Some comic book characters consider their abilities and what they’ve been through to be a curse, but Bonita Juarez believed hers was divine intervention. She went from being a normal woman to being the superhero Firebird, with the power of pyrokinesis. She uses that ability to create a shield of flames around her body, can use energy from the flames to fly, and create thermal blasts with her hands, among other abilities.

Bonita was introduced in Incredible Hulk #265 (November 1981) by creators Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema as a Roman Catholic social worker who lived near Albuquerque, New Mexico. One night while walking in the desert near her hometown she was exposed to a radioactive Meteorite that changed her DNA and gave her power over fire. Believing this was a gift from God, she assumed the name Firebird, joined the Rangers, and began a mission to use her gifts to help people.

Following an exhausting fight with Master Pandemonium that ended near the headquarters of the West Coast Avengers, she sought their help in defeating him. After that, she assisted the West Coast Avengers on a few missions, including a trip to the dimension of the Cat People and a fight with former Rangers teammate Shooting Star. She wanted to officially join the team, but Hawkeye, the team leader, wanted the Thing to take the open spot.

On her own again, Firebird went on a religious retreat and emerged with the new name, La Espirita. She stopped Hank Pym from attempting suicide and helped him reinvent himself and move on from his past. La Espirita, Hank, and Moon Knight saved the Avengers when they were trapped in the past, and helped them against people like Sunstroke and the Collector.

Returning to the name Firebird, she became a reserve member of the Avengers helping on some missions, while continuing to be a social worker. Her immunity to radiation proved crucial during the “Kang Dynasty” story because she was one of only a few heroes who could get through an energy field that had turned people into zombies. By this point, Firebird had learned that she might be immortal, which was troubling, given her religious faith. However, when Thor had his own doubts about being close to teammates because he would outlive them, she counseled him. Firebird helped him to see that his bonds with them were so valuable because the relationships wouldn’t last forever.