I’ve gotten to the point where I like Northstar better as a member of the X-Men than running with Alpha Flight.

Certainly, the horrible AF series that just wrapped helps with that, but I think it’s largely a matter of that particular aspect of his life having played itself out. Jean-Paul never wanted to be in Alpha Flight, and getting him back in the old team colors becomes an increasingly convoluted affair every time. It never really feels organic, like something he might actually want to come back to, but very much an Adventure of the Week deal.

His being a teacher at Xavier’s and then coming back to the X-Men and his students later, on the other hand, gets him out of that old rut of having to be pressed into service by outside forces. At the same time, it also builds on the (surprisingly) selfless aspect of his nature that was established when he tanked his skiing career and joined Alpha Flight for Aurora’s sake; Marjorie Liu remarking on Northstar’s unexpected compassionate streak in interviews makes me think she’s going to continue this welcome bit of character advancement.

Essentially, being with the X-Men is forward progress for Northstar without stripping him of his snark or independence, and I find that a hell of a lot more palatable than inventing reasons to get the band back together.