Skyrocket (comics)

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caption=Skyrocket from Power Company #3 Art by Tom Grummett
character_name=Skyrocket
publisher=DC Comics
debut="JLA" #61
(February 2002)
creators=Kurt Busiek (writer) Tom Grummett (artist)
species =
homeworld =
real_name=Celia Forrestal
alliances=Power Company U.S. Navy Argo Technologies
aliases=
supports=
powers=Wears a high-tech harness that can absorb, convert and redirect any form of energy. Also lets her fly.

Skyrocket is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. She first appeared in "JLA" #61 (February 2002), and was created by Kurt Busiek and Tom Grummett.

Fictional character biography

Lt. Celia Forrestal was getting nowhere fast in the U.S. Navy. It wasn't because she wasn't qualified. As a Navy Aviator, she could outmaneuver anybody. But because of her gender and her race, her career remained stalled as a training instructor. Looking for some perspective while she considered leaving the service, she visited her parents, scientists and owners of Argo Technologies. Mr. and Mrs. Forrestal had developed a personal harness that could absorb, convert and redirect energy. The Forrestals conceived the harness as a tool for peace, but it also had great potential as a weapon of mass destruction.

corpio

This invention, called an Argo Harness, drew unwanted attention from a mercenary group of terrorists-for-hire called Scorpio. Scorpio was a well-equipped organization always on the look out for advanced technology that could easily be weaponized. They attempted to steal the Argo Harness, but during their attack, an untimely explosion killed the Forrestals.

Argo Harness

Celia survived the explosion that killed her parents because she was wearing the Argo Harness, and she later used it to capture some of the Scorpio operatives who had caused their deaths. Acting on a suggestion from Green Lantern Hal Jordan, who identified with her because of her background as a pilot, she decided to continue crimefighting as the superhero Skyrocket. [ [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=skyrocket The Unofficial Skyrocket Biography ] ]

pinning her Wheels

Celia worked at a fast food joint in her hometown of St. Louis during the day in order to pay for the equipment she need to maintain and repair the Argo Harness. This was where Josiah Power found and recruited her.

Power Company

After mulling over some serious reservations on her part, Celia decided to join the Power Company, a corporate hero team, as a business partner. Josiah provided her with a full technical support crew under Charlie Lau to maintain the harness, and promised her that she could do as much pro bono work as she wanted on the firm's dollar, as it would be good publicity for the fledgling business. Her old nemesis Doctor Cyber was seen watching her as she exited Power Company headquarters after her first group mission.

Ralph Jackson

It has recently been revealed that Sgt. Ralph Jackson is the grandfather of Celia Forrestal. Ralph led a battalion of African-American soldiers in a furious attack on Nazi troops while serving in France during World War II. Jackson was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his service, but was appalled to be find that prejudicial attitudes in the United States had changed little in his absence. [Ralph Jackson first appeared in "World’s Finest Comics" #17 (Spring 1945)]

One Year Later

In "Action Comics" #842, Skyrocket describes herself as somebody who "used to be with the Power Company." In "Birds of Prey" # 100, she is shown reading an invitation from Oracle to become one of her operatives, having apparently returned to St. Louis. What she is currently doing is unknown.

Equipment

*Celia's armored suit is known as the Argo Harness; it was invented by her parents, the elder Forrestals, for their company Argo Technologies.
*The Argo Harness is an energy-transforming device that can absorb many kinds of energy, including heat, electromagnetism, and radioactivity, and either convert it into other forms of energy or store it for later use.
*Skyrocket normally utilizes this stored energy as bolts of heat, kinetic energy, or directed electromagnetic fields.
*She can use the harness to fly by repelling the planet's own electromagnetic field.
*The Harness can recharge itself from virtually any kind of energy.
*Any attack carried out against Celia with fire, radioactivity, electricity or any other form of excited particle will just make her more powerful. [ [http://www.comicboards.com/dcuguide/view.php?rpl=040513181448 Hellstone - Who's Who Mini Bios ] ]

Notes

*Nathanial Adam (Captain Atom), Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), and Celia Forrestal (Skyrocket) are all pilots from different branches of the U.S. armed forces. Adam and Jordan were or are affiliated with the United States Air Force, whilst Forrestal served in the U.S. Navy.
*There are three other armor wearing African-American heroes in the DC Universe: John Henry Irons (Steel III), Natasha Irons (Steel IV), and Geoffrey Baron (Technocrat).

References

External links

* [http://www.comicboards.com/dcuguide/view.php?rpl=040513181448 Komiks.dk Mini Guide to the Power Company]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=skyrocket DCU Guide entry for Skyrocket]