X-Men Vol 1 64

The Coming of Sunfire!

X-Men Vol 1 64

A new mutant named Sunfire has made his debut appearance in New York City, denouncing all those below him as nothing more than ants. His activity has set off the X-Men's Cerebro unit, prompting Beast to call Angel to check it out and the group to go and find out if this mutant is a ally or an enemy.

Sunfire has flown to the United Nations building where Saburo Yoshida, Japanese diplomat, has arrived to present the "Youth of the World" statue as a gift to the United States. The imperialist Sunfire finds such a gesture foolish. He crashes the ceremony, denouncing Yoshida as a traitor and destroying the statue with his microwave powers. His reign of terror on the crowd is cut short when he is attacked by Angel, Beast and Iceman, who give him a good fight. After blasting Beast with his heat ray, Sunfire flees, proving he is able to fly faster than Angel could even fathom. Angel and Iceman take the wounded Iceman to the apartment the X-Men keep in the city, where Beast's burns are treated by Jean, while they fill Scott in on what happened.

Sunfire, really Shiro Yoshida, son of Saburo, returns to his Uncle Tomo's hideout where he reports back. When Shiro comments on how he feels his actions are somewhat wrong, Tomo reminds Shiro of the American's dropping the atomic bomb on Japan during World War II. He explains how his mother, while miles away from the blast, was affected and died giving birth to Shiro many years later. Tomo goes on to explain how he took young Shiro under his wing and taught him to despise the America's for what they did during the war. He later took him to some remaining ruins of Hiroshima where young Shiro's mutant powers manifested, prompting Tomo to train him in the use of his powers as a supporter of Imperial Japanese ideals, as the costumed mutant Sunfire. Renewing Shiro's hatred of America, Tomo prepares the angry young mutant for his plot to humble America before the entire world.

The X-Men meanwhile use Jean's telepathic powers to try and track down Sunfire and are surprised to find out that he is traveling in a diplomatic vehicle. Deciding to play it cautious, they follow the car to JFK Airport, where Shiro and those in the car board a plane to Washington D.C. The X-Men follow and the Angel almost has a near fatal close call when he is almost sucked into the planes turbine and is saved by Iceman's quick intervention.

In Washington, Tomo and Shiro begin plotting and Shiro's father walks in hearing Shiro talking about getting revenge against America and slaps his son for his treasonous ideas, and scolds him for having such ideas. Although Shiro says nothing, he believes that he will soon show his father that he is wrong.

The X-Men have switched to their civilian guises and canvas around Washington, waiting for Sunfire to make another appearance. When Shiro is changing into his Sunfire costume, he is once more caught by his father who denounces his son's terrorist tactics and ideas and is struck down for his troubles. Tomo orders Sunfire to go out and attack the Capital Building. As soon as Sunfire arrives, the X-Men attack, with Angel and Iceman being the first wave. Warren is easily downed, however a quick ice shield from Iceman prevents him from serious harm but then Iceman is also easily defeated by Sunfire. Cyclops has Marvel Girl telekinetically raise him up to Sunfire's level and the two pit their mutant powers against one another, however Sunfire still proves to be the victor. His attack is stopped when Marvel Girl begins to attack his mind telepathically, until Saburo appears and once more denounces his son for his actions.

As the two argue, Tomo appears and shoots Saburo in the back, knocking him off of the Capital Building to the ground below. In anger, Sunfire blasts his own uncle with his powers, killing him. Finding that his father is dying, Shiro pulls off his mask and renounces his imperialist ways, vowing to undo the wrongs he has committed. As he dies, Saburo leaves his son with a request; forge the tools of peace from the weapons of war.

With the authorities gathering around the scene, the X-Men decide to depart, leaving Shiro to mourn the loss of his father, deciding that Shiro had learned the foolishness of his ways, and at a terrible price.

Appearances

• Saburo Yoshida (First and only known appearance; dies)
• Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida) (First appearance)
• Tomo Yoshida (First and only known appearance; dies)

Cover Date

January 1970