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Sunburst (comics)
Encyclopedia
Sunburst is the name of two fictional Japanese
superheroes published by DC Comics
.
#45 (September 1983), and was created by Paul Kupperberg
and Alex Saviuk
. Takeo Sato gained the ability to turn solar energy into light or heat after inhaling volcanic vapors as a child. He accidentally discovers his powers when working as a stuntman on the low-budget television series "Sunburst." When the cables used to make him appear to fly break, he finds out that he can actually fly. At first keeping his powers a secret, he is forced to use them to commit robberies after his parents are kidnapped by gang of crooks. Sato frees them with the help of Superboy, and decides to become a superhero for real. Sunburst is a founding member of the Japanese equivalent of the Justice League of America, a team called Big Science Action
.
During the Crisis
, he unites with Dr. Light
and Rising Sun
to save the Earth
from the Anti-Monitor
. He is killed by one of the Anti-Monitor's Shadow Demons in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (March 1986).
Post-Crisis, it was clarified in the pages of DC Comics' Who's Who
editions that Rising Sun
was retconned
into Superboy's role in Sunburst's origins.
introduced a new version of Sunburst in Doom Patrol vol. 2 #26 (September 1989). This version proclaims himself to be one of Japan's "greatest super heroes" and is constantly trailed by the media. He even has his own show and manga
, "The Adventures of the New Sunburst". This Sunburst is responsible for bringing in the woman who would later be known as the Quiz, before being ambushed by the Brotherhood of Dada
and disgraced on national television. He is then sucked into the living cyclone known as Frenzy; it is unknown if he survives. Whether or not he had a connection with Takeo Sato, the original Sunburst, was never revealed.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
superheroes 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...
.
Takeo Sato
This Sunburst first appeared in New Adventures of SuperboySuperboy (Kal-El)
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
#45 (September 1983), and was created by Paul Kupperberg
Paul Kupperberg
Paul Kupperberg is a former editor for DC Comics, and a prolific writer of comic books and newspaper strips.-Biography:Kupperberg entered the comics field from comics fandom, as had his brother, writer/artist Alan Kupperberg...
and Alex Saviuk
Alex Saviuk
Alex Saviuk is an American comic book artist primarily known for his work on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man.-Biography:Saviuk was born on August 17, 1952 Alex Saviuk (born August 17, 1953) is an American comic book artist primarily known for his work on the Marvel Comics character...
. Takeo Sato gained the ability to turn solar energy into light or heat after inhaling volcanic vapors as a child. He accidentally discovers his powers when working as a stuntman on the low-budget television series "Sunburst." When the cables used to make him appear to fly break, he finds out that he can actually fly. At first keeping his powers a secret, he is forced to use them to commit robberies after his parents are kidnapped by gang of crooks. Sato frees them with the help of Superboy, and decides to become a superhero for real. Sunburst is a founding member of the Japanese equivalent of the Justice League of America, a team called Big Science Action
Big Science Action
Big Science Action is a team of fictional superheroes, comic book characters published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Final Crisis Sketchbook #1 , and were created by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones.-Publication history:...
.
During the Crisis
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...
, he unites with Dr. Light
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
and Rising Sun
Rising Sun (comics)
Rising Sun is a fictional Japanese superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared solo in Super Friends #8 , and as a member of the Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents #46, . He was created by E...
to save the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
from the Anti-Monitor
Anti-Monitor
The Anti-Monitor is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain and the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 , and was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, only to return after a long absence in Green...
. He is killed by one of the Anti-Monitor's Shadow Demons in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (March 1986).
Post-Crisis, it was clarified in the pages of DC Comics' Who's Who
Who's Who in the DC Universe
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional characters in their imaginary universe, the DC Universe.-History:Who's Who was the creation of Len Wein, Marv...
editions that Rising Sun
Rising Sun (comics)
Rising Sun is a fictional Japanese superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared solo in Super Friends #8 , and as a member of the Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents #46, . He was created by E...
was retconned
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...
into Superboy's role in Sunburst's origins.
Celebrity Sunburst
Grant MorrisonGrant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
introduced a new version of Sunburst in Doom Patrol vol. 2 #26 (September 1989). This version proclaims himself to be one of Japan's "greatest super heroes" and is constantly trailed by the media. He even has his own show and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, "The Adventures of the New Sunburst". This Sunburst is responsible for bringing in the woman who would later be known as the Quiz, before being ambushed by the Brotherhood of Dada
Brotherhood of Dada
The Brotherhood of Dada is a group of supervillains in the DC universe. Enemies of the Doom Patrol, the Brotherhood is devoted to all things absurd and bizarre, taking their name from the Dada art movement...
and disgraced on national television. He is then sucked into the living cyclone known as Frenzy; it is unknown if he survives. Whether or not he had a connection with Takeo Sato, the original Sunburst, was never revealed.