Real Name: Zora Loftus
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Police criminologist
Affiliations: (civilian identity only) associate of the NYPD
Enemies: Spider-Man; (presumably) Vulture (Adrian Toomes)
Known Relatives: None known
Aliases: None known
Base of Operations: New York City
First Appearance: Spider-Man Annual 1982 (Winter 1982, UK Annual, published by Marvel Comics International Ltd in association with Grandreams )
Powers/Abilities: Utilising technology stolen from the Vulture, Bluebird can fly using a magnetic pack. She steers by way of large wings attached to her back and wrists. Additionally she also has an ultrasonic device, seemingly of her own devising, which allows her to emit a warbling cry which can overwhelm the senses and cause unconsciousness in those who hear it.
History: (2/3, Spider-Man Annual 1982, bts) Police criminologist Zora Loftus used her job to learn the secret of the Vulture's flying abilities. Armed with this and an ultrasonic device, she created the identity of Bluebird, a flying thief. Bluebird began a series of high profile robberies in Manhattan. She got away with over a hundred thousand dollars of cash and valuable over the space of three raids over the space of three consecutive nights. The crimes are carried out so swiftly that witnesses could not even be sure whether Bluebird was male or female.
(2/3, Spider-Man Annual 1982) Zora Loftus appeared chat show "People's Talking", where she harangued Spider-Man for not having done anything to stop Bluebird's crime wave. She suggested to host Charlie Gladhand that the two superhumans might be collaborating, or that Spider-Man might be a criminal who had only previously stopped other criminals when they had got in the way of his own plans.
That night, while the pre-recorded show aired, Zora put on the Bluebird costume again. Since very few people knew the show was taped in the afternoon, rather than going out live, she hoped to use it's airing as a partial alibi, helping to deflect people's suspicions away from herself. She had succeeded in making a good haul when she encountered Spider-Man, who caught her legs in a webline. She carried him aloft with her, but it soon became apparent that her flying device could not lift two people at once, and she began to lose height. With the wall-crawler doggedly hanging on to the web attached to her legs, she deliberately and suddenly plummeted thirty feet, smashing her passenger into the rooftops of the city, then made a smoother landing for herself. Before he could fully recover, she employed her sonic wail, knocking him out.
At midday the next day Zora went to the Daily Bugle offices, where she met with J.Jonah Jamieson. Jamieson praised her for publicly expressing anti-Spider-Man opinions, and introduced her to Peter Parker. She mentioned she could not stay too much later, as she had to leave to record another spot for "People's Talking". She claimed her appearance the night before had been a hit: her phone had not stopped ringing all morning, "and after the Bluebird left Spider-Man lying on a roof-top last night, they want me back again..."
(2/3, Spider-Man Annual 1982, bts) Zora recorded a second edition of "People's Choice". At nine o'clock that night, Bluebird stepped out of the window of Zora's apartment on 23rd Street. Spider-Man was waiting for her, sitting on a window-ledge across the street, and immediately fired webbing at her. She dodged this, but when she tried to fly off, she realised he had already blocked off both ends of the block and the air above with nets of webbing. Unable to flee, she tried using her sonic attack again; this time however, Spider-Man seemed to be immune to it. Panicing, Bluebird darted for an alley between the buildings which seemed to be clear of obstruction. This wasn't the case though, and Bluebird ran into another web, carefully hidden in the shadows. An unhurried wall-crawler caught up to find her completely entangled, and when she tried to scream, he gagged her with yet more webbing, then unmasked her. Spider-Man took a few pictures for proof, then delivered her to the nearest police station.
Comments: Created by ?? Sadly the U.K. annuals don't include credits for writers, artists or anyone else for that matter. Like most UK Annuals, it would have been released a few months before the end of the year, in time to be bought for Christmas. Typically annuals which had the year printed on their cover were actually released the year before, so that children receiving them as presents on Christmas Day would not think they were getting an out-of-date product. However Spider-Man annuals of the late seventies / early eighties didn't carry a date on the cover, and the date given in the copyright section of the indicia is now generally used for the year distinguisher.
Bluebird appeared in the first text story (Blight of the Bluebird) given in the Annual, following after the first half of a reprint of Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #2. As such, she remains on the fringe of the Marvel universe, and much like characters from the various novels, her existence on Earth-616 is unconfirmed, unless and until she makes a definite appearance in another story. However there is also nothing at all that rules out this story being added to the Spider-Man canon either.
The reason Spider-Man didn't try to stop Bluebird until the fourth night of robberies is because Peter Parker was out of town, covering an art exhibition in Chicago for the Daily Bugle.
To the left is Zora Loftus, ironically pictured below her criminal alter-ego while appearing on the "People's Talking" show. What I want to know, and trying not to sound sexist, is how could the witnesses to Bluebird's crimes be unsure as to the gender of the thief? Take one look at Zora in that dress and you'll see what I mean. For the record, the other guest who is mentioned as appearing on the "People's Talking" chat show alongside Zora was Ben Grimm, the Thing.
Spider-Man divined who Bluebird really was when Zora mentioned his defeat at the hands of Bluebird the night before - something only he and the criminal could know of. Once he knew who she was, he looked up her address in the phone book, and that night was able to be ready for her when she set out to start her night's thievery, blocking off her escape routes and plugging up his ears with webbing so her sonic attack wouldn't work.
Given Adrian Toomes negative reaction to others who have stolen his flight technology in the past, it's highly likely he would take an equally dim view of Bluebird's brief career. Hence I've listed him as an enemy of hers, although to the best of my knowledge, they've never been seen to meet.
Profile adapted from the one I did for the Appendix to the Marvel Universe site.
CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with
Bluebird, Sally Avril, a gymnast who sought to become Spider-Man's partner, @Untold Tales of Spider-Man #11
Songbird, an avian themed heroine with a sonic attack, member of the Thunderbolts, @ Incredible Hulk #449
Blackbird, another female thief with an avian theme, formerly known as Jackdaw, @Captain America I #388
Vulture, Adrian Toomes, whose technology she stole to gain her powers of flight, @Amazing Spider-Man I #2
Vulture, Blackie Drago, who also stole Toomes technology to become a flying villain, @Amazing Spider-Man I #48
Vulture, Clifton Shallot, former Empire State University professor, when his funding was cut he mutated himself to physically take on the appearance and powers of the Vulture (Toomes) @ Amazing Spider-Man I#127(128
Vulture, Mikhal Oglu, Conan foe @ Conan the Barbarian I#23
Vulture (Dr. Scarlotti), World War II, enemy of android Human Torch + Toro @ (g)Young Men#26
Vulture 2099 ( ) - a.k.a. BIG BOSS, cannibalistic criminal in downtown @ Spider-Man 2099#6
Vulture 8162 - former ally of Keepsake, later allied with Death's Head-FPA + Spratt--Death's Head I#5 (6,9,Strip15-17,20
Vulturions, a gang of thieves who also stole Toomes technology to become flying villains, @Web of Spider-Man #1
anyone else called something Bird, Bird something, Blue something or something Blue
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Bluebird
by Bobby Coakley
Real name: Sally Avril
First appearance: Sally first showed up in Amazing Fantasy 15, although Bluebird waited until Untold Tales of Spider-Man 11 for her debut.
Died in: Untold Tales of Spider-Man 13
Favorite quote: "Okay, okay... so I've still got a few things to learn." (Untold Tales of Spider- Man 11, where Bluebird realizes tossing "ether eggs" at Electro isn't the best way to take out a powerful super-villain.)
Team affiliation: Bluebird's goal was to be the partner of Spider-Man. As Sally, she was sometime "partners" with Jason Ionello, trying to get famous and well known one way or another. She was part of Flash Thompson's little "clique" at Midtown High, but also took some time out to cozy up to Peter Parker. But that was only because of his "connection" to Spider-Man, which she thought would lead to possible fame for her. That's what eventually killed her.
Abilities: Driven by an obsessive desire for fame, Sally had gymnastic skills, some basic fighting abilities and a lot of chutzpa to put on a flashy costume and call herself "Bluebird" just to get famous. She did demonstrate a lot of courage (or maybe just stupidity) as she "helped" Spider-Man take on such villains as Electro, the Eel, and the Scarlet Beetle.
Favorite storyline: Sally Avril had quite a lot of potential, if not as a super-hero, at least as one of the many thorns in Peter Parker's side. Her "assistance" when helping Spidey capture Electro was great!
Least favorite storyline: Her death in Untold Tales of Spider-Man 13. She and her friend Jason ran a red light so they could get photographs of Spider-Man battling the Black Knight. They were hit by a bus, and Sally was killed. While it did show how "turbulent" things can happen in Untold Tales, it struck me as a waste.
Editorial Aside: Bluebird is still dead, alas, and ye editor has mixed feelings. She was an endearing character with plenty of great story potential, and I was sorry to see her go; but her death did put a useful dent in the notion that nothing with any lasting impact could happen in an Untold Tales comic, and she was killed off by the creative team that defined the character (who had as much right to decide her fate as anyone), so this isn't one of those truly appalling deaths that haunts me. Not like, say, Mockingbird or Two-Gun Kid... -Morbid Sean
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Appearance
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Eyes: Brown.
Hair: Black. (Wore blonde wig as Bluebird.)
Features: Usually wore large golden hoop earrings.
Summary
Created By: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. (Developed by Kurt Busiek and Pat Olliffe.)
Real Name: Sally Avril.
Current Aliases: None.
Former Aliases: Bluebird.
Dual Identity: Known to Peter Parker.
Current Occupation: Deceased.
Former Occupation: High School student, super-hero, would-be photographer.
Citizenship: USA.
Legal Status: Deceased.
Place of Birth: Queens, New York.
Marital Status: Single.
Known Relatives: None.
Known Confidants: Jason Ionello, Liz Allan, Flash Thompson, Tiny McKeever, Peter Parker.
Known Allies: Jason Ionello, Spider-Man.
Major Enemies: Electro, the Eel, the Scarlet Beetle.
Usual Bases: None.
Former Bases: New York City.
Current Groups: None.
Former Groups: Teamed with Spider-Man.
Education: High School Student, died before graduation.
Powers & Paraphenalia
Strength Level: Normal human.
Powers: None.
Abilities: Accomplished gymnast, good at swinging on a rope.
Equipment: Retracting rope line, insulated boots.
Weapons: Ether Eggs, paint pellets.
Limitations: Let me count the ways.
Background
Sally Avril was part of a group of kids in Queens, New York, consisting of Liz Allan, Tiny McKeever, Seymour O'Reilly, Jason Ionello and Peter Parker who were friends since Elementary School. But by the time they arrived at Midtown High School, Peter had drifted apart and the clique was taken over by new student Flash Thompson. From that point, Sally wanted nothing to do with Peter, shooting him down when he asks for a date in favor of "dream boats like Flash Thompson" and coaxing Liz away from Peter rather than offer sympathy after the death of his Uncle Ben.
Always craving excitement and fame, Sally gets her kicks by being an accomplished, blue ribbon winning High School gymnast. Always willing to appreciate a practical joke for the excitement it would bring, Sally is the only member of the group who approves of Jason's prank of stealing Peter Parker's clothes from his gym locker. Convinced that the others disapprove of this theft because it wasn't concocted by Flash, Jason comes up with a new scheme and invites only Sally to join him. The Daily Bugle has previously offered one thousand dollars to anyone who can discover Spider-Man's true identity. Jason and Sally plan to be the ones to win that money.
Prowling the city at night with a pair of binoculars, Sally and Jason come upon a meeting between Spider-Man and Batwing. By this time, most of the enthusiasm for the project rests with Sally. While Jason worries about the safety of the part of town they are in, Sally revels in the excitement. This difference of opinion is only expanded when Spider-Man discovers them and warns them off the hunt; but while webbing Jason's feet to the floor, Spidey merely gives Sally an affectionate pat on the cheek. Still trailing Spider-Man, Sally and Jason witness the wall-crawler committing a robbery unaware that he has inadvertently been brainwashed by Dr. Winkler who is working for Electro. At the villains' hideout, Sally snaps a picture just as Electro prepares to unmask the hypnotized Spider-Man. The flash bulb wakes the web-slinger from his trance but he is still on the verge of being defeated by Electro when Sally staggers the villain with a kick to the head; setting him up for defeat by a punch from Spider-Man. The wall-crawler shows his gratitude by taking a picture of Sally and Jason standing over the unconscious Electro. It appears on the front page of the Bugle with the headline "School Kids Foil Super-Villain".
This success gets Sally thinking that she can take pictures of Spider-Man for the Bugle but when she arrives at the newspaper offices, she finds Peter Parker there and learns that he is already doing what she had planned to do. Peter asks Sally not to tell the other kids.
So, Sally changes her plans and decides to become a super-hero. Enlisting the help of Jason's engineer father for weapons and equipment, Sally dons a white, blue and black costume with a blonde wig and becomes the Bluebird. She shows up at Peter's house and asks him to take action photos of her. When Peter refuses, Sally blackmails him by threatening to reveal his Spidey photography to the rest of the gang which forces Peter to reveal it himself at school. Stymied, Sally decides to become Spider-Man's partner, horning in on his fight with Electro and the Eel. Her new weapon, the Ether Egg, fails when she throws it at Electro because ether evaporates too quickly and even as Spidey defeats the villains, Sally's overenthusiastic coup de grace allows them to escape.
Undeterred by her mistakes and encouraged by her newfound fame when Liz Allan asks for her autograph, Bluebird joins Spider-Man's battle with the Scarlet Beetle, bringing Jason along as her personal photographer. She finds herself in constant danger but is bailed out by Spider-Man who uses one of her Ether Eggs to stop the Scarlet Beetle by throwing it into his mouth. Now realizing that Sally feels invulnerable because she is so sure Spidey will rescue her, the web-spinner decides to do nothing in their fight against the Black Knight's thugs. As a result, Bluebird is quickly punched into helplessness. Spidey lays it on thick, telling Sally she is in over her head and convincing her to quit being Bluebird. But this only boosts her desire to succeed in her previous plan to take action photographs for the Bugle. When Spider-Man takes on the Black Knight, Sally talks Jason into driving her to the scene, urging him to drive recklessly. When she convinces Jason to run a red light, an oncoming bus hits their car. Jason escapes with only a mild concussion but Sally in killed in the wreck.
Spidey blames himself, believing that she would still be alive if he'd let her continue as Bluebird until talked out of it by the Human Torch. "She'll never laugh again", he tells the Torch, "She'll never toss her head the way she did, instantly dismissing whatever she didn't want to think about in favor of something new. She'll never smile, never capture everyone's attention with a few words, never light up a room with her determination and humor. She could be obnoxious, even pushy, but she was vital and alive and fun to be around and now she's gone."
LINKS
http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/sally_avril.html
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/2855/bluebird.html
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/bluebirdmuk.htm