FOXFIRE

Real Name: Olivia Underwood

Occupation: Public crusader, government super hero;
    former professional criminal

Group Membership: Squadron Supreme (Arcanna Jones (now Moonglow), Blue Eagle/James Dore Jr., Hyperion/Mark Milton, Power Princess/Zarda Shelton, Dr. Spectrum/Joseph Ledger, Tom Thumb/Thomas Thompson, Whizzer/Stanley Stewart);
    formerly Institute of Evil (Ape X/Xina, Doctor Decibel/Anton Decibel Lamprey/Donald McGuiggin, Mink/Julie Steel, Quagmire/Jerome Michaels, Shape/Raleigh Lund) 

Affiliations: AIDA, Adrienne Dore, Cerebrax, Andrew, Drusilla, Katrina Jones, Philip Jones, Master Menace (Emil Burbank), Howard Shelton, Madeleine and Tina Stewart, warden Yates;     formerly Grandmaster (En Dwi Gast), Scarlet Centurion

Enemies: Hyperion (Zhib-Ran), he Redeemers (Black Archer/Wyatt McDonald, Haywire/Harold Danforth, Inertia/Edith Freiberg, Lamprey/Donald McGuiggin, Moonglow/Melissa Hanover, Nighthawk/Kyle Richmond, Pinball/Chester Freeman, Redstone/Michael Redstone, Remnant/Frank Edwards, Thermite/Sam Yurimoto);
    formerly Scarlet Centurion (Nathaniel Richards), Squadron Supreme

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Fox," Foxy lady" (nickname used by Dr. Spectrum)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly Squadron City;
    formerly Institute of Evil headquarters;
    born in Schrodinger, Olmstead (see comments)

First Appearance: Squadron Supreme I#5 (January, 1986)

Powers/Abilities: Foxfire can project bio-luminescent energy. The energy is bright enough to blind and confuse, but its most potent effect weakens the molecular binding of matter, causing it to disintegrate. 

    Foxfire's "rot" is effective against organic and inorganic targets and can even dissolve hard light constructs. Foxfire has precise control over the range of the rot effect, using it for pinpoint strikes like targeting a single body part. Through intense concentration, Foxfire can reduce an entire building to dust in minutes. 

    Her physical abilities were within normal limits, although she had athlete-level reflexes. She underwent standard Squadron Supreme

    Prior to her behavior modification she was cruel, ruthless and highly sexual. 

    After she was mentally incapable of committing criminal acts and of  lying, betraying or refusing a direct request from one of the team. She retained her promiscuous tendencies. 

    After the b-mod procedure was undone, she retained her feelings for Joe Ledger (Dr. Spectrum), and she apparently retained an interest in doing good. 

    She wore a costume composed of synthetic stretch fabric (see comments).

Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black; dyed blonde
Other distinguishing features: Foxfire has a tattoo of a fox head on each breast. 

History: 
(Squadron Supreme I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Olivia Underwood was born October 30 (see comments).

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#1: Foxfire) - Olivia was a high school dropout.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#1: Foxfire) - At some point, Olivia received tattoos of a fox head on each breast. 

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition I#12 - BTS) - Little else is known about Foxfire's background prior to her turning to crime.

(Squadron Supreme I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Foxfire was an extremely hardened criminal, and she had a long criminal record. 

(Squadron Supreme I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Foxfire was one of seven super villains assembled by the Scarlet Centurion. The 40^th century maniac used them as pawns in a cosmic game of chance against Reality-616's Grandmaster, who had manipulated the Squadron Supreme in a similar way. During the fight, Nighthawk was able to defeat Foxfire. After the battle, most of the villains decided to band together as the Institute of Evil.

(Squadron Supreme I#9 (fb) - BTS) - During her time with the criminal cabal, Foxfire had a strained relationship with teammate Mink (Julie Steele) who wasn't too fond of Underwood either.

(Squadron Supreme I#5 (fb) - BTS) -  The Institute of Evil kidnapped Squadron member Golden Archer and brought him to their headquarters for questioning.

(Squadron Supreme I#5) - The other Institute members watched as Dr. Decibel used a sonic device in his headband to question Archer about everything that had happened prior to his kidnapping. Fascinated by the existence of the b-mod device (which G.A. had used to mess with his ex Lady Lark's mind to make her fall in love with him), Ape X told the mind-controlling Dr. Decibel to first grill the hero about this technology before making him reveal the location of the Squadron's secret base and the identities of their families. 

    Using this information, Ape X conceived a plan to bring down the Squadron. She sent Foxfire to Capitol City to kidnap Power Princess' aged husband Howard Shelton. The others were tasked to capture Blue Eagle's mother, Adrienne Dore, the husband and children of Arcanna and the Whizzer's wife and child.

(Squadron Supreme I#5 - BTS) - Foxfire successfully abducted Shelton, returning with the wheelchair-bound man to Institute headquarters.

(Squadron Supreme I#5) - With Ape X staying behind to guard the hostages, Foxfire joined the other Instituters in an ambush on the Squadron at their base. They quickly overcame Tom Thumb, who was working in his lab, and used him and their other hostages to bring the Squadron home. When the heroes tried to attack, Foxfire threatened to use her rot on Thumb, which led to the Squadron's surrender. 

    Foxfire then watched as Dr. Decibel submitted the heroes to their own b-mod device to turn them evil. She and the others were unaware Tom Thumb had redesigned the b-mod procedure following the incident with Lady Lark, making Squadron members immune to tampering. The team played along until the Institute brought them back to Ape X, who was initially pleased to see so many new recruits. The Squadron then attacked, with Arcanna blasting Foxfire while the others made short work of the other surprised Instituters.

(Squadron Supreme I#6 (fb) - BTS / Squadron Supreme I#9 (fb) - BTS) <August 15> - Shortly after they were captured, in part to prevent the knowledge of their families' identities from getting out, the Squadron Supreme voted to subject Foxfire and all the members of the Institute of Evil to the b-mod treatment. Her mood and personality adjusted considerably, Olivia now only wanted to do good and help the Squadron. The modifications even prevented her from lying, betraying or refusing a direct request from one of the team. She was also given a new costume to reflect her new start.

(Squadron Supreme I#6) - Foxfire tirelessly helped the Squadron settle into their new base Squadron City. One day she assisted Lady Lark in supervising supply deliveries, thinking nothing of Lark taking off to check on Golden Archer. However, it did irk Hyperion when he came to check in on them. Hyperion barely had time to notice her new costume before taking off to locate Lark (who was still secretly suffering from the b-mod treatment).

(Squadron Supreme I#6 - BTS) - The Squadron Supreme was so pleased with the way Foxfire and the other former Institute of Evil members were working out, they voted to officially welcome them to the team as fully fledged members.  

(Squadron Supreme I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Foxfire was elected to Squadron membership on September 21st (see comments).

(Squadron Supreme I#7) - Hyperion flew Foxfire to Huxley State Prison to convince warden Yates to subject his inmates to the behavior modification technology. Foxfire told Yates about her own criminal past and how the b-mod device had made her a better person by stifling the urge to do evil and violent things. Their meeting was cut short when Hyperion spotted a meteor about to crash. He flew off to handle it.

(Squadron Supreme I#7 - BTS) - The meteor was actually a ruse created by Master Menace to capture Hyperion and replace him with Zhib-Ran, an evil Hyperion counterpart who was doing his bidding.

(Squadron Supreme I#7) - When Hyperion failed to check in after 30 minutes, Foxfire asked warden Yates for a helicopter to go look for her teammate. She soon located Hyperion (secretly Zhib-Ran) who pretended to be unconscious. She returned him to headquarters where Doctor Decibel concluded that something in the meteor's core must be affecting him. This Hyperion then stirred, acting like he had developed amnesia. A little later, Power Princess filled Foxfire and the others in: without Hyperion their plans to solve the world's problems within a year were falling behind schedule. The ever flirtatious Foxfire freely offered her services to give the ailing Hyperion "round-the-clock tender loving care," but she was quickly shot down by Zarda who announced she'd be handling his rehabilitation herself.

(Squadron Supreme I#7 - BTS) - Zhib-Ran discreetly killed Zarda's husband Howard Shelton in a successful attempt to get close to her.

(Squadron Supreme I#7) - Foxfire attended Howard's funeral service.

(Squadron Supreme I#8) - Foxfire accidentally interrupted a romantic moment between Power Princess and Zhib-Ran. She quickly excused herself and got out of the way. Later, she was at the Squadron meeting that got interrupted by the newly freed Earth-712 Hyperion bursting through the roof to fight the impostor. Foxfire and the others could do little else but watch the two superbeings duke it out. The fight left Hyperion blinded and Zhib-Ran dying in Power Princess' arms.  

(Squadron Supreme I#9) - Foxfire visited the Squadron's holo-history room on a Sunday to review their files on her. She slightly grumbled at the one sided recount of her fight against Nighthawk, feeling the hero got lucky when they fought during the encounter against Grandmaster and the Scarlet Centurion. This led her to reading up on the Centurion, which was so enthralling Dr. Spectrum got the drop on her by playfully blinded Foxfire with energy from his prism. Reacting on instinct, she instantly rotted the light constructs before turning and being shocked at her own behavior towards a teammate. Spectrum assured her it was okay, he had come looking for her to get a poker game going because he found Sundays equally dull. Foxfire offered him a different, slightly more adult way to pass the time (see comments).

(Squadron Supreme I#10 - BTS) - Foxfire and Spectrum began dating, spending each night together and getting very romantically involved. Using his influence, Doctor Spectrum made sure he was often paired with Foxfire on individual missions. Foxfire also began practicing her abilities to use them for bigger and more varied purposes than offensive combat alone.

(Squadron Supreme I#10 (fb) ) - After Tom Thumb succumbed to cancer, Foxfire and the others attended his televised memorial service.

(Squadron Supreme I#10) - Thanks to Spectrum rearranging the roster, he and Foxfire were sent out to Capital City, Magelland, to break ground on the first Hibernaculum, a massive cryostasis facility to preserve the lives of people with incurable illnesses. Foxfire used her rot powers to target the building they'd come to demolish. After several minutes, her energies had erased the chemical bond of the brick and mortar, causing the entire structure to crumble into the dust. Calling up a massive dustpan, Dr. Spectrum instantly cleaned up the mess so the work crew could get started on the foundation.

(Squadron Supreme I#10 - BTS) - On a mission to Cosmopolis, Whizzer and Shape were approached by Redstone and Moonglow, two superbeings who wanted to join the team. Over at Squadron City's hospital, Dr. Decibel sounded the alarm when their comatose teammate Quagmire lost control of his powers and his signature extradimensional muck began filling the room.

(Squadron Supreme I#10) - Foxfire attended the Squadron meeting to discuss Redstone and Moonglow's admission. She voted against subjecting them to b-mod treatment to ensure their loyalty, but did vote in favor of instituting a recruitment program. Moments later, they were calling to the hospital by a desperate Dr. Decibel drowning in Quagmire's muck. Foxfire's powers were useless against the substance. She could do nothing but watch as Hyperion and Dr. Spectrum evacuated the staff. Hyperion unplugged the comatose Quagmire, who vanished to parts unknown, but not before his gunk inadvertently suffocated Dr. Decibel.

(Squadron Supreme I#11 - BTS) - As a result of the new recruitment program, the Squadron welcomed Moonglow, Redstone and several other new members: Inertia, Haywire and Thermite (all secretly members of Nighthawk's Redeemers).

(Squadron Supreme I#11) - Foxfire trained with the new members, giving Haywire a hard time by easily rotting away his tanglewire. Later that day, they were all present for a televised signing ceremony for their five new members.

(Squadron Supreme I#11 - BTS) - Within a day of gaining full membership, Moonglow stole the design schematics of the b-mod device, sending it to the Redeemers and their ally Master Menace who quickly whipped up a machine to reverse the b-mod effect. The Redeemers then began to abduct former Institute members to undo their programming: Lamprey and Shape were first and when Blue Eagle was about to foil their plans prematurely, Nighthawk had his old teammate modified, too.

(Squadron Supreme I#12 - BTS) - Several weeks later, Lamprey tricked Foxfire into accompanying her, unaware he was taking her to be deprogrammed.

(Squadron Supreme I#12) - Foxfire futilely struggled to free herself while Master Menace oversaw her deprogramming, after which she was introduced by Nighthawk to the Redeemers, including her old rival the Mink. Confused, she agreed to join the Redeemers in paying back the Squadron, but even as Lamprey flew them home, while she resent the Squadron for messing with her mind, she wasn't sure how she felt. When they passed over a shootout, she felt they should stop it and asked what if the Squadron learned they passed by a crime in progress; however, when Lamprey asked who was going to tell them, she gave in, noting that new habits died hard.

(Squadron Supreme I#12 - BTS) - On the fence about the Redeemers' plans to stop the Squadron, Foxfire felt there was nothing she could do on her own to stop them. She was too scared to even tell Dr. Spectrum.

(Squadron Supreme I#12) - Foxfire went with the Squadron to Washington to celebrate the one year anniversary of the team's promise to solve the world's problems. Upon returning to Squadron City, she was terrified to see Nighthawk and the Redeemers waiting for them on the airfield. She fell in line with the other secret Redeemer members, leading Dr. Spectrum to ask her to tell them that their relationship meant something. Foxfire kept out of the subsequent fight, and she even tried to protect the pregnant Arcanna from getting slashed by the vicious Mink, only to get blasted by the gale force wind Arcanna had summoned in defense. 

    When Dr. Spectrum was injured, Foxfire rushed to his side to explain she loved him and didn't want to betray him. She figured the best way to prove her loyalty and stop the conflict was by taking out Nighthawk. She used her powers of decay to give Nighthawk a fatal heart attack, only to fall prey to Mink who clawed her from behind, yelling "a heart for a heart, pig!" Dr. Spectrum slammed Mink aside with his power prism and rushed his lover to the hospital. 

(Squadron Supreme I#12 - BTS) - Mink's attack on Foxfire caused massive internal bleeding. She was declared dead in surgery hours later.

(Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Foxfire was placed in Squadron City's Hibernaculum along with other fallen Squadron members like Tom Thumb, Black Archer, Pinball and Thermite. Though current medical science could not save her, there was hope she and the others might one day be healed and revived.

(Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe I#1) - One week after her apparent death, Foxfire was visited by Dr. Spectrum who tried to remain hopeful she might survive this. Looking at his lover, he wondered what the point of being a hero is if you can't save the people you love. He was joined by the Whizzer who tried to lift his spirits, but also reminded his friend that life goes on.

Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Bob Hall, and Sam de la Rosa.

    Seeing as most of Earth-712's inhabitants are (loosely) based on DC characters, Foxfire and other members of the Redeemers seem patterned after the Outsiders. They were led by Nighthawk, himself an analogy for Batman, and given Foxfire's look and powers she seems loosely patterned after Black Lightning (right down to the lightning motif on her costume). She also shares certain similarities with the Green Lantern villainess Star Sapphire: their names sound vaguely alike and they share light powers and an infatuation with the hero.

    Speaking of Foxfire and Dr. Spectrum hooking up... Yes, she seduced him. But can you honestly say it's ethical to sleep with a woman whose brain has been rewired to blindly obey anything you say? Yikes.

    Foxfire, as part of the Squadron Supreme, was profiled in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition I#12 and she got her own entry in the the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#1.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Foxfire should not be confused with:

• Foxfire of Earth-93060 ( ) - Aladdin--Hardcase I#4
  Foxfire of Earth-93060 (Rose Autumn) - genetically engineered from future, sent into modern era, powers triggered by Phoenix--(RA) Phoenix Resurrection: Genesis; (Ff) Phoenix Resurrection: Revelations
• Foxfire (Grigori Andreivitch) - Remont 4, ruthless Russian cyborg assassin and government operative, killed Concussion + Iron Curtain + Mentac under direction of Valentin Shatalov during a crackdown against Russia’s mutant resistance movement, hypnotized by Blind Faith to inform media about the Russian program of mutant genocide. Enhanced strength + durability + senses, lower left arm replaced by a rifle-type gun, carries and skilled in many forms of weaponry--Soviet Super Soldiers SE#1
• Foxfire (Sheila Donner) - alias used by reporter to assist Human Torch in the search for Rose Delaney. Used false story of having developed technology to control path of fire, used it in arson and murder after the fire department refused to buy the technology from her--[Human Torch II#2], 4
• Any other "Fox" or "Fire" characters  

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe deluxe edition I#12, p29, pan2 (main image)
Squadron Supreme I#9, p4, pan1 (first costume)
Squadron Supreme I#5, p18, pan6 (uses bioluminiscence)
Squadron Supreme I#7, p9, pan4 (close up)
Squadron Supreme I#9, p7, pan2 (seducing Spectrum)
Squadron Supreme I#10, pg7,  pan6 (blasting building)
Squadron Supreme I#10, p8, pan1 (building collapsing)
Squadron Supreme I#12, p37, pans2&3 (kills Nighthawk)
Squadron Supreme I#12, p38, pans1&2 (dies)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#1: Foxfire entry - three views

Appearances:
Squadron Supreme I#5 (January, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Bob Hall (pencils), Sam de la Rosa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#6 (February, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Sam de la Rosa & Keith Williams (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#7 (March, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), John Buscema (pencils), Jackson Guice (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#8 (April, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Bob Hall (pencils), Sam de la Rosa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#9 (May, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Sam de la Rossa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#10 (June, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Sam de la Rossa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#11 (July, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Sam de la Rossa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Squadron Supreme I#12 (August 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Sam de la Rossa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition I#12 (November, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald, Peter Sanderson (writers), Josef Rubinstein (inks), Mark Gruenwald, Howard Mackie (editors)
Squadron Supreme: Death of A Universe I#1 (January, 1989) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Al Williamson (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#1 (December, 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (head writer, concept/editor), Peter Sanderson (research consultant), Len Kaminiski, Jamie Tost, Glenn Herdling (writers), Keith Pollard (penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Phil Sheehy (editorial assistant),

First Posted: 03/09/2022
Last updated: 03/12/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters