I always liked Northstar.  Sure he was a jerk, but being a jerk can also imply self-confidence and being brutally honest.  I liked all the Alphans, but Northstar was my favortite.

Of course, I started collecting Alpha at #23, finished the Byrne run, and quickly departed after the first few Mantlo issues.  But I later got the entire Byrne run.  I picked up on the gay theme, but scratched my head because clearly it could not have been so!  On this occassion, I think Shooter was dead on and Mr Byrne's being subtle about it was the best approach.  Times were different then, and comics had a large children audience - I think it would have been inappropriate to address those issues at that time.

I never picked up that his problems with Walter Langkowski had to do with jealously of his sister though.

Merci, Mig... Now, get real ! There are arrogant a..holes everywhere in the world !

No names !

Dave - "The full majesty of Odin"?

I laughed so hard I nearly choked! What a classic! Many thanks!

The Shrinking Violet/Lightning Lass (she had gotten back her lightning powers) relationship was Paul Levitz's doing.  It was subtle, but I picked up on it.  I have this theory most of the people from the planet of the twins are besexual, since it would check their reproductive propensity and stop the threat of overpopulation.  But this is me thinking too hard on the subject...

I never picked up on the Northstar thing.  I'm quite sure Shan and Danille being gay is a retcon.  Though I'd say Jean-Claude is more a "reveal".

Y'know....I don't have my copy of AF#24 handy, but now that I think about it, didn't the threesome actually _fail_ at getting Walt's soul after all? It was seeing them dead that made "Walt" reveal himself and use some of his essence to revive the fallen Alphans (I think Talisman was the third). If that's the case then I guess JB didnt contracdict himself!

Also, when they were getting ready to go down into the Well, and trying to figure out who "hated Walter," Aurora was quick to pick Northstar, but he got a little tongue-tied in his reply.  Then he went along with it. 

(Bill Mantlo had Northstar cry when he believed that Walt was dead in #29; don't know if you'd want to count that as "evidence," though.)

Xi'an Coy Manh and Danielle Moonstar are currently romantically involved?

Wow.  I've been away from my old NEW MUTANTS friends for a loooooong time.

Come to think of it, I always did wonder at why Northstar was in the Well of Souls. 

As an aside, damn what a gorgeous issue AF 24 was.  I wondered at the time how JB drew the Realm of the Beasts and didn't lose his hand fromc ramps afterward.