User blog:ARTaylor/30 Years of (Comic Book) Firestar

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the comic book debut of Firestar. Angelica Jones made her first appearance in Uncanny X-Men #193. Originally part of the villain group the Hellions, she fought James Proudstar who sought revenge for his brother's death. It was later revealed that she was being manipulated by the psychic Empath after being trained by Emma Frost. She began to doubt her motives and teammates, eventually to the X-Men. Since that time she has been a steady figure in the mutant universe and a member of both the New Warriors and Avengers.

True fans know that Firestar was originally created for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. Voiced by Kathy Garver, she was designed as the third teammate for Spider-Man and Iceman when the television rights to Human Torch were tied up. She proved popular enough to be introduced into the comics, with an altered origin though keeping her mutant-based origin and time on the X-Men.

Angelica wouldn't appear in animation for another twenty-five years on Wolverine and the X-Men voiced by Tara Strong. In "Future X", Firestar is from the future where she is captured by Sentinels and put into a detention camp. She then helps Professor X escape by destroying a Sentinel. In a very different design choice, when this Firestar uses her powers her hair bursts into flames.

Firestar's last appearance was voiced by Laura Baily on the The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Too Many Wolverines!". In this kid-friendly series, Angelica is a classmate of Reptil and the two team up to stop Egghead when he clones Wolverine.