Starfinger

Superherobox


caption =
character_name = Starfinger
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Adventure Comics" #336 (August 1965)
creators = Edmond Hamilton (script)
John Forte (art)
alter_ego = Garth Ranzz
Dr. Lars Hanscom
Molock Hanscom
full_name =
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powers = Ability to project power rays from the fingers of his hand.

Starfinger is the name of a fictional DC Comics supervillain. He first appeared in "Adventure Comics" #335 (August 1965) and was an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Fictional character biography

Starfinger is a masked figure with five weapons mounted on each finger of his right hand. The Legion discovers that Starfinger is actually Lightning Lad, controlled by Dr. Lars Hanscom. Hanscom, under the guise of examining Lightning Lad's robotic arm, had hypnotized the Legionnaire and outfitted him with the Starfinger glove, so that Hanscom could obtain the rare metal rejuvium. Hanscom was brought to justice; after escaping prison, he briefly tried a criminal career on his own ["Adventure Comics" #336] .

Hanscom is later killed by Char Burrane, who takes on the role of Starfinger II ["Legion of Super-Heroes" (3rd series) #29 (December 1986)] . His most notorious crime is the kidnapping of one of Duo Damsel's bodies during her wedding to Bouncing Boy ["Superboy" #200 (February 1974)] .

In the fourth volume of the Legion of Super-Heroes series, Molock Hanscom takes on the Starfinger role. He is able to generate two super-powered women, Starlight and Starbright, from his super-powered fingers. Starfinger III is killed by the Khunds ["Legion of Super-Heroes" (4th series) #57 (May 1994)] .

Powers and abilities

Starfinger's right hand has five star tipped fingers, each of which can project different energy rays. Each ray has a different property:
*Thumb – projects a neutralizing ray
*Index finger – projects super-lightning
*Middle finger – projects a super-thrust ray
*Ring finger – tuneable and can project any kind of super-radiation (e.g. heat, Green Kryptonite, gamma rays, shrinking rays, etc.)
*Pinky – projects a freezing ray

Using all the fingers together projects a distorting ray that scambles superpowers and makes them function erratically.

Appearances in other media

The Molock Hanscom version of Starfinger appears in the "Legion of Super-Heroes" episode where he is voiced by Taylor Negron. He is portrayed as arrogant and narcissistic with a thick, and comically near-incomprehensible, Spanish accent. Starfinger wears a pair of mechanical gloves that have a different power in each finger. One finger has the ability to create small furry creatures which (unknown even to him) grow into monsters that eat the Earth's ionosphere. With the Legion busy trying to save the ionosphere, the Legion of Substitute Heroes are left to fight Starfinger. The "Subs" are able to subdue Starfinger and help the Legion stop the destruction of the ionosphere. In this episode, Brainiac 5 characterizes Starfinger as a "third-rate nuisance". ["Legion of Super-Heroes" episode "The Substitutes" ]

References