Starman (Will Payton)

Fictional comics superhero

Comics character

Starman

Will Payton as Starman, on the cover of Starman #1 (October 1988). Art by Tom Lyle

Publication information
Publisher| DC Comics
First appearance| Starman #1 (October 1988)
Created by| Roger Stern
Tom Lyle
In-story information
Alter ego| William "Will" Payton
Species| Metahuman
Team affiliations| Justice 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[edit]

Derived by Roger Stern and Tom Lyle in Starman #1 (October 1988).[6]

Scott Snyder decided to revive him in his Justice League run as he felt that he is an under-explored character.[2][7][8][9]

## Fictional character biography[edit]

### Post-Crisis[edit]

Payton gained his powers of flight, super strength, a mild amount of shapeshifting, and the ability to alter his appearance and fire bolts of energy from his hands after being struck by a bolt of energy from a satellite in space. He was in his early twenties and worked as a magazine copy editor. The satellite had been launched by the Hutchison Institute, and the powers had been intended for their team of super-agents the Power Elite. Despite his short career, he gained a good reputation among other heroes, even assisting Superman on some occasions, such as helping him recharge after an encounter with Parasite drained most of his solar energy, and posing as Superman when he was briefly depowered by Lex Luthor's use of Mister Mxyzptlk's Red Kryptonite (although he was forced to leave to recover after he was injured in a confrontation with evil genius Thaddeus Killgrave). He first appeared in Starman (vol. 1) #1 (October 1988).[10] Starman seemingly died fighting the supervillain Eclipso.[11]

The 1990s Starman series revealed that his fate was different from that previously believed. The mysterious bolt of energy that infused Payton with his cosmic abilities was revealed to be the essence of the alien Prince named Gavyn, who also used the name Starman. It is currently unclear whether the two men, Gavyn and Payton, fused into one being with shared memories, or if Payton was killed by the bolt that struck him and was replaced by Gavyn's essence.

### Rebirth[edit]

During DC Rebirth, Will Payton became revived during the build up of Dark Nights: Metal. In 1988, the Stellaron-5 satellite attempted to capture a fragment of the power of the Totality decades before it would arrive in full, but it proved to be too limited for the task. The satellite's systems backfired one by one, firing a beam of light towards Earth that hit Will Payton, walking in the Rockies, infusing him with a strange energy that gave him superpowers.

Payton became a grassroots superhero, but found himself pursued by the scientists who operated the Stellaron-5, seeking the secrets of the Totality contained in his physiology. During his adventures, he assisted Carter Hall in his search for answers about the origins of Nth Metal.[12]

A present-day Lex Luthor, pursuing his own search for the Totality's secrets, traveled back in time and captured Payton, torturing and experimenting on him, and gaining crucial information from him which Luthor then wiped from his mind. Somehow, Payton eventually managed to escape, finding his way to that era's Justice League.[13]

## References[edit]

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. ^ "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
12. ^ Dark Nights: Metal #1
13. ^ Justice League (vol. 4) #8

## External links[edit]

* Starman (1988) at Don Markstein's Toonopedia.

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Starman

Creators|

* Gardner Fox
* Jack Burnley (Ted Knight) /
* James Robinson
* Tony Harris (Jack Knight)

Starmen|

* Ted Knight
* Charles McNider
* Mikaal Tomas
* Prince Gavyn
* Will Payton
* David Knight
* Jack Knight
* Thom Kallor/Danny Blaine

Supporting characters|

* The Black Pirate
* Sue Dibny
* Elongated Man
* Merry Pemberton
* Sylvester Pemberton
* Phantom Lady
* Scalphunter
* Shade
* Solomon Grundy
* Stargirl
* S.T.R.I.P.E.

Enemies|

* Blockbuster
* Bolt
* Copperhead
* Deadline
* Doctor Phosphorus
* Doctor Polaris
* Eclipso
* Lex Luthor
* Lobo
* Masters of Disaster
* Mist
* Mister Mxyzptlk
* Parasite
* Rag Doll
* Royal Flush Gang
* Solomon Grundy
* Spider (Lucas Ludlow-Dalt)

Related articles|

* Justice Society of America
* Starman story arcs

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