| Darkstars | |
|---|---|
| 👁 Image Ferrin Colos and his Darkstar deputies, in Darkstars #3 (December 1992). Art by Larry Stroman (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), and Juliana Ferriter (colors). | |
| Group publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Darkstars #1 (October 1992) |
| Created by | Michael Jan Friedman (writer) Larry Stroman (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Member(s) | 2nd Generation Tomar-Tu Guy Gardner Countless unnamed members 1st Generation Aliens Administrator Sleer Prigatz Captain Zifor Ferrin Colos Chaser Bron Munchuk Merayn Dethalis Nuvah Jeddigar Xax Varix Lotta Hollika Rahn Galius Zed G'nort Medphyll Humans John Stewart Donna Troy Carla White Mo Douglas John Flint Charlie Vicker |
| Darkstars | |
| 👁 Image | The heroic Darkstars made their debut on the issue of Darkstars #1 (October 1992). Art by Travis Charest & Larry Stroman. |
| Series publication information | |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Publication date | (vol. 1) October 1992 – January 1996 |
| Number of issues | (vol. 1): 38 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Michael Jan Friedman |
| Penciller(s) | Larry Stroman Travis Charest Patrick Zircher Mitch Byrd Mike Collins |
| Creator(s) | Michael Jan Friedman (writer) Larry Stroman (artist) |
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The Darkstars were a group of intergalactic policemen that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics.[1] They were introduced in Darkstars #1 (October 1992), and were created by Michael Jan Friedman and Larry Stroman.[2] The series lasted a total of 39 issues, ending with issue #38 (Jan. 1996), with an issue #0 (Oct. 1994) published between issues #24 and 25 during the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! crossover event storyline.[3]
Development
[edit]In an interview, Michael Jan Friedman spoke on the genesis of the group, stating:[4]
"I went to the justice league editor and said 'you know I would like to do a Martian Manhunter story, and he goes you know we have so much inventory on Martian Manhunter solo stories and I said well I would like to do Green Lantern, well we got so much inventory on Green Lantern, and I was like alright okay I get it, those were two of my favorite superheroes at DC growing up, and I said boy someday I'll do a green lantern story or a Martian Manhunter story, so anyway I go to lunch with Bob and Brian and they can see I'm a little disappointed, so they said well what is it about those characters you really like and I was talking about green lantern and how he's part of this corps...and I thought that was cool and that made him a little different from other characters and then the Martian Manhunter was the last of his kind, he was lonely, he had super powers that were very much like Superman's but he was bald and green and just not as popular and that appealed to me, so they said well what if you were to put Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter together what would you get ? and next thing you know I get home and I'm writing notes and by the next day I had a little proposal for Brian, a thing called Darkstars and it was really a mashup of Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter.
Publication history
[edit]Creation
[edit]The Darkstars were founded by the Controllers, an offshoot of the Guardians of the Universe. Though their goal was to establish order in the universe, the Controllers were isolationists by nature.[3]
The Controllers created NEMO, the Network for the Establishment and Maintenance of Order, to isolate the troubles of the galaxy away from the Controllers' domain. Over the millennia, the Controllers realized they would have to take a more active stance by attacking chaos at its roots. Despite all the good they did, there were too many NEMO operatives in too many different places. NEMO and the Controllers devised a new plan to ensure order, which resulted in the creation of the Darkstars.
Downfall
[edit]As time went on, the Controllers express concerns about the effectiveness of the Darkstars. More specifically, they are troubled that Darkstar agents are mostly looking after their own agendas rather than those of the Controllers. The Controllers eventually withdraw their support for the Darkstars; this causes the members who use early Darkstar uniforms to lose their powers, as they rely on energy from the Controllers. The later, self-contained suits are unaffected. Many Darkstars are killed or lose their battlesuits in battle with Grayven.[3] The last of the Darkstars (Ferrin Colos, Chaser Bron, and Munchuk) are killed while battling Starbreaker.
DC Rebirth
[edit]The Controllers, on the brink of extinction, capture the Guardians of the Universe in an attempt to convert them into Controllers. It is also revealed that they have created new exo-mantles which are far more lethal than the previous generation and possess tactical capabilities that surpass those of the Green Lanterns. However, the Controllers soon discover that the Darkstars' mantles are beyond their control when one activates itself and begins searching for a suitable volunteer, ignoring the Controllers' orders.[5] Tomar-Tu later reveals to Hal Jordan that the mantles had gained sentience.[6] During the last stand against the Darkstars, Jordan makes the Darkstars' mantles malfunction, ending their threat.
Powers and abilities
[edit]The Darkstars utilize armor called an "exo-mantle" which grants superhuman strength, speed, high-speed flight, and the ability to project a force field that can absorb kinetic impacts. The exo-mantle is equipped with twin maser units capable of firing energy bolts with pinpoint accuracy, as well as a shoulder-mounted cannon.
Other versions
[edit]A group partially inspired by the Darkstars called the Blackstars appear in Absolute Green Lantern.
References
[edit]- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ a b c Jimenez, Phil (2008), "Darkstars", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 97, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC 213309017
- ^ "Where did Michael Jan Friedman come up with Darkstars for DC Comics?". YouTube. 17 June 2019.
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #42 (June 2018)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #43 (June 2018)
External links
[edit]- "The Book of OA: Darkstars". Archived from the original on April 13, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2005.
- "glcorps.dcuguide.com". Archived from the original on June 12, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- "Cosmic Teams: Darkstars". Archived from the original on August 13, 2006. Retrieved June 8, 2005.
- "DCU Guide: Darkstars #0". Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2006.
- DCU Guide: Darkstars #27
