Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Sally Avril first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962).[1] Sally was a minor member of Flash Thompson's entourage, appearing in only one issue during the Silver Age. Her "Bluebird" career was created by Busiek (scripts) and Olliffe (pencils) in 1996.
Thirty years later, writing for Untold Tales of Spider-Man, Kurt Busiek resurrected the one-note brunette from obscurity and gave her a background. She was an ambitious, thrill-loving girl who took blue ribbons in gymnastics. With fellow popular kid Jason Ionello, she attempted to cash in on a Daily Bugle contest offering a thousand dollars to a reader who brought in pictures of Spider-Man. Although their mission was a bust, Sally loved the thrill and became very smitten with the web-slinger when he touched her cheek just before leaving her and Jason with a warning to give it up.[5]
Sally and Jason tailed Spidey again, who was (unwillingly) working for Electro. The flash from Sally's camera roused Spidey from his hypnotic state, and a well-placed kick by the athletic young Sally took Electro by surprise long enough for Spidey to readjust his mask — which Electro had been preparing to remove — and defeat him. Spider-Man posed for a shot with an ecstatic Sally and Jason that the Bugle ran.[6]
Suffused with glee, Sally tried to get a permanent gig on the Bugle, but was told the photographer's job was filled — by Peter Parker.[7] Peter admitted this but asked her not to tell their fellow Midtowners. Sally donned an eccentric blue-and-white costume and decided, with her aerobic skills, to become a superheroine. She asked Peter to take some Bugle pics of her doing some stunts, but Peter refused. Angered, she threatened to blackmail him by revealing that he took Spider-Man pictures, but he undercut her by telling them himself.[8]
Bluebird's zeal but lack of experience caused trouble for Spider-Man during fights with Scarlet Beetle and Electro. Her "ether egg" weapons would detonate prematurely or have little effect, once even allowing the villain to escape.[8][9] Considering her more trouble than she was worth, Spider-Man allowed the Black Knight's men to hurt her quite badly in order to dissuade her from interfering in his fights again, although he later felt remorseful.
Bruised but undaunted, Sally and Jason headed to an area where Spider-Man was fighting the Black Knight, with Sally's camera.[10] She intended to capture some shots of the fight. However, Sally's zeal ended up costing her her life when she begged Jason to speed in his car, and the two ran a red light. Their car struck an oncoming bus, with Jason incurring mild head trauma, and Sally being killed.[11] Spider-Man felt horrible about this, blaming himself for her death.[11]
During the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, Sally Avril is resurrected by Ben Reilly (posing as Jackal) in a "reanimate" clone body (with her soul intact) and is seen in New U Technologies' facility area called Haven;[12] whether she survives its destruction is left ambiguous.[13]
Bluebird has no superpowers. However, she uses a retractable rope line, insulated boots for protection against electricity, blue paint pellets, and ether-filled "eggs."[14] Additionally, Bluebird is a skilled gymnast.[15]
Sally Avril appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Grey DeLisle.[17] This version is a cheerleader at Midtown High School, Randy Robertson's girlfriend, and a member of the school's popular clique who displays "mean girl" traits. As a result, she is unkind to her unpopular peers and bears particular animosity towards Peter Parker, whom she calls the "King of Geeks", though she gradually softens up to him during the second season.
Sally Avril, credited as "Hot Girl", makes a cameo appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), portrayed by Kelsey Chow. While she goes unnamed in the film, Chow revealed to media outlets around the time of the film's release that her character is Avril and that she would have appeared in another a sequel prior to Sony's deal with Marvel Studios.[18] Additionally, the film's novelization also refers to Chow's character as Avril.
