Thom Kallor

Superherobox|

caption = Thom Kallor as the new Starman, in the cover for Justice Society Of America #2. Art by Alex Ross.
character_name = Starman
alter_ego = Thom Kallor
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Adventure Comics" # 282
(March 1961)
creators = Otto Binder
George Papp
Revamped by:
Mark Waid
Barry Kitson
homeworld= Xanthu
species=
alliances =Legion of Super-Heroes Legion of Substitute Heroes The Uncanny Amazers Justice Society of America
aliases = Star Boy
powers = Increases mass or gravity of an object

Thom Kallor is the name of a comic book character owned by DC Comics, spanning many incarnations, all connected to the various incarnations of the Legion of Super-Heroes. The character has assumed the names Star Boy and Starman.

Fictional character history

Legion of Super-Heroes

Star Boy is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, a group of young heroes existing 1,000 years in the future. He was born with the superhuman ability to temporarily increase the mass of an object, up to the mass of a star. He was born on an observatory satellite orbiting the planet Xanthu, to astronomer parents. He temporarily gained Kryptonian level powers like those of Superboy when he was caught in the tail of a comet, but in time those faded leaving only his original density power. He was expelled from the Legion for killing in self-defense his girlfriend Dream Girl's ex-boyfriend, Kenz Nuhor, thus breaking the Legion's non-killing rule. After this, he and Dream Girl joined the Legion of Substitute Heroes for a time before returning to the Legion. Star Boy originally wore a purple uniform with a white cape and five-pointed yellow star on his chest, but his best known costume was a full-body starfield suit with white gloves and boots.

Post-Zero Hour

Following the events of "Zero Hour", Star Boy joined the Legion following the death of Kid Quantum, Xanthu's original Legion representative. He did not get on with Leviathan, partly because Leviathan blamed himself for Kid Quantum's death and saw his replacement as a reminder of his failure as a leader.

In addition to his mass increasing powers, Star Boy temporarily gained several new powers following spaceship accidents including Kryptonian-like powers (as in pre-Crisis history) and fire-breathing. However he found these abilities difficult to control.

When Xanthu left the United Planets, Star Boy and his fellow Xanthian Legionnaires (Kid Quantum II and Monstress) worked hard to reveal that their home planet's government had been deceived, and were astonished when they subsequently decided to remain with the Affiliated Planets.

As in previous continuity Star Boy had a relationship with Nura Nal (called Dreamer), although she was not a Legionnaire in this continuity.

"Starman (vol. 2)"

During a storyline in "Starman", the post-Zero Hour Thom Kallor discovered that his apparent destiny is to travel back in time to the 21st Century to take on the mantle of Starman (under the alias of "Danny Blaine") with the full knowledge that he will lose his life there. It was also suggested that he was the reincarnation of both Opal City police officer Matt O'Dare and the western hero Scalphunter.

The Danny Blaine/Thom Kallor version was inspired by the "Kingdom Come" depiction of the character, designed by Alex Ross.

Legion's 2005 reboot

Originally, Star Boy was depicted as a caucasian. The 2005 reboot of the Legion by Mark Waid recasts the character as black, making him the third black hero from Xanthu to join the Legion (the others being Kid Quantum 1 and 2).

Star Boy is described as Cosmic Boy's right-hand man, and remains loyal to him throughout the Legion's infighting, and his disappearance at the end of the Dominators storyline.

One Year Later

The Starman presented in the pages of "Justice Society of America" (vol. 3) is revealed to be a Thom Kallor who appears similar to his original pre-"Crisis" incarnation, rather than the Star Boy currently appearing in "Legion of Super-Heroes" (vol. 5), raising questions of co-existing timelines. He traveled from his future to the "Kingdom Come" universe (recently re-created as Earth-22 at the conclusion of "52"), and then to the present day."Justice Society of America" (vol. 3) #6] Kallor claims to hear voices in his head and has been diagnosed as a borderline schizophrenic. When not performing his superheroic duties, he resides at the Sunshine Sanitarium (a mental hospital) and takes medications for his illness (both of which he does voluntarily); his favorite day at the hospital is Wednesday as that is the day sloppy joes are served. It is revealed that his schizophrenia was brought about soon after he acquired his abilities, which resulted in him spending several years in a mental asylum. His condition was brought under control with 31st century technology. However, medication in the present day (which Dream Girl views as barbaric) failed to keep it in check. Still incapacitated and in a sanitarium, he adopts a a "civilian" identity, "Danny Blaine," the name of his favorite pulp hero on Xanthu. ["Action Comics" #864] Soon after, the god-like Gog restores Thom's sanity, something Thom believes is a bad thing. ["Justice Society of America" (vol. 3) #17]

Other media

Star Boy has appeared in "Legion of Super Heroes". He is featured in the season one opening sequence, but joined in the tenth episode ("The Substitutes"). The television series also makes a slight change to his power. He still increases the density of objects, but can also negate gravity. During the first season, he appeared rarely and without dialogue. In the second, he is seen a bit more often and Bumper Robinson provides his voice.

References

External links

* [http://www.studiosanning.shawbiz.ca/legion_of_super-heroes/membership/star_boy/index.htm Pre-Zero Hour Star Boy Biography]
* [http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1695.htm A Hero History Of Star Boy]