Starman (Will Payton)

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Starman
Starman (Will Payton).png
Will Payton as Starman, on the cover of Starman #1 (October 1988). Art by Tom Lyle
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Starman #1 (October 1988)
Created by Roger Stern
Tom Lyle
In-story information
Alter egoWilliam "Will" Payton
Species Metahuman
Team affiliations Justice League
Abilities
  • Flight
  • Superhuman strength and durability
  • Energy projection
  • Limited shapeshifting

Starman (Will Payton) is a DC Comics superhero who was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle, and one of several characters to have the Starmen name. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Publication history

Starman was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle, and first appeared in Starman #1 (October 1988). [6]

Starman was killed in Eclipso: The Darkness Within (1992). In 2020, he was resurrected in Scott Snyder's Justice League run, with Snyder believing him to be an under-explored character. [2] [7] [8] [9]

Fictional character biography

Payton is a magazine copy editor who gains superpowers after being infused with the essence of Gavyn, the previous Starman. Despite his short career, he gained a good reputation among other heroes, even assisting Superman on some occasions. [10] Starman is later killed in battle with Eclipso. [11]

Starman is resurrected in the DC Rebirth series Dark Nights: Metal . This version's powers are derived from the Totality, a cosmic source of energy and the prison of Perpetua. [5] [12] [13]

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References

  1. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "New Starman Will Payton debuted in his own ongoing series in October [1988] by writer Roger Stern and artist Tom Lyle".
  2. 1 2 "SCOTT SNYDER Reveals Why He's Bringing Back STARMAN (and Which One)". Newsarama. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. Johnston, Rich (28 August 2018). "Looks Like Scott Snyder is Bringing Back Will Payton, Starman, to Justice League". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  4. "Justice League and the Return of Starman to the DC Universe". Den of Geek. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Justice League Gives An '80s DC Superhero's Origin Story a Rebirth Retcon". CBR. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  6. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "New Starman Will Payton debuted in his own ongoing series in October [1988] by writer Roger Stern and artist Tom Lyle".
  7. "The Secrets of DC Rebirth May be Unveiled by This Forgotten '80s Superhero". CBR. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  8. "Justice League and the Return of Starman to the DC Universe". Den of Geek. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  9. "Lex Luthor Kept A Superhero OUT of DC's Rebirth". ScreenRant. 19 September 2018.
  10. Starman #1 (October 1988). DC Comics.
  11. Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2 (October 1992)
  12. Dark Nights: Metal #1
  13. Justice League (vol. 4) #8