Starro
Encyclopedia
Starro is a fictional
supervillain
that appears in comic books published by DC Comics
. The character first appeared in Brave and the Bold #28 (Feb. - March 1960), and was created by Gardner Fox
and Mike Sekowsky
.
Starro is the first villain to face the original Justice League of America. Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books
, the character has appeared in both comic book
s and other DC Comics-related products such as animated television series; and trading card
s.
#28 (Feb.-March 1960) in a story called "Starro the Conqueror", which was also the first appearance of the Justice League of America. Starro reappeared in an 11-page Aquaman
story in Adventure Comics
#451 (May-June 1977) and a two-part story in Justice League of America #189 - 190 (April - May 1981).
The character returned in an alternate universe
story in Captain Carrot
& His Amazing Zoo Crew #1 (March 1982) and appeared briefly in Crisis on Infinite Earths
#9 (Dec. 1985).
In the post-Crisis DC universe, Starro appeared in a five-part story in Justice League Europe
#24 - 28 (March - July 1991) and was revamped and reintroduced in JLA Secret Files #1 (Sept. 1997) and JLA
#22 - 23 (Sept. - Oct. 1998). Another version featured in the intercompany crossover
JLA/Avengers
#1 - 4 (Sept. 2003 - May 2004); Teen Titans vol. 3, #51 - 54 (Nov. 2007 - Feb. 2008) and Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps: Secret Files #1 (Feb. 2008) and Booster Gold
#13 - 14 (Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009).
A humanoid version starred in a 13-issue story arc in R.E.B.E.L.S #1 - 13 (April 2009 - April 2010) and a special "origin" issue in R.E.B.E.L.S Annual #1 (Dec. 2009).
lifeform resembling a giant starfish with a central eye and prehensile extremities which, upon its first appearance, came to Earth and placed the residents of Happy Harbor
and Rhode Island
under its mental control. The heroes Aquaman
; the Flash; Hal Jordan
; Martian Manhunter
and Wonder Woman
team to defeat the alien, eventually coating it (at the suggestion of Snapper Carr
) with quicklime, which nullifies its abilities. A segment of that Starro survives, and regenerates into a complete creature, but is stopped by Aquaman before able to renew its plan of conquest.
Starro reappeared to threaten Earth again, having once more survived from a small piece of his former body, taking mental control of a young boy who finds him while fishing, and subsequently dominates the boy's family who feed him enough to regenerate his full starfish anatomy. Upon forcing them to transport him to New York, Starro displays for the first time his ability to asexually spawn
millions of miniature duplicate "spores" of himself, which attach to the faces of humans and render them under his mental control. Starro uses these starfish spores to control several members of the Justice League while enslaving the entire population of New York, but is ultimately defeated with extreme cold before carrying out his plan to spread his spores across the planet.
When Superman
investigates a strange phenomenon
causing the citizens of Metropolis
to begin acting like apes, he is accidentally transported to an alternate universe and arrives on Earth-C. Meeting sentient animals called Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew
, Superman aids the animal heroes to defeat Starro, who is based on the planet Pluto
. Superman then takes the defeated Starro back to their original universe.
In a later appearance, Starro convinces Justice League Europe
that it is dying and wishes to return to space. Aided by ex-Green Lantern Kilowog
, Starro returns to its original ship which -once repaired- is launched out of Earth's atmosphere. Starro, however, betrays the Justice League when it programs its vessel to explode, freeing Starro from his large body and releasing thousands of his smaller "spore" versions over Western Europe. Assuming control of thousands of humans, Starro seizes power, with several members of Justice League Europe opposing the alien. The team suffers a setback when Starro takes control of the Martian Manhunter, although Starro is finally defeated when Justice League member Ice
freezes the original creature.
During the Infinite Crisis
, Starro appeared as a member of Alexander Luthor, Jr.
's Secret Society of Super Villains
.
Starro returns to Earth-C (now called Earth-26) to spark a conflict between aquatic and terran creatures. Despite the efforts of the Zoo Crew, Starro floods the planet and defeats the team. They are then transported off world with the surviving refugees by another animal team, Just'a Lotta Animals
. Zoo Crew member Pig Iron apparently sacrifices himself and battles Starro underwater as they escape.
Starro reappears in the Titans Tomorrow storyline as a member of the Sinestro Corps
, wielding five power rings and controlling several supervillains. It is eventually destroyed again by a future version of the Flash
(although he makes a point that Starro will eventually regrow again).
In post-Infinite Crisis
DC continuity
, it was retroactively established that Starro belonged to an entire race of parasites that travel around the universe conquering planets with "motherstars" releasing spores to take mental control of a population. When one such motherstar arrived on the planet Hatorei and enslaved its psychically gifted native humanoids, the races sole surviving boy manages to take control of an infant starro queen which fused to his chest, and was thus himself empowered to mentally dominate her entire parasitic race, assuming the name of "Starro the Conqueror" himself. Empowered by a huge army of drone soldiers taken from conquered worlds and controlled by starro spores, and led by an elite guard who retain their free will, this starfish-fused-humanoid "Starro" conquers entire galaxies and derives power from all those mentally linked by his spores. It was thus retcon
ned that the originally-established Starro which had faced Earth's superheroes several times was merely a "probe" dispatched by this humanoid conqueror.
and the population of Blue Valley
using so-called "face-huggers" virtually identical to Starro's spores. Although the JLA intend to intervene, they are advised against doing so by the Spectre
, who reveals the alien's intention is to capture and control the heroes and use them to form an army to conquer the galaxy. The JLA request the Spectre temporarily remove their powers--thus eliminating the potential threat they might pose if the plan goes wrong--allowing them to distract "It" while Batman sneaks past "It"'s defences--designed for superhumans rather than normal humans--and disables it with extreme cold.
This Starro-like green "It" creature later returns and is revealed to be a scout for several huge versions of the creature, collectively called the "Star Conqueror". Covering entire continents with its giant starfish bodies, "It" psychically enslaves the human race as they sleep. Dream of the Endless
aids the JLA, with several members battling the alien in the dreamworld. Another small team of the JLA distract "It" by attacking its physical form. Assisted by a homeless man resisting "It"'s control, the heroes free mankind from the alien's influence. Dream captures the giant "It"s and store the aliens with his other keepsakes. The name "Starro" is never used in this storyline, nor is any connection acknowledged apart from one fleeting reference by the Flash
to reading a file that an older incarnation of the JLA had battled "similar creatures" in the past, yet oddly even those characters who were present for said confrontations such as Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Batman and Superman do not make note of any similarity between "It" and Starro. When dissecting one of "It"'s spore-like "face-huggers", Batman discovers that they are "some kind of parasitical machine", with circuitry inside its fleshy outer surface, something inconsistent with the wholly organic Starro.
superhero team the Avengers
when the villain Krona
briefly merges two universes, Starro being driven off when it finds itself unable to cope with the chaos magic controlled by the Scarlet Witch
due to its 'need' for order.
, using his time-travelling technology to retroactively conquer Earth. Booster Gold
successfully undoes Starro's action, and the creature is also foiled in the future with the assistance of the villain Lady Chronos
.
that act in accordance with the original's will. The clones are parasites by nature, and can attach themselves to a humanoid's face, and subsequently take control of the host's central nervous system
, thereby controlling the host. Control of the host is lost once removed from the victim.
The creature is also capable of energy projection; flight
; changing colour and has a high degree of invulnerability.
The humanoid "Starro the Conqueror" possesses telepathy great enough to control the Starro alien race, and strength drawn from the victims of the Starro probes.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
that appears in comic books published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The character first appeared in Brave and the Bold #28 (Feb. - March 1960), and was created by Gardner Fox
Gardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
and Mike Sekowsky
Mike Sekowsky
Michael Sekowsky was a Jewish American comic book artist best known as the exclusive penciler for DC Comics' Justice League of America during most of the 1960s, and as the regular writer and artist on Wonder Woman during the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Early life and career:Mike Sekowsky began...
.
Starro is the first villain to face the original Justice League of America. Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
, the character has appeared in both comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s and other DC Comics-related products such as animated television series; and trading card
Trading card
A trading card is a small card, usually made out of paperboard or thick paper, which usually contains an image of a certain person, place or thing and a short description of the picture, along with other text...
s.
Publication history
The character debuted in The Brave and the BoldThe Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
#28 (Feb.-March 1960) in a story called "Starro the Conqueror", which was also the first appearance of the Justice League of America. Starro reappeared in an 11-page Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
story in Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman...
#451 (May-June 1977) and a two-part story in Justice League of America #189 - 190 (April - May 1981).
The character returned in an alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
story in Captain Carrot
Captain Carrot
Captain Carrot is a fictional anthropomorphic superhero published by DC Comics. His first appearance was in a special insert in The New Teen Titans #16...
& His Amazing Zoo Crew #1 (March 1982) and appeared briefly in Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
#9 (Dec. 1985).
In the post-Crisis DC universe, Starro appeared in a five-part story in Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe was a DC Comics book run that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America ....
#24 - 28 (March - July 1991) and was revamped and reintroduced in JLA Secret Files #1 (Sept. 1997) and JLA
JLA (comic book)
JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League.-Publication history:The low sales of the various Justice League spinoff books by the mid-1990s prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team on a single title...
#22 - 23 (Sept. - Oct. 1998). Another version featured in the intercompany crossover
Intercompany crossover
In comic books, an intercompany crossover is a comic or series of comics where characters published by one company meet those published by another...
JLA/Avengers
JLA/Avengers
JLA/Avengers is a comic book limited series and crossover published in prestige format by DC Comics and Marvel Comics from September 2003 to May 2004. The series was written by Kurt Busiek, with art by George Pérez...
#1 - 4 (Sept. 2003 - May 2004); Teen Titans vol. 3, #51 - 54 (Nov. 2007 - Feb. 2008) and Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps: Secret Files #1 (Feb. 2008) and Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
#13 - 14 (Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009).
A humanoid version starred in a 13-issue story arc in R.E.B.E.L.S #1 - 13 (April 2009 - April 2010) and a special "origin" issue in R.E.B.E.L.S Annual #1 (Dec. 2009).
Fictional character biography
Starro is an intelligent alienExtraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
lifeform resembling a giant starfish with a central eye and prehensile extremities which, upon its first appearance, came to Earth and placed the residents of Happy Harbor
Happy Harbor
Happy Harbor is a fictional United States location in Rhode Island, referenced in DC Comics as the location of the first headquarters, "Justice Mountain" or the "Secret Sanctuary", of the Justice League of America, first appearing in The Brave and the Bold #28.-History:As the home of the Justice...
and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
under its mental control. The heroes Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
; the Flash; Hal Jordan
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
; Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
team to defeat the alien, eventually coating it (at the suggestion of Snapper Carr
Snapper Carr
Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, most famous as a supporting character to the superhero team the Justice League of America . He has often been referred to as the team's mascot...
) with quicklime, which nullifies its abilities. A segment of that Starro survives, and regenerates into a complete creature, but is stopped by Aquaman before able to renew its plan of conquest.
Starro reappeared to threaten Earth again, having once more survived from a small piece of his former body, taking mental control of a young boy who finds him while fishing, and subsequently dominates the boy's family who feed him enough to regenerate his full starfish anatomy. Upon forcing them to transport him to New York, Starro displays for the first time his ability to asexually spawn
Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is a mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single parent, and inherit the genes of that parent only, it is reproduction which does not involve meiosis, ploidy reduction, or fertilization. A more stringent definition is agamogenesis which is reproduction without...
millions of miniature duplicate "spores" of himself, which attach to the faces of humans and render them under his mental control. Starro uses these starfish spores to control several members of the Justice League while enslaving the entire population of New York, but is ultimately defeated with extreme cold before carrying out his plan to spread his spores across the planet.
When 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...
investigates a strange phenomenon
Phenomenon
A phenomenon , plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence. Phenomena are often, but not always, understood as 'appearances' or 'experiences'...
causing the citizens of Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
to begin acting like apes, he is accidentally transported to an alternate universe and arrives on Earth-C. Meeting sentient animals called Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew
Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew
Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! is a DC Comics comic book about a team of funny animal superheroes called the Zoo Crew. The characters first appeared in a special insert in The New Teen Titans #16 , followed by a series published from 1982 to 1983. The Zoo Crew characters were created by...
, Superman aids the animal heroes to defeat Starro, who is based on the planet Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
. Superman then takes the defeated Starro back to their original universe.
In a later appearance, Starro convinces Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe was a DC Comics book run that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America ....
that it is dying and wishes to return to space. Aided by ex-Green Lantern Kilowog
Kilowog
Kilowog is a fictional superhero from DC Comics, and a member of the Green Lantern Corps.-Origins:A towering alien with a brutish and porcine appearance, Kilowog is renowned throughout the Green Lantern Corps as the primary trainer of the Corps' newest recruits...
, Starro returns to its original ship which -once repaired- is launched out of Earth's atmosphere. Starro, however, betrays the Justice League when it programs its vessel to explode, freeing Starro from his large body and releasing thousands of his smaller "spore" versions over Western Europe. Assuming control of thousands of humans, Starro seizes power, with several members of Justice League Europe opposing the alien. The team suffers a setback when Starro takes control of the Martian Manhunter, although Starro is finally defeated when Justice League member Ice
Ice (comics)
Ice is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in publications from DC Comics. Created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, she first appeared in Justice League International #12 ....
freezes the original creature.
During the Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, Starro appeared as a member of Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor Jr. is a DC Comics character who turned from a hero to a villain. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Alexander has a prominent role in the DC Universe storylines Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis....
's Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
.
Starro returns to Earth-C (now called Earth-26) to spark a conflict between aquatic and terran creatures. Despite the efforts of the Zoo Crew, Starro floods the planet and defeats the team. They are then transported off world with the surviving refugees by another animal team, Just'a Lotta Animals
Just'a Lotta Animals
Just'a Lotta Animals is a fictional superhero team that appeared in stories published by DC Comics. The team was an anthropomorphic funny animal parody of the Justice League of America....
. Zoo Crew member Pig Iron apparently sacrifices himself and battles Starro underwater as they escape.
Starro reappears in the Titans Tomorrow storyline as a member of the Sinestro Corps
Sinestro Corps
The Sinestro Corps is a group of fictional characters, a villainous analogue to the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. It is led by the supervillain Thaal Sinestro.-Before the Corps:...
, wielding five power rings and controlling several supervillains. It is eventually destroyed again by a future version of the Flash
Bart Allen
Bartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
(although he makes a point that Starro will eventually regrow again).
In post-Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
DC continuity
Continuity (fiction)
In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer over some period of time...
, it was retroactively established that Starro belonged to an entire race of parasites that travel around the universe conquering planets with "motherstars" releasing spores to take mental control of a population. When one such motherstar arrived on the planet Hatorei and enslaved its psychically gifted native humanoids, the races sole surviving boy manages to take control of an infant starro queen which fused to his chest, and was thus himself empowered to mentally dominate her entire parasitic race, assuming the name of "Starro the Conqueror" himself. Empowered by a huge army of drone soldiers taken from conquered worlds and controlled by starro spores, and led by an elite guard who retain their free will, this starfish-fused-humanoid "Starro" conquers entire galaxies and derives power from all those mentally linked by his spores. It was thus retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
ned that the originally-established Starro which had faced Earth's superheroes several times was merely a "probe" dispatched by this humanoid conqueror.
"It, the Star Conqueror"
Referring to itself only as "It", a different version of Starro with green skin and a slit pupil takes control of the FlashWally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
and the population of Blue Valley
Blue Valley (comics)
Blue Valley is a fictional city in the DC Comics universe. It was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino as the home town of the original Kid Flash. It was first mentioned in The Flash #110 .-Location:...
using so-called "face-huggers" virtually identical to Starro's spores. Although the JLA intend to intervene, they are advised against doing so by the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
, who reveals the alien's intention is to capture and control the heroes and use them to form an army to conquer the galaxy. The JLA request the Spectre temporarily remove their powers--thus eliminating the potential threat they might pose if the plan goes wrong--allowing them to distract "It" while Batman sneaks past "It"'s defences--designed for superhumans rather than normal humans--and disables it with extreme cold.
This Starro-like green "It" creature later returns and is revealed to be a scout for several huge versions of the creature, collectively called the "Star Conqueror". Covering entire continents with its giant starfish bodies, "It" psychically enslaves the human race as they sleep. Dream of the Endless
Endless (comics)
The Endless are a group of beings who embody powerful forces or aspects of the universe in the DC comic book series The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman. They have existed since the dawn of time and are thought to be among the most powerful beings in the universe...
aids the JLA, with several members battling the alien in the dreamworld. Another small team of the JLA distract "It" by attacking its physical form. Assisted by a homeless man resisting "It"'s control, the heroes free mankind from the alien's influence. Dream captures the giant "It"s and store the aliens with his other keepsakes. The name "Starro" is never used in this storyline, nor is any connection acknowledged apart from one fleeting reference by the Flash
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
to reading a file that an older incarnation of the JLA had battled "similar creatures" in the past, yet oddly even those characters who were present for said confrontations such as Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Batman and Superman do not make note of any similarity between "It" and Starro. When dissecting one of "It"'s spore-like "face-huggers", Batman discovers that they are "some kind of parasitical machine", with circuitry inside its fleshy outer surface, something inconsistent with the wholly organic Starro.
JLA/Avengers
Another version of Starro battles the alternate universeParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
superhero team the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
when the villain Krona
Krona (comics)
Krona is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Green Lantern #40 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
briefly merges two universes, Starro being driven off when it finds itself unable to cope with the chaos magic controlled by the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
due to its 'need' for order.
Future version
A future version of Starro mentally enthralls the Time Master Rip HunterRip Hunter
Rip Hunter is a DC Comics character who first appeared in Showcase #20 . Following three more appearances in Showcase , Rip Hunter was given his own series, which ran for 29 issues . He later starred in the six-issue Time Masters series , written by Bob Wayne and Lewis Shiner...
, using his time-travelling technology to retroactively conquer Earth. Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
successfully undoes Starro's action, and the creature is also foiled in the future with the assistance of the villain Lady Chronos
Chronos (comics)
Chronos is the name of several fictional characters of DC Comics, both supervillains who take their name from the Greek personification of Time and have the ability of time travel and can manipulate history.-David Clinton:...
.
Powers and abilities
Starro is an alien and resembles a giant terran starfish. An asexual creature, Starro is capable of generating clonesCloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
that act in accordance with the original's will. The clones are parasites by nature, and can attach themselves to a humanoid's face, and subsequently take control of the host's central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
, thereby controlling the host. Control of the host is lost once removed from the victim.
The creature is also capable of energy projection; flight
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
; changing colour and has a high degree of invulnerability.
The humanoid "Starro the Conqueror" possesses telepathy great enough to control the Starro alien race, and strength drawn from the victims of the Starro probes.
Television
- Starro appeared in an episode of the animated television series The Superman/Aquaman Hour of AdventureThe Superman/Aquaman Hour of AdventureThe Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure is a Filmation animated series that aired on CBS from 1967 to 1968. Premiering on September 9, 1967, this 60-minute program included a series of six-minute adventures featuring various DC Comics superheroes....
. - Starro makes a cameo appearanceCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the Superman: The Animated SeriesSuperman: The Animated SeriesSuperman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
episode "The Main Man." It is shown in the Galactic Preserver's cell. It alongside other species the Galactic Preserver had were saved by Superman and kept in his Fortress of Solitude. - Starro appears in the Batman BeyondBatman BeyondBatman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
episode "The Call." In a follow-up to the "Main Man," Starro makes its move and latches onto Superman when he was feeding it. Starro concealed itself in order to breed clones of itself. When it came to the day of its plan, Starro plotted to use Superman to eliminate the Justice League. When Superman was later subdued at the Fortress of Solitude, they discovered the Starro on him. During his fight with a Starro-possessed Superman, Batman used an electric grappler to knock them out. After all of the Starros were contained, Aquagirl made communication with them and used their knowledge to input the coordinates into Big Barda's Boom Tube in order to return them to their homeworld. - Starro appeared on several occasions in Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
voiced by Kevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael Richardson is an American actor and voice actor who currently stars as Cleveland Brown, Jr. in The Cleveland Show...
. In "Revenge of the Reach!", the Starros emerged from a fallen meteor that crashed onto Dinosaur IslandDinosaur IslandDinosaur Island is an island that has appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. The island is not the same "Dinosaur Island" that appeared in Batman #35...
and latched onto the Challengers of the UnknownChallengers of the UnknownThe Challengers of the Unknown is a group of fictional characters in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, or co-created with Dave Wood , this quartet of adventurers explored science fictional and apparent paranormal occurrences and faced fantastic menaces.Scripts for the first...
. In "Clash of the Metal Men!", the Starros made their way to Atlantis and possessed the Atlanteans, MeraMera (comics)Mera is a fictional undersea queen that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Aquaman #11 , and was created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy.-Publication history:...
, Arthur Curry Jr., and Fluke the Dolphin. Around AquamanAquamanAquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
's discovery of this, he encountered the Faceless Hunter who serves as a herald to the "Great Starro Invasion". Aquaman is then overwhelmed and is taken over by the Starros. In "The Power of Shazam!", the Faceless Hunter defeats most of Earth's heroes (among those seen are Blue Beetle, Green ArrowGreen ArrowGreen Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
& SpeedyRoy Harper (comics)Roy Harper is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He was known for over fifty years as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy. He first appeared alongside his mentor in More Fun Comics #73...
, Flash, Plastic ManPlastic ManPlastic Man is a fictional comic-book superhero originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Cole, he first appeared in Police Comics #1 ....
, OMAC, Black CanaryBlack CanaryBlack Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
, Hawk and DoveHawk and DoveHawk and Dove is the moniker given to two superheroes when they team up to fight crime. Hawk and Dove describes each character's attitude or approach to fighting crime. The hawk represents aggression, and the dove representing pacifism.-Hank and Don Hall:...
, Bronze TigerBronze TigerBronze Tiger is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. He is a martial artist who first appeared in Dragon's Fists, a novel by Dennis O'Neil and Jim Berry, starring Richard Dragon. His first DC Comics appearance was in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter.-Early years:Ben Turner comes...
, HuntressHuntress (Helena Bertinelli)Huntress is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Based upon the Earth-Two character Helena Wayne, she is one of several DC characters to bear the Huntress name...
, WildcatWildcat (comics)Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America...
, Doctor Mid-NiteDoctor Mid-NiteDoctor Mid-Nite is a fictional superhero physician in DC Comics. The figure has been represented in the comics by three different individuals, Charles McNider, Beth Chapel and Pieter Anton Cross. Dr. Mid-Nite was originally created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeier...
, HourmanHourmanHourman is the name of three different fictional DC Comics superheroes, the first of whom was created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily in Adventure Comics #48 , during the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Rex Tyler:Scientist Rex Tyler, raised in upstate...
, Mister MiracleMister MiracleMister Miracle is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mister Miracle #1 and was created by Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
& Big BardaBig BardaBig Barda is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Mister Miracle #4 , and was created by Jack Kirby....
, DianaDonna TroyDonna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani...
, the OutsidersOutsiders (comics)The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
(Black LightningBlack LightningBlack Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
, KatanaKatana (comics)Katana is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created to be a member of the first Outsiders team by writer Mike W...
, and MetamorphoMetamorphoMetamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
), FireFire (comics)Fire is a fictional character, a comic book superhero from the DC Comics universe. A version of her first appeared in Super Friends #25, , and was created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon...
, Hawkman and Green LanternHal JordanHarold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
) and places Starros on them to build Starro's army. In "The Siege of Starro! Part One", he adds Guy GardnerGuy Gardner (comics)Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
, KilowogKilowogKilowog is a fictional superhero from DC Comics, and a member of the Green Lantern Corps.-Origins:A towering alien with a brutish and porcine appearance, Kilowog is renowned throughout the Green Lantern Corps as the primary trainer of the Corps' newest recruits...
, Captain CometCaptain CometCaptain Comet is a fictional DC Comics superhero created by DC Comics Editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino....
, Ultra the Multi-AlienUltra the Multi-AlienUltra the Multi-Alien was a science fiction superhero featured in comics published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mystery in Space #103 , pushing out Adam Strange and Space Ranger from that title...
, and Space RangerSpace RangerSpace Ranger is a science fiction hero who was published by DC Comics in several of their 1950s and 1960s anthology titles. He first appeared in Showcase #15 , and was created by writers Edmond Hamilton and Gardner Fox, and artist Bob Brown...
to his army of controlled heroes when making his way to Earth. Also, VixenVixen (comics)Vixen is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics universe. She debuted in Action Comics #521 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner.-Publication history:...
and AtomAtom (comics)The Atom is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe.There have been five characters who have shared the Atom codename. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Connor and first appeared in All-American Publications'...
ended up under Starro's control. It's up to Batman, Booster Gold, B'wana Beast & Firestorm to stop the galactic threat. While Batman and B'wana Beast fought Faceless Hunter, Firestorm had Billy Batson say Shazam underneath Starro many times enough for Starro to crash to the ground. In "The Siege of Starro! Part Two", Batman and the other heroes were able to remove the smaller Starros from those that Starro controlled. Faceless Hunter ended up using B'wana Beast's powers to merge Starro's carcass with the smaller Starros to form one large Composite Starro Monster (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
) that could siphon energy from heroes more easily and make itself grow bigger and more powerful. Batman managed to take down this composite monster by having the Metal MenMetal MenThe Metal Men are fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in Showcase #37 and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciller Ross Andru...
combine into a giant Metal Man called Alloy. Upon being rescued from Faceless Hunter, B'wana Beast ended up using his powers to separate the composite monster at the cost of his life. - Starro made a minor appearance in Young JusticeYoung Justice (TV series)Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young...
, in the episode "Downtime" he was found frozen, but alive, inside a block of ice by the Atlanteans. Later in the episode Black MantaBlack MantaBlack Manta is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as the archenemy of Aquaman. The character debuted in Aquaman #35 .-Fictional character biography:...
and his crew tried to steal Starro for The Light. Ultimately Black Manta decided to destroy Starro as his secondary objective when the primary proved impossible. But a small piece was found and sent to the surface to be studied since the Atlantean science lab is in no condition to study it. When Black Manta tells The Light (Project CadmusProject CadmusProject Cadmus is a fictional genetic engineering project in the DC Comics Universe. It was created by Jack Kirby as the DNA Project in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 , and was run by the former Newsboy Legion...
' Board of Directors) about managing to obtain a sample of it, The Light comments that they will eventually get Starro implying that he is part of their plot.
Film
- Starro made a cameo appearance at the end of Justice League: The New Frontier.
- Starro can momentarily be seen in Justice League: Crisis on Two EarthsJustice League: Crisis on Two EarthsJustice League: Crisis on Two Earths is a 2010 original direct-to-video animated film released on February 23, 2010. It is based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature, Justice League: Worlds Collide, which was intended as a bridge between the then-concluding Justice League animated television...
. When J'onn J'onzzMartian ManhunterThe Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
shares his memories with the parallel universes' Rose WilsonRose WilsonRose Wilson is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. She is a member of the Teen Titans and the illegitimate daughter of Deathstroke the Terminator.-Fictional character biography:...
, he, Green Lantern, Aquaman, The Flash and Wonder Woman, are seen fighting a purple and blue monster with numerous tentacles, though the creature itself remains mostly off screen, it can easily be recognized as Starro. J'onn J'onzz vision shows the league in the same positions of battle as they were in the comic (along with a split second of The Flash running towards the beast). This implies the Martian was caught within the tentacles.
Video games
- Starro appears as a boss in the WiiWiiThe Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version of the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold – The VideogameBatman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame is a video game based on the comic book character Batman and the television cartoon series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. It was developed by WayForward Technologies and distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment...
video game. Batman fights him with the assistance of Guy GardnerGuy Gardner (comics)Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
. A cutscene shows that Guy Gardner inadvertently freed Starro when he retaliated against MongulMongulMongul is the name of two fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the character debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin. The second version first appears in Showcase '95 #85 and was created by...
, who had insulted him.
Packaging
- Starro was the grand daddy of Mattel's San Diego Comic Con items for 2010. The pack is a recreation of the classic Brave and the Bold cover and features light and sounds as well as the voice of Batman actor Kevin ConroyKevin ConroyKevin Conroy is an American stage, screen, and voice actor, best known for his acclaimed voice role as Batman in numerous animated television series, feature films, and video games that make up the DC Animated Universe.-Early life:...
. Each figure in the set has a recorded description just like a museum display with Kevin describing the origin of each character. It is a package designed by Frank VarelaFrank VarelaFrank Varela is a graphic designer born to a family of Cuban political exiles. An UCLA graduate, Varela has designed and art directed for properties such as The X-Files and ER. He specializes in corporate identity and logo design...
.
Web Series
- Starro the Conqueror is parodied in an online web series made by Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones in New Zealand. Starro got into a huge fight with some superheroes, and sued them for damages, fearing retribution, Starro went into the Witness Relocation Program, and is now living in New Zealand as "Stavros the Contractor", which is the name of the series.