 Though the series proved initially very popular, with its first issue selling 500,000 copies,<ref></ref> Byrne has said the title "was never much fun" and that he considered the characters two-dimensional.One of Alpha Flight's characters, Northstar, eventually became Marvel's first openly gay superhero.Though Byrne from the beginning intended the character to be gay,<ref name="ByrneFAQ"> (Archive requires scrolldown)</ref> Northstar's homosexuality was only hinted at during Byrne's tenure on the series.