Puma
Attributes
| Eyes: | Green |
| Features: | In his Puma identity, he has a scar over his right eye. |
| Hair: | Black (red when transformed into Puma) |
| Height: | 6'2" |
| Weight: | 240 lbs |
Powers
| Abilities: | Fireheart is an extraordinarily capable financial manager with a genius level IQ. He also spent some years in Japan training in the martial arts, and has above-average tracking skills. |
| Limitations: | Puma is bound by a sense of honor that only he understands. |
| Powers: | Puma has above-human senses; he can, for instance, see auras. Since he transforms into the Puma through concentration, he may be considered to have some mental abilities beyond the norm. Puma's powers are from years of genetic engineering, although given his uncle's status some mysticism may be involved. When he faced the Beyonder he briefly had cosmic powers beyond understanding. How he was able to tap into the universal energies needed to confront the Beyonder, and if he would be able to do so again, is unclear; his uncle called Thomas the chosen champion of Death, so it may have been through Death's intervention that Fireheart was able to do harness the needed cosmic energies the first time. |
| Strength Level: | In his Puma form, he is stronger than Spider-Man. |
Summary
| Citizenship: | U.S. |
| Created By: | |
| Current Occupation: | C.O.E. of Fireheart Enterprises and occasional mercenary and assassin |
| Dual Identity: | His identity as Puma is secret from the authorities, although known to his tribe, Nocturne and Spider-Man |
| Education: | Post graduate; Fireheart has a Masters degree in Business Administration |
| Former Groups: | The Outlaws |
| Known Allies: | The Rose. Silver Sable. The "Outlaws:" Sand-Man, Rocket Racer, the Prowler. His tribeman Portal may be considered an ally until proven otherwise. |
| Known Confidants: | His uncle, his late ninja master Muramoto, Spider-Man, Mary-Jane Watson, Nocturne (although whether he even remembers her after being restored to human form is a question) |
| Known Relatives: | His uncle, the tribe's Shaman |
| Legal Status: | No criminal record |
| Major Enemies: | Spider-Man. The Beyonder. The Black Cat. The Black Crow may be. |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Place of Birth: | Near Hartsdale, New Mexico |
| Real Name: | Thomas Fireheart |
| Usual Bases: | Fireheart has multiple bases through-out the world, including New York City, Tokyo, New Mexico, and France. |
Background
Thomas Fireheart is the result of years of genetic engineering performed by his Native American tribe. Fireheart can transform into Puma, a half-mountain-lion being with senses far more acute than that of a normal human. He is the traditional protector of his New Mexican tribe, although Fireheart himself often questions the traditional rituals that his uncle, the tribe's Shaman, espouses.
In his Puma identity, Fireheart is an internationally known professional assassin and mercenary who sells his unique skills to the likes of the Rose and the Kingpin. As the C.O.E. of Fireheart Enterprises, he is also internationally known in his civilian identity.
Puma first crossed the path of Spider-Man when he was hired by the Rose to "remove" the Web-Slinger. The Rose later changed his mind, so the continued existence of Spider-Man is not considered a blight on Puma's professional record. Puma sought Spidey's help when he discovered that he was destined to fight the Beyonder. Spider- Man refused, making Puma doubt himself and, eventually, fail in his quest against the Beyonder.
Puma publicly confronted Spider-Man over a story in the Daily Bugle that made it seem as if Spidey was a thief. When the story turned out to be false, Puma felt as if he had lost face and was now honor-bound to clear Spidey's name. To this end (and much to Spidey's annoyance), he purchased the Daily Bugle from J. Jonah Jameson. He began a campaign of positive promotion which was largely responsible for the public perception of Spidey as a hero.
Puma's animal side became dominant after contact with the Black Crow. He was seriously wounded in a fire fight with the New York City Police, but nursed by to health by Nocturne, who was eventually able to restore his human psyche.
Fireheart recently returned to action as the Puma after Dr Vincent Stegron used a mystical gem from the arctic to bring out the animal nature of New York City's residents. He was in the middle of a board meeting when he began his transformation into the Puma against his will (as had happened to other "animal" enities, such as Lizard,Vulture and Vermin). Only gaining control of his rage after killing a street dog, he used his superhuman senses to follow the source of the disturbance. This led him to cross paths with the Black Cat, who also had been feeling dangerously agressive, an effect of the gem.
They eventually found Stegron, who was in the process of transforming new York into a prehistoric jungle populated by dinosaurs and giant insects. As Spidey battled Stegron, Puma and Black Cat concentrated on containing the rampaging animals. After Stegron's defeat, Thomas and Felcia have begun a relationship (ironic to me, as the first time they met, they battled for Spidey's life). They became something like a team, and Fireheart stood guard as Cat persuaded a drunken Rhino that he didnt have to be a criminal.
Image Gallery
Appearances
Thanks To
The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.
Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.