(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas" - BTS) - Born and raised in Cumberland, Kentucky, Sam became a mineworker like his father. Hitting puberty Sam manifested the mutant ability which earned him the name Cannonball. Unable to keep anything a secret in the small town, the people accepted Sam for what he was.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Night of the Sentinels - Part I") - While flying, Cannonball was accidentally caught on camera by a local news station. The story was played in the X-Men's control room alongside similar stories about Domino and Sabretooth as the X-Men would keep track of all mutant sightings.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Repo Man") - When Jean Grey used Cerebro to search for the missing Charles Xavier she telepathically reached several mutants, amongst them were Cannonball, Domino, Nightcrawler, Archangel, Psylocke, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas" (fb) - BTS) - Having become aware of Sam's mutant nature the United States Army planned to recruit Sam for a secret operation, turning mutants into living weapons, controlling their minds. To do so they sent Mr. Girkland offering Sam a so-called government scholarship to have his pick of colleges and even join a Peace Corps for mutants. Unsure whether or not to leave Cumberland, Sam asked for more time.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas") - While working in the mines alongside his father and his colleague Rick, they experienced a dangerous cave-in causing Sam's father to be trapped under a heavy beam. A gas-leak soon followed, turning the cave into a fiery deathtrap, determined to save both men Sam used his mutant powers to save them. Having successfully escaped the cave, Sam was cheered on by his fellow mineworkers.
Later that day Sam and his father were recapping the day's events with Sam's mother and younger sister Paige. Sam's mother was quick to express her worries urging Sam to think of his future. Mere moments later Mr. Girkland entered the Guthrie household urging Sam to reconsider his offer to accept their government scholarship. Once again Sam explained he hadn't made up his mind and asked for more time to consider the opportunity, Mr. Girkland accepted.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas" - BTS) - Unbeknownst to the Guthries, Mr. Girkland quickly called in the US Army urging for a less subtle approach to convince the boy. To do so, the US Army sent several undercover agents into Cumberland to spread rumors of mutants giving off radiation to raise anti-mutant sentiment in the town.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas" - BTS) - The story of how Sam had rescued the men from the mine was picked up by the Philologist's Quarterly magazine who wrote an article about the event. Loyal follower of the Philologist's Quarterly, Hank McCoy of the X-Men, learned of the mutant boy after which X-Man Rogue decided to go and help the boy.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas") - The following day, Rogue arrived at the Guthrie household, introducing herself as Mrs. LeBeau. Revealing she worked with mutant children she and Sam went for a walk to talk. As the two became more familiar Sam revealed Girkland's offer to join a mutant Peace Corps, raising Rogue's suspicion who informed the X-Men about it.
Later that night after Sam and his younger sister Paige were confronted by Kenny Jenkins and his friends near Dan's Diner, Kenny, the son of the man he'd saved from the mine had falsely learned that Sam had been dating his girlfriend Shelley. Enraged at the fact mutant trash would even touch his girlfriend, Kenny and the boys beat up Sam. Upset, Toby, one of Kenny's friend urged them to stop, taking Paige inside Dan's Diner. Fed up with the bullys Sam used his mutant power to steer their pickup truck towards a cliff only letting go when Kenny apologized for his behavior. Sam quickly returned home to call Mr. Girkland, asking for his help, content their plan had worked Mr. Girkland sent his troops to secure Sam.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas" - BTS) - Meanwhile the full force of the X-Men arrived in Cumberland to save Sam, having learned of the army's secret operation to turn mutants in mindless weapons. The X-Men had arrived just in time as the Guthrie household had come under attack by the angry townsfolk of Cumberland, falsely believing Sam to be guilty of many of the town's problems.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas") - In a helicopter Sam had joined the army's general, who assured the boy they would keep his family save from criminals, showing Sam a picture of the X-Men. Clearly recognizing the X-Men as heroes, Sam suspected foul play and was shocked to learn he had to help the army bring them in after which the general released a chemical gas to subdue Sam. Sam, however, activated his mutant powers which protected him from the gas after which he blasted off, hoping to warn the X-Men. Determined to stop the boy, the general activated the army's special robots to fight the mutants. Arriving back home in the midst of a heated argument between the angry townsfolk and the X-Men, he pleaded them to flee after which the powerful robots appeared, attacking all in sight. The general watched as the X-Men fought his robots and ordered the immediate activation of Unit One, their first mutant weapon. The powerful mutant weapon unleashed a powerful blast, destroying a nearby shed after which his volatile makeup backfired and the mutant weapon fell unconscious. Understanding he couldn't win, the general recalled his robots and left. Enraged, Sam used his abilities to follow the US Army train, turning into a living cannonball to wreck it.
When Sam returned to the Guthrie household the Guthries decided to pack up and move, no longer believing in the goodness of the Cumberland townsfolk. Upset about the Guthries' decision, Professor Xavier offered Sam a place at their school, Sam, however, didn't accept, determined to help his family build a new home.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod;
adapted by Mark Edward Edens and AKOM Productions. (see Appearances list for full list of artists)
Cannonball was voiced by Adrian Egan.
On Earth-616, Sam's parents are called Thomas Zebulon and Lucinda Guthrie instead of Ed and Ellen.
The mutant weapon resembled Nuklo (Robert Frank Jr.).
When, in 2015's Secret Wars, the Multiverse was destroyed following the incursions of planets it appeared as if Reality-92131 was drafted onto Battleworld as the Westchester domain. All Earth-92131 profiles on the Marvel Appendix reflected that information, however, this has since been debunked with the news that the original X-Men: The Animated Series will receive a brand new season to pick up where the original series ended. As such the reality seen in two volumes of X-Men '92 (2015-2017) now have their own reality-designation. The X-Men '92: House of XCII 2022 series was inspired by both the animated series and Hickman's House of X run but is its own separate reality. Nearly thirty years after X-Men: The Animated Series first debuted the new season will appear on Disney+ in fall 2023.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Cannonball has no known connections to
- Cannonball, the original this version was based on--Marvel Graphic Novel#4: The New Mutants
- or any other alternative Cannonball
Ed Guthrie, Sam and Paige's father had lived his entire live in Cumberland, Kentucky working in the Lumberl and Anthracite Mining Facility as a miner. Ed was proud of his mutant son and urged him to pursue a real career instead of remaining a miner. Ed was proud of the fact six generations of Guthries had lived in Cumberland.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Ellen Guthrie, Sam and Paige's mother had lived her entire live in Cumberland, Kentucky. Ellen was proud of her mutant son and urged him to pursue a real career instead of remaining a miner.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Paige Guthrie was the daughter of Ed and Ellen Guthrie and lived her entire live in Cumberland, Kentucky. Paige knew all about her brother's mutation and became ecstatic whenever he would use his gifts.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Lumberl and Anthracite Mining Facility
Cumberland, Kentucky's premiere mining facility. All of their employees were well aware of Cannonball's mutant nature and accepted him and the Guthries nonetheless.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Rick was one of the miners at the Lumberl and Anthracite Mining Facility, who was saved alongside Ed Guthrie by Cannonball.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Kenny was one of the miners at the Lumberl and Anthracite Mining Facility, who was saved alongside Ed Guthrie by Cannonball.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Toby was one of Kenny Jenkins' friends, upset they would bully Sam he urged them to stop and took Paige inside Dan's Diner to keep her save.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Chad Prince spread the rumor Sam was secretly dating Kenny Jenkins' girlfriend Shelley.
Chad Prince was most likely sent by Mr. Girkland
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas"
Shelley was Kenny Jenkins' girlfriend. Chad Prince falsely claimed she was secretly dating the mutant Sam.
--X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Hidden Agendas" - BTS
Based in Cumberland, Dan's Diner was an all-american diner where Sam and Rogue had a drink. Later that same day Sam was beatean up by Kenny Jenkins and his friends outside of Dan's Diner.
Note: Dan's Diner made an appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Weapon X, Lies and Video Tape" (June 11, 1995) where it was part of the Weapon X Program staging used to plant fake memories in their special black-ops unit Team X.
On their Instagram account (xmentas) Eric and Julia Lewald revealed Dan's Diner was meant as an easter egg for artist Dan Veesenmeyer.
