Danielle Moonstar, also known as Mirage, first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants (September 1982), created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod. A member of the Cheyenne Nation, she initially operated under the codename Psyche upon joining Professor Xavier's New Mutants team, manifesting illusions of others' greatest fears or desires. Her early stories involved confronting personal traumas, including the Demon Bear that killed her parents and grandfather, and she quickly established herself as a co-leader alongside Cannonball. During an adventure in Asgard, she bonded with the winged horse Brightwind, becoming a Valkyrie and gaining enhanced abilities such as death perception and the power to manifest solid energy weapons.
Moonstar's powers and role evolved significantly over time. After losing her illusion-casting abilities temporarily, she retained Valkyrie traits and later joined groups like the Mutant Liberation Front under Reign of Terror influence, though she eventually returned to heroic alignments. She served in X-Force, the New X-Men as a teacher, and various initiatives, often drawing on her Cheyenne heritage and warrior spirit. Her time in Asgard and interactions with Hela further expanded her mystical connections, allowing occasional returns to Valkyrie form.
In recent years, particularly during the Krakoa era and beyond, Moonstar has continued as a mentor and operative, appearing in teams like the New Mutants revival and maintaining her core identity as a resilient, culturally grounded mutant. She has been portrayed in adaptations, including the 2020 film The New Mutants by Blu Hunt, emphasizing her leadership and empathy amid ongoing X-Men narratives.