Comic book casualties: Thunderbird

Superheroes are notorious for their longevity and durability. Rarely is a superhero killed off and they tend to age at a sluggish rate (Peter Parker, Spider-Man 's alter ego, has been in his teens/early 20s for the better part of 50 years). Occasionally though, storytellers will eliminate a superhero or secondary character to further a plot or for simple dramatic oomph. One do-gooder who suffered said fate was Apache mutant Thunderbird of the Uncanny X-Men.

John Proudstar, aka Thunderbird, first appeared alongside Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler in Giant Size X-Men #1 (1975). But Thunderbird quickly suffered a premature demise in Uncanny X-Men #95 (also 1975) while pursuing the villain Count Nefaria. Thunderbird's younger brother, Warpath, has become a mainstay character in the X-Men universe while Thunderbird himself has made his own appearances from beyond the comic-book grave. Let's pow wow about some enduring Thunderbird collectibles.

Uncanny X-Men #95, Marvel Comics (1975)

Uncanny X-Men #95 by Marvel Comics

As stated above, Thunderbird first appeared in Giant Size X-Men #1, an important and valuable book. Another important one for Thunderbird fans is this surprising issue of Uncanny X-Men, which marked the end of the all-too-brief road for John Proudstar. This notable X-Men issue goes for about $60 and up, depending on grade.

Marvel Collector Editions X-Men set, Toy Biz (1998)

Marvel Collector Editions X-Men set by Toy Biz

This impressive six-figure set unites the Giant Size crew: Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Sunfire, Banshee and Thunderbird. The 6" figures are nicely detailed and feature numerous articulation points. The set fetches about $50-$75 online or at a toy show. Look out for its compendium set featuring the original X-Men.

Thunderbird mini bust, Bowen Designs (2007)

Thunderbird bust by Bowen Designs

Sculpted by Randy Bowen, this gorgeous bust of Thunderbird stands 6.5" tall and is limited to 1,950 pieces. Track one down online for around $50.

Thunderbird statue, Bowen Designs (2012)

Thunderbird statue by Bowen Designs

Bowen Designs one-upped itself with the release of the Thunderbird full size statue in 2012. The museum-style statue stands over 12" tall and is limited to 500 pieces. Goes for about $175-$200 on the secondary market.

Any Thunderbird fan should feel proud to own one (or all) of these collectibles.