Editing Northstar (character) (section)

===Alpha Flight===
Jean-Paul joins Alpha Flight, adopting the codename Northstar. There he is reunited with his sister Jeanne-Marie ("Aurora"). Northstar's [[first appearance|comic debut]] occurs in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #120, as a member of Alpha Flight fighting the [[X-Men]] to capture former teammate [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]].<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #120-121</ref> When Northstar meets his old friend Raymond Belmonde (a man who took him in and mentored him) he introduces Aurora to Belmonde, only for the twins to be attacked by local crime boss Deadly Ernest, who kills Belmonde. The twins deal with the villain, though their relationship sours when Northstar offends Aurora by asking if she had "romanced her way to safety". Aurora refuses to speak to him, and her lover and teammate [[Sasquatch (comics)|Sasquatch]] assists in a [[Superpower (ability)|power]] alteration, allowing her to generate light without Northstar. Her attempts to isolate him cause Northstar to quit Alpha Flight.<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #1, 7, 8, 18</ref> Later, Aurora seeks him out & the twins begin to reconcile, but Aurora rejects him again after discovering his [[FLQ]] history. Alpha Flight cross-examine him about his FLQ activities, but are interrupted by an emergency.<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #25</ref> When Sasquatch dies, the twins reconcile after Northstar comforts his grieving sister. However, during a confrontation with the [[Hulk]], Aurora discovers that her power alterations cause the twins to negate one another's abilities upon touching. After the battle, Northstar rejoins Alpha Flight.<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #29</ref>

While on a skiing vacation, Northstar must expose his mutant powers to save a woman's life. Accused of using his powers to cheat in competition and realizing he could never know if he subconsciously had, he relinquishes his medals and bitterly turns his back on skiing.<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #41</ref>

The villain [[Pestilence (comics)|Pestilence]] senses decay in Northstar's body and causes his sickness to grow serious to the point that his wounds no longer heal, slowly killing him. As his illness progresses, Aurora desperately uses her healing light to cure him.<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #50</ref> The Asgardian [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]] fools the Beaubier twins into believing that their mother was an elf from Asgard. When Aurora is thought lost in action, Northstar travels to Asgard (seeking this heritage) but is trapped there. Loki had sent a depowered Aurora to a [[convent]] (in an attempt to appease ''Those Who Sit Above In Shadow''). When a supernatural threat mobilizes Alpha Flight, the sorceress [[Talisman (Alpha Flight)|Talisman]] sends Aurora to Asgard to rescue Northstar. He shares the light with her, restoring their powers (allowing both to independently generate light).<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #85</ref>

During another battle, Northstar discovers an abandoned baby girl. Doctors discover that she is dying of [[AIDS]], after [[HIV]] infection in the womb. Jean-Paul adopts her and names her Joanne Beaubier. Alpha Flight perform various events to remind the public of AIDS and the dangers of silence about it. Her death weeks later spurs Northstar to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, hoping that, as a gay celebrity, he can increase media attention on HIV/AIDS safety and prevention.<ref>''Alpha Flight'' #106</ref> Eventually Northstar leaves Alpha Flight and writes a [[memoir]] about his experience as a mutant and gay man entitled ''Born Normal''.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #392</ref>