Comet Queen
Encyclopedia
Comet Queen is a fictional superhero
in the DC Universe
. She was an ally of the Legion of Super-Heroes
prior to Zero Hour
.
, and wants desperately to become a member of the Legion. Hoping to gain superpowers she foolishly jumps from a space ship into the tail of a passing comet
- failing to realize that Star Boy had flown through a particular comet while inside a starship, rather than unprotected by anything more than a futuristic space-suit. Fortunately for her this ploy works and the comet gives her the ability to fly in the vacuum of space as well as the ability to emit various "comet-like gases."
The comet tail also alters Grava's physical form, giving her hair the appearance of streaming flames; presented as nominally humanoid in flashback, her father appears to be some species derived from something akin to rats, and this would suggest she was of mixed parentage or possibly adopted.
In Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #336 (June 1986), reserve Legionnaire Bouncing Boy
describes to his comrade Superboy
how he came to meet the young heroine while he was on a goodwill tour to a planet called Quaal III; Comet Queen ambushes him in the hotel and introduces herself, declaring him her very own "personal Legionnaire." Bouncing Boy rejects Comet Queen's initial bid for membership on the grounds that she hasn't proven herself. Later, he finds out from several hotel guests, including Grava's own father, that the girl has gone off in a fit of dejection to search for Quaal III's lava seas to seek out the planet's mythical natives, as a "super-feat" to prove herself worthy - mirroring Supergirl
's bid to join the Legion by excavating various Earthling artifacts. Instead, Bouncing Boy and Comet Queen end up in a near-death situation until they work together, combining their powers, and finding an escape.
As a result of Comet Queen's adventure with Bouncing Boy, she is accepted into the Legion Academy
training program, located at Montauk Point (a safe distance from the Legion itself) and taught by Bouncing Boy and his wife Duo Damsel. It is here that she becomes friends with other Legion hopefuls, including Superman
's supposed descendant Laurel Kent
, and Shadow Lass
' cousin Shadow Kid.
Comet Queen's unusual appearance is paired with eccentric speech patterns – her dialogue is peppered with bizarre private slang that incorporates words relating to celestial bodies seemingly at random. In particular, she enjoys saying things like: "C-speed limit," "star-particles," "totally gravitied," "starshine," and "go nova." Her dialogue is usually presented in square, yellow-tinged speech balloons with thick lines, and her idiosyncratic rhythms baffle those around her.
She is later recruited into a short-lived version of the Legion of Substitute Heroes
; this version is formed by Cosmic Boy
in order to deal with special missions. Other members of this group include Night Girl
, Karate Kid II
, as well as her former teachers Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel.
.
Comet Queen makes another appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes (current series) #6, as part of the active class at the Legion Academy.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
in the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. She was an ally of the Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
prior to Zero Hour
Zero Hour (comics)
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a five-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 1994. In it, the former hero Hal Jordan, who had until then been a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, mad with grief after the destruction of...
.
Pre-Zero Hour
Grava of the Earth colony Extal is a long-time fan of Star BoyStar Boy
Thom Kallor is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, spanning many incarnations, all connected to the various incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, and wants desperately to become a member of the Legion. Hoping to gain superpowers she foolishly jumps from a space ship into the tail of a passing comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
- failing to realize that Star Boy had flown through a particular comet while inside a starship, rather than unprotected by anything more than a futuristic space-suit. Fortunately for her this ploy works and the comet gives her the ability to fly in the vacuum of space as well as the ability to emit various "comet-like gases."
The comet tail also alters Grava's physical form, giving her hair the appearance of streaming flames; presented as nominally humanoid in flashback, her father appears to be some species derived from something akin to rats, and this would suggest she was of mixed parentage or possibly adopted.
In Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #336 (June 1986), reserve Legionnaire Bouncing Boy
Bouncing Boy
-Fictional character biography:Bouncing Boy is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century. He is Chuck Taine of Earth, and he has the power to inflate like a ball and bounce. He received his powers when he accidentally drank a super...
describes to his comrade Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
how he came to meet the young heroine while he was on a goodwill tour to a planet called Quaal III; Comet Queen ambushes him in the hotel and introduces herself, declaring him her very own "personal Legionnaire." Bouncing Boy rejects Comet Queen's initial bid for membership on the grounds that she hasn't proven herself. Later, he finds out from several hotel guests, including Grava's own father, that the girl has gone off in a fit of dejection to search for Quaal III's lava seas to seek out the planet's mythical natives, as a "super-feat" to prove herself worthy - mirroring Supergirl
Supergirl
Supergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
's bid to join the Legion by excavating various Earthling artifacts. Instead, Bouncing Boy and Comet Queen end up in a near-death situation until they work together, combining their powers, and finding an escape.
As a result of Comet Queen's adventure with Bouncing Boy, she is accepted into the Legion Academy
The Legion Academy
The Legion Academy is a training school for members of the Legion of Super-heroes. It was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, and has been re-used and revisited by subsequent creators in the many evolving iterations of the Legion that have been published over the decades...
training program, located at Montauk Point (a safe distance from the Legion itself) and taught by Bouncing Boy and his wife Duo Damsel. It is here that she becomes friends with other Legion hopefuls, including Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
's supposed descendant Laurel Kent
Laurel Kent
Laurel Kent is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe. She first appeared in Superboy #217 .-Original time line:In the pre-Crisis continuity, Laurel was a candidate for membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, and Shadow Lass
Shadow Lass
Shadow Lass is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventure Comics vol. 1 #365 , and was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
' cousin Shadow Kid.
Comet Queen's unusual appearance is paired with eccentric speech patterns – her dialogue is peppered with bizarre private slang that incorporates words relating to celestial bodies seemingly at random. In particular, she enjoys saying things like: "C-speed limit," "star-particles," "totally gravitied," "starshine," and "go nova." Her dialogue is usually presented in square, yellow-tinged speech balloons with thick lines, and her idiosyncratic rhythms baffle those around her.
She is later recruited into a short-lived version of the Legion of Substitute Heroes
Legion of Substitute Heroes
The Legion of Substitute Heroes is a group of fictional characters in the future of the DC Comics universe. The "Subs", as they are often called, are a group of rejected applicants to the Legion of Super-Heroes who banded together, hoping to prove to the Legion that their powers were not as useless...
; this version is formed by Cosmic Boy
Cosmic Boy
Cosmic Boy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 . He is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and was the original leader in all incarnations of the Legion...
in order to deal with special missions. Other members of this group include Night Girl
Night Girl
Night Girl is a fictional character in the 30th century of the DC Universe. She is a member of the Legion of Substitute Heroes, and of the most recent incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes...
, Karate Kid II
Karate Kid (comics)
Karate Kid is a fictional character, a superhero in the future of the DC Comics universe, and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century...
, as well as her former teachers Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel.
Post-Zero Hour
Comet Queen makes two appearances after Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, in Legionnaires #43 (December 1996), and later as a member of the new Legion Academy in Legion #25.Post-Infinite Crisis
Comet Queen later appears in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, among many Legionnaires from alternate realities and Legion-related characters who have been brought to fight the Time TrapperTime Trapper
The Time Trapper is a fictional character, a supervillain in stories published by DC Comics. The Time Trapper's main enemies are the Legion of Super-Heroes...
.
Comet Queen makes another appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes (current series) #6, as part of the active class at the Legion Academy.