Starfirehas had her ups and downs in DC Comics. A beloved Teen Titans member, she has often been reinvented after continuity shifts and disparaged by her fans for this very reinvention. Though her character has quite a different - and childish - version in theTeen Titanscartoons, Starfire’s comic character is always unflinchingly and powerfully herself, no matter what - even in a dark universe which redesigns Starfire in a way no fan could expect.
Starfire, asa founding member of the Titans, is an essential character in DC lore and has been since the 1980s. She’s had more than a few redesigns over the years, but one of her most drastic looks is from the Dark Multiverse, as seen inDark Nights: Death Metal - The Last 52: War of the Multiverses#1.In a story starring the Teen Titans, “Falling Through the Cracks” by Che Grayson, Pop Mhan, Chris Sotomayor, and Troy Peteri, the Dark Multiverse is warring against the DC Multiverse, andthe Teen Titans meet their match: a twisted, evil version of the team as if seen through a nightmare mirror.
While evil versions of mainstream characters are nothing new to the DC Universe, this story shows an evil Starfire deviating from her standard appearance and, in its stead, she is givenbladed hair she uses to attack the Teen Titans.
Starfire Is a Space-Hero Staple of the Teen Titans
Starfire is a princess hailing from the planet Tamaran who is known for the more liberal aspects of her personality, including her free-love mentality. Essentially, her planet embraces a progressive version of feudalism, and as such, Starfire is both the beautiful princess of her native land and also the knight that saves the day.Starfire saves herself,but that Amazonian-like strength and ideology doesn’t stopher designs from being heavily sexualized throughout the years.
Presently, events likeBeast Worldredefined Starfire’s home worldas well asfilled some gaps in her origin story. She’s a major player in the Titans, and her character is now even more well-rounded than when first conceived in the ’80s. But it wasn’t the her originalNew Teen Titansappearances that did her the most injustice - it was her redesign from just a over a decade ago.
Starfire Got Her Most Famous Redesign in 2011
Starfire’s Controversial New 52 Look
Starfire New 52 reinvention redefined her lore - and her appearance. Often cited as being a low period for DC Comics, theNew 52 era still has a lasting impact, andone of those ways can be seen in palimpsests, such as the way DC retcons certain storylines from that era.For the Teen Titans, that means Wallace West’s Kid Flash takes a backseat, for example, and Starfire regains her former glory as a space warrior. In these changes, in the overlay can be seen what DC is trying to cover up.
Originally created by the legendaryNew Teen Titansteam of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Starfire made her post-Flashpointdebut inRed Hood and the Outlaws#1 by Scott Lobdell, Kenneth Rocafort, Blond, and Carlos M. Mangual
Starfire’s New 52 look reduced her entirely to her sex appeal. While Starfire has always had a costume that looked more like a bikini, this new look was one of DC’s most adult versions of the character. Her sexuality, too, reached a new peak as a defining attribute of her character. As for her backstory,she was stripped of her princess title and space warrior status quoand relegated to being an escaped ex-slave. It was a hard fall from grace for one of DC’s best heroines.
Everything Beautiful About Starfire Turns Wicked in This Nightmarish Multiverse
Dark Starfire Uses Blades For Hair
DC has recently added toStarfire’s lore by debuting a roguish Tamaranianwho helps Batman as he is stranded off-world. Not only that, butStarfire has finally found closurein the revenge she was seeking regarding the murder of her parents. Currently, Starfire is getting some awesome story reinventions that really fix all those lapses in her character that only served for sex appeal.And this Dark Multiverse Starfire only helps with that cause.
Starfire’s beauty has been turned into a weapon in this Dark Multiverse, and even then, it’s her power that shines, not her sexuality.
It’s interesting how, in the Dark Multiverse,Starfire has lost all her personality and becomes entirely a weapon.Throughout all of her changes, Starfire’s hair has been there with her, full and flowing and sometimes filling a whole panel. Starfire’s beauty has been turned into a weapon in this Dark Multiverse, and even then, it’s her power that shines, not her sexuality. It seems her light side and her dark side have finally come to a full synthesis of who she is: a powerful warrior who should reallybe leading the Titans.
Starfire Is a Warrior First and a Princess Second
After Too Many Redesigns, Starfire Is Better Than Ever
Starfire is a force unto herself, and it’s time that DC gave her a look that matches her strength. Even as her dark alter ego takes everything wonderful about her and turns it on its blade-haired head, Starfire’s power is obvious as her defining trait.Starfireis a warrior first and a princess second.
Dark Nights: Death Metal - The Last 52: War of the Multiverses#1is available now from DC Comics.
Starfire
Starfire, also known as Princess Koriand’r, is a key member of theTeen Titansand originates from the planet Tamaran. With her bright, energetic personality, she is known for her fierce loyalty, optimism, and strength in battle. Starfire is one of the most powerful Titans, possessing the ability to fly and shoot energy blasts from her hands.
