Firebreather
Cover to Firebreather Volume 1 collected TPB.
Publication information
PublisherImage Comics
First appearanceFirebreather #1 (2003)
Created byPhil Hester
Andy Kuhn
In-story information
Alter egoDuncan Xerxes Absalom Wu Fan Cassius Draco Draconus Quetzelcoatl Gondwana Mjarl Khan Belloc-Rosenblatt Jr.
Team affiliationsThe Pact
Notable aliasesDuncan Rosenblatt
Orange Iguana
Abilities
  • Dragon/Kaju mimicry
  • Bulletproof skin
  • Water breathing
  • Claw retraction
  • Fire breath
  • Flight (via bat-like Kaju wings)
  • Superhuman strength
  • Superhuman durability
  • Superhuman endurance
  • Superhuman agility
  • Superhuman reflexes
  • Superhuman hearing
  • Night vision

Firebreather is a comic book created by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn and published by Image Comics. Set in the Image Universe, the series focuses on the life of a teenage half-dragon Duncan Rosenblatt. The story has been told in a mini-series (2003) and a one-shot (2004). An ongoing series started in May 2008, and a film based on the series aired on Cartoon Network on November 24, 2010. Following the publication of a crossover series, The Pact, Duncan was incorporated into Invincible as a supporting character.

Publication history

The character was originally part of a Young Avengers proposal that Hester put together for Marvel Comics, initially conceived to be the son of Fin Fang Foom, a concept later referenced in the Marvel Comics series The Unbelievable Gwenpool.[1]

It was reworked into a miniseries at Image Comics in 2003. A one-shot followup, The Iron Saint was published in 2004. The character returned in an ongoing series in 2008. Four issues of the ongoing series were published, leaving the story unfinished.

Plot

Early life

Duncan Rosenblatt is the son of the human Margaret Rosenblatt and the 100 ft. dragon Belloc who rules over the monsters. This makes Duncan a hybrid of both species.

Firebreather Volume 1: (Firebreather #1–4)

Duncan begins his first day at yet another new school, trying to fit in despite his unusual physical appearance. However, there are great many obstacles to this goal, particularly his new principal and a bully named Troy. He does make a few friends amongst other outcasts. At his father Belloc's place, Duncan goes through rough training for the weekend. Belloc is training him not only to be powerful, but he wants Duncan to learn things the hard way. Duncan goes back to school where he has a principal that doesn't want him there and a jerk that won't get off his case. So for a little payback, Troy tries to set Duncan up by hiding a gun. It works, but the reaction is far more than what Troy wanted. This leads to Duncan seriously thinking about his control over his emotions and if he truly belongs in the world with humans.

When he returns home, it is demolished and Margaret is missing. He tracks down his mother and her kidnapper, a monster from Monster Island. He and the monster have a brutal fight which ends (at least as far as Duncan is concerned) with Duncan blasting the monster with flame, leaving the monster badly burned but alive. This changes when Belloc arrives on the scene and impales the monster with his tail. Duncan figures out that Belloc arranged the kidnapping to test him and threatens to kill him if he ever endangers his mother again. After Duncan flies away, Belloc smiles to himself, saying, "That's my boy".

Firebreather: The Iron Saint

Duncan's class is taken abroad by "Mr. M" the Spanish teacher, who shows them the sights of London, before making their way to Spain. While in London, the group hears the story of "The Iron Saint", a long forgotten being that was created to fight, and survive, the King of the Monsters. The suit of armor has been passed down for generations and generations, and now it's just a museum piece. Duncan learns of its history, and its connection to him, and can't help but be curious. When he and his friend investigate, they find that the suit has been brought back to life and it's out to get Duncan. The wearer of the armor turns out to be Mr. M, who is revealed to be not only an S.O.S. escort but a survivor of an attack on a Cuban village. He attempts to use the armor to kill Duncan as revenge. However, Duncan is saved due to his half-human heritage, since the armor cannot draw human blood or else it will be destroyed, and kill humanity, and all life on Earth.

The Pact

In the first issue, Shadowhawk, Invincible, Firebreather, and Zephyr Noble, come together to fight Belloc who was going to see his son on Father's Day.

In other media

An animated CGI film adaptation based on the comics aired November 24, 2010, on Cartoon Network.[2] The film starred the voices of Jesse Head as Duncan Rosenblatt, Dana Delany as Margaret Rosenblatt, Kevin Michael Richardson as King Belloc, Josh Keaton as Troy, Gary Anthony Williams as Principal Dave, Reed Diamond as "Blitz" Barnes, and Amy Davidson as Jenna Shwartzendruber.

Collections

  • Firebreather, Vol 1 (collects v1, #1–4 and "Iron Saint" one-shot)
  • Firebreather, V2: All the Best Heroes Are Orphans (collects v2, #1–4)
  • Firebreather, V3: Holmgang (collects "Holmgang" 1–4) (unpublished)

References

  1. ↑ Cronin, Brian (December 1, 2005). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #27!". CBR. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ Cartoon Network Continues Evolution w/Largest, Most Diverse Slate in Network History, Toon Zone, accessed March 25, 2009 Archived March 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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