Starman (Will Payton)

Starman
Will Payton as Starman, on the cover of Starman #1 (October 1988). Art by Tom Lyle
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceStarman #1 (October 1988)
Created byRoger Stern
Tom Lyle
In-story information
Alter egoWilliam "Will" Payton
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliationsJustice League
Abilities
  • Flight
  • Superhuman strength and durability
  • Energy projection
  • Limited shapeshifting

Starman (Will Payton) is a DC Comics superhero who was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle, and one of several characters to have the Starmen name.[1][2][3][4][5]

Publication history

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Starman was created by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle, and first appeared in Starman #1 (October 1988).[6]

Starman was killed in Eclipso: The Darkness Within (1992). In 2020, he was resurrected in Scott Snyder's Justice League run, with Snyder believing him to be an under-explored character.[2][7][8][9]

Fictional character biography

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Payton is a magazine copy editor who gains superpowers after being infused with the essence of Gavyn, the previous Starman. Despite his short career, he gained a good reputation among other heroes, even assisting Superman on some occasions.[10] Starman is later killed in battle with Eclipso.[11]

Starman is resurrected in the DC Rebirth series Dark Nights: Metal. This version's powers are derived from the Totality, a cosmic source of energy and the prison of Perpetua.[5][12][13]

References

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  1. ^ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "New Starman Will Payton debuted in his own ongoing series in October [1988] by writer Roger Stern and artist Tom Lyle".
  2. ^ a b "SCOTT SNYDER Reveals Why He's Bringing Back STARMAN (and Which One)". Newsarama. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. ^ Johnston, Rich (28 August 2018). "Looks Like Scott Snyder is Bringing Back Will Payton, Starman, to Justice League". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Justice League and the Return of Starman to the DC Universe". Den of Geek. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Justice League Gives An '80s DC Superhero's Origin Story a Rebirth Retcon". CBR. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  6. ^ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "New Starman Will Payton debuted in his own ongoing series in October [1988] by writer Roger Stern and artist Tom Lyle".
  7. ^ "The Secrets of DC Rebirth May be Unveiled by This Forgotten '80s Superhero". CBR. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Justice League and the Return of Starman to the DC Universe". Den of Geek. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Lex Luthor Kept A Superhero OUT of DC's Rebirth". ScreenRant. 19 September 2018.
  10. ^ Starman #1 (October 1988). DC Comics.
  11. ^ Eclipso: The Darkness Within #2 (October 1992)
  12. ^ Dark Nights: Metal #1
  13. ^ Justice League (vol. 4) #8
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