Often referred to as the melting pot, the United States of America as we know it today was largely shaped by the historical assimilation of immigrants from all across the world. For nearly 250 years, the fusion of nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities have helped make America one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, as well as home to the world’s largest immigrant population.
As it often does, art tends to mirror life, and therefore a large portion of our favorite fictional media has seen a slew of characters born all over the world, and sometimes from other worlds entirely. In comic books, especially, many of the heroes we know and love were born outside of the country, and have gone on to save the American people, and the world as a whole, on countless occasions.
To help celebrate the real-life contributions immigrants have made to our country, let’s take a look at 30 superheroes that weren’t born in the United States:
Wasp
Making her debut in the pages of Marvel’s 2016 Free Comic Book Day Civil War II/All-New, All-Different Avengers title was the newest character to take up the mantle of Wasp: Nadia Pym. Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Nadia followed in her father’s footsteps, mastering the Pym Particle and escaping the Red Room Academy to become the new Wasp.
Doctor Light
The second character to go by the name Doctor Light, Kimiyo Hoshi made her first appearance during DC’s iconic Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. Born in Japan, Hoshi was an astrological scientist who found herself gifted with the power of photonics, which she would use to guard one of the vibrational forks needed to save the Earth from the impending crisis.
Booster Gold
Although originally born in Gotham City, the New 52 retconned the history of Michael Jon Carter, AKA Booster Gold. As a result, the time-traveling hero was said to actually be Canadian, and he would go on to serve as the leader the Justice League International.
Sunspot/Citizen V
Currently serving as the leader of the newly-founded U.S. Avengers, Roberto da Costa, AKA Citizen V (formerly Sunspot) first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 in November 1982. Although he leads the U.S. Avengers, Bobby was actually born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Shang-Chi
Often referred to as the Master of Kung-Fu, Shang-Chi first appeared in the pages of Special Marvel Edition #15 in December 1973. Son of the deadly assassin, Fu Manchu, Shang-Chi was born in the Henan province of the People’s Republic of China.
Orphan/Batgirl
Cassandra Cain was the fourth person to take up the mantle of Batgirl, and currently, goes by the name Orphan in the pages of Detective Comics. First appearing in Batman #567 in July 1999, Cain was born in Tibet to parents that intended to shape her into the perfect bodyguard for Ra’s al Ghul.
Giovanni Zatara
Perhaps most notable for being the father of Zatanna, Giovanni “John” Zatara made his first appearance in Action Comics #1 in June 1938, a book that also saw the debut of the Man of Steel, Superman. Although most of Zatara’s exploits as a stage magician-turned-hero took place on American soil, he was actually born in Italy.
Batwing
David Zavimbe was the first to take up the mantle of Batwing, debuting in issue #1 of his titular series in November 2011. Born in the Congo, Africa, David was raised as a child soldier, learning the brutality and devastation of war at a frighteningly young age.
Nightcrawler
The first of several X-Men characters to appear on this list is none other than Kurt Wagner, AKA Nightcrawler. Born in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, Nightcrawler would make his first appearance in the pages of Giant-Size X-Men #1 in May 1975.
Colossus
Recently appearing on film in Deadpool, Piotr "Peter" Nikolaievitch Rasputin, AKA Colossus also made his debut in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in May 1975. A talented artist who developed mutant abilities at the age of 13, Piotr was born in the frigid tundra of Siberia, Russia (formerly the USSR).
Katana
Although her real name is Tatsu Yamashiro, most know her best as Katana, the sword-wielding martial artist that made her big-screen debut this past summer in Suicide Squad. Katana first appeared in Brave and the Bold #200 in July 1983, and as alluded to by her iconic headwear, she was born in the land of the rising sun, Japan.
Psylocke
Elizabeth “Betsy” Braddock, AKA Psylocke, is one of two paternal twins to go on to become a superhero in the Marvel Universe. She first appeared under her real name in Captain Britain #8 in December 1976. She would eventually leave her birthplace or Great Britain and take on the name Psylocke in Uncanny X-Men #213 in January 1987.
Captain Britain
The second of the Braddock twins, Brian, made his debut in Captain Britain #1 in October 1976. Like his sister Betsy, Brian also hails from Great Britain.
Black Widow
Natasha Romanova is one of several characters to go by the name Black Widow in the Marvel Universe. Debuting in Tales of Suspense #52 in April 1964, there are varying accounts of Romanova's early life. However, in most accounts, Black Widow was born in Stalingrad, USSR.
John Constantine
Despite the character differing quite a bit between his Vertigo and DC interpretations, John Constantine is consistently depicted as being born in Liverpool, England. His first Vertigo appearance was in Swamp Thing #37 in June 1985 and in the New 52 Universe of DC proper, he first appeared in Justice League Dark #1 in November 2011.
Alfred Pennyworth
He might not be a superhero in his own right, but where would Batman be without his butler and surrogate father, Alfred Pennyworth? He made his first appearance in the pages of Batman #16 in April 1943 and was born in England under the name of Alfred Beagle. He would legally change his surname to Pennyworth when he moved to the United States after retiring from the military.
Spider-Woman
Jessica Drew is one of several characters to take on the name Spider-Woman and first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #32 in February 1977. Although she moved to Transia when she was around one year old, Jessica was born in London, England.
Black Bolt
Black Bolt, whose real name is Blackagar Boltagon (seriously) is the King of the Inhumans, and he first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 in December 1965. He was born on Attilan, the ancestral home of the Inhumans. Originally an island located in the North Atlantic, Attilan has moved several times, including to the Andes, the Himalayas, the moon, the Kree planet of Hala, and the remains currently sit above the Hudson River along the New York/New Jersey border.
Captain Boomerang
George “Digger” Harkness, AKA Captain Boomerang, isn’t your typical superhero archetype. However, since his debut in The Flash #117 in December 1960, the Kurrumburra, Australia native has gone on to become somewhat of an antihero as a member of the Suicide Squad.
The Atom
The Atom is a mantle that was most recently held by Ray Palmer. However, Ryan Choi, who debuted in Brave New World #1 in August 2006, has since taken the on the name. One of several members joining the team in Steve Orlando’s new Justice League of America series, Choi was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and moved to the United States to attend Ivy University, where he would work under the aforementioned Ray Palmer.
Deadpool
Allegedly created as a Deathstroke knockoff, Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool, debuted in February 1991 in the pages of New Mutants #98. Just like the actor that portrayed the Merc with the Mouth on the big screen, Deadpool hails from our neighbor to the north, Canada.
Magneto
Hero, villain; antihero, anti-villain; Max Eisenhardt, AKA Magneto, has played just about every role in the Marvel Universe. First appearing in X-Men #1 in September 1963, Magneto is a Holocaust survivor that was born in Germany before eventually fleeing with his family to Warsaw, Poland.
Infamous Iron Man
With a name last name like Von Doom, it’s not surprising Haasenstadt, Latveria-born Victor eventually became the villainous Doctor Doom. Originally debuting in Fantastic Four #5 in July 1962, Von Doom has since turned over a new leaf, becoming the Infamous Iron Man in his new titular series in December 2016.
Wolverine
Some call him James Howlett; some call him Logan; others call him Wolverine. In any case, the man that debuted in Incredible Hulk #180 in October 1974 was the undisputed face of the X-Men for years. Much of his backstory was introduced retroactively, including his birthplace of Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada.
Supergirl
Kara Zor-El, AKA Supergirl, has two notable comic book debuts – Superman #123 in August 1958 (as Super-Girl) and Action Comics #252 in May 1959 (as Supergirl). Not only is she not from this country; she’s not from this planet. Much like her cousin, Superman, Kara was born on the Krypton and escaped by rocket before the planet eventually exploded.
Thor
Although the name Thor is currently held by Jane Foster, the original Odinson first appeared back in August 1962 in the pages of Journey into Mystery #83. His father, Odin, wanted a son whose power would derive from both Asgard and Earth, so he mated with a human, Jord, who would give birth to Thor in a cave in Norway.
Martian Manhunter
J’onn J’onzz, AKA Martian Manhunter, was first seen in Detective Comics #225 in November 1955. As his name implies, J’onzz was born on the planet Mars (referred to as Ma'aleca'andra by natives).
Wonder Woman
Diana Prince is an Amazon Princess who would later take on the name we all know her by today: Wonder Woman. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 in December 1941, Diana was born (or sculpted from clay, depending on the origin story) on Paradise Island, AKA Themyscira.
Black Panther
Debuting in Fantastic Four #52 in July 1966, T’Challa inherited two things when his father, T’Chaka, was killed. The first was the title of Black Panther. The second was his father’s throne. T’Challa would accept both, becoming the Black Panther, as well as the King of his homeland, Wakanda.
Superman
Debuting in Action Comics #1 in June 1938 is the original American Alien, himself: Superman. Born on the planet Krypton, Kal-El was sent to Earth by his birth parents just before his home world was destroyed, landing in Smallville, Kansas, where he would be raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent.