Windshear

[Eric J. Moreels]

Real Name: Colin Ashworth Hume
First Appearance: Alpha Flight (1st series) #87
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Known Relatives: Franklin "Frank" Hume (father), Jacqueline Freeman Hume (mother), Martin Freeman (grandfather, deceased)
Group Affiliation: Formerly Alpha Flight, Roxxon Oil
Known Allies: Alpha Flight, Fantastic Four, Avengers
Major Enemies: Master of the World, Headlok, Consortium
Powers: Hard-air generation/manipulation
Height: 6'
Weght: 200 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

Colin Ashworth Hume was born in Canada, but moved to England with his family when he was five years old. After discovering his mutant ability to create molecules of a substance known as "hard air", Hume came to work as a special operative for the Super Human Division of Roxxon Oil's United Kingdom branch. Roxxon outfitted Hume with a suit of body armor and gave him the codename "Windshear".

In his capacity as a special operative, Windshear was dispatched to Roxxon's energy research facility in Denver, Colorado. There, he was charged with the task of stopping the facilities computer systems, which were being controlled by James MacDonald Hudson, Alpha Flight's former leader and current prisoner of Roxxon, but he failed. As a result, Roxxon called in Madison Jeffries and Diamond Lil, two members of the team of Canadian super-human government operatives known as Alpha Flight. Roxxon kept Jeffries in the dark as to the exact cause of their difficulties, and as he battled for control of the Roxxon computers he realized that there was a living mind behind the problem. Recruiting the help of the mutant technosmith known as Forge, the heroes returned to the Roxxon facility at the moment that a Roxxon executive decided to turn off Hudson's life-support, activating Hudson's built-in defenses which destroyed the facility in a huge explosion. The heroes located and revived Hudson from the comatose state he was in. Hume, ashamed of whom he was working for, quit Roxxon and accompanied the trio of heroes back to Canada. When Alpha Flight reorganized after their battle with an ancient sorceror named Llan, Hume was an official member of the team.

During his time with Alpha Flight, Hume gradually became more comfortable with the role of a super-hero. He also aided the team by using his Roxxon experience as their chief administrator, as well as becoming a mentor to the second tier team of trainee super-powered operatives known as Beta Flight. With the disbanding of Alpha Flight by the Canadian government following an attempted political takeover of Canada by the Master of the World, Hume retired from the super-hero life and returned to his home in England. There, he set up a curio shop that sells permanent objects he creates with his mutant power. The objects are visible when using special lighting, and command a high price. Hume came under investigation when it was discovered that samples of hard air that he had created for Roxxon were being used as bullets by the assassin known as Scourge.

Windshear was depowered during the M-Day and the energies that he used to control were then drawn to the Collective.

Windshear was a mutant who possessed the ability to create solidified molecules air through the process known as transmogrification. Windshear could manipulate this "hard air" in a variety of ways, including projecting a stream of hard air molecules as concussive force blasts at a speed of up to approximately 60 miles per hour, to assist propulsion whilst flying, create defensive hard air shields, or entrap others in blocks of solid air. Windshear could also transform liquids and gases into solids, though he employed this ability infrequently. He could also solidify the air around him and release it as a concussive explosion.

Windshear originally wore a suit of armor he received from Roxxon which affords him a certain level of physical protection as well as increasing his natural strength. Turbojets built into the armor allow Windshear to better control the projection of hard air molecules from his gauntlets and boots. The suit also contained a radio communicator built into the helmet, as well as a retractable protective tinted plexiglass faceplate. Before retiring, Windshear wore a modified version of the suit in his role as Alpha Flight's chief administrator.

APPEARANCES:
Alpha Flight (1st series) #87-91, 93-96, 98-106, 109-112, 114-120, 122, 124, 127, 130
Doctor Strange, Sorceror Supreme #55
Infinity Crusade #1-5
Thor (1st series) #464
Thunderbolts (1st series) #43
Wonder Man (2nd series) #13

[Mesran]

According to T-Bolts #43, I'd assumed he was retired.

[Eric J. Moreels]

Yes - re-read the bio text as it mentions his retirement.

what is hard air?

[Monolith]

Originally posted by roguestorm
what is hard air?

A unique form of solidified air molecules created by Windshear's transmogrification power. Hard air has physical substance for a time before it dissolves.

thank you kind stranger.