Rampage (DC Comics)

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caption=Kitty Faulkner/Rampage, art by Gary Frank
comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=Rampage
real_name=Karen Lou Faulkner
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Superman" vol. 2 #7 July, (1987)
creators=John Byrne (writer & artist)
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=S.T.A.R. Labs
aliases="Kitty"
powers=Superhuman strength and endurance|

Rampage (real name Kitty Faulkner) is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. The character first appeared in Superman comic books, and was later utilized in Starman. Rampage has a distinct appearance, with orange skin, a towering, muscular build, a fiery red mohawk, and she is always barefoot. Rampage's personality is (like her namesake) hot-tempered, aggressive, and uninhibited, the complete opposite of her alter-ego Kitty Faulkner.

Fictional character biography

Dr. Kitty Faulkner was working on a pollution-free energy source for a competition sponsored by the Daily Planet. Faulkner was exhibiting her installation when Dr. Thomas Moyers, a colleague arguing the potential dangers of the project to reporter Lois Lane, shut off the machine's safety systems. The resulting explosion transformed Faulkner into a huge, incredibly strong orange-skinned amazon, and nearly killed Moyers and Lane.Cite comic | Writer = Byrne, John | Penciller = Byrne, John | Inker = Kesel, Karl | Story = Rampage | Title = Superman | Volume = 2 | Issue = 7 | Date = July, 1987 | Publisher = DC Comics]

Kitty had gained the ability to absorb solar energy through her skin, which made her grow continually taller and stronger. Disoriented and confused, she began to 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 she was 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.

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 collar that would maintain the proper amount of exposure to keep her alive. Moyers also had a sinister motive, he transformed Faulkner into Rampage and had her sabotage the presidential campaign of Herbert Forrest. Forrest and Moyers were former friends, but Moyers had come to resent the candidate's corrupt morality. After several attacks Superman helped free Rampage from Moyers' control and sent him to jail. After modifying the regulator control collar, Kitty had her powers under control, and accepted a job at S.T.A.R. Labs.

Faulkner proved to be a talented administrator and earned a transfer to new S.T.A.R. Labs in Phoenix, Arizona. Once there, she befriended the young superhero Starman AKA Will Payton. She helped him on several occasions as Rampage, and the two formed a relationship. Her part-time career of heroics and her romance came to an end when she was sent back to Metropolis to take part in the major re-organization of S.T.A.R. Labs necessitated by the destruction of the corporation's main laboratory.

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

Rampage recently resurfaced in Teen Titans #51, under the control of Starro.

Powers and abilities

*Kitty can absorb and store solar energy, causing her to grow in size, she also gains superhuman strength, endurance, and leaping ability, but experiences rage and decreased inhibitions.

Other media

In the animated series "Justice League Unlimited," Rampage is a member of the Secret Society. She made her first full appearance in "Dead Reckoning", and, while uncredited, was likely portrayed by series regulars Susan Eisenberg or Juliet Landau. At Nanda Parbat, Rampage was possessed by Deadman when he tried to avenge his master's death. She also fought Wonder Woman at Gorilla City and was tied to her lasso and swung around. Later, Rampage sided with Grodd against Luthor and was frozen by a turncoat Killer Frost.

References