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Starman (Ted Knight)

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Starman
Textless cover of Starman #72 (December 2000), art by Andrew Robinson.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAdventure Comics #61 (April 1941)
Created byGardner Fox
Jack Burnley
In-story information
Alter egoTheodore Henry "Ted" Knight
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsJustice Society of America
All-Star Squadron
Justice League
AbilitiesFine hand to hand combatant
Gifted inventor
Brilliant intellect
Via gravity and cosmic rods:
  • Flight
  • Stellar energy, light and heat projection
  • Force field and simple energy construct generation
  • Telekinesis

Starman (Theodore Henry "Ted" Knight) is a fictional superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Justice Society of America. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, he first appeared in Adventure Comics #61 (April 1941).

Publication history

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Ted Knight as the original Starman, as he appeared on the cover of Adventure Comics #61 (April 1941). Art by Jack Burnley.

Invited by editor Whitney Ellsworth to create a new superhero character, Burnley drew the Starman costume as a variation of Superman's famous outfit, topped with a Buck Rogers-style helmet. Gardner Fox developed the character, and science-fiction writer Alfred Bester also contributed Starman scripts. Later in the run, Emil Gershwin wrote the stories, with art by Mort Meskin and George Roussos.[1]

His first story in Adventure Comics #61 (April 1941) pitted Starman against the sinister Dr. Doog, who threatened the world with his invention, the Ultra-Dynamo.[2]

He continued to appear in Adventure Comics through #102 (Feb 1946), and All-Star Comics #8 (Dec 1941) to #23 (Winter 1944).[1]

Fictional character biography

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As Starman, Ted wears a caped costume of red and green topped with a helmet with a fin on the top. He uses a gravity rod (later cosmic rod) of his own invention which allows him to fly and manipulate energy.[3][4]

Initially intending the rod as a power source, Ted is convinced by his cousin, Sandra Knight / Phantom Lady, to use it to fight crime. In the original 1940s stories, Starman operated out of Gotham City,[5][6][7] but this was retconned in the 1990s to Opal City.

Starman's first recurring villain is Mist, an elderly scientist who wields an invisibility potion.[8] Starman's rogues gallery also includes Astra the Astrologist, Cuthbert Cain, Dr. Doog and the Secret Brotherhood of the Electron, and the Veil.[9]

He is a frequent ally of the FBI and a member of the Justice Society of America for much of the 1940s and, like other "mystery men" of the time, serves in the wartime All-Star Squadron. In 1942, Ted enlists in the U.S. Army Air Force and briefly serves as a pilot during World War II.[10]

At this time, the love of Ted's life is a woman named Doris Lee, who often chastises her layabout playboy boyfriend for his pretended laziness and hypochondria, unaware of Ted's costumed persona. Doris is murdered in the late 1940s, leading Ted to suffer a nervous breakdown.

In the 1990s-era Starman series, Ted returns to active duty, partially inspired by his time-traveling son Jack. Additionally, it is revealed that he had a brief affair with the first Black Canary (Dinah Drake) in the 1960s.

Like the rest of the Justice Society, Starman spends many years in retirement following the end of the Golden Age of heroes, but returns to help mentor the team's spiritual successors the Justice League of America. During this time, Ted Knight marries a woman named Adele Doris Drew and has two children, Jack and David. In Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, Ted loses his slowed aging and is forced into retirement.[11]

Ted later battles Doctor Phosphorus, whose radiation gives him terminal cancer. He is killed in battle with Mist while stopping his bomb from destroying the city.[12]

Powers and abilities

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Ted Knight has no natural, superhuman powers. His abilities stem from the use of his inventions, the gravity rod and the cosmic rod. These devices channel an unknown form of stellar radiation, which Ted is able to manipulate through the rod. As Starman, he possesses the ability to fly, project bursts of stellar energy, light, and heat, create force fields and simple energy constructs, and levitate objects. Extended use of the cosmic rod created a bond between it and Ted, allowing him to mentally summon the rod when separated from it.

Ted possesses a brilliant intellect, mastery of several sciences, and a gift for invention. In addition to the gravity and cosmic rods, Ted created the cosmic staff used by his son, Jack, and the cosmic converter belt worn by his JSA teammates, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stargirl.[13]

Other versions

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Collected editions

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  • Golden Age Starman Archives Vol. 1 (Starman stories from Adventure Comics #61-76)
  • Golden Age Starman Archives Vol. 2 (Starman stories from Adventure Comics #77-102)

In other media

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References

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  1. ^ a b Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Wallace, Daniel (2010). "1940s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
  3. ^ Wallace, Dan (2008). "Starman's Cosmic Rod". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
  4. ^ Markstein, Don. "Starman". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Portelli, Philip. "The Weekly TPB----Starman Vol.1---A Prologue". The Comics Round Table. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  6. ^ Garrison, TWS. "Misc. DC Nits 2". Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  7. ^ Cronin, Brian. "Foundationed Deep – Starman and Phantom Lady". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Kurt; Thomas, Roy (2019). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 73. ISBN 978-1605490892.
  9. ^ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 255. ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
  10. ^ All-Star Comics #11 (June–July 1942)
  11. ^ Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #2 (September 1994)
  12. ^ Starman (Vol. 2) #72. DC Comics.
  13. ^ Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006).
  14. ^ "Starman Voice - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 23, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  15. ^ "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One: 'The Wave' Exclusive Clip". IGN. January 8, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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