FOXFIRE

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Real Name: John Reynolds

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-93060/Ultraverse) human mutate

Occupation: Aladdin agent;
   formerly officer, U.S. Air Force (see comments)

Group Membership: Aladdin (briefly "Bravo Team");
   formerly U.S. Air Force

Affiliations: Aladdin guards, Dirt Devil, Grip, Hardwire (loose), Headknocker (loose), Mr. Leopold, Agent Malik, Agent Snowdon, War Eagle (all Earth-93060)

Enemies: Choice, Hardcase, the Strangers (Atom Bob, ElectroCute, Grenade, Lady Killer, Spectral, Yrial, Zip-Zap) (all Earth-93060)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Aladdin base, Groom Lake, Nevada, USA (Earth-93060)

First Appearance: Hardcase#4 (September, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Foxfire can ignite his entire body at will into pure flame and generates flaming wings to enable flight at speeds up to 125 mph and guide aerial movement. He can also project intense fiery blasts from his hands that can incinerate a human body. Foxfire requires oxygen to maintain his flame form but can also use his heat to create a vacuum to deprive foes of oxygen. He has not demonstrated the ability to ignite only part of his body and manifests flame as his basic powered form, being only able to intensify his heat levels from fire. Ambitious, he hopes to be the first ultra President of the USA.

Height: 5'10" (in human form, by approximation)
Weight: 190 lbs. (in human form, by approximation)
Eyes: Brown (in human form)
Hair: Auburn (in human form)

History:

(Ultraverse II Origins card #52) - Ambitious John Reynolds rose to the rank of lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

(Ultraverse II Origins card #52/Strangers#1 (fb) - BTS) - Reynolds was on the San Francisco tram hit by the "Jumpstart" effect, which triggered superpowers in its passengers.

(Ultraverse II Origins card #52) - When his fiery powers manifested, Reynolds reported to his superiors and he was immediately taken to the Groom Lake facility in Nevada for study, where he was eventually assigned as part of the security force of Aladdin, a covert (but increasingly rogue) government organization studying and augmenting super-powered humans ("ultras").

(Hardcase#4) - Investigating attacks from various ultras led Hardcase and Choice plus the Strangers (Atom Bob, ElectroCute, Grenade, Lady Killer, Spectral, Zip-Zap) to the Aladdin's Nevada base and split into teams to explore. Aladdin dispatched "Bravo Team" (Foxfire, Dirt Devil, War Eagle, Grip), who quickly overcame the heroes in surprise attacks, with airborne Spectral and Yrial incapacitated by Foxfire.

(Hardcase#4 (fb) - BTS) - All unconscious, Hardcase, Choice and the Strangers were taken to a specially built prison containing them in a forcefield that reflected their powers.

(Strangers#4) -  Aladdin's Mr. Leopold demanded the heroes' loyalty and servitude in return for their release; Leopold was flanked by the four Aladdin agents. However, the heroes worked together to disable the forcefield and escaped, targeting the DNA computer banks to stop Aladdin's insidious genetic research. Foxfire, Dirt Devil, War Eagle, Grip and armed Aladdin forces caught up with them and a new fight broke out. Spectral blasted intense air at Foxfire that snuffed out Foxfire's flame and he was punched out along with other Aladdin forces. Leopold arrived with more Aladdin forces and eventually a truce was reached.

(Hardcase#10) - Aladdin's Agent Malik received orders to terminate Hardcase and Choice, and secured the services of murderous villains Headknocker and Hardwire to join Foxfire, Dirt Devil and War Eagle on this mission. The five attacked Hardcase and Choice, who were on their way to confront Aladdin about its involvement in Choice's powers.

(Hardcase#11) - Hardcase and Choice fled, but Foxfire, War Eagle and Dirt Devil gave chase (while Headknocker and Hardwire pursued a different strategy). The car destroyed, Foxfire blasted at Choice but missed. With Choice back at Hardcase's side, Foxfire let loose an intense fiery blast to incinerate them, but their powers saved them and Hardcase downed Foxfire while the Aladdin base looked on from afar. Hardcase and Choice demanded answers from the depowered Foxfire, who spilled Aladdin's spying and assassination attempt on them. The three defeated Aladdin agents were left in the desert while Hardcase and Choice raced to the Aladdin base.

(Hardcase#12) - Having commandeered a civilian pickup truck, the three Aladdin agents were ordered to meet up with Hardcase and Choice at a specific point in the desert. Once there, Aladdin Agents Malik and Snowdon radioed Hardcase and Choice to stop invading Aladdin facilities or face (continued) termination efforts. Hardcase agreed and the two heroes bounded off.

Comments: Created by James Hudnall & Roger Robinson.

I'm not sure if Aladdin has direct ties with U.S. military; was Reynolds honorably discharged from the Air Force, transferred, on assignment or "on loan"? Basically, was his affiliation with the U.S. Air Force still current while he was with Aladdin, did he keep his rank?

Interestingly, Aladdin labs created a biological construct called Firefall with flame powers built as a weapon with a fake past. Could this have been the result of studying John Reynolds' powers?

This is an excellent example of how the SkyBox Ultraverse II Origins trading cards sometimes added extra information to Ultraverse characters (including real names).

As far as I can see, Reynolds does not appear in Strangers#1; it's only mentioned later that he was on the tram incident shown in that issue.

This profile was completed 4/20/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Foxfire has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Hardcase#12, cover (main image)
Hardcase#11, p20, pan4 (headshot, human form)
Ultraverse II Origins card #52 (close-up in flight)

Appearances:
Strangers#1 (June, 1993) - Steve Englehart (writer), Rick Hoberg (pencils), Tim Burgard (inks), Chris Ulm (editor)
Hardcase#4 (September, 1993) - James Hudnall (writer), Roger Robinson (penciler), Larry Welch (inker), Chris Ulm & Hank Kanalz (editors)
Strangers#4 (September, 1993) - James Hudnall & Steve Englehart (writers), Rick Hoberg (pencils), Tim Burgard (inks), Chris Ulm (editor)
SkyBox Ultraverse II Origins card #52 (1994) - Chuck Wojkiewicz (art)
Hardcase#10 (March, 1994) - James Hudnall (writer), Kelly Krantz (pencils), Jeff Whiting (inks), Hank Kanalz (editor)
Hardcase#11 (April, 1994) - James Hudnall (writer), Scott Benefiel (pencils), Jasen Rodriguez (inks), Hank Kanalz (editor)
Hardcase#12 (May, 1994) - James Hudnall (writer), Scott Benefiel (pencils), Jasen Rodriguez (inks), Hank Kanalz (editor)

First posted: 09/30/2021
Last updated: 09/28/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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