Moonstar - Danielle Moonstar

Moonstar, also known as Danielle “Dani” Moonstar, is a prominent Native American superhero in the Marvel Universe. She is a member of the Cheyenne Nation and is known for her deep connection to her cultural heritage. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod, she first appeared in The New Mutants #18 in 1982.

Early Life

Dani Moonstar was born in Boulder, Colorado, and raised on the Cheyenne reservation. From a young age, Dani exhibited signs of possessing special abilities, often having dreams and visions that would come true, which were connected to her Cheyenne background. This caused her a lot of emotional turmoil, especially when she had a vision of her parents being killed by a demonic bear. Her parents indeed disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leaving her in the care of her grandfather, Black Eagle.

Powers and Abilities

Dani’s primary mutant ability is psychic in nature. Initially, she could create visual illusions based on the fears or desires of others, making her a powerful asset in psychological combat. Over time, her powers evolved to give her a broader array of psychic abilities, including:

•	Psychic Arrows: Moonstar can manifest “psychic arrows” that incapacitate her enemies by striking them with their greatest fears or vulnerabilities.
•	Empathy with Animals: She has a deep connection with animals, which allows her to communicate with and influence them.
•	Valkyrie Abilities: After an encounter with the Asgardians, Dani gained the abilities of a Valkyrie. This grants her the ability to perceive death, especially when someone is about to die. She also has the skill to summon a mystical sword and ride a winged horse named Brightwind.

Role in The New Mutants

Dani was recruited by Professor Charles Xavier to join the New Mutants, a team of young mutants at his school for gifted youngsters. As one of the original members of the team, she quickly rose to become a co-leader alongside Cannonball (Sam Guthrie). Despite often struggling with the responsibility of leadership and her internal conflicts, Dani proved herself to be a capable and compassionate leader.

Throughout her time with the New Mutants, Dani had to confront the demonic bear that haunted her visions, which had killed her parents. In a harrowing battle, she managed to defeat the bear with the help of her teammates, and her parents were eventually restored to life.

Asgardian Experience

One of Moonstar’s most significant arcs involved her adventures in Asgard. During a visit to the realm of the Norse gods, she became a Valkyrie, serving Hela, the goddess of death. This Asgardian connection expanded her powers and abilities, giving her a greater role in the cosmic side of Marvel stories. She was now able to see “Death Glow” around individuals who were near death and played a key role in Asgardian affairs.

Modern Role and Re-Powering

In more recent stories, Dani regained her mutant powers and returned to active superhero duty. She remains closely associated with the New Mutants, working alongside them in various capacities. Her powers have evolved further, and she continues to balance her psychic abilities with her Valkyrie powers, making her one of the more unique characters in the Marvel Universe.

Cultural Significance

Dani Moonstar is one of the most prominent Native American characters in comic books, and her heritage is a significant part of her identity. Marvel has made efforts to portray her connection to her Cheyenne roots authentically, and her stories often weave in elements of her culture and spiritual beliefs.

Throughout her existence in Marvel Comics, Dani has been a symbol of resilience and strength, overcoming numerous personal tragedies and continuing to fight for her people, both mutant and Cheyenne.

Physical Features:

•	Hair: Dani usually has long, straight black hair, often worn in braids or ponytails, especially in her earlier appearances, reflecting traditional Native American styles. Sometimes, her hair is worn loose, flowing around her shoulders.
•	Skin Tone: She has a medium brown skin tone, typical of her Cheyenne background, with a healthy, sun-kissed glow.
•	Eyes: Dani’s eyes are typically brown, expressive, and sharp, giving her a serious, determined look.
•	Build: She is athletic and fit, with a toned, muscular build due to her active lifestyle as a mutant hero. She’s often depicted as slim but strong.

Costume and Style:

Dani’s costumes have changed throughout her time with various teams, but there are key elements that remain consistent:

•	New Mutants Uniform: During her time with the New Mutants, she wore the standard yellow and black New Mutants training uniform. Over time, her costume evolved to reflect more individuality, such as a headband and fringed elements that nod to her heritage
•	Modern Costumes: In modern times, Dani’s costumes are a blend of tactical, practical superhero attire, often black or dark-colored to reflect her role as a serious warrior. She may still incorporate subtle nods to her Cheyenne heritage, like feathers or fringe detailing in certain versions of her costume, but it’s usually streamlined for combat efficiency.
•	War Paint: In some versions, particularly in emotionally charged or significant battles, Dani has been depicted wearing war paint on her face. This is a clear reference to her cultural background and symbolizes her readiness for battle or conflict.

You are in the woods and you seeing some punks messing with a sacred totem pole which is just a piece of wood to them but it means something to someone else and is sacred and Dani sees you doing this.