Rampage (DC Comics)

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Rampage
S.T.A.R. Labs
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and leaping
  • Solar radiation absorption
  • Gifted intelligence

Rampage (real name Karen Lou "Kitty" Faulkner) is a fictional character in the

Starman. Rampage has a distinct appearance, with orange skin, a towering, muscular build, and a fiery red mohawk. Rampage's personality is (like her namesake) hot-tempered, aggressive and uninhibited, the complete opposite of her alter ego
Kitty Faulkner.

Publication history

Rampage first appeared in

Superman (vol. 2) #7 and was created by John Byrne
.

Fictional character biography

Dr. Kitty Faulkner was working on a pollution-free energy source for a competition sponsored by the

run amok through the streets of Metropolis. The Daily Planet, not knowing she was actually Kitty Faulkner, quickly dubbed her "Rampage". Superman stepped in, but showed restraint in subduing her, mistakenly thinking this was an alternate identity of Lois Lane. After Rampage was revealed to be Dr. Faulkner, Superman was able to drain off her excess solar energy and return Kitty to normal.[2]

Months later, Dr. Faulkner fell ill finding that her body now needed exposure to a certain amount of solar and cosmic energy or she would die. Dr. Moyers gave her a technological device in the form of a

S.T.A.R. Labs.[3]

Faulkner proved to be a talented administrator and earned a transfer to new S.T.A.R. Labs in

Final Night crisis.[4]

When Kitty's new colleague Christine Bruckner framed her for embezzlement, Superman tried to speak in her defence, but found himself forced to pursue Rampage as she tore through the town of Leesburg trying to kill Christine for her betrayal, Superman limiting collateral damage while

Supergirl - who had recently settled into Leesburg after adopting the civilian identity of Linda Danvers - tried to stop Rampage. When Superman allowed Rampage to attack Christine to end the pursuit, however, Rampage accepted that she didn't have it in her to commit murder, returning to Kitty while Supergirl forced Christine to confess what she had done.[5]

Faulkner supervised the enhancement of the abilities of the hero

Antaeus. In return, S.T.A.R. Labs gained valuable knowledge about the nature of genetically enhanced super-beings.[6]

Since her return to Metropolis, it has been hinted that Kitty may have developed a crush on Parasite before his death.

She has received a promotion to director of Metropolis S.T.A.R. Labs.[7]

Rampage recently resurfaced under the control of Starro.[8]

Mon-El fights an out of control Rampage in Metropolis as his first test as the new guardian of the city. He carries her high into the air and carelessly drops her unaware that he might hurt her or someone else.[9]

Powers and abilities

Kitty can absorb and store solar energy as sustenance. When her cells are metabolized, she grew in size with immense physical traits. Rampage is able to leap great distances by simulating the effects of flying. The more she feeds, the bigger she gets, but too much sunlight would overload her body.[10] She wore a modified regulator collar that controls the proper amount of exposure for her to maintain human form. As Dr. Faulkner, she has scientific knowledge, but as Rampage, she became short-tempered, less inhibited, and always ready for the next adrenaline rush.

Other versions

Futures End

An alternate version of Kitty Faulkner / Rampage appeared in the

LexCorp's genetic research laboratory, and met Fraudulent S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Ethan Boyer in a conference in Paris. She later worked on a failed experiment that mutated her into Rampage, leaving her in a perpetual berserker state while retaining some of her intelligence. With Lex Luthor unable to cure her, she broke Boyer out of jail, hoping his knowledge on genetics could cure her. Boyer, however, furthered her berserker rage instead, using her to distract the new Superman from him. Rampage then went on a rampage for the following weeks, before facing off against Superman, who was revealed during the fight to actually be Billy Batson. Rampage then throws Batson, but is caught by Stormguard, who defeats Rampage. Stomguard then promises to her that genecists will be able to help her once she is taken into custody.[11][12][13]

In other media

Television

Miscellaneous

Rampage appears in the Supergirl tie-in digital comic Adventures of Supergirl.[15] This version is an alien named Caren Falqnerr who is able to assume a human form.

References

  1. ^ Superman Vol. 2 #7 (July 1987)
  2. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0
    .
  3. ^ Superman Vol. 2 #24 (December 1988)
  4. ^ Final Night #1-4 (1996). DC Comics.
  5. ^ Supergirl (vol. 4) #6. DC Comics.
  6. ^ JLA: Superpower (November 1999). DC Comics.
  7. ^ DC Secret Files and Origins 2000. DC Comics.
  8. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #51. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Superman #686. DC Comics.
  10. ^ Who's Who: Update '87 Vol. 1 #4 (November 1987)
  11. ^ The New 52: Futures End #9. DC Comics.
  12. ^ The New 52: Futures End #12. DC Comics.
  13. ^ The New 52: Futures End #15-#18. DC Comics.
  14. ^ "Superman & Lois' Doomsday Plot Secretly Teases DC's Hulk Origin". Screen Rant. 23 January 2022.
  15. ^ "DC Announces "Adventures of Supergirl" Digital Series from Gates, Bengal". 15 December 2015.
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