Arwingpedia
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Arwingpedia
Arwingpedia
1,029
pages
in: Unknown status, Foxes, Star Fox team, Cornerian Army

Changes: James McCloud

Back to page
View source
(Major cleanup)
No edit summary
(118 intermediate revisions by 36 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{Tabs
⚫
{{Star Fox member infobox
  
  +
|maxwidth = 15
−
|name = James McCloud
  
  +
|minwidth = 6
−
|image = [[Image:Almost_James_McCloud.PNG]]
  
  +
|bordercolor = Black
⚫
|homeworld = [[Corneria]]
  
  +
|borderradius = 12
−
|birth = 40 [[Timeline of Lylat System history|BLW]]
  
  ⚫
|height = 2
−
|death = Presumed at the beginning of the [[Lylat Wars]] (0 BLW/ALW)?
  
  +
|backcolor = #696969
−
|species = Red fox
  
  +
|tab1 = General
⚫
|gender = Male
  
  +
|altbackcolor = #D3D3D3
⚫
|height =
  
  +
|tab2 = Games
−
|hair = Brown
  
  ⚫
|tab3 = Gallery
−
|skin =
  
  +
|tab4 = Characteristics
⚫
|eyes = Unknown (eyes covered by sunglasses)
  
  +
}}
−
|affiliation = [[Star Fox team]](Founder)<br/>[[Cornerian army]]
  
  +
{{Character
−
|appearances = ''[[Star Fox 64]]/[[Star Fox 64 3D|3D]]''<br>''[[Star Fox: Assault]]'' <small>(Impersonation)</small><br>''[[Star Fox Command]]'}}
  
  +
|title1=
  +
|image1=<tabber>1997=[[File:Original_star_fox_team.jpg|250px]]|-|2005=[[File:James_McCloud_Assault.png|thumb|250px]]|-|2006=[[File:James McCloud.png]]|-|2011=[[File:StarFoxFounders.jpg|250px]]|-|2016= [[File:Five-years-ago.jpg]] </tabber>
  +
|other_name(s):='''Jimmy'''<br/>'''Fox McCloud Sr''' (comics)
  ⚫
|homeworld(s):=[[Corneria]]
  +
|age:=[[Lylat Database|43]]:{{1997 logo}}
  +
|death:=[[Lylat Database|Unknown]]?
  +
|family_member(s):=[[Fox McCloud]] (son)<br/>[[Vixy Reinard]] (wife)<br/>[[Marcus]] (possible grandson)<br/>[[Krystal]] (possible daughter in-law)
  ⚫
|gender:=Male
  +
|species:=[[Lylat Database|Red Fox]]
  +
|height:=[[Lylat Database|1.75 SM]]
  +
|weight:=[[Lylat Database|70.52 SK]]
  +
|fur:=Brown
  +
|skin_tone:=Tan
  ⚫
|eye_color:=Unknown (covered by sunglasses)
  +
|affiliation:=[[Cornerian Army]]<br/>[[Space Dynamics]]
  +
|occupation:=[[Star Fox (team)|Star Fox Team]]: Founder/Former leader
  +
|ranking:=SP 1st Class
  +
|main_game(s):='''All except "Star Fox 2"'''
  +
|super_smash_bros_game(s):=[[File:Logo_EN_-_Super_Smash_Bros._Wii_U_3DS.png|left|75px|link= Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U]]<br/>[[File:Super_Smash_Bros._Ultimate_Logo.png|left|75px|link= Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]
  +
|comic(s):=''[[Star Fox (Nintendo Power comic)|Star Fox Comic]]''<br/>''[[Lylat Wars Comic]]'' (mention)
  ⚫
}}{{quote|Never give up. Trust your instincts.|[[File:97_James.jpg]]}}
  +
'''James McCloud''' was a legendary and astonishing pilot who became the founder and leader of the legendary Star Fox Team, a mercenary-for-hire squadron in the Lylat System. James was talented in terms of fighting, piloting, and adventuring. He was well known for holding an unwavering loyalty to his friends. After his apparent and supposed death, James was later succeeded as leader of Star Fox by his only son, Fox McCloud. Fox McCloud was a cadet at the Cornerian Defense Army Academy when he heard the news that his father, James McCloud, had met a violent end at the hands of the twisted genius, Andross. The senior McCloud had been betrayed by his own wingman, Pigma Dengar, and delivered into a deadly trap from which there was seemingly no escape. Only James's wingman, Peppy Hare, managed to limp home in his badly damaged starfighter. As the only survivor of the original Star Fox Team, Peppy insisted that the young Fox take on the leadership of the group and form a new team of pilots. Thrust into the leadership role that he wasn't prepared for, Fox recruited the hot-tempered Falco Lombardi and the mechanical genius Slippy Toad to make up the new Star Fox Team in his father's honor.
   
  ⚫
=='''Biography'''==
⚫
{{quote|Never give up. Trust your instincts.|James McCloud}}
  
  +
<tabber>Early Life=
−  
  ⚫
==='''''Formation of Star Fox'''''===
−
'''James McCloud''' was a legendary and astonishing pilot who became the founder and leader of the legendary [[Star Fox]] Team, a mercenary-for-hire squadron in the Lylat System. James was talented in terms of fighting, piloting, and adventuring. He was well known for holding an unwavering loyalty to his friends. After his apparent and supposed death, James was later succeeded as leader of Star Fox by his only son, [[Fox McCloud]].
  
  ⚫
As an ace pilot and avid adventurer, James served in the Cornerian Army with his friends Peppy Hare and General Pepper, before pulling out to start an elite commando unit of mercenaries-for-hire, known as the Star Fox team, initially working on a freelance basis. The team consisted of James himself, who was the leader and founder of the mercenary squadron, Peppy Hare, who was already a close friend, and Pigma Dengar, who proved himself to be a cunning teammate in the Star Fox Team. In the course of their duties, James and Star Fox traveled the length and breadth of the Lylat system, pursuing jobs and settling disputes. The team earned overflowing wealth to the point that James decided to upgrade the team's headquarters and purchased a mothership called the ''Great Fox'', which was so expensive that James took an 80-year loan from a bank to transport the trio across the system faster and more efficiently. For a price, this crack group would fight against any threat to the Cornerian star system. Although it may have appeared that the Star Fox Team is motivated only by financial gain, it would only accept missions that serve to uphold justice.
−  
⚫
==Biography==
  
−  
⚫
===Formation of Star Fox===
  
−  
⚫
[[File:StarFoxFounders.jpg|thumb|James and Peppy formed a new team of mercenaries for hire along with Pigma.]]As an ace pilot and avid adventurer, James served in the [[Cornerian Army]] with his friends [[Peppy Hare|Peppy]] and [[General Pepper|Pepper]], before pulling out to start an elite commando unit of mercenaries-for-hire, known as the [[Star Fox team]], initially working on a freelance basis. The team consisted of James himself, who was the leader and founder of the mercenary squadron, Peppy Hare, who was already a close friend, and [[Pigma Dengar]], who proved himself to be a cunning teammate in the Star Fox Team. In the course of their duties, James and Star Fox traveled the length and breadth of the [[Lylat system]],pursuing jobs and settling disputes. The team earned overflowing wealth to the point that James decided to upgrade the team's headquarters and purchased a mothership called the ''Great Fox'', which was so expensive that James took an 80-year loan from a bank to transport the trio across the system faster and more efficiently.
  
−  
⚫
===Betrayal===
  
   
  ⚫
|-|Betrayal=
 
[[File:James&PeppyAttacked.jpg|thumb|James and Peppy, betrayed by Pigma and ambushed by Andross' forces.]]
  
[[File:James&PeppyAttacked.jpg|thumb|James and Peppy, betrayed by Pigma and ambushed by Andross' forces.]]
  ⚫
Corneria's observation station informed General Pepper about reports of strange bio-weaponry activity detected on Venom - a barren, inhospitable, and desolate planet on the far edge of the Lylat System, where the evil mad scientist Andross had been exiled to for treason it just a few years before. General Pepper, worried for the safety of the entire system, and he hired the original Star Fox team to go on a vital scouting mission to Venom and determine the cause of the strange activity.
   
  ⚫
Upon their arrival, they learned too late that Andross's forces were lying in wait for them all along, as Pigma was actually a double agent and betrayed the team to his new master Andross, who had bribed him with the promise of immense riches. James and Peppy were immediately captured by Andross at the onset of the betrayal. Peppy managed to barely escape captivity, and flew his damaged Arwing back to Corneria. When he returned, he informed General Pepper and James' son, Fox, of what happened to James, Pigma, and himself during the failed scouting mission. While it is unknown what exactly happened to the missing James, he was declared dead. The Star Wolf leader Wolf O'Donnell was also suspected to have been involved in James' disappearance as well. Upon hearing this, Fox couldn't bring himself to believe that his father was truly gone, but nevertheless vowed to get revenge on Andross for murdering his father and bring the traitorous Pigma to justice.
⚫
Reports of strange activity were detected on [[Venom]] - a barren, inhospitable, and desolate planet on the far edge of the Lylat System, where the mad scientist [[Andross]] had been exiled to it just a few years before. General Pepper, worried for the safety of the entire system, hired the original Star Fox team to go on a scouting mission to Venom and determine the cause of the strange activity.
  
   
  ⚫
|-|Legacy=
⚫
Upon their arrival, Pigma betrayed the team to Andross, who had bribed him with the promise of immense riches. James and Peppy were immediately captured by Andross at the onset of the betrayal. Peppy managed to barely escape, and flew his damaged Arwing back to Corneria. When he returned, he informed General Pepper and James' son, Fox, of what happened to James, Pigma, and himself during the failed scouting mission. While it is unknown what exactly happened to the missing James, he was declared dead. The [[Star Wolf]] leader [[Wolf O'Donnell]] was also suspected to have been involved in James' disappearance as well. Upon hearing this, Fox eventually vowed to get revenge on Andross and for murdering his father and bring the traitorous Pigma to justice.
  
  ⚫
After Peppy returned and delivered the news of James' fate to Fox and General Pepper, Fox decided to follow in his father's footsteps and resume leadership of Star Fox. Even though Peppy was older than all the other Star Fox Team members, he declined the leadership role and insisted that the younger Fox McCloud take over the team after Fox's father was slain by Andross. Using both the Great Fox and ROB 64, a robotic pilot purchased by James for the team but never given the chance to be utilized, Fox recruited Peppy, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi to fight together and defend peace wherever it was threatened, thus creating a new Star Fox Team to be formed. General Pepper, still feeling guilty of sending his old friend James to his doom, decided to take responsibility of his son Fox's career. Pigma Dengar succeeded at his mission, got paid a huge sum of money, and instead joined Star Wolf, a rival mercenary-for-hire group. However, he was kicked out due to his incredible greed and distrustful nature after the Lylat Wars. He was later assimilated by the Aparoids and was apparently destroyed by Fox. The Aparoid Queen later used James McCloud's likeness to attempt to trick Fox into surrendering. However, it ironically exposed her deception due to "James" telling Fox to effectively give up, something Fox knew full well his father would never tell him to do. In most ''"Command"'' endings, Star Fox remains together and may even have a new generation.
⚫
===Legacy===
  
   
  +
The legacy that James McCloud left behind is one that the citizens of the Lylat System are indebted to, but the ultimate fate of James was never revealed. Most believe that he was executed at the hands of Andross, imprisoned, or even brainwashed.
⚫
After Peppy returned home to Corneria and delivered the news of James' fate to Fox and General Pepper, Fox decided to follow in his father's footsteps and resume leadership of Star Fox. Using both the [[Great Fox]] and [[ROB 64]], a robotic humanoid purchased by James for the team but never given the chance to be utilized, Fox recruited Peppy, [[Slippy Toad]], and [[Falco Lombardi]] to fight together and defend peace wherever it was threatened, thus creating a new Star Fox Team to be formed. Pigma Dengar succeeded at his mission, got paid a huge sum of money, and instead joined Star Wolf, a rival mercenary-for-hire group. However, he was kicked out due to his incredible greed and distrustful nature after the Lylat Wars. He was later assimilated by the Aparoids and was apparently destroyed by Fox.
  
  +
</tabber>
  ⚫
=='''Other appearances'''==
  +
<tabber>SNES Comics=
  +
==='''''Star Fox Comics'''''===
  ⚫
[[File:Itoh_James.jpg|thumb|Fox Sr. with his young son Fox.]]
  ⚫
While Fox's father was unseen and unnamed in the original Star Fox game, he was given a name and backstory in the Nintendo Power Star Fox comic adaptation, under the name '''Fox McCloud Sr.''' (as he is known here) was born and grew up on the planet Corneria. Much of his past remains unknown, but he graduated from the Cornerian Flight Academy, married Vixy Reinard, and had only one child, whom he raised on his own. Jealous, Andross rigged a bomb into Fox Sr.'s car and since Vixy's car was out of gas, Fox Sr. offered to let Vixy use his car, unaware of Andross's scheme. When Vixy turned the car's ignition, the bomb exploded, resulting in her death. Both Andross and Fox Sr. were stricken with grief by the sudden loss. Later, Fox Sr. was presumed dead when an experimental bomb testing "went wrong." Designed by Andross, then a Cornerian scientist, the bomb was secretly supposed to detonate when Fox Sr. reached critical velocity. However, the Black Hole was created from the explosion. This resulted in his exile to the planet Venom. Fox Sr. is later seen to be alive in some form when the hidden Space Whale who releases items from Sector Y is revealed to have Fox's father on board. While he is still alive, he is confined to exist only inside the Black Hole and is unable to return to the other side.
  +
|-|Mission File=
  +
*Meanwhile, in the Star Fox Mission File Printout, another background for Fox's father was given. "Sergeant Fox Senior", apparently a high-ranking member of the Cornerian military and dear friend of General Pepper, was chasing space pirates in the Asteroid Belt. He narrowly missed a mysterious smiling asteroid, which suddenly turned into a Black Hole vortex that swallowed him in. The appearance of a foreign Black Hole is believed to be due to the presence of Andross's experiments in the area. After hearing the news, his son Fox McCloud dropped out of the Cornerian Academy. Fox's close friends -- his former rival Falco, Fox Senior's associate Peppy, and the mechanically-inclined Slippy -- all joined him in the struggle against Andross.
  +
|-|N64 Comic=
  +
==='''''Lylat Wars Comic'''''===
  +
While James himself did not appear in the ''"Lylat Wars Comic"'', he was mentioned. When Fox chases after Pigma in revenge at the Meteo Asteroid Belt, Wolf delays him to let the traitorous Pig escape while making snide threats about sending Fox to join his father, thus Fox concludes the rumors surrounding Wolf's involvement with the ultimate fate of James. Later at the Great Fox's hanger, Peppy retells the backstory of the original Star Fox Team to Slippy. The Rabbit blames himself for losing his best friend, calling himself a coward and only hoping that someday he'll see ''"Jimmy"'' again. The affectionate nicknaming indicates just how close James and Peppy were together.
  +
</tabber>
   
  ⚫
=='''Trivia'''==
−
In most ''Star Fox: Command'' endings, Star Fox remains together and may even have a [[Marcus McCloud|new generation]]. The legacy that James McCloud left behind is one that the citizens of the Lylat System are indebted to, but the ultimate fate of James and the current Star Fox team is yet to be revealed.
  
  ⚫
*Wolf's advice to Fox "Don't hesitate, when the time comes, just act!" is a spin on James and Peppy's own catchphrase, hinting another connection between the implied history of their rivalry.
   
  +
=='''Names in Other Languages'''==
−
==Possible Return?==
  
  +
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="article-table" style="width: 500px;"
−
[[Image:James_mccloud.jpg|frame|James McCloud as he appears in ''[[Star Fox: Assault]]''.]]
  
  +
|-
  +
! scope="col"|Language
  +
! scope="col"|Name
  +
|-
  +
|Japanese
  +
|(ジェームズ・マクラウド, ''Jēmuzu Makuraudo'')
  +
|}
   
  +
=='''References'''==
−
James has, temporarily, returned on occasion, to help his son and his friends in their time of need. Below are some instances when James makes an appearance in the games:
  
  +
*NINTENDO POWER Star Fox 64: Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Redmond, WA, Nintendo of America. 1997.
  +
*http://f.starfox-online.net/archives/starFox64.comReconstructed/fox.html
  +
*http://f.starfox-online.net/archives/starFox64.comReconstructed/peppy.html
  +
*http://sfc.krystalarchive.com/text/venomDashMakesAChoice.html
  +
*http://starfox64.baldninja.com/sf64cast.htm
   
  +
{{Star Fox}}
−
* The first was on Venom, where Star Fox was concluding their mission during the [[Lylat Wars]] to re-take the conquered Lylat System from the [[Venomian Army]] and defeat [[Andross]]. Fox ventured into the subterranean command center to fight Andross himself, and was poised to defeat him. The dying mad scientist self-destructed, intending to destroy the base and take Fox with it. James, riding in his [[Arwing]], came and saved Fox, guiding him out of the base as the destructive flames raged behind him and led him to safety. James expressed his pride in his son, saying how strong he had become and also saying some helpful hints to him, and upon emerging from the exploding base, James disappeared into Venom's sky. Fox was somewhat saddened by him leaving again, but when questioned by his teammates, Fox insisted nothing was wrong, as his father was still watching over him. While some fans take this to mean that James McCloud is still alive, it was heavily implied that this was a vision or ghost that came to his son. If one watches closely, there is a shooting star that likely represents James on the right corner of the screen in this ending, which is symbolism for his passing. The player also cannot interact with James' Arwing during the escape sequence. If the route taken leads to Venom 1 rather than Venom 2, however, there will be more references to James' death. When doing the Bolse mission with Star Wolf's arrival, Pigma, when giving his entry transmission, will taunt "Daddy screamed REAL good before he died!" (although he only says the "died" part if Andrew Oikonny isn't present, as otherwise Andrew Oikonny will cut in). While Fox is traversing the base's tunnel and is about to face the Andross decoy, Andross will taunt "You will die just like your father!" The Japanese ''Star Fox 64'' manual also uses more explicit wording to refer to James' doom.
  
  +
{{Cornerian Army}}
−  
  ⚫
{{Star Fox 64/3D}}
−
* James somehow contacted his son again during Fox's mission to save [[Sauria]] from destruction. One of the Cheat Tokens Fox found revealed a message from James: "''I can see you have matured into a strong leader. I am always there with you. Never give up... Trust your instincts... My son...''". It is possible that the other Cheat Tokens are messages from James, though this is the only direct indication.
  
  +
{{Star Fox: Assault}}
−
* While technically not a hint towards his being alive or dead, the [[Aparoid Queen]] mimics James McCloud occasionally, along with the other lifeforms infected by the [[Aparoid]]s (Pigma, General Pepper, ROB, and Peppy), which hints that the Aparoids might have come into contact with him at one point. Or the image of James could have been taken from the mentioned character's memories, since they all knew him before. Falco was about to mention that he was dead before Fox cut him off, though.
  
  +
{{Star Fox Command}}
−  
  +
{{Star Fox Zero}}
−
* James' latest appearance was nine years later, during the [[Anglar Blitz]], where Star Fox made its final raid on Venom to defeat the [[Anglar Emperor]]. James suddenly appeared in his Arwing, and aided Fox, Falco and [[Dash Bowman]] in their battles under the Venom oceans. Oddly, Fox didn't react in any way when his father appeared, provided this was directly before facing the Anglar Emperor. After the battle was done, James disappeared once again. None of the characters appear to be able to see him, suggesting he is a ghost. That is also his only playable appearance in any ''Star Fox'' game.
  
  ⚫
[[Category:Unknown status]]
−  
  ⚫
[[Category:Foxes]]
⚫
==Other appearances==
  
−  
−
==='''Early depiction in the [[Star Fox (Nintendo Power comic)|comic]]'''===
  
⚫
[[File:Itoh_James.jpg|thumb|James McCloud, with his young son Fox McCloud. Note how he is not wearing his trademark sunglasses.]]
  
⚫
He was born and grew up on the planet [[Corneria]]. Much of his past remains unknown, but he graduated from the Cornerian Flight Academy. He married [[Vixy Reinard McCloud]], founded the Star Fox Team, and had only one child, whom he raised on his own since according to the Star Fox comic (1993), Vixy Reinard McCloud was killed by Andross. Andross had rigged a bomb into James' car and since Vixy's car was out of gas, James offered to let Vixy use his car, unwary of Andross's scheme. When Vixy turned the car's ignition, the bomb exploded, resulting in her death. Both Andross and James were stricken with grief by this sudden death. Later, James was presumed dead when an experimental bomb testing "went wrong." Designed by Andross, then a scientist of the planet Corneria, the bomb was secretly supposed to detonate when James reached critical velocity. However, the [[Black Hole]] was created from the explosion. James is later seen to be alive in some form in it. Since Vixy Reinard McCloud has never been found in any other sources, it is unknown whether or not that information should be taken as canon or non-canon.
  
−  
−
In the original ''[[Star Fox (game)|Star Fox]]'', no direct reference is made to the fate of Fox's father, but General Pepper does vaguely lament that the Black Hole is the last place anyone had seen his father alive. In reality, the Black Hole serves as a warp point in the Lylat System. However, the Black Hole has not appeared in any other Star Fox game and is may not be considered canon due to the series being rebooted with Nintendo 64's ''Star Fox 64''. Nonetheless, both stories are technically official since the stories were created by Nintendo for their video game series.
  
−  
−
===[[F-Zero]] series===
  
−  
−
[[File:Little-wyvern-1-.jpg|thumb|His Racer from F-Zero]]
  
−  
−
A human resembling James McCloud debuted in [[F-Zero X]] as an unlockable racer. As a direct reference, James dons the exact same clothes his Star Fox counterpart wore. His machine, Little Wyvern (#10), resembles the [[Arwing]]. His ending in the Grand Prix reads 'I drive like a sly fox' is another direct reference to his original counterpart. In [[F-Zero GX]], more references are made as well. He is redesigned to have his hair spiked up in two different directions, resembling fox ears. He also mentions of a mercenary group called Galaxy Dog, another reference to Star Fox. James also mentions a son (though not by name) as his inspiration to participate in the F-Zero races. He also makes an appearance in the series anime in his self-titled episode which shows a flashback of him during his mercenary days. His partner went by the name of O'Donnell, an obvious reference to Wolf.
  
−  
−
==Physical Appearance==
  
−  
−
James and Fox appear strikingly similar. The telltale sign that one is looking at James McCloud is that he is never seen without his sunglasses. However, Fox is sometimes seen with sunglasses. Besides the sunglasses, there have been various other differences between Fox and James. In ''Star Fox 64'', James has a narrower head and darker fur, while in ''Star Fox Command'' James wears a yellow scarf rather than a red one. Also in ''Star Fox: Assault'', James is grey fringed, in comparison to his son, Fox's white striped forehead.
  
−
==Portrayals==
  
−
<span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;">James McCloud was voiced by </span>[[Mike West]]<span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;">in</span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span>''[[Star Fox 64]]''<span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;">and by</span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span>[[Jim Walker]]<span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;">in</span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span>''[[Star Fox: Assault]]''<span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;">. These are the same actors who voiced his son</span><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> </span>[[Fox McCloud]]<span style="line-height:20px;font-size:13px;"> in the same games. In the Japanese versions of these games, James is voiced by Tomohisa Asô and Hirohiko Kakegawa, respectively.</span>
  
⚫
==Gallery==
  
−
<gallery>
  
−
Original star fox team.jpg|James, Peppy and Pigma, the original Star Fox team.
  
−
James McCloud.jpg|James McCloud's old 64 style Communications Channel icon.
  
−
Star Fox 64 all characters.png|James appears with the rest of the series characters in Star Fox 64 when completing Venom in Expert Mode.
  
−
Aparoid James McCloud.jpg|The Aparoid Queen imitates James McCloud, creating another mystery.
  
−
James McCloud.png|James McCloud's pilot biography in ''Star Fox Command''.
  
−
Almost James McCloud.PNG|James McCloud now has with a yellow scarf.
  
−
James mccloud.png|James's Communications Channel icon in Star Fox 64 3D.
  
−
James McCloudFZero.jpg|Another James McCloud in the F-Zero series.
  
−
</gallery>
  
⚫
==Trivia==
  
−
*On the Expert difficulty mode in ''[[Star Fox 64]]'', [[Fox McCloud|Fox]] wears a pair of sunglasses and looks almost indistinguishable from James. Also, Fox's name doesn't appear during transmissions he sends out during the course of Expert Mode, further referencing his appearance as James, as James has the same color box around his mugshot as Fox's.
  
−
*James is seen without his shades in the comics, revealing blue eyes. This is the only appearance to date in which his eyes are revealed.
  
−
*When James McCloud reappeared in the Venom Sea in ''Star Fox Command'', in the third ending [[List of Star Fox Command Endings|"Dash Make a Choice"]], his Arwing is located on-screen as a semi transparent icon. Due to James' widely accepted death, it's as if he is a ghost, for none of the wingmates can see him, only Fox and the Anglar enemies. Oddly enough, his ship is a physical object unlike in ''[[Star Fox 64]]''. In addition, James pilots a newer Arwing model from ''Star Fox: Assault''. This is because he shares the same statistics as Peppy, even sharing the same character theme (which is a remix of the Aparoid Homeworld penetration and Peppy's sacrifice cutscene during ''Star Fox: Assault'').
  
−
** According to the Nintendo Power comics, the hidden space whale who releases items from Sector Y is Fox's dad.
  
⚫
* Wolf's advice to Fox "Don't hesitate, when the time comes, just act!" is something of a pun on James's own catchphrase.
  
−
[[Category:Playable characters]]
  
 
[[Category:Star Fox team]]
  
[[Category:Star Fox team]]
−
[[Category:Deceased]]
 +
[[Category:Cornerian Army]]
⚫
[[Category:Foxes]]
  
⚫
[[Category:Fathers]]
  
−
[[Category:Specially unlockable characters]]
  

Revision as of 15:44, 7 May 2020

“Never give up. Trust your instincts.”
—97 James

James McCloud was a legendary and astonishing pilot who became the founder and leader of the legendary Star Fox Team, a mercenary-for-hire squadron in the Lylat System. James was talented in terms of fighting, piloting, and adventuring. He was well known for holding an unwavering loyalty to his friends. After his apparent and supposed death, James was later succeeded as leader of Star Fox by his only son, Fox McCloud. Fox McCloud was a cadet at the Cornerian Defense Army Academy when he heard the news that his father, James McCloud, had met a violent end at the hands of the twisted genius, Andross. The senior McCloud had been betrayed by his own wingman, Pigma Dengar, and delivered into a deadly trap from which there was seemingly no escape. Only James's wingman, Peppy Hare, managed to limp home in his badly damaged starfighter. As the only survivor of the original Star Fox Team, Peppy insisted that the young Fox take on the leadership of the group and form a new team of pilots. Thrust into the leadership role that he wasn't prepared for, Fox recruited the hot-tempered Falco Lombardi and the mechanical genius Slippy Toad to make up the new Star Fox Team in his father's honor.

Biography

Formation of Star Fox

As an ace pilot and avid adventurer, James served in the Cornerian Army with his friends Peppy Hare and General Pepper, before pulling out to start an elite commando unit of mercenaries-for-hire, known as the Star Fox team, initially working on a freelance basis. The team consisted of James himself, who was the leader and founder of the mercenary squadron, Peppy Hare, who was already a close friend, and Pigma Dengar, who proved himself to be a cunning teammate in the Star Fox Team. In the course of their duties, James and Star Fox traveled the length and breadth of the Lylat system, pursuing jobs and settling disputes. The team earned overflowing wealth to the point that James decided to upgrade the team's headquarters and purchased a mothership called the Great Fox, which was so expensive that James took an 80-year loan from a bank to transport the trio across the system faster and more efficiently. For a price, this crack group would fight against any threat to the Cornerian star system. Although it may have appeared that the Star Fox Team is motivated only by financial gain, it would only accept missions that serve to uphold justice.

James&PeppyAttacked

James and Peppy, betrayed by Pigma and ambushed by Andross' forces.

Corneria's observation station informed General Pepper about reports of strange bio-weaponry activity detected on Venom - a barren, inhospitable, and desolate planet on the far edge of the Lylat System, where the evil mad scientist Andross had been exiled to for treason it just a few years before. General Pepper, worried for the safety of the entire system, and he hired the original Star Fox team to go on a vital scouting mission to Venom and determine the cause of the strange activity.

Upon their arrival, they learned too late that Andross's forces were lying in wait for them all along, as Pigma was actually a double agent and betrayed the team to his new master Andross, who had bribed him with the promise of immense riches. James and Peppy were immediately captured by Andross at the onset of the betrayal. Peppy managed to barely escape captivity, and flew his damaged Arwing back to Corneria. When he returned, he informed General Pepper and James' son, Fox, of what happened to James, Pigma, and himself during the failed scouting mission. While it is unknown what exactly happened to the missing James, he was declared dead. The Star Wolf leader Wolf O'Donnell was also suspected to have been involved in James' disappearance as well. Upon hearing this, Fox couldn't bring himself to believe that his father was truly gone, but nevertheless vowed to get revenge on Andross for murdering his father and bring the traitorous Pigma to justice.

After Peppy returned and delivered the news of James' fate to Fox and General Pepper, Fox decided to follow in his father's footsteps and resume leadership of Star Fox. Even though Peppy was older than all the other Star Fox Team members, he declined the leadership role and insisted that the younger Fox McCloud take over the team after Fox's father was slain by Andross. Using both the Great Fox and ROB 64, a robotic pilot purchased by James for the team but never given the chance to be utilized, Fox recruited Peppy, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi to fight together and defend peace wherever it was threatened, thus creating a new Star Fox Team to be formed. General Pepper, still feeling guilty of sending his old friend James to his doom, decided to take responsibility of his son Fox's career. Pigma Dengar succeeded at his mission, got paid a huge sum of money, and instead joined Star Wolf, a rival mercenary-for-hire group. However, he was kicked out due to his incredible greed and distrustful nature after the Lylat Wars. He was later assimilated by the Aparoids and was apparently destroyed by Fox. The Aparoid Queen later used James McCloud's likeness to attempt to trick Fox into surrendering. However, it ironically exposed her deception due to "James" telling Fox to effectively give up, something Fox knew full well his father would never tell him to do. In most "Command" endings, Star Fox remains together and may even have a new generation.

The legacy that James McCloud left behind is one that the citizens of the Lylat System are indebted to, but the ultimate fate of James was never revealed. Most believe that he was executed at the hands of Andross, imprisoned, or even brainwashed.

Other appearances

Star Fox Comics

Itoh James

Fox Sr. with his young son Fox.

While Fox's father was unseen and unnamed in the original Star Fox game, he was given a name and backstory in the Nintendo Power Star Fox comic adaptation, under the name Fox McCloud Sr. (as he is known here) was born and grew up on the planet Corneria. Much of his past remains unknown, but he graduated from the Cornerian Flight Academy, married Vixy Reinard, and had only one child, whom he raised on his own. Jealous, Andross rigged a bomb into Fox Sr.'s car and since Vixy's car was out of gas, Fox Sr. offered to let Vixy use his car, unaware of Andross's scheme. When Vixy turned the car's ignition, the bomb exploded, resulting in her death. Both Andross and Fox Sr. were stricken with grief by the sudden loss. Later, Fox Sr. was presumed dead when an experimental bomb testing "went wrong." Designed by Andross, then a Cornerian scientist, the bomb was secretly supposed to detonate when Fox Sr. reached critical velocity. However, the Black Hole was created from the explosion. This resulted in his exile to the planet Venom. Fox Sr. is later seen to be alive in some form when the hidden Space Whale who releases items from Sector Y is revealed to have Fox's father on board. While he is still alive, he is confined to exist only inside the Black Hole and is unable to return to the other side.

  • Meanwhile, in the Star Fox Mission File Printout, another background for Fox's father was given. "Sergeant Fox Senior", apparently a high-ranking member of the Cornerian military and dear friend of General Pepper, was chasing space pirates in the Asteroid Belt. He narrowly missed a mysterious smiling asteroid, which suddenly turned into a Black Hole vortex that swallowed him in. The appearance of a foreign Black Hole is believed to be due to the presence of Andross's experiments in the area. After hearing the news, his son Fox McCloud dropped out of the Cornerian Academy. Fox's close friends -- his former rival Falco, Fox Senior's associate Peppy, and the mechanically-inclined Slippy -- all joined him in the struggle against Andross.

Lylat Wars Comic

While James himself did not appear in the "Lylat Wars Comic", he was mentioned. When Fox chases after Pigma in revenge at the Meteo Asteroid Belt, Wolf delays him to let the traitorous Pig escape while making snide threats about sending Fox to join his father, thus Fox concludes the rumors surrounding Wolf's involvement with the ultimate fate of James. Later at the Great Fox's hanger, Peppy retells the backstory of the original Star Fox Team to Slippy. The Rabbit blames himself for losing his best friend, calling himself a coward and only hoping that someday he'll see "Jimmy" again. The affectionate nicknaming indicates just how close James and Peppy were together.

Trivia

  • Wolf's advice to Fox "Don't hesitate, when the time comes, just act!" is a spin on James and Peppy's own catchphrase, hinting another connection between the implied history of their rivalry.

Names in Other Languages

Language Name
Japanese (ジェームズ・マクラウド, Jēmuzu Makuraudo)

References

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms