FLASHFIRE

Real Name: Grannz

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race of origin unknown)

Occupation: Member of Shi'ar Imperial Guard

Group Membership: Shi'ar Imperial Guard

Affiliations: Araki, Arc, Astra, Avengers (Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Hercules, Quicksilver), Binder, Blackthorn, Chakar, Commando, Deathbird, Delphos, D'ken, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, G-Type, Gladiator, Hobgoblin/Shapeshifter, Hussar, Impulse, Rick Jones, Ka'ardum, K'tor, Kwill, Manta, Moondancer, Nightside, Oracle, Schism, Scintilla/Midget, Davan Shakari, Smasher (Vril Rokk), Smasher (Salac Tuur), Squorm, Spaceknights (Rom, Scanner, Seeker, Trapper), Starjammers (Ch'od, Raza), Titan, Voltor, Voyager, Vulcan, Warstar, White Noise;
formerly Black Light, Lilandra, Magic/Magique, Mentor, Neutron/Quasar, Plutonia, Praetorians (Hodinn, Pn'zo, Strontian, Symbiote, Uncreated), Starbolt, Voltar

Enemies: Avengers (Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Living Lightning, Mockingbird, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), USAgent, Wonder Man), Eson, Excalibur (Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix (Rachel Summers), Widget), Her, Inhumans (Black Bolt, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak, Lockjaw, Medusa, Triton), Izumbard, Jason of Sparta, Kree, Liberator, Lobo (DC), Nova Corps (Josh, Malik Tarcel, Suki Yumiko, others), People's Underground Militia (Primus, others), Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Ronan the Accuser, Scy'ar Tal, Sentry 372, Starjammers (Corsair, Cr+eee, Havok, Hepzibah, Korvus, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey), Lilandra Neramani, Polaris), Supreme Intelligence, T'cahr, Uncreated, Warskrulls, X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Storm, Wolverine), X-Men (xenoform);
formerly Starjammers (Ch'od, Raza)

Known Relatives: Oracle (ex-wife)

Aliases: Tempest

Base of Operations: Mobile throughout Shi'ar Empire

First Appearance: (As Tempest) X-Men I#107 (October, 1977); (as Flashfire) Imperial Guard#1 (January, 1997)

Powers/Abilities: Flashfire has the ability to conduct bio-electrical energy through his body, using it as a light source or to shock others with lightning-like bolts. He can fly either under his own power or by using a Shi'ar anti-gravity device. It is unknown if his abilities are possessed by his entire race or solely him. The full extent of his abilities is likely unknown.

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 195 lbs.

History:

(X-Men I#107) - Members of the Imperial Guard fought the X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Storm, Wolverine) and Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza) at the M'kraan Crystal, in order to stop them from rescuing Lilandra from D'ken and Davan Shakari. When the X-Men arrived, Astra demanded to know who they were. During the battle, Tempest was scattered by Banshee's scream, then he ordered Hobgoblin to create a distraction. Tempest was taken down when Storm hit him with lightning, though after recovering he tried to fire at the X-Men to no avail and was subsequently taken down by Ch'od. D'ken was rendered comatose and Lilandra took over as the new Majestrix. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Electron, Fang, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magic, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Quasar, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, and Titan.

(X-Men I#108) - The Guard lay unconscious as the battle resolved.

(X-Men I#109 (fb) - BTS) - The Guard was stopped by Lilandra from killing the X-Men. Later the Guard watched the X-Men return to Earth.

(Rom Annual#4) - In far space, Guard members Binder, Chakar, Kwill, and Voltor were killed by the maddened Spaceknight Pulsar. Former Shi'ar ally Dr. Tyreseus donned Pulsar's armor and, calling himself Liberator, began slaying Shi'ar ships. Members of the Guard were sent to investigate, and battled other Spaceknights, Rom, Scanner, Seeker, and Trapper. During the battle, Tempest and Electron fired at Scanner, who evaded their blasts and caused them to hit each other. Gladiator ended up aiding the Spaceknights in destroying the Liberator. Guard members in this mission: Electron, Gladiator, Magic, Manta, Oracle, Tempest, and Warstar.

(X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2) - At Deathbird's orders, a large group of the Guard attacked the Starjammers and Excalibur (Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix (Rachel Summers), Widget) on Earths, but they retreated when Deathbird was put at risk. During the battle, Shadowcat phased and Tempest and Electron hit each other with their powers accidentally. Guard members who participated in this assault: Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Earthquake, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magik, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, Titan, and White Noise.

(Uncanny X-Men#275) - The Imperial Guard was attacked by a group of Warskrulls posing as the Starjammers. The Guard seemed to be winning until the X-Men (Forge, Gambit, Jubilee, Psylocke, Storm) joined the fight against them, and the Guard was quickly overwhelmed. Guard members in this mission: Earthquake, Gladiator, Mentor, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, Titan, and Warstar.

(Captain America I#398) - Warstar fought Captain America on Earth while Electron, Oracle, and Tempest grabbed Jones.

(Avengers West Coast#80) - Oracle got the information they needed, and they returned to the Kree base and Tempest retrieved the machinery. After they were rejoined by Warstar, Kree Sentry 372 attacked and the Avengers (Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Living Lightning, Mockingbird, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), USAgent, Wonder Man) arrived. Battle ensued and Tempest passed the component to Oracle. Tempest was attacked by Wonder Man, whose ionic powers shorted out Tempest's anti-gravity device, sending him falling to the ground. Wonder Man then knocked Tempest out, but the Guard escaped to their ship and returned to Shi'ar space.

(Quasar#33) - Members of the Imperial Guard attacked Quasar and Her when the heroes neared the Guard ship. He boarded their ship and the Guard agreed to release Atlas to him so as not to damage the ship. Quasar quickly departed before they could pursue him. Guard members in this mission: Electron, Hobgoblin, Manta, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Starbolt, Tempest, and Warstar.

(Avengers I#347) - Members of the Guard accompanied Lilandra and Araki in claiming the Kree Empire for the Shi'ar. Members of the Guard in this mission included: Electron, Flashfire, Impulse, Oracle, and Titan.

(Silver Surfer III#79) - Gladiator, Tempest and Oracle were on a recon mission in uncharted space. Gladiator left the ship when they received anomalous power readings. Tempest and Oracle lost contact to him.

(Starjammers I#4) - Members of the Guard were summoned to aid Lilandra against the Uncreated, but the Starjammers saw the threat defeated first. They stood by when Lilandra ordered T'cahr arrested. Members of the Guard in this mission included: Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.

(Imperial Guard#1 (fb)) - Lilandra sent eight of the Guard to Earth to watch out for Kree militants and to protect the planet in the absence of its heroes (many of whom had been seemingly killed by Onslaught, a composite entity of Professor X and Magneto). Members on this mission included: Commando, Earthquake, Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Mentor, Nightside, and Oracle. They aided the Avengers (Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Hercules, Quicksilver) against Primus and his People's Underground Militia. After the battle, Electron helped stabilize a crashing building, then told Hercules when they were all safe. Flashfire was very eager during this battle.

(Imperial Guard#1) - During down time, Flashfire argued with Commando for getting too near his personal space. The two nearly came to blows, and Flashfire spouted racist rhetoric at his Kree ally while the other Guard members watched. When Gladiator entered, Flashfire put it off to harmless fun. Soon, the Guard battled the Militia again, but the Guard was defeated this time.

(Imperial Guard#2) - The Guard escaped and fought their way free. They soon discovered the Militia were Kree operatives. They fought the villains again, and Flashfire used his powers to propel cars into the soldiers. The Guard helped authorities clean up after the villains escaped.

(Imperial Guard#3) - While tracking the Militia again, the Guard discovered that the Kree planned to detonate a Nega-Bomb. Flashfire had more negative things to say about the Kree. They allied with Rick Jones (who'd been powered by the Supreme Intelligence), and he absorbed much of the bomb's radiation, then Flashfire used his powers with the others to reduce the machine to slag. The Guard learned that the Supreme Intelligence was on Earth.

(Inhumans IV#3 - BTS) - Flashfire and Oracle grew determined to marry and leave the Guard together.

(Inhumans IV#4) - Lilandra represented the Shi'ar Empire on the planet Kritnah in the marriage ceremony with Emperor Eson of the Spartoi while the Imperial Guard stood by. Black Bolt moved to attack Lilandra, who set up a shield and activated the Guard against the Inhumans. Black Bolt screamed, seemingly slaying Lilandra. The Guard moved in at full force. Flashfire briefly battled Triton. The Inhumans teleported away, escaping. Lilandra's form was revealed to be Hobgoblin, who appeared to be dead. Lilandra, as a hologram, revealed herself and told the Spartoi that the union was off due to their atrocities. Jason of Spartax was blamed for being behind it. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Delphos, Earthquake, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar, and others.

(Marvel Encyclopedia: X-Men/Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#4 (fb) - BTS) - After his wedding to Oracle, Flashfire returned to the Guard. Flashfire did something to harm their relationship and they broke up.

(JLA/Avengers#1) - The Imperial Guard fought Lobo. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Fang, Electron, Flashfire, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar.

(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#4) - During the war of the Shi'ar with the Scy'ar Tal, Electron led a force of the Imperial Guard (Manta, Plutonia, Flashfire) against the Starjammers (Ch'od, Korvus, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey), Polaris, Raza).

(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#5) - Electron's group attacked the Starjammers and Flashfire was held off by Korvus until Ch'od slammed Flashfire's head into the ground, knocking him out. The Starjammers managed to defeat Electron and his allies, but Deathbird lead the rest of the Imperial Guard and defeated the Starjammers, then teleported back to save Vulcan from Havok. Days later, the Imperial Guard (Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Titan, Warstar) stood by Deathbird, Araki, and Ka'ardum as the Shi'ar cheered on Vulcan. The Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Polaris, Raza) lay captive.

(X-Men: Kingbreaker#3) - Vulcan ordered the Imperial Guard to intervene in a battle between the Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Lilandra, Marvel Girl, Korvus, Polaris, Raza) and new Guard members Hodinn, Pn'zo, Strontian, the Symbiote, and the Uncreated. Guard members present: Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Starbolt, Titan, and Warstar.

(X-Men: Kingbreaker#4) - Joined by Smasher (Salac Tuur), the Guard fought off the Starjammers, who eventually escaped after putting Deathbird into a coma. During the battle, the Hodinn and Pn'zo were killed. Later, Vulcan authorized the Imperial Guard to join the military in expanding the Shi'ar empire.

(War of Kings#1) - Vulcan surveyed, with Gladiator, the assembled Imperial Guard. Mentor reported they were all battle ready and Vulcan announced his intentions to attack the Kree. They soon engaged in a massive battle with the Inhumans and Starjammers, successfully capturing Lilandra before retreating. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Black Light, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Neutron, Nightside, Plutonia, Schism, Scintilla, Shapeshifter, Smasher, Squorm, Starbolt, Titan, Voyager, Warstar, and White Noise.

(Nova IV#24) - The Imperial Guard (Earthquake, Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Impulse, Manta, Warstar) attacked a faction of the Nova Corps on a Shi'ar fringeworld, killing many. The Nova Prime, Malik Tarcel, battled Gladiator directly until the rest, including Suki Yumiko and Josh, surrendered. Strontian and the Praetorians came to take over, then, killing all but Tarcel, who was taken in for interrogation.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#4 (fb) - BTS) - Flashfire still regretted what he did that ended his marriage with Oracle.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#1) - When the planet of Izumbard refused to create more warships for the Shi'ar, the Imperial Guard (Earthquake, Electron, Flashfire, Neutron, Plutonia, Titan, Voltar, Warstar) were sent to quell the riots. During the ensuing battle, Flashfire absorbed the enemy artillery and Voltar was killed. Another branch of the Guard (Commando, Fang, Gladiator, Hussar, Manta, Starbolt) soon arrived to aid in the battle. Later, at their barracks, they proposed a toast, and Manta recognized the loss of Voltar. A fight broke out and Flashfire was about to get involved when Mentor, Smasher, and Oracle interrupted the fight. Mentor told them that they'd just volunteered for a special strike force mission due to their bad behavior. The next day, they learned they'd be going for recon into the Fault, the rip in time and space, alongside Ch'od and Raza of the Starjammers.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#2) - After being briefed by Gladiator, the Imperial Guard (Fang, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Oracle, Plutonia, Smasher, Starbolt, Warstar) were sent into the Fault to investigate, with Ch'od and Raza among them. The ship was soon under attack by energy leeches and the crew struggled to stay in the air. When one breached the ship, Mentor ordered Warstar not to fire on it, but to instead trap it in a force field, in which the creature fed upon itself. Mentor recommended the ship run on silent so as not to attract more leeches, and Ch'od reluctantly agreed. Within minutes, a giant ship approached, and they prepared the Starjammer for battle. The ship, bio-organic in nature, fired on them, and then caught them in a tractor beam, pulling it inside. As they battled off biological monsters, Oracle surmised they were aboard a rotting corpse that was seeking to use its enzymes to kill them.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#3) - Over the following six hours, as the dead ship grew around the Starjammer, the Guard worked to repair their ship. Oracle soon discovered the ship had been killed while running from something else. As enzymes attacked them, they realized they need to rush away before they were digested. As the ship was nearly overwhelmed, Starbolt and Flashfire got back and burned the monsters up. Using Starbolt to power the ship's engines and Flashfire to trigger an autonomic response in the ship (causing it to open its jaws), Mentor successfully piloted the Starjammer free. They soon came across a massive field of debris. They followed an energy signature, hoping to find Vulcan, when Warstar and Neutron were hit by a massive energy burst. When the air cleared, they saw Quasar (Wendell Vaughn) there, with a massive biological entity pursuing him.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#4) - Oracle managed to send a telepathic call for help through Quasar's quantum powers into the M'Kraan Crystal, reaching Gladiator. . The Guard hid themselves in the debris zone and outside, the Guard (Fang, Flashfire, Neutron, Smasher, Starbolt, Warstar) worked on gathering debris to act as a buffer and shield around their ship.. Soon, Fang proposed a final toast of Aedian Psi-Wine, away from Mentor, and suspecting they might all die. On the ship, Ch'od realized someone had sabotaged their ship, and Mentor realized it must be the new Smasher, who was soon revealed as Talon of the Fraternity of Raptors. Talon had retrieved two amulets of power from the Fault and claimed he could use them to give the team greater firepower for the coming battle. Outside the xenoform beings attacked in the form of the X-Men and Starbolt was quickly killed in battle. Flashfire reported that the massive enemy ship was attacking, and Mentor was floundering for things to do when Gladiator arrived to aid them.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#5 (fb)) - Gladiator had more of the Guard (Arc, Black Light, Commando, Electron, G- Type, Moondancer, Titan, Voyager, White Noise) assembled at his order, to rescue the stranded team (Fang, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Oracle, Plutonia, Warstar), with Ch'od, Raza, Talon (previously thought to be Smasher), and Quasar, from within the Fault. Voyager, with great strain, opened a gateway to within the Fault, then stayed behind while Moondancer used her powers to guide them through the debris and to the ship, which was surrounded by bizarre and deadly xenoform beings patterned after the X-Men.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#5) - The two sides of the Guard savagely attacked the aliens, killing them swiftly and decisively. Mentor soon reported to Gladiator that "an abominable universe of reciprocal otherness" was upon them from the other side of the Fault, full of cancerous aggression and new physical laws. Talon then ensured them that using his amulets would allow them to create two more Raptor beings, and Mentor and Plutonia volunteered, becoming Strel and Kyte respectively. During the battle, Black Light and Neutron were killed. The combined Guard narrowly escaped a savage telepathic attack when Ch'od and Raza launched the Symbiote (formerly of the Praetorians) at the Xavier being the attack had originated from. After they successfully escaped, Gladiator reported their success to the Inhumans, and announced the pending war with the Fault universe. While honoring their newly dead (joining the ranks of thousands of others) on the mausoleum world of Elysialla VII, the Guard stood with newly appointed members in the roles of Mentor, Neutron, Plutonia, Smasher, and Starbolt. Fang recited the Guard's oath. "I will not falter, and I will not swerve. From the rising of the suns to the setting of the stars. With Sharra and K'ythri to guide me, I will serve out the term of my duty with courage and conviction for it is the greatest honor any being of any species can know to be allowed to guard the Imperium of the Shi'ar and stand, each of us, as a light in the darkness. So I make my oath of allegiance."

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Green.

Tempest is pictured in OHotMU I#5 and has a partial entry in OHotMU Deluxe Edition#6.

Thanks to Der_Gilb for the info on Silver Surfer III#79.

The Imperial Guard members are generally based on DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Flashfire/Tempest is based on Lightning Lad. His name was changed from Tempest to Flashfire to avoid confusion with DC's Tempest (formerly Aqualad).
--Wikipedia

Flashfire was also one of the Imperial Guard members active in the novel X-Men: Empire's End by Diane Duane. It has to be seen if this story is canon.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Flashfire has no known connections to

• Tempest, William Read of X-Force (M Branch) @ Cloak and Dagger III#10
• Tempest, Team ally @ Ghost Rider III#58
• Tempest, Nicolette Giroux, of Exemplars @ Iron Man III#22
• or any other "Flash", "Fire", or "Tempest" characters

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#6, p16, pan4 (main image)
Avengers West Coast#80, p10, pan1 (2nd)