by the name Thunderbird - Neal Shaara who briefly was an X-Man.

Powers

Thunderbird's powers were superhuman strength, speed, and resistance to injury. He did not live long enough for the limits of his powers to really be tested. But it is assumed that he was strong enough to lift about 2 tons and he could run at over 40 miles per hour.

He was also a very skilled tracker.

Alternate Realities

Earth-1100 T-Bird as War

Earth-1100

The alternate version of Thunderbird that joined the Exiles had been a horseman of Apocalypse. This Thunderbird, often called T-Bird was significantly stronger than the Earth-616 Thunderbird and was able to hold his own against the Hulk.

T-Bird had a romance with teammate Nocturne, who got pregnant, but lost the baby. T-Bird ended up brain-dead and in a coma after he fought alone against Galactus. He was for a long time placed in the stasis wall in the Exiles headquarters the Panoptichron, but awakened after a long time fully healed.

He along with Nocturne and Blink then took some time off the Exiles and went to Heather Hudson's reality on a vacation.

He has all the the same powers as Earth-616 Thunderbird, and is significantly stronger, more durable and has more training. He can also further enhance his strength by going into his War mode. He has no sense of taste.

Earth-295

John Proudstar of Earth-295 (Age of Apocalypse) founded the Ghost Dance movement, a religion based on Apache believes.

Earth-901237

In another reality the Exiles visited the John Proudstar of that reality was his world's Shaman and a member of Alpha Flight.

In the House of M reality Thunderbird was a cop, and the leader of the Brotherhood.