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Starshine (comics)
Encyclopedia
Starshine is the name of three fictional
American comic book
characters owned by the Marvel Comics
and appearing in that company's Marvel Universe
.
The first was an alien
woman named Landra who first appeared in Rom: Spaceknight #14 (1980) by writer Bill Mantlo
and artist Sal Buscema
. The second was an Earth girl named Brandy Clark, who first appeared in Rom #1 (1979) again by Mantlo and Buscema. The third was the Galadorian Anarra, one of the Third Generation Spaceknights introduced in Jim Starlin
's Spaceknights mini-series.
and artist Sal Buscema
.
The character subsequently appears in Rom #16 (March 1981), #19-20 (May-June 1981; backup story by Mantlo/S. Buscema, took part in the Trial of Terminator), #25 (December 1981), and #27-28 (February-March 1982; arrived on Earth, killed; by Mantlo/S. Buscema).
to battle the alien Dire Wraiths, Landra was one of those who accepted the call. Her armor gave her the power to use the mystical "Living Light".
After the Spaceknights fended off the Dire Wraith invasion, Starshine teamed with fellow Spaceknights Rom and Terminator to seek out Wraiths that infiltrated nearby star systems. During one mission, she witnessed Terminator kill an innocent. She then acted as the prosecutor during Terminator's trial. Afterwards, she apparently pursued the Wraiths solo. At some point it appears she completed her mission and returned to Galador, only to be put into stasis by Mentus, who had usurped the Prime Director's position as the ruler of Galador in the Spaceknights' absence.
After the Spaceknights defeated Mentus and prevented Galactus
from consuming Galador, Landra, who had fallen in love with Rom, decided to follow him back to Earth. There she became jealous of Rom's relationship with Brandy Clark. Landra was soon killed as she prevented a Dire Wraith disguised as Brandy from slaying Rom. She was buried in Clairton.
and Al Milgrom
.
The character subsequently appears as the second Starshine in Rom #40 (March 1983; by Mantlo/S. Buscema), #43-44 (June-July 1983), #46 (September 1983), #48 (November 1983), #50-51 (January-February 1984; changed appearance and mood; by M/S.B.), #52-53 (March-April 1984), #55-59 (June-October 1984), #72 (November 1985), Rom Annual #3 (1984; became human again; by Bill Mantlo (writer) WM Johnson (art)), Rom #73-75 (December 1985-February 1986; reunited with Rom; by Bill Mantlo (writer) Steve Ditko
(art)), Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #418 (June 1994; revealed to be pregnant; by Peter David
(writer) Todd McFarlane
(art)), and Spaceknights
limited series #1-5 (October 2000-February 2001; children revealed; by Jim Starlin
(writer) Chris Batista
(art)).
. She had a romantic relationship with a local young man named Steve Jackson. Brandy was the first person to meet the Spaceknight Rom when he landed on Earth, and helped him as he tracked down and banished the Dire Wraiths that had infiltrated the town. Brandy came to fall in love with Rom because of his nobility, which caused friction between them and Steve.
Not long after the death of Landra (the original Starshine), Rom left Clairton to continue seeking out Wraiths elsewhere. Brandy felt strangely compelled to dig up Starshine's body. A Wraith sorcerer
called Doctor Dredd then magically transplanted Brandy's body into the Starshine armor as part of an evil plan. This was something she had secretly yearned for; and afterwards, she left Clairton and accompanied Rom as he traveled the Earth.
During their absence, all of Clairton's citizens were killed by the female Dire Wraiths when they decided to take over from their males. Steve and Brandy's family were among the dead, which made her bitter and vengeful, even causing the Starshine armor she wore to morph into a more fierce-looking one. She continued to help Rom battle the Wraiths, until she was magically changed back into her human form by Hybrid
.
When all the Wraiths were finally defeated, Rom left for Galador, leaving Brandy on Earth. Her desire to be with him was noticed by the cosmic entity
the Beyonder
, who was active on Earth at the time. He granted her wish to be sent to Galador, where she hoped to be reunited with Rom. However, she arrived before he did, and it turned out that a second generation of Spaceknights had turned against the human Galadorians and killed most of them off. Brandy joined the underground resistance
, but ultimately all human Galadorians were killed, and Brandy herself was only saved by the timely arrival of Rom. With help from the original Spaceknights, Rom defeated the evil ones. He reclaims his “humanity” (human body parts) which he had until then thought lost. Rom stays on Galador with Brandy, with the other Spaceknights (who had lost their human bodies permanently) watching over them from space.
Brandy was seen again at Rick Jones
' wedding along with the now-human Rom; she appeared to be pregnant.
Brandy had two sons with Rom, both of whom became Spaceknights themselves.
After being separated from the Starshine armor, Brandy continued to display certain abilities. A "ghost" of Starshine saved Rom from Wraith darkness, and several times the outlines of her armor appeared around her, usually in times of stress. It was noted that when this occurred, she seemed stronger than human, although the plot point was eventually dropped.
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...
American comic book
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
characters owned by the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and appearing in that company's Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
The first was an alien
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
woman named Landra who first appeared in Rom: Spaceknight #14 (1980) by writer Bill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo is an American comic-book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: the Eagle Award-winning Micronauts and the long-running Rom. An attorney, he also worked as a public defender...
and artist Sal Buscema
Sal Buscema
Silvio "Sal" Buscema is an American comic book artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of The Incredible Hulk...
. The second was an Earth girl named Brandy Clark, who first appeared in Rom #1 (1979) again by Mantlo and Buscema. The third was the Galadorian Anarra, one of the Third Generation Spaceknights introduced in Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
's Spaceknights mini-series.
Landra
Publication history
The first Starshine first appeared in Rom #14 (January 1981, in a backup story), and was created by writer Bill MantloBill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo is an American comic-book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: the Eagle Award-winning Micronauts and the long-running Rom. An attorney, he also worked as a public defender...
and artist Sal Buscema
Sal Buscema
Silvio "Sal" Buscema is an American comic book artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of The Incredible Hulk...
.
The character subsequently appears in Rom #16 (March 1981), #19-20 (May-June 1981; backup story by Mantlo/S. Buscema, took part in the Trial of Terminator), #25 (December 1981), and #27-28 (February-March 1982; arrived on Earth, killed; by Mantlo/S. Buscema).
Fictional character biography
The first Starshine was a young woman named Landra who lived in the fictional planet Galador 200 years ago. When her world's government called for volunteers to become SpaceknightsSpaceknights
Spaceknights is a name used by at least three distinct groups of characters in the fictional . The better known group is a core concept of the 1980s comic book Rom Spaceknight, while the other two are far more recent creations and not much is yet known about them.-Galador's Spaceknights:The...
to battle the alien Dire Wraiths, Landra was one of those who accepted the call. Her armor gave her the power to use the mystical "Living Light".
After the Spaceknights fended off the Dire Wraith invasion, Starshine teamed with fellow Spaceknights Rom and Terminator to seek out Wraiths that infiltrated nearby star systems. During one mission, she witnessed Terminator kill an innocent. She then acted as the prosecutor during Terminator's trial. Afterwards, she apparently pursued the Wraiths solo. At some point it appears she completed her mission and returned to Galador, only to be put into stasis by Mentus, who had usurped the Prime Director's position as the ruler of Galador in the Spaceknights' absence.
After the Spaceknights defeated Mentus and prevented Galactus
Galactus
Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus...
from consuming Galador, Landra, who had fallen in love with Rom, decided to follow him back to Earth. There she became jealous of Rom's relationship with Brandy Clark. Landra was soon killed as she prevented a Dire Wraith disguised as Brandy from slaying Rom. She was buried in Clairton.
Brandy Clark
Publication history
Brandy Clark first appeared in Rom #1 (December 1979), and was created by Bill MantloBill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo is an American comic-book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: the Eagle Award-winning Micronauts and the long-running Rom. An attorney, he also worked as a public defender...
and Al Milgrom
Al Milgrom
Allen "Al" Milgrom is an American comic book writer, penciller, inker and editor, primarily for Marvel Comics. He is known for his 10-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciler, and inker on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West...
.
The character subsequently appears as the second Starshine in Rom #40 (March 1983; by Mantlo/S. Buscema), #43-44 (June-July 1983), #46 (September 1983), #48 (November 1983), #50-51 (January-February 1984; changed appearance and mood; by M/S.B.), #52-53 (March-April 1984), #55-59 (June-October 1984), #72 (November 1985), Rom Annual #3 (1984; became human again; by Bill Mantlo (writer) WM Johnson (art)), Rom #73-75 (December 1985-February 1986; reunited with Rom; by Bill Mantlo (writer) Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
(art)), Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #418 (June 1994; revealed to be pregnant; by Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
(writer) Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books, such as the fantasy series Spawn....
(art)), and Spaceknights
Spaceknights
Spaceknights is a name used by at least three distinct groups of characters in the fictional . The better known group is a core concept of the 1980s comic book Rom Spaceknight, while the other two are far more recent creations and not much is yet known about them.-Galador's Spaceknights:The...
limited series #1-5 (October 2000-February 2001; children revealed; by Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
(writer) Chris Batista
Chris Batista
Chris Batista is an American comic book artist, known for his work on a number of titles for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, including Steel, Spaceknights and Thunderbolts.-Career:...
(art)).
Fictional character biography
A young woman named Brandy Clark lived in the fictional town of Clairton, West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. She had a romantic relationship with a local young man named Steve Jackson. Brandy was the first person to meet the Spaceknight Rom when he landed on Earth, and helped him as he tracked down and banished the Dire Wraiths that had infiltrated the town. Brandy came to fall in love with Rom because of his nobility, which caused friction between them and Steve.
Not long after the death of Landra (the original Starshine), Rom left Clairton to continue seeking out Wraiths elsewhere. Brandy felt strangely compelled to dig up Starshine's body. A Wraith sorcerer
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
called Doctor Dredd then magically transplanted Brandy's body into the Starshine armor as part of an evil plan. This was something she had secretly yearned for; and afterwards, she left Clairton and accompanied Rom as he traveled the Earth.
During their absence, all of Clairton's citizens were killed by the female Dire Wraiths when they decided to take over from their males. Steve and Brandy's family were among the dead, which made her bitter and vengeful, even causing the Starshine armor she wore to morph into a more fierce-looking one. She continued to help Rom battle the Wraiths, until she was magically changed back into her human form by Hybrid
Hybrid (Marvel Comics)
Hybrid is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Rom # 17 by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Sal Buscema.-Publication history:...
.
When all the Wraiths were finally defeated, Rom left for Galador, leaving Brandy on Earth. Her desire to be with him was noticed by the cosmic entity
Cosmic entities (Marvel Comics)
Cosmic entities, also referred to as cosmic beings, are a type of fictional character in the . They possess power on a stellar, galactic, universal, or even multiversal level, far beyond those of humans or conventional superheroes, and frequently serve some natural function in the...
the Beyonder
Beyonder
The Beyonder is a fictional character in . Created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck, the immensely powerful Beyonder first appeared in Secret Wars vol. 1 #1 as an unseen force. He reappears in Secret Wars II #1 , which was created by Jim Shooter and Al Milgrom.-Publication history:The Beyonder was a...
, who was active on Earth at the time. He granted her wish to be sent to Galador, where she hoped to be reunited with Rom. However, she arrived before he did, and it turned out that a second generation of Spaceknights had turned against the human Galadorians and killed most of them off. Brandy joined the underground resistance
Underground resistance
Underground resistance may refer to*Underground Resistance , a musical collective from Detroit, Michigan*Underground resistance during World War II, the inhabitants of various locales resisting the rule of the Nazis, the Empire of Japan, and Mussolini...
, but ultimately all human Galadorians were killed, and Brandy herself was only saved by the timely arrival of Rom. With help from the original Spaceknights, Rom defeated the evil ones. He reclaims his “humanity” (human body parts) which he had until then thought lost. Rom stays on Galador with Brandy, with the other Spaceknights (who had lost their human bodies permanently) watching over them from space.
Brandy was seen again at Rick Jones
Rick Jones (comics)
Richard Milhouse "Rick" Jones is a fictional comic book character in the .-Publication history:Rick Jones first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1, as a sidekick to the Incredible Hulk...
' wedding along with the now-human Rom; she appeared to be pregnant.
Brandy had two sons with Rom, both of whom became Spaceknights themselves.
Powers and abilities
Both Starshines derived their powers from their bionic Spaceknight armor. In addition to giving them superhuman strength and the ability to fly in space across interstellar distances, the armor could channel the extra-dimensional energy known as the Living Light from its eyes, which they could use to reveal the true form of a disguised Dire Wraith, or as destructive energy beams.After being separated from the Starshine armor, Brandy continued to display certain abilities. A "ghost" of Starshine saved Rom from Wraith darkness, and several times the outlines of her armor appeared around her, usually in times of stress. It was noted that when this occurred, she seemed stronger than human, although the plot point was eventually dropped.