Starfire
|
|
- Alternate meanings: The F-94 Starfire is an American jet fighter plane. Starfire video prototype is an "office of the future" concept from Sun microsytems.
Starfire is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero who is a member of the superhero team, Teen Titans. She first appeared in a free preview supplement in DC Comics Presents, and became a longterm member of the Teen Titans.
| Contents |
Comic Book
Rivalry
Koriand'r is a princess of the planet Tamaran, and was in line to rule the planet as Queen. Komand'r, her older sister had a bitter rivalry with her on account of a birth defect that robbed her of the ability to harness solar energy to allow her to fly. This rivalry continued and intensified when the siblings were sent for warrior training with the warmasters of Okaara. Things came to a head during a sparring exercise in which Komand'r attempted to kill her sister. As a result, she was expelled and she swore vengeance.
Revenge
That revenge came in a plot where Komand'r betrayed her planet with detailed information about Tamaran's defenses to their enemies, the Citadel. They conquered Tamaran with ease and the surrender conditions included the enslavement of Koriand'r who was never permitted to return since that would mean the Citadel would devastate the planet for abrogating the treaty. To Kory's horror, she learned that Komand'r was her master and her older sister made the most of her sibling's bondage with years of horrific servitude and torture. When Kory killed one of her rapists, Komand'r decided to execute her as punishment, but not before the sisters were attacked and captured by the Psions.
Remade
Psions, who are largely sadistic scientists, performed a deadly experiment on the both of the sisters to see just how much energy their bodies could absorb before exploding from the overload. During the procedure, Komand'r's forces attacked the Psion ship to rescue her and while the Psions were distracted, Kory broke free with the starbolts, destructive blasts of solar energy, a result of the experimentation. Against her better judgement, she decided to free Komand'r who was still absorbing energy. However, far from grateful, Komand'r struck her sister down with the same, but more intensified, power and had her restrained for later execution.
Revival
Kory escaped and stole a spacecraft to flee to the nearest planet, Earth, where she met Robin and his compatriots who would soon form The Teen Titans. She became a charter member of this revived team and remained a member for years and lover to Robin/Nightwing.
Remarks
Kory is regarded as extremely physically attractive even by the standards of the superhero. She also displays the traits of Tamaran's highly sensuous culture, coupled with a no nonsense warrior attitude. For a time Kory had a career as a fashion model.
Animated Series
As with the other characters in Teen Titans, it was decided to render a younger, more child-like version of Starfire for the animated series version. The character's background was also revised.
Background
Starfire was born and raised on the distant planet Tamaran before arriving on Earth and joining the Teen Titans. The Tamaraneans are an emotional race who see feelings as the force that drives their very livelihood. In fact, it's their emotions that fuel their natural abilities of flight and starbolt power. Because of this, Starfire is inherently the most sensitive of the Titans. For some reason, most likely due to the fact that English is not her first language, Starfire does not use verbal contractions when she speaks. This also may be due to the fact that she is Tamaran's princess and future queen.
Personality
Starfire is naive and somewhat insecure, but her naivete is not to be mistaken for stupidity. It is this naivete that endears her to others, especially to Robin, who occasionally shows no signs of interest for Starfire at all (he, in some fans' opinions, treats her more like a team player and less like a friend, much less like a girlfriend).. She and Robin are the closest out of all the Titans, and he takes time out to explain the ways of Earth to her. An alien and an outsider, she is still rather new to Earth and its customs. This leads to much confusion for her and others, such as the awkwardness in casually drinking mustard. She takes friendship very seriously, and is easily distressed when others, especially her friends, argue or fight. Above all, she wishes to be friends with everyone she meets, and for everyone to get along. Starfire will not, however, hold back on someone who very much deserves justice.
Blackfire
Blackfire_animated.jpg
- Main article: Minor Characters in Teen Titans (animated series)
Starfire also has a sister named Blackfire, who is an infamous galactic criminal, and attempted to frame Starfire for her crimes. She seems to be a reincarnation of the comics' Starfire's sister, Komand'r. Fortunately, her plan was thwarted and Blackfire was arrested by Centauri police forces with the help of the Titans. She eventually escaped, seized control on Tamaran, and attempted to marry Starfire to a swamp alien in return for the Jewel of Charta. The jewel gave Blackfire unlimited power until Starfire pulled it out of the cape and crushed the jewel. She was defeated by Star, who turned over her new position as Grand Ruler of Tamaran to her childhood caretaker, Galfore. She has similar powers to Starfire, but Blackfire's starbolts are purple.
Powers
Starfire has the power of flight, super-strength, and most notably, the power to fire Starbolts, extremely powerful bursts of energy. In the series, it appears that all Tamaranians possess these abilities. Recently, however, after going through what can only be assumed to be the Tamaranian version of puberty, which causes strange, but temporary, mutations, Starfire has appeared to have gained new powers. For example, she can now fire starbolts from her eyes.
External Sources
- Starfire's description on the animated series (http://www.titanstower.com/source/animated/charstarfire.html)