Starro
Starro | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | The Brave and the Bold #28 (March 1960) |
Created by | Gardner Fox Mike Sekowsky |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Starro |
Species | Star Conqueror |
Place of origin | Star Planet |
Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains Sinestro Corps |
Notable aliases | It Starro Spores Starro Conquerors Mother Starro Star O Cobi |
Abilities | (All versions):
(Giant versions):
(Humanoid/Jarro version):
|
Starro (also known as Starro the Conqueror) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #28 (March 1960), and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.[1]
Starro is the first villain to face the original
Publication history
The character debuted in
In post–
Its post–Infinite Crisis appearances include R.E.B.E.L.S. (vol. 2) #1–13 (April 2009 – April 2010) and R.E.B.E.L.S (vol. 2) Annual #1 (December 2009). Another version appears in Forever Evil #1 (November 2013), and a new version called Genetically Modified Starro appeared in New Super-Man #4 (2016).
Fictional character biography
Starro is a highly advanced
Starro eventually reappears and forces humans to nurture it until it is able to assume its former proportions. Being able to reproduce asexually, Starro creates millions of miniature duplicates of itself, which the authors called spores. These spores attach to the faces of the entire population of New York, allowing Starro to control their minds with its own. The creature uses these spores to control several members of the Justice League until it is defeated by extreme cold.[8] Later, after Superman is accidentally transported to an alternate universe, Starro is again defeated by Superman alongside Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew. Superman then takes the defeated Starro back to his universe.[9]
Starro later convinces
During
In the DC/
In the 2005–2006 "
Post Infinite Crisis
Within the pages of R.E.B.E.L.S., Starro's new origin was told: Starro the Conqueror was once an alien boy named Cobi who lived peacefully along with his people on the "unremarkable" planet Hatorei. The Hatorei people lived simple lives and had few semblances of a developed world but in one respect they were unsurpassed. Once a day the planet's inhabitants would congregate in a species-wide telepathic link and open up to each other, which made their society the pinnacle of ethics and cultural stability.[16]
However, a Starro Motherstar descended on their planet enslaving their civilization. At that point in time the Star Conquerors were only nomadic predators who wandered conquering planets until the Motherstar landed and birthed a new queen. On the planet Hatorei, things were different; the link between the people was still extant and it was impossible for the Star Conquerors to completely control the people while serving. The link between the Hatorei was filled with outrage due to their enslavement and the deaths of their people; this outrage loosened the hold of the Star Conquerors on Andrez. So while Cobi worked in the nest, his brother, driven by his people's outrage, entered the nest determined to destroy the Starro hatchlings before a new queen could be born.
Unfortunately, one of the eggs hatched and the hatchling, desperate to protect itself, used Cobi to defend against his brother's attack and in doing so led Cobi to kill Andrez. Afterward, the force that drove Andrez (the collective outrage of his people) seemed to enter Cobi who then, having been driven mad by that force, ripped the Starro off his face regaining his independence. The hatchling attacked Cobi but to no avail; as it leapt it became attached to Cobi's chest and Cobi subsequently destroyed the remaining hatchlings declaring that every Star Conqueror would be his.
Now Starro the Conqueror, he used his control of the Star Conqueror species to begin a series of conquests. While he would enslave most foes with Star Conqueror starfish, he would grant some particularly useful opponents larger starfish to wear upon their backs and a place at the head of his armies under him, allowing them free will so long as they turned their talents towards his conquests. As his empire's expansion continued, he was able to draw power from everyone so controlled. Between his mind-controlling Starros, ever-growing strength and his still independently thinking elites, his forces were unstoppable, leading him to gain control of nine galaxies.[17]
Upon his forces reaching the Milky Way, Starro took control of L.E.G.I.O.N.'s robotic forces and used their widespread galactic influence to further his goals towards dominating the universe.[18]
New 52/DC Rebirth
During
Other versions
Future version
A future version of Starro mentally enthralls the Time Master
The Nail
In
Jarro
One version of Starro is recruited to join a team to protect the universe against the Omega Titans. Convinced of the virtues of heroism by its teammate Martian Manhunter, Starro dies in battle with the Omega Titans.[22][23] Batman preserves a bit of Starro's remains which grows into a new individual who Batman names Jarro,[24] raising him as a son.[25]
"Titans Tomorrow"
A separate future called Titans Tomorrow features Starro's being indoctrinated into the Sinestro Corps and wielding five yellow power rings, which give it additional superpowers. Using its psychic abilities, it also controls several supervillains. This version of Starro is destroyed by a future version of the Flash.[26]
Powers and abilities
Starro is an alien conqueror with a humanoid central mind commanding spores that resemble either giant or small Terran starfish. An asexual creature, Starro's spores are capable of generating clones 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. Originally the first Starro could transform two Earth starfish into duplicates of itself equal to it in size and power.[27]
Both variants of the parasite are capable of energy absorption/projection,
The humanoid "Starro the Conqueror" possesses telepathy strong enough to control the entire Starro alien race and possesses immeasurable levels of physical resilience further bolstered by the energies drawn from the victims of his Starro probes. Being physically strong enough to behead the all-but-invulnerable Despero in single combat, Starro the Conqueror is all but impervious to physical harm much like his larger Starro clones; also akin to said spores the humanoid Starro can reproduce its own Starro clones from the mother Starro on his chest; a unique power of its own making is the ability to convert normal Earth-based starfish into Starro-based spores.[32]
In other media
Television
- Starro appears in The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure episode "In Captain Cuda's Clutches".
- Starro appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU):
- Starro makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series two-part episode "The Main Man" as one of several endlings held in the Galactic Preserver's private zoo. After Superman and Lobo defeat the Preserver, the former takes the creatures to new habitats in the Fortress of Solitude.
- Starro appears in the Batman Beyond two-part episode "The Call", voiced by Christopher McDonald via Superman. While in captivity, the alien spent years plotting to take over Earth. After ambushing and taking control of Superman while he was tending to its habitat, Starro spent the next several years reproducing and covertly sabotaging and taking control of the Justice League. However, the alien's plot is foiled by Batman before Aquagirl and Big Barda send Starro and its offspring back to their home planet.
- Starro appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson (original form) and by Dee Bradley Baker (titan form). Throughout the episodes "Revenge of the Reach!", "Clash of the Metal Men!", and "The Power of Shazam!", several Starro parasites come to Earth and take control of most of Earth's heroes while the alien's herald, the Faceless Hunter, eliminates anyone who Starro could not possess. In the two-part episode "The Siege of Starro!", the primary Starro launches an invasion with its thralls, but Batman, Booster Gold, Firestorm, B'wana Beast, and Captain Marvel join forces to defeat it and free their allies. In response, the Faceless Hunter kidnaps B'wana Beast and forces him to combine the Starro parasites into one giant Starro. After Batman defeats the Faceless Hunter, B'wana Beast sacrifices himself to separate the Starros.
- Starro's species appear in S.T.A.R. Labs for study. Sometime later, Light members Sportsmaster and the Riddler steal the sample so Klarion, Professor Ivo, and the Brain can infuse with it with technology and magic to create Starro-Tech, which their sleeper agent Red Arrow uses to brainwash the Justice League on Savage's behalf. Before the Teameventually rescues the League, Savage has six Leaguers attack the planet Rimbor to remove them from Earth during the events of the second season.
- Starro is alluded to in the Smallville episode "Prophecy" via a device that the organization Marionette Ventures uses to control Stargirl and Lois Lane.[citation needed]
- Starro appears in Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise, voiced by Kevin Shinick. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom. After being flushed by Captain Cold, Starro is exposed to radioactive sewage, returns as a giant, and fights the Legion and the Justice League. Upon seeing the love between Superboy and Lena Luthor, Starro reconsiders massacring his opponents, but is killed by Batman riding a boat made by Green Lantern.
- Starro appears in the Powerless episode "Wayne or Lose".[citation needed]
- Starro appears in DC Super Hero Girls.[citation needed]
- Starro appears in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Justice League's Next Top Talent Idol Star: Justice League Edition", voiced by Greg Cipes.[citation needed]
- Starro appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Eric Bauza. This version works various jobs at Lex Luthor's hotel in Las Vegas.
Film
- Starro makes a cameo appearance in Justice League: The New Frontier.
- Starro makes a cameo appearance in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.
- Starro makes a cameo appearance in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.
- Starro appears in Ratcatcher 2.
- Starro appears in Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons, voiced by Darin De Paul.
Video games
- Starro appears as a boss in the Nintendo Wii version of Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame.
- Starro makes a cameo appearance in Injustice: Gods Among Us via the Fortress of Solitude stage.
- Starro appears as a playable character in Infinite Crisis, voiced by Mark Rolston.
- Starro makes a cameo appearance in the Batman: Arkham Knight DLC "A Matter of Family". This version was meant to be part of a sideshow act for Seagate Amusement Park before it was abandoned.
- Starro appears in DC Universe Online.
- Starro appears in Fortnite as "back bling" included as part of Bloodsport's outfit.
- Starro appears in Gotham Knights via the "Heroic Assault" gameplay mode, voiced by Mark Meer.
- Starro appears in Justice League: Cosmic Chaos, voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
Miscellaneous
- Starro appears on the packaging for Mattel's San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive 2010 line, designed by Frank Varela.[34]
- Starro appears in Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D.
- Starro makes a cameo appearance in Smallville Season 11 #18 as a prisoner of the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO).[35]
- Starro appears in the Injustice 2 prequel comic as a powerful Red Lantern.[36]
- Starro appears in RWBY x Justice League.
References
- Text was copied from Starro (Post-Crisis) at Kaijuwikia Wiki, which is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ISBN 978-1605490458.
- ^ Tarrano the Conqueror by Ray Cummings. Retrieved October 10, 2019 – via Gutenberg.org.
- ^ The Brave and the Bold #28 (February–March 1960)
- ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^ Adventure Comics #451 (May–Jun 1977)
- ^ Justice League of America #189–190 (April–May 1981)
- ^ Captain Carrot & His Amazing Zoo Crew #1 (March 1982)
- ^ Justice League Europe #24–28 (March–July 1991)
- ^ JLA Secret Files #1 (September 1997)
- ^ JLA #22–23 (September–October 1998)
- ^ JLA/Avengers #1–4 (September 2003 – May 2004)
- ^ Infinite Crisis #7 (June 2006)
- ^ Captain Carrot and the Final Ark (October 2007)
- ^ R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #5
- ^ R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #22
- ^ R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol 2 #28
- ^ Justice League Vol. 2 #6-7
- ^ Booster Gold (vol. 2) #13–14 (December 2008 – January 2009)
- ^ Justice League: The Nail #3
- ^ DC Nation #0 (July 2018)
- ^ Justice League: No Justice #3 (July 2018)
- ^ Justice League (vol. 3) #10 (December 2018)
- ^ Justice League (vol. 3) #29 (October 2019)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #51-54
- ^ The Brave and the Bold #28 (February–March 1960)
- ^ JLA #22–23 (September – October 1998)
- ^ Dark Nights: Metal #4 (February 2018)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #53
- ^ Justice League (vol. 3) #55 (October 2020)
- ^ R.E.B.E.L.S. Annual v2 #1
- ^ Freeman, Molly (March 26, 2021). "The Suicide Squad Trailer Reveals DC Villain Starro & Full Team". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Comic Con Conversation – Mattel's Frank Varela Part I". The Fwoosh. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02.
- ^ Smallville Season 11 #18
- ^ "Injustice 2's Red Lantern Corps Has Basically Created a Death Starro". 9 June 2018.
External links
- Starro at Comic Vine