[4] The eldest of a large Kentucky coal mining family,[5] Samuel Guthrie is a founding member of the X-Men's junior team, the New Mutants.

[9] Since his original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including video games, animated television series, and merchandise.

Samuel Guthrie debuted as a member of the New Mutants in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (September 1982), created by Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod.

In 2009, New Mutants was relaunched in its third volume, penned by Zeb Wells, though in this incarnation they were a strike team of X-Men with a defined roster, including Mirage, Karma, Sunspot, Magma, Magik, Cypher and Warlock.

Guthrie would be featured during Second Coming in the X-Men: Hellbound miniseries #1–3 (2010), leading the team of Pixie, Gambit, Anole, Dazzler, Trance and Northstar to Limbo to rescue Magik.

While attempting to rescue a fellow worker, Mr. Lewis, from a collapsing mine shaft, Sam's mutant ability unintentionally manifested, saving both of them.

"[15] As a member of the New Mutants, Guthrie forms a close friendship with his teammate Sunspot and develops a brotherly affection for Rahne, unaware for some time that she harbors romantic feelings for him.

Guthrie, alongside Moonstar, serves as co-leader of the New Mutants and supervises teammates including Magik, Karma, Cypher, Magma, and Warlock.

This traumatic experience deeply unsettles the team, leading them to join the Hellions at Emma Frost's Massachusetts Academy,[18] though they later reassess their decision.

[24] Cable reveals that he is from a dystopian future ruled by Apocalypse and believes Cannonball to be an External, a rare type of mutant who is virtually immortal.

[26] Guthrie's tenure with X-Force is marked by significant challenges, as the team is viewed as "out of line" by the X-Men and is considered outright criminal by S.H.I.E.L.D., leading to a conflict with a S.H.I.E.L.D.

[27] Despite these tensions, Sam plays a crucial role in reconciling rivalries and assists the X-Men, particularly Forge and Wolfsbane, in defeating the Phalanx.

He confronts these doubts during a battle against the Shi'ar Gladiator,[30] where he fights the opponent to a standstill.Guthrie's relationship with Tabitha becomes strained, leading her to seek "support" from Guthrie's best friend, Sunspot.

[32] During his time with the X-Men, he also infiltrates the presidential campaign of anti-mutant candidate Graydon Creed under the alias "Samson Guthry.

[41] Guthrie rejoins the active roster of the X-Men, co-led by Nightcrawler and Bishop, and takes on a role overseeing the younger students at the X-Mansion.

He also serves as a member of the X-Treme Sanctions Executive (XSE), participating in efforts such as aiding the 198 and battling the Shi'ar Death Commandos.

[volume & issue needed] Dr. Henry McCoy assesses his condition, noting that Guthrie's brain scan shows sluggish and irregular activity.

When Paige confronts him about his demeanor, Guthrie reacts angrily, blasting off into the sky and expressing regret about coming home.

[47] After receiving an anonymous tip about a young mutant threatening a small town in Colorado, Moonstar and Karma are sent to investigate and reassure the locals.

Later, during a discussion about Sam's past romantic relationships, particularly with Lila Cheney, Guthrie and Moonstar share a kiss, which is interrupted by the rest of the team.

During this period, Sam makes a point of checking in on his sister, Husk, who works full-time at the school and expresses concern about her mental well-being.

[54] Guthrie joins the U.S. Avengers, and their inaugural mission involves confronting the Secret Empire's floating volcanic island base.

They are subsequently visited by a future version of Danielle Cage as Captain America, who warns them that her nemesis, the Golden Skull, has traveled to their timeline to steal the world's wealth.

[55] During the "Opening Salvo" segment of the Secret Empire storyline, Guthrie decides to leave the U.S. Avengers to spend time with his wife and son.

[66] Furthermore, Guthrie may also be a member of the immortal mutant group the Externals,[67] due to his apparent ability to return to life after death.

[68] Comic Book Resources noted that Samuel Guthrie gained significant popularity in the 1980s as he appeared alongside Magik and Moonstar in New Mutants.

[71] Eric Diaz of Nerdist said that although Samuel Guthrie was initially portrayed with a "aw, shucks" Southern stereotype, he eventually transcended this image to become one of the X-Men universe's most popular characters, describing him as the "big lug with a heart of gold" and highlighting that he serves as the emotional core of the team.

[volume & issue needed] An alternate universe variant of Sam Guthrie / Cannonball from Earth-811 appears in Days of Future Past.

Cannonball implies that he, Cable, Bishop, and the baby are the last living mutants, and that he found him with Cerebra, which was rigged for non-psychics to use after the last psychic died.

Sam, among several members of the X-Men and the New Mutants, decides to stay in Asgard and marries Kindra, daughter of the dwarf king Eitri.