RIDGE-RUNNER
Real Name: Unrevealed;
Danielle Moonstar presumably named him Ridge-Runner,
although she had an empathic bond with him and may have appreciated the
name he considered for himself
Identity/Class: Terrestrial
fauna (mountain lion/cougar/puma)
Occupation: Predator
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Danielle Moonstar
Enemies: Hellfire Club
mercenaries;
disliked humanity in general, including Danielle's
paternal grandfather, Black Eagle
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Fuzzy Old Thing" (from Dani Moonstar),
"Kitty-Cat" (from Hellfire Club agent)
Base
of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly the Medicine Bow Mountains, near the town of
Sundance, Colorado
First Appearance: Marvel
Graphic Novel#4: The New Mutants (November, 1982)
Powers/Abilities:
As a cougar, Ridge-Runner possessed superhuman speed, reflexes, agility,
as well as olfactory and nocturnal visual senses.
He possessed sharp claws and teeth,
enabling him to rend flesh.
He was loyal to his human
companion, Danielle Moonstar, whom he adored and for whom he was
willing to sacrifice his life in her defense.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 35" tall and 7'10"
long (from nose to tail tip))
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 155 lbs.)
Eyes: Green
Hair/Fur: Tawny (orange-tan-brown)
History:
(Marvel Graphic Novel#4: The New Mutants (fb) -
BTS) - The cougar/puma/mountain lion known as Ridge-Runner formed an
empathic bond with the young Cheyenne mutant Danielle Moonstar (who
either understood his name or gave that name to him).
(Marvel Graphic Novel#4: The New
Mutants) - As Danielle meditated on the mountainside, Ridge-Runner,
having fed already, rushed to her side. With a paw on her thigh and low
growl, he distracted her from her meditation, and she greeted him with
a hug. They were both content, until both sensed the approach of her
paternal grandfather, Black Eagle. Disliking/distrusting other humans,
Ridge-Runner fled despite Dani's instruction to stay; her thoughts
still mixed with Ridge-Runner's, Dani was hard pressed not to follow
him. 
(Marvel Graphic Novel#4:
The New Mutants - BTS) - Black Eagle convinced Danielle that she needed
to train under Charles Xavier to control her mutant ability to project
other's greatest fears, but Black Eagle was subsequently slain by
armored agents of the Hellfire Club's Donald Pierce.
(Marvel Graphic Novel#4:
The New Mutants) - After Black Eagle's funeral, armored Hellfire Club
agents on flying platforms attempted to capture Danielle. As she fled,
Ridge-Runner roared and leapt at one of the armored agents; although
initially surprised, the armored agent hurled Ridge-Runner over a
cliff, taunting him, "Nice try kitty
cat, But against my battle armor, you got no more of a chance than your
mutie mistress." Dani cried out Ridge-Runner's name as he fell to
his apparent death.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod.
It didn't look like that far for a mountain lion to
fall, but perhaps the Hellfire Club agent smashed him in the head while
knocking him away. Given their empathic bond, I'd think Danielle would
have known if he survived.
Ridge-Runner had a head-shot picture and micro-entry in
the Marvel Pets Handbook.
This profile was
completed 06/22/2026, but
its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th
anniversary 's celebratory event to represent Moonstar's characters and
stories.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Ridge-Runner should be distinguished from:
- RIDGE
(Tim Holloway) - Genetix, empowered by Mys-Tech’s Genesis Project.
Superhuman agility, hard skin, razor sharp claws and forearm
blades-GP7.50213G--Codename: Genetix#1
- RIDGE, Dr. DANIEL "ZAPPER" -
husband of Christina DeVasquez-Ridge, old friend of Jen Walters since
shortly after she was mutated--Savage She-Hulk I#2
- RIDGE, Dr. JONATHON - father
of Zapper--Savage She-Hulk I#2
- RIDGE, Mrs. - mother of
Zapper--Savage She-Hulk I#2
- RUNNER (Gilpetperdon) -
Elders of the Universe,
conducted Galactic Marathon. Move at faster than speed of
light--Defenders I#143
- other "Ridge" or
"Runner" characters, groups, items, events, races or places...
- other cougars, pumas,
mountain lions, panthers, etc.
images: (without
ads)
Marvel Graphic Novel#4: The New Mutants, pg. 11, panel 1 (full,
running);
panel 3 (nuzzling Dani);
panel 4 (recognizing Black
Eagle's approach)
pg. 21, panel 2 (leaping at Hellfire Club
agent);
panel 4 (apparently lying
dead)
Appearances:
Marvel Graphic Novel#4: The New Mutants (November, 1982) - Chris Claremont
(writer), Bob McLeod (artist), Louise Jones (editor)
First posted: 09/23/2026
Last updated: 06/22/2026
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.!
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