Creation
The character named Foxfire was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Ryan, and first appeared in Squadron Supreme #5. Along with many characters from Earth-712 in the Squadron Supreme home universe, she was part of a ground breaking story in the analogues of Marvel Comics.
Origin
Olivia Underwood developed a criminal career for herself as Foxfire and began to rob locations and eventually joined the Institute of Evil to further her goals. This same group is what led Olivia directly in the path of the Squadron Supreme and on one attack on the Squadron and their families. After losing the battle and with the Squadron believing in “reforming” criminals not incarcerating them, Foxfire was behaviorally modified. This changed her criminal tenancies and she became allied with the Squadron, all due to the process installing blocks in her mind through Tom Thumb‘s behavior modification machine.
After all the members of the Institute of Evil were behavior modified, Olivia and the others were given membership to the Squadron to better manage and utilize their abilities and to fill their ranks with guaranteed loyalty. During this time Olivia and the founding Squadron member Dr.Spectrum developed a flirtation with one another which developed to a strong romance. This romance was the turning point in helping Dr.Spectrum deal with his involvement with the accidental death of Nuke a former member of the Squadron.
When Nighthawk decided to stop the Utopian program, which he objected to he gathered other agents and plan. This group of ten called themselves the Redeemers, and five of the new heroes infiltrated the Squadron to begin undoing the damage already done. With the help of the Master Menace, who had thought over his previous refusal to assist, they were able to reverse the Behavior Modification Program. Olivia was kidnapped and the behavior modification process reversed. Even after the modification reversal. With the help of the heroes inside, they were able to kidnap and undo the brainwashing of not only Foxfire, but also of Lamprey, and Shape, the three who would go on to join the Redeemers. Olivia had strong doubts about the attack on the Squadron believing they had truly helped her and that her feeling towards Dr.Spectrum were deeply sincere.
During the ensuing battle Foxfire ran towards Nighthawk who was standing over the defeated Hyperion. Then came the critical moment as Nighthawk, in the process of convincing the injured Hyperion to dismantle Project Utopia, became the victim of Foxfire‘s grief over Doctor Spectrum‘s injuries. Foxfire used her powers to cause decay to his heart, rotting Nighthawk‘s heart, causing him to have a heart attack and thereby killing him and putting a halt to the battle. However as Olivia ran back to Dr.Spectrum to assist him, Mink repaid her with her claws right through Foxfire‘s back. The Mink’s claws sliced her from the back causing severe internal bleeding and she died in the arms of the man she loved.
Powers and Abilities
Foxfire was an adventurer form Earth-712 who possessed the ability to project a wave of Bio-Illumination from her hands that would cause the molecular half-life of most objects to start to accelerate at a sub-atomic level causing its hyper accelerated and rapid breakdown. She could also focus the wave and cause it to surround her hands, in this way having a more controlled and localized effect. She has also used her bio-luminescence “sparks” to blind opponents in the past.
Foxfire also seemed to have a degree of acrobatics and competent skills at combat. She kept fit and worked out on a regular basis.
Appearance
Height: 130 lbs
Weight: 5’7″
Hair: Black (dyed Blond)
Eyes: Brown
Foxfire was an attractive African-American in her late twenties. She sported her bright blonde hair buzzed short with a flat top cut style. Originally she wore a more punk like outfit in greens and hot-pinks colors, torn-up leggings, and black smeared eyeshadow. When she joined the Squadron Supreme her look changed dramatically. More of a traditional “superhero” costume which consisted of a white body suit, high collared jacket, yellow boots, gloves and belt. She wore no mask but wore gold hoop earrings.
Complications
Having been Behavior Modified by the Squadron, the ex-Institute of Evil members are unable to break the law for any reason, betray any Squadron member for any reason. Their minds are no longer truly their own. Foxfire herself is a complex issue- she followed the Institute loyally, but fell in love with Dr. Spectrum, and finds herself unwilling to attack him and his allies any longer. However sometime later this behavior modification was reversed.