Cannonball (Marvel Comics)

Origin

Samuel Guthrie was born in Cumberland, Kentucky. As a child, he tried to support his family by working in the coal mine where his father had worked before his death. While attempting to rescue a fellow worker, Mr. Lewis, from a collapsing mine shaft, Sam's mutant ability unintentionally manifested, saving both of them. Subsequently, Guthrie was recruited by Donald Pierce of the Hellfire Club to attack the New Mutants. When ordered to kill the defeated New Mutants, Guthrie defied Pierce and was later invited by Charles Xavier to join the New Mutants as Cannonball.^[14]

New Mutants

As a member of the New Mutants, Cannonball forms a close friendship with his teammate Sunspot and develops a brotherly affection for Rahne Sinclair, unaware for some time that she harbors romantic feelings for him. Cannonball, alongside Danielle Moonstar, serves as co-leader of the New Mutants, leading the team through various adventures across time and space. He later enters a romantic relationship with Lila Cheney.^[15]

Wolfsbane, Warlock, Rictor, and Boom Boom are kidnapped from the grounds of the X-Mansion by Genoshan forces under Cameron Hodge. Warlock is killed by Hodge in an attempt to steal his powers. Cannonball joins the X-Men in a rescue mission that leads to the overthrow of Genosha's government, while Wolfsbane remains behind to assist the victims of Genosha's regime.^[16]

X-Force

Cannonball and the New Mutants leave the supervision of the X-Men.^[17] They join forces with Cable to form the team X-Force, with Cannonball appointed as the team's second-in-command and field leader.^[18] During a confrontation with the Brotherhood of Mutants,^[19] Cannonball is impaled and killed, but heals within minutes.^[20] Cable believes Cannonball to be an External, a rare type of mutant who is virtually immortal. Other Externals, including Saul and Gideon, come to believe that Cannonball is one of them.^[21]

X-Men

Cannonball later rejoins the X-Men,^[22] initially with great enthusiasm but soon begins to question his abilities. He confronts these doubts during a battle against Gladiator,^[23] fighting Gladiator to a standstill.

Cannonball's relationship with Tabitha becomes strained, leading her to seek "support" from Sunspot.^[24] Subsequently, Cannonball leaves the X-Men to care for his ailing mother.^[25] During his time with the X-Men, he infiltrates the presidential campaign of anti-mutant candidate Graydon Creed under the alias "Samson Guthry."^[26] Despite the obviousness of the alias, Cannonball remains undetected until Creed is assassinated on the eve of the election.^[27]

Cannonball rejoins X-Force, which has relocated to San Francisco,^[28] and becomes the team leader following Siryn's injury.^[29] Although Cable has departed, the team finds a new mentor in Pete Wisdom, who introduces them to espionage.^[30] Cannonball and Tabitha reconcile during this period.^{[volume and issue needed]} After Wisdom's alleged death,^[31] Cannonball resumes leadership of the team and strives to continue Wisdom's mission.^[32] Eventually, Cannonball and the other X-Force members are forced to fake their own deaths.^[33]

Back to basics

Storm invites Cannonball to join her team, the X-Treme X-Men, which operates independently of Professor X's leadership. The team eventually reverts to the central X-Men roster. After sustaining injuries on a mission, Cannonball opts for a period of respite and retreats to his farm, which he purchased with his X-Corporation earnings. While on the farm, he reunites with Cable and the reformed X-Force to combat the threat posed by Skornn.^[34]

Cannonball rejoins the active roster of the X-Men, co-led by Nightcrawler and Bishop, and takes on a role overseeing the younger students at the X-Mansion. He also serves as a member of the X-Treme Sanctions Executive (XSE), participating in efforts such as aiding the 198 and battling the Shi'ar Death Commandos. Cannonball experiences personal tragedy with the death of his brother Jay, who is killed by William Stryker.^[35]

Rogue's team

Cannonball serves on Rogue's team of X-Men.^[36] Following a battle with the Hecatomb and Rogue's severe mental injury, the team retreats to Rogue's childhood home for rest. They are soon attacked by the Marauders, who are seeking Destiny's Diaries. During the attack, Emma Frost, who had been attempting to assist Rogue, is incapacitated by a neurotoxin. She uploads what she has gathered from the Marauders' psi-shielding into Cannonball's mind and takes partial control of his body.^{[volume and issue needed]} While aboard the Blackbird, the team is engaged midair by Sunfire, who severely damages the jet. Cannonball escapes and confronts Shiro, who reveals that he killed Cable.

Cannonball and Iceman work to recover the Destiny Diaries, which are concealed in a dilapidated brewery.^[37] During their mission, they are attacked by the Marauders, and Cannonball sustains serious injuries.^{[volume and issue needed]} Dr. Henry McCoy assesses his condition, noting that Cannonball's brain scan shows sluggish and irregular activity. Despite this, Cannonball rapidly recovers and participates in the final battle against the Marauders.^[38]

Manifest Destiny

After Cyclops disbands the X-Men, Cannonball returns home. He is soon contacted by Cyclops, who informs him that the X-Men are reforming in San Francisco. Cannonball agrees to join the new team and arrives in the city just as Magneto is attacking with a group of antique Sentinels. Cannonball manages to charge into Magneto, disabling his artificial magnetism suit and giving the X-Men a strategic advantage in the battle, though Magneto ultimately escapes.^[39] Later, Cannonball is seen at a bar with Karma and Moonstar, expressing his disillusionment with the notion of changing the world. Instead, he finds purpose in preventing others from experiencing the loss he endured with Jay's death. He is subsequently called upon to assist with dealing with Empath.^[40]

Reforming the New Mutants

After receiving an anonymous tip about a young mutant threatening a small town in Colorado, Moonstar and Karma are sent to investigate and reassure the locals. Meanwhile, Magik reappears at the X-Men's base in San Francisco after having teleported into the future following the events of "X-Infernus." She warns Cannonball and Sunspot that Moonstar and Karma are in grave danger and that their situation could lead to their deaths. Cannonball, Sunspot, Magma, and Magik set out to locate them. They eventually find Karma unconscious and are deceived into freeing Legion.^[41] Magik and Magma arrive in time to stop Legion and free Moonstar.^[42] After Legion is captured, Cannonball tries to apologize, but Moonstar limps away, ignoring him. Cannonball later confesses to Cyclops that he feels he has failed, but Cyclops reassures him that keeping everyone alive is what truly matters.^[43]

In the aftermath of Utopia, Scott reveals to Moonstar that Cannonball did not select her for his team, which leaves her deeply upset and angry. This revelation leads to a confrontation between Moonstar and Cannonball, but they eventually reach an understanding,^[44] and Cannonball allows Moonstar to join the team. Later, during a discussion about Sam's past romantic relationships, particularly with Lila Cheney, Cannonball and Moonstar share a kiss, which is interrupted by the rest of the team.^{[volume and issue needed]}

Regenesis

Wolverine hires Cannonball to work at his new school, where he teaches a course on flying. For students without natural flying abilities, jetpacks are provided. During this period, Cannonball makes a point of checking in on his sister, Husk, who works full-time at the school and expresses concern about her mental well-being.^[45]

As part of the Marvel NOW! event, Cannonball becomes a member of the Avengers alongside Sunspot.^[46] Eight months into the future, he is depicted living on an alien planet within the Shi'ar empire with Izzy Kane and their child.^[47]

U.S.Avengers

Cannonball joins the U.S. Avengers, and their inaugural mission involves confronting the Secret Empire's floating volcanic island base. They are subsequently visited by a future version of Danielle Cage as Captain America, who warns them that her nemesis, the Golden Skull, has traveled to their timeline to steal the world's wealth. The U.S. Avengers defeat and capture the Golden Skull, after which Moonstarelle returns him to her own timeline.^[48]

During the Secret Empire storyline, Cannonball decides to leave the U.S. Avengers to spend time with his wife and son.^[49] However, upon returning to Earth, he encounters the Alpha Flight Space Program, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Ultimates in their battle against the Chitauri. Cannonball joins the fight but is presumed dead when a Chitauri dragon consumes Quasar and subsequently explodes.^[50] He is later discovered by an alien and sold at auction on an alien planet to a mysterious human named Howard Mason, who transports him to a small Earth-like town on the alien planet.^[51][52] Cannonball's wife eventually informs Sunspot that Cannonball is alive on another planet.^[53]

While traveling through space, Cannonball is introduced to the townspeople by Ritchie Redwood, the ruler of the planet. Upon realizing the troublesome nature of the inhabitants, Cannonball attempts to escape but is captured and imprisoned. In the dungeon, he encounters other prisoners, including a teenager named Bugface.^[54] Cannonball orchestrates a prison break, and they set out to overthrow Ritchie. During the ensuing battle, Smasher and the U.S. Avengers arrive to provide assistance. After Ritchie and his army are imprisoned, the heroes return home.^[55]

Television

• Cannonball appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "Hidden Agenda",^[72] voiced by Adrian Egan.^{[citation needed]}
• Cannonball appears in X-Men: Evolution,^[73] voiced by Bill Switzer.^[74] This version is a member of the X-Men's junior team, the New Mutants.

Film

Sam Guthrie appears in The New Mutants,^[75] portrayed by Charlie Heaton.^[76] This version accidentally killed his father, along with a group of miners.

Video games

• Cannonball appears in the PSP version of X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.^[77]
• Cannonball appears as an unlockable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.^{[citation needed]}
• Cannonball appears as a playable card in Marvel Snap.^[78][79]

Miscellaneous

• Cannonball appears in the novelization of X-Men: The Last Stand as a student of the Xavier Institute.^[80]
• In 2021, Hasbro released an action figure of Cannonball as part of the Marvel Legends action figure line.^[81][82]
• In 2024, Cannonball was added to the role-playing game Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game.^[83]