Starbreaker (comics)

Last updated
Starbreaker
Starbreakerdcu0.jpg
Starbreaker (background) on the cover of Justice League of America #96 (February 1972), art by Dick Dillin.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Justice League of America #96 (February 1972)
Created by Mike Friedrich (writer)
Dick Dillin (artist)
In-story information
AbilitiesEnergy Form:
Energy absorption and manipulation
Genius intellect
Humanoid Form::
Physical enhancement
Flight
Energy projection and manipulation
Illusion generation
Emotional Vampirism

Starbreaker is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Justice League of America #96 (February 1972), and was created by Mike Friedrich and Dick Dillin.

Contents

Publication history

Starbreaker debuted in a three-part storyline that ran in Justice League of America #96-98 (February–May 1972). The first chapter, "The Coming of Starbreaker" introduced the foe; the second, "The Day the Earth Screams", featured the origin story of the Justice League and the final chapter "No More Tomorrows", featured Sargon the Sorcerer, who aids the League in defeating the villain. The character did not appear in DC Comics continuity again until featured in a four-part storyline in Justice League America #62-65 (May–August 1992). Starbreaker eventually returned, revealed to be the mastermind behind a planet abduction in Adam Strange (vol. 2) #1-8 (November 2004-June 2005) before a reappearance in Justice League of America (vol. 2) #29-34 (March–August 2009).

Fictional character biography

Three members of the Justice League of America - Flash; Green Lantern and Hawkman - are diverted from a return trip to Earth by their ally and resident of the planet Rann, Adam Strange. Tracing a faint power ring transmission from Green Lantern, Superman joins the heroes on Rann. Strange has enlisted their aid to defeat an energy vampire called Starbreaker, who is intent on destroying Rann and consuming the planetary energy. Although Starbreaker splits into three copies that begin the process, the villain is defeated by Adam Strange and the Justice Leaguers. Intent on vengeance, Starbreaker attacks Earth, initially defeating Superman, Green Lantern and the Flash. The entire Justice League gathers, and after being spurred on by Hawkman, defeat Starbreaker with the aid of Sargon the Sorcerer. The villain is then incarcerated by the Guardians of the Universe. [1]

Starbreaker eventually escapes, and conquers the planet Almerac, intent on devouring its energies. Another version of the Justice League oppose Starbreaker, with member Blue Beetle manipulating the armour of teammate Booster Gold, using it to absorb the energy from which the villain is composed. [2]

A death-cultist called Sh'ri Valkyr from the planet Thanagar slowly resuscitates Starbreaker, feeding the villain victims and thereby allowing him to regain a corporeal form. Valkyr plans to use Rann's teleportation technology - the Zeta-Beam - to convert the entire universe into energy to feed Starbreaker, who would rule a new universe. With the help of allies the Omega Men and interplanetary peace-keepers L.E.G.I.O.N., Adam Strange strands Starbreaker in an empty universe devoid of energy. Before being killed, Valkyr retaliates by teleporting Rann to Polaris, home system of the planet Thanagar, beginning the Rann-Thanagar War. [3]

An incorporeal Starbreaker returns, intent on destroying his primary foes, the Justice League of America. Starbreaker uses the villain the Shadow Thief as a pawn, and locates an entity possessing enough energy to sustain his form for many years. Revealed to be the adult form of a Sun Eater, Starbreaker engages the League in combat and is weakened by Doctor Light and Firestorm, before being shot in the head with an exotic weapon by Paladin (alternative version of Batman). Although Starbreaker's form dissolves, the League acknowledge the defeat is temporary and that the entity will reform. [4]

Starbreaker later returns in The Flash issue 775. He attempts to absorb the power of a glaive housing the spirit of Eclipso, only to be overtaken and possessed.

Powers and abilities

The character is initially presented as a humanoid energy vampire with exceptional strength and durability; and capable of flight, energy projection and creating illusions. Starbreaker can also be empowered by draining negative emotions such as hatred and fear from other beings. The entity is eventually revealed to be a mature version of a "Sun Eater" that requires large amounts of energy to survive, typically draining the energy required from entire stars and then being capable of creating a humanoid form. As an energy entity, however, Starbreaker is susceptible to any device capable of draining energy, which will disperse the humanoid form.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkman</span> Fictional superhero in DC Comics

Hawkman is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Strange</span> DC Comics fictional character

Adam Strange is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by editor Julius Schwartz and designed by Murphy Anderson, he first appeared in Showcase #17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vril Dox</span> Fictional character

Vril Dox, also known as Brainiac 2, is a fictional character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Superman #167, and was created by Edmond Hamilton, Cary Bates, and Curt Swan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkwoman</span> Several fictional superheroines all owned by DC Comics

Hawkwoman is the name of several superheroines all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's DC Universe. They are partners, and sometimes spouses or lovers, of the various versions of Hawkman, and share many features with the character Hawkgirl. The first version appeared in The Brave and the Bold #34.

<i>Rann–Thanagar War</i>

Rann–Thanagar War is a six-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 2005. Written by Dave Gibbons, and illustrated by Ivan Reis, Marc Campos, and John Kalisz, the series concerns a war between the planets Rann and Thanagar, and features Adam Strange, the Green Lantern Corps, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, L.E.G.I.O.N. and Captain Comet, along with other DC space adventurers. The series was followed in early 2006 with the one-shot book Rann-Thanager War: Infinite Crisis Special #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain Comet</span> Comics character

Captain Comet is a superhero appearing in American Comic Books published by DC Comics, created by editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino.

Shadow Thief is the name of three fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. The first is a recurring foe of Hawkman named Carl Sands.

Alexander Luthor Jr. is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanjar Ro</span> Comics character

Kanjar Ro is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkman (Fel Andar)</span> Comics character

Fel Andar is a DC Comics character who also called himself Hawkman. There are two different versions of Fel Andar: the pre-Hawkworld version was created by Tony Isabella and Richard Howell, while the post-Hawkworld version was created by John Ostrander and Graham Nolan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkman (Katar Hol)</span> DC Comics superhero

Hawkman is a DC Comics superhero. He is the Silver Age, Bronze Age and New 52 Hawkman. Created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert, he first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #34. There are two versions of Katar Hol, the Silver Age/Pre-Crisis version and the post-Hawkworld/Post-Crisis version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkman (Carter Hall)</span> DC Comics superhero

Hawkman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first character to use the name Hawkman. There are two separate origins of Carter Hall; the Golden Age origin and the Post-Hawkworld origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shayera Hol</span> DC comics character

Shayera Thal, later married with the name Shayera Hol, is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books during the Silver Age of Comics published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Kubert, and first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #34. She is the second Hawkgirl and first Hawkwoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)</span> Comics character

Hawkgirl is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by writers James Robinson and David S. Goyer and artist Scott Benefiel, and first appeared in JSA: Secret Files and Origins #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyathis</span> Comics character

Hyathis is a fictional extraterrestrial monarch published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Justice League of America #3 and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. In all her World's Finest Comics appearances she is referred to as Hyanthis.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American comic book series published by DC Comics. It is based on the TV series of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Lantern Corps</span> Fictional organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics

The White Lantern Corps is a fictional organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics, related to the emotional spectrum.

<i>Green Lantern: Beware My Power</i> 2022 animated film by DC Comics

Green Lantern: Beware My Power is a 2022 American superhero animated film based on DC Comics featuring the John Stewart incarnation of Green Lantern, produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It is the overall 47th installment in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, and the fifth film set in the "Tomorrowverse" continuity which began with Superman: Man of Tomorrow. The film is directed by Jeff Wamester, from a script by John Semper and Ernie Altbacker, and stars Aldis Hodge and Jimmi Simpson. In the film, Marine veteran John Stewart is chosen to become a member of the Green Lantern Corps following the apparent death of Hal Jordan, leading Stewart to be caught in the middle of a Rannian-Thanagarian war, and aided by Justice League member Green Arrow and Thanagarian warrior Shayera Hol.

References

  1. ↑ Justice League of America #96-97 (February–March 1972)
  2. ↑ Justice League America #62-65 (May–August 1992)
  3. ↑ Adam Strange (vol. 2) #1-8 (November 2004-June 2005)
  4. ↑ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #29-34 (March–August 2009)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.