Storm (Marvel Comics)

Ororo Munroe
Storm
Artwork for the cover of Storm vol. 3, #1 (June 2023)
Art by Stefano Caselli.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceGiant-Size X-Men #1
(May 1975)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoOroro Munroe
SpeciesHuman mutant
Place of originNew York City
Team affiliationsX-Men
Avengers
Fantastic Four
Notable aliasesWeather Witch
White King
Windrider
Abilities

Storm is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, the character first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975). Descended from a long line of African witch-priestesses, Storm is a member of a fictional subspecies of humans born with superhuman abilities known as mutants. She is able to control the weather and atmosphere and is considered to be one of the most powerful mutants on the planet. Storm is a member of the X-Men, a group of mutant heroes fighting for peace and equal rights between mutants and humans. She was the most prominently featured X-Men character in the 1980s, at which time it was the best-selling comic book in America. During this decade, she also acted as the acknowledged leader of the team.

Born Ororo Munroe to a tribal princess of Kenya and an African-American photojournalist father, Storm was raised in Harlem, New York City and Cairo, Egypt. She was made an orphan after her parents were killed in an airstrike in the midst of the Arab–Israeli conflict. An incident at this time also traumatized Ororo, leaving her with claustrophobia that she would struggle with for decades. Under the tutelage of a master thief, an adolescent Ororo became a skilled pickpocket. By coincidence, she meets the powerful mutant Professor X. Professor X later convinces Ororo to join the X-Men and use her abilities for a greater cause and purpose. Possessing natural leadership skills and formidable powers of her own, Storm has been a member of teams such as the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, as well as the X-Men. Storm is also a part of a highly promoted romantic relationship with Black Panther. While she was married to him, she was also made queen consort of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. While she lost the title when the marriage was annulled, she has maintained her relationship with Black Panther in many subsequent stories.

Storm is the first Black leader of a Marvel superhero team, as well as the first female leader of a Marvel superhero team.[1] She is the second Black female superhero for Marvel, after Misty Knight, who was created two months earlier. Storm is one of Marvel's most notable and powerful female heroes.

One of the most prominent characters in the X-Men series, Storm has appeared in various forms of media relating to the franchise, including animation, television, video games, and a series of films. The character was depicted as a main cast member in X-Men: The Animated Series, which aired on Fox Kids from 1992 to 1997, voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith. Sealy-Smith would reprise her role in the revival series X-Men '97, airing on Disney+ since 2024, and the third season of What If...?. Storm was first portrayed in live-action by Halle Berry in the 2000 film X-Men. Berry returned to portray the role in sequels, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. The younger version of Storm was portrayed by Alexandra Shipp in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse. Shipp had a cameo in Deadpool 2 and reprised her role in the 2019 film X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

  1. ^ Deman, p. 37.