The Most Popular Native American Comic Book Heroes

Gone are the days of cowboys are the heroes and Native Americans are the bad guys. Thanks to historical research, we know that Native Americans are the good guys too. While there is a growing number of Native American heroes, they remain a minority among the white-dominated rosters of superheroes. Let's look at the most well-known examples of these.

Photo: Marvel Comics

  • Dani Moonstar of the New Mutants started out young, but grew up in superheroics and is now a mentor for younger mutants. She also has the power of the Valkyrie. Thus, she makes an odd mixup of Norse Mythology and Native American legend.

    68 votes
  • 2
    46 VOTES
    Dawnstar
    Photo: DC Comics
    Dawnstar is from a planet that Native Americans have colonized in the future. Like her people, she has wings that allow her to fly. She is of the Anasazi tribe, and also has excellent tracking and navigation skills. She becomes a member of the Legion of Superheroes. 
    46 votes
  • 3
    59 VOTES
    James Proudstar is an Apache who was once with the Hellions. His older brother, John, code-named Thunderbird, died during one of the second X-Men team's missions (the second team was where Storm, Colossus and others first appeared). He was resentful against the X-Men over his older brother's death. However, he changes his views and later joins X-Force. His powers, like his older brother's, are enhanced physical capabilities and senses that enable him to fight with great skill. He can also fly.
    59 votes
  • 4
    51 VOTES

    Shaman

    Alpha Flight's resident Shaman is a member of the Sarcee tribe. Aside from traditional shaman magic, he owns a bag from which he can get any object he needs, such as magical objects and potions for healing.
    51 votes
  • 5
    38 VOTES

    American Eagle

    One of the more patriotically themed Native Americans, American Eagle is a Navajo man named Jason Strongbow. He drives a motorcycle with the American flag on it. His powers are similar to Warpath's, enhanced strength, speed, stamina and senses, thanks to a mutation caused by the powers of the supervillain Klaw.

    38 votes
  • 6
    45 VOTES
    Apache Chief
    Photo: Super Friends / ABC
    Some may know him mainly from the Superfriends TV series of the 1970s. He is a Native American stock character introduced for ethnic variety, along with Black Vulcan and Samurai, though it's doubtful that's he is actually a chief. Although a TV-exclusive character, he appears in an originally comics-based property (the Justice League), so he fits this list. He has the power to grow in size, with his strength increasing accordingly. He mostly goes up against Giganta.
    45 votes