Windshear is a Canadian expatriate who grew up in England. He found work as a special operative, using his mutant powers for the superhuman division of Roxxon Oil Corp's United Kingdom branch, where he was given a suit of armor.

When Hume was unable to defeat a foe, Roxxon called in Madison Jeffries, at the time known as Box who was aided by Forge. Hume, upset over the truth of Roxxon's practices, returned to Canada with the members of Alpha Flight, and he was soon accepted onto the team.