Northstar #4

Northstar #4, released in 1994, serves as the concluding chapter of the character's first self-titled Marvel Comics limited series. Jean-Paul Beaubier, the high-flying member of Alpha Flight, had broken ground years earlier as one of the first openly gay superheroes in mainstream comics. This four-issue run was designed to provide deeper insight into the character's internal life, moving beyond his abrasive public persona to explore his professional identity as a world-class athlete and his personal struggles with celebrity and alienation.

The issue was written by Simon Furman and featured interior art by Darick Robertson, whose clean, dynamic style helped ground Northstar's superhuman speed in a more grounded, character-driven narrative. The series was an attempt by Marvel to elevate a supporting character into a solo lead, aiming to capture the interest of readers who followed his journey in Alpha Flight. While it met with a modest reception at the time, it remains a significant touchstone for collectors interested in the evolution of LGBTQ+ representation in superhero fiction during the 1990s.