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Major Mapleleaf

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Major Mapleleaf is the name of two fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily in the series Alpha Flight. Both characters were created by writer Scott Lobdell.

Major Mapleleaf (Louis Sadler)

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Major Mapleleaf
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAlpha Flight #106 (March 1992)
Created byScott Lobdell
Mark Pacella
In-story information
Alter egoLouis Sadler
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsInvaders

Louis Sadler is the name of the first Major Mapleleaf. He first appeared in Alpha Flight #106.

Fictional character biography

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Louis Sadler is a Canadian superhero during World War II and an occasional ally of the Invaders who gained superhuman strength, durability, and longevity through an unrevealed process.[1] After the war, Sadler goes underground with his crime-fighting and eventually reveals his public identity in 1963 so that he can devote time to raising his son Michael.[2] After Michael dies from AIDS, Sadler sinks into a depression. Later, when the news is making a cause celebre out of a baby with HIV, Sadler goes on a rampage, believing society did not care about Michael's fate due to him being gay. He is stopped by Northstar of Alpha Flight.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Major Mapleleaf (Lou Sadler Jr.)

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Major Mapleleaf
Major Mapleleaf and Thunder as depicted in Alpha Flight (vol. 3) #5 (September 2004). Art by Clayton Henry.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAlpha Flight (vol. 3) #1 (May 2004)
Created byScott Lobdell
Clayton Henry
In-story information
Alter egoLouis "Lou" Sadler Jr.
Team affiliationsAlpha Flight

Louis Sadler Jr., the younger son of the original Major Mapleleaf, assumes the mantle of Major Mapleleaf. Lou first appears in Alpha Flight vol. 3 #1.

Fictional character biography

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Louis "Lou" Sadler Jr. is a normal human with no superpowers who rides a super-powered horse named Thunder.[9]

Bearing the rank of staff sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sadler takes the codename Major Mapleleaf to honor his father. Sasquatch later recruits Sadler into Alpha Flight when the original team is kidnapped by aliens.[10] In New Avengers, Major Mapleleaf and the majority of Alpha Flight are killed by the Collective, with Sasquatch being the only survivor.[11][1]

Powers and abilities

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Major Mapleleaf has no superhuman powers, but is a skilled combatant and acrobat. His horse, Thunder, possesses flight, superhuman durability, and a degree of enhanced strength.[12][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b King, Samantha (February 7, 2022). "Canada Needs To Pick Its True Captain America". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  2. ^ Alpha Flight (vol. 3) #9 (January 2005)
  3. ^ Alpha Flight #106 (March 1992)
  4. ^ a b Doyle, Laura (April 1, 2020). "Captain America - Every National Hero In Marvel Comics Explained". WhatCulture. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  5. ^ Yeo, Aubrey (May 20, 2015). "First openly gay Marvel character comes to the rescue on LGBT advocacy". Daily Bruin. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Briscoe, Aaron (May 28, 2022). "Marvel's First Major Gay Character Deserves a Stand-Alone Comic". CBR. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  7. ^ Medlen, D. R. (February 12, 2021). "X-Men: Northstar Had a Long Road to Krakoa's Healthiest Marriage". CBR. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Winstead, Nick (September 7, 2017). "Dollar Bin Discoveries: I'm Coming Out Edition". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Keller, Rich (February 21, 2020). "10 Marvel Universe Superhero Teams That Always Return". CBR. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  10. ^ Alpha Flight (vol. 3) #3–6 (July - October 2004)
  11. ^ New Avengers #16 (April 2006)
  12. ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #7 (March 2009)
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