Starman (comics)
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Starman is a name used by several different DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his son Jack.
Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, the original Starman, Ted Knight, first appeared in Adventure Comics #61 (April 1941). An astronomer, Knight invented a “gravity rod,” later reinvented as a “cosmic rod,” allowing him to fly and manipulate energy and donned a red and yellow costume with a distinctive finned helmet.
Like most Golden Age heroes, Starman fell into obscurity in the 1950s. In the ensuring years, several characters, with varying degrees of relation to the original, briefly took the mantle of Starman.
In Zero Hour #1 (September 1994), writer James Robinson and artist Tony Harris introduced Jack Knight, the son of the first Starman. A reluctant, non-costumed hero, he inherited his father’s name and mission and used his technology to create a cosmic staff. He starred in a critically acclaimed series, written by Robinson, from 1994 until 2001.
The current successor of Starman is Stargirl, formerly the Star-Spangled Kid.
In chronological order of activity (not of appearance), these are the ones to have used the name "Starman":
Ted Knight
Starman of 1951
The Starman of 1951, is a superhero who operated in the DC Comics universe in 1951. In actuality he is a retcon who appeared in the 1990s Starman series (q.v.) and whose identity was revealed towards the end of that series as being the original Dr. Mid-Nite, Charles McNider -- and later a time-displaced David Knight, son of the original Starman Ted Knight, after some training by McNider. In pre-Crisis continuity, the Starman of 1951 was actually Batman who briefly took up that mantle in Detective Comics #247.Mikaal Tomas
Mikaal Tomas (a.k.a. Michael Thomas) is a 1970s DC Comics superhero. Tomas is an alien who travelled to Earth to help conquer it, and instead turned against his people in defense of Earth. He has blue skin and a power gem embedded in his chest allows him to fly and fire bolts of energy. He first appeared in First Issue Special #12 (1976), and later suffered amnesia until he turned up in the 1990s Starman series, where he was notable for being portrayed as openly having a gay relationship.Prince Gavyn
Prince Gavyn, a 1980s DC Comics superhero, wielded armbands which allowed him to fly and shoot bolts of energy. He became the ruler of his people. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #467 (1980), and was believed to have died in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The 1990s Starman series (q.v.) revealed that his fate was different from previously believed.Will Payton
Will Payton, a 1980s DC Comics superhero, was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle. Payton was struck by a bolt of energy from space which transformed him into a human shaped fusion reactor, and was empowered to fly, was superhumanly strong, could fire bolts of energy, and could change his appearance. He first appeared in Starman vol 1, #1 (1988), and seemingly died fighting the supervillain Eclipso. The 1990s Starman series (q.v.) revealed that his fate was different from previously believed.David Knight
David Knight, a 1990s DC Comics superhero, was the son of the original Starman and older brother of the 1990s Starman. He first appeared in Starman vol 1, #26 (1990), having taken up his father's mantle, and was killed by an assassin in Starman vol 2, #0 (1994), although later in that series his ultimate fate was revealed to have been somewhat different from previously believed.Jack Knight
Thom Kallor
Farris Knight
The Starman of the 853rd Century is Farris Knight, who is also a member of Justice Legion Alpha. He is a descendant of Ted Knight, and was a major character in the series DC One Million.Other Versions
- The relaunched Justice Society of America comic (due October 2006) will feature a Starman as a member. Though he appears to have the same Kingdom Come costume associated with Thom Kallor/Danny Blaine, all that has been stated about his identity is that he is from Opal City.[link]
- Stargirl is Courtney Whitmore -- formerly the second Star-Spangled Kid -- a superheroine who inherited Jack Knight's cosmic staff after he retired from being Starman. She is a member of the 2000s Justice Society of America.
- In JSA #72, a female calling herself Starwoman is revealed to be Patricia Lynn Dugan (the half-sister of Courtney Whitmore), one of the individuals Thom Kallor mentioned as continuing the Starman legacy.
- In JLA: Age of Wonder, Starman is portrayed as a fellow inventor alongside of Superman, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla, who invents his cosmic rod with technology gleaned from the rocket ship which brought Superman to Earth. In JSA: The Unholy Three, Starman is an intelligence agent working at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and is code-named "Star".
Other Media
The Prince Gavyn version of Starman made several background appearances in Justice League Unlimited. Stargirl also appeared, utilising the staff that she inherited from Jack in the comics (though it may have a different origin in the DC Animated Universe).There was a television series planned based on Jack Knight's adventures, but was last referred to in 2003 as being 'indefinitely on hold'.[link]
External Links
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