Template:Featured Articles/47-2007

Northstar: Jean-Paul a prominent sports star before his X-factor status resulted in him being stripped of his Olympic medals, is also a vocal defender of mutant and gay rights. Orphaned at a young age and separated from his twin sister Jeanne-Marie Beaubier, the Quebecois went from humble origins to join Canada's experimental mutant team, Alpha Flight as "Northstar". It was with this team that he was reunited with his sister, their relationship always a rocky one. When he joined the X-Men for a time, interested in teaching the next generation of mutants, Jean-Paul's flight, speed and invulnerability proved valuable. He returned to Canada after only three months, however, as Jeanne-Marie's mental state became more unstable and they decided to seek treatment for her. He left on good terms however, which don't preclude him from returning to the school or the team in the future. Jean-Paul's powers are relatively modest but well-developed. He's a flyer, exceptionally fast and agile, able to reach 200mph, and has incredible endurance - for the most part, he simply does not get physically tired. His speed is not just flight, it applies to all his motion, and he is able to deliver jackhammer-speed blows and simply avoid or outmaneuver his opponents. He's also able to translate physical energy into balls of light or concussive bursts, nothing extravagant but enough to give him the advantage when it's needed, especially when applied in closed spaces. He is quite strong for a human, especially one his size, but most of that is due to his constant focus on being fit. He's very physically durable, he can take far more punishment than even a very healthy man, and he is immune to extremes of temperature. However, he is far from invulnerable compared to some others.