IRISH HEROES & VILLAINS OF THE MARVEL U
Over the decades, Ireland has produced its fair share of the heroes and villains for the Marvel Universe. In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we’re celebrating eight characters who were either born in Ireland or have Irish heritage. See if you know them all!
Hailing from the Emerald Isle
Banshee
In Uncanny X-Men (1963) #101
County Mayo's own Sean Cassidy, AKA Banshee, was born with the mutant ability to create sonic blasts. Despite his past as an Interpol agent, the death of his wife in an attack by the Irish Republican Army led him to end up on the wrong side of the law. He joined the X-Men, which set him on the straight and narrow, and he has remained a prominent mutant hero ever since.
Black Tom Cassidy
In Uncanny X-Men (1963) #99
Banshee's cousin Tom Cassidy uses his mutant ability to channel concussive force and heat through wood to act as a villain. He has worked with the Brotherhood of Mutants and teamed up with Juggernaut on numerous occasions.
Theresa Cassidy
In Spider-Woman (1978) #37
The daughter of Banshee, Theresa Cassidy started out as a villain who can create powerful sonic blasts with her voice. She learned the truth about her parentage after a confrontation with the Marvel Universe’s heroes. Following that revelation, she reunited with Sean and has remained a key mutant hero ever since, working alongside such groups as X-Factor.
Shamrock
In Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions (1982) #1
Molly Fitzgerald—who originally hails from Dunshaughlin, Ireland—is the daughter of an Irish nationalist. Her superpower allows her to manipulate probability in her favor, allowing her to create her own brand of Irish luck. After working as a crime-fighter for several years, Shamrock retired. Recently, she opened an Irish pub in New York City.
Daredevil
In Daredevil (1964) #1
Matt Murdock's Irish-American descent comes up fairly often in his stories, especially due to his relationship with Catholicism. Many of Daredevil’s best stories showcase his struggle with his religious identity as it relates to his morally ambiguous actions.
Captain America
In Captain America Comics (1941) #1
Steve Rogers was born in New York City to poor Irish immigrant parents, making him first generation Irish-American. There are several series that deal with Rogers’ upbringing, such as CAPTAIN AMERICA (2012). Eventually, Rogers participated in Project: Rebirth and received the Super Soldier Serum. However, he’s never forgotten his humble beginnings.
Spider-Man 2099
In Spider-Man 2099 (1992) #1
Born of Irish and Mexican descent, Miguel O’Hara hails from Nueva York in Marvel’s distant cyberpunk-inspired future. After an incident involving genetic splicing, O’Hara received several different spider-like powers that resemble those of Peter Parker. Since then, he’s served as that dystopian future’s version of Spider-Man.
Cam Long
In New Mutants (2019) #15
One of the Marvel Universe’s newest additions, Cam Long hails from Irish and Chinese descent. A mutant whose physiology resembles a tiger, Cam has trained with the New Mutants and Bishop’s War College.