- For the Squadron Supreme character formerly known as American Eagle, see Blue Eagle (comics).
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American Eagle (Jason Strongbow) is a fictional character, a Native American superhero in the Marvel Comics universe.
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Fictional character biography
Jason Strongbow, a member of the Navajo Nation (born in Kaibito, Arizona), attempted to stop a mining company from excavating a mountain sacred to the Navajo. He discovered that the villain Klaw was in league with the mining company. Klaw needed uranium to augment his sonic powers. Strongbow's brother, Ward, did not agree with him about preserving the mountain. Inside the mine, an argument erupted between the brothers and Klaw which led to violence. During the fight, Klaw used his sonic blaster on the two brothers. Somehow a combination of the sonic energy of the blast and the exposure to the uranium gave both of the Strongbow brothers enhanced strength, endurance and senses. Klaw fled with his crew, including Ward, to the Savage Land in hopes of gaining vibranium to augment his powers.
Jason emerged from the mine and, taking inspiration from a flying eagle, took up the mantle of American Eagle as a champion of the Navajo Nation. He followed Klaw to the Savage Land. There he met Ka-Zar, the Thing, and Wyatt Wingfoot. The four joined forces and defeated Klaw and his minions, but during the battle, Ward was shot and killed by one of the miners. American Eagle returned to become a champion of his people. Since his battle with Klaw in the Savage Land, he was among the heroes of the world gathered to take part in the Contest of Champions, he was among the heroes who gathered to honor the Hulk, and he was among the heroes who helped Rom the Spaceknight defeat the Dire Wraiths. In his first solo adventure, the American Eagle defeated the Peace Monger and his Knights of Saint Virgil in Washington, D.C.[1]
Post-Civil War
Jason confirms to his friend Steve that he is strongly against the Super-Human Registration Act created during the Civil War event, and is planning to fight Iron Man over it[2]. He also bears a new costume with fewer stereotypically Native American attributes, including a leather jacket and a helmet resembling the head & beak of a bald eagle. It is his intent to prevent the Steel Spider from direct confrontation with an angry group of men from Jason's Navajo reservation by persuading the Steel Spider to ease up on his zealous vigilante act. By talking to Ollie, he hopes to diffuse a time bomb of local violence just waiting to explode. The Eagle finds the Steel Spider in downtown Phoenix, Arizona as the Thunderbolts unexpectedly arrive. Ollie argues that they will try to kill him and replace him with "Some Good Government Worker". When the Thunderbolts eventually do emerge, Jason decides to ally himself with Steel Spider, shooting the team's leader, Moonstone, through the wrist with a crossbow bolt. After a prolonged fight, Sepulchre becomes involved, and the three defeat Venom, the Swordsman, Songbird, and Radioactive Man. Though the latter two wish to try and defeat them using the old Team's methods, leaving Sepulchre and the Eagle, Moonstone orders that Bullseye cripple the Eagle in the same way he did Jack Flag. The issue ends with Songbird, Radioactive Man, Penance and Venom squaring up against Steel Spider, Sepulchre and Jason, in what Steel Spider describes as 'almost...a fair fight'. [3] In an ironic turn of events, the Eagle ends up crippling Bullseye before making his escape. [4] A news reporter stated that because American Eagle lives on a Native American Reservation he is exempt from the Registration Act, and that the Commission on Superhuman Activities would take no action against him because of this.[5]
Powers and abilities
- American Eagle has superhuman strength, speed, stamina, reflexes, and senses as a result of radiation-induced mutation. He also carries a crossbow which fires special bolts.
Other versions
- There was an American Eagle before Strongbow took the mantle. Lt. Col. James Fletcher, a renown battlefield hero of World War II in recent times became the security chief and trainer for . He was captured by agents of the Red Skull (Johann Schmidt) and was tortured by the Master Interrogator. He refused to yield any information and committed suicide to avoid breaking under further torture. First appeared in Adventures of Captain America #1 and appeared through to issue #3 which depicted his death.
- There have also been two incarnations of characters named the American Eagle in the Squadron Supreme, the first being Johnathon James Dore Senior, who was a member of the Golden Agency and a founding member of the Squadron Supreme. He is also the father of Blue Eagle. He first appeared in Squadron Supreme #1.
- The second incarnation, is the son of the original Squadron's American Eagle. He took the mantle on during his first appearance in Avengers (1st series) #85 and his next appearance in Web of Spider-Man Annual #5. He later changed his name to Cap'n Hawk but is more recently known as Blue Eagle.
Bibliography
List of titles
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6 (October 1981)
- Contest of Champions #1, 3 (June & August 1982)
- Incredible Hulk #279 (January 1983)
- ROM #65-66 (April 1985-May 1985)
- Marvel Comics Presents #27 (September 1989)
- Marvel Comics Presents #128, 130, 147-148
Significant stories
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6 (October 1981); "An Eagle from America!" - Strongbow gains powers and becomes American Eagle. Joins with Thing, Ka-Zar and Wyatt Wingfoot to defeat Klaw.
- Marvel Comics Presents #27 (September 1989); "Just Another Shade of Hate" - American Eagle defeats the Peace Monger.
