Nightstar (comics)

Nightstar is a fictional character from DC Comics, the daughter of Starfire or Koriand'r and Dick Grayson in an alternate universe, the latter of which was the first Robin and later Nightwing. Her superhero name is a play on those of her parents (Nightwing, Starfire) but her civilian identity is that of Mar'i Grayson.

Fictional character biography

Kingdom Come

It was first Created by Lloyd Rajkumar in 1990. Nightstar first appears in Kingdom Come #1 (May 1996) when she is seen in a street battle with other "heroes". Most of the supervillains of the world have been eliminated so the new generation of heroes "fight simply to fight, their only foes each other".^[1] Nightstar and others are battling it out, causing destruction in the neighbourhood and getting innocents caught in the crossfire. They only pause to learn of a major disaster in the state of Kansas in which a similar battle has led to the deaths of one million people.

Superman, who has been in self-imposed exile, returns to reform the Justice League and restore order. Among his recruits is Nightstar's father Grayson, who adopts the identity of Red Robin. Nightstar is at first very dismissive of this move.

She is next seen in conversation with Avia, daughter of Mister Miracle and Big Barda in an underground bar.^[2] Superman appears and makes a powerful recruitment speech for the Justice League. Nightstar is impressed but, unlike Avia, she does not fall in with Superman.

Instead she throws in with Batman, who, through Grayson, is her adopted grandfather. So do many other progeny of the Leaguers, including the daughters of Speedy, Aqualad and Flash and the son of Donna Troy.

Batman, who no longer uses the cover of his alter-ego Bruce Wayne, has formed an alliance with Lex Luthor's Mankind Liberation Front in order to counter what they see as the overbearing might of the Justice League. During a meeting between their groups, Nightstar encounters Ibn Al Xu'ffasch, Batman's son but also the heir to the Dark Knight's enemy Ra's al Ghul. The moment they meet, Nightstar and Ibn have an undisguised attraction for one another.^[3]

Batman's real agenda however is to expose Luthor and his schemes to cause more chaos to the world. Just as Luthor is about to unleash this chaos, Batman and his followers overpower him and his associates — with the notable exception of Ibn, who is later seen arm-in-arm with Nightstar.

The League has built a special prison to hold rebellious superhumans, but the prison is breached and an all-out battle ensues between the prisoners and the Leaguers. Batman's Outsiders join in the fight, during which Grayson is seriously injured by an enemy called 666. Nightstar, who has been fighting Green Lantern, can be seen gasping in horror as this happens,^[4] screams in agony as she cradles her father's bloodied face, and then flies him off to safety.

Wayne Manor is later converted into a hospital where the victims from the battle are treated. Nightstar oversees a reconciliation between her father and grandfather.

Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #22 (2009) reveals that she would eventually marry Ibn Al Xu'ffasch ,and have a daughter and son.

The Kingdom

In The Kingdom, the mini-series that serves as a sequel to Kingdom Come, her name is revealed to be Mar'i. Mary is the name of her paternal grandmother, Mary Loyd Grayson. She is also shown to be a leader of her generation, an active Titan whom others look to for inspiration and solution, a role once filled by her father Dick Grayson both as Robin and as Nightwing.

During the series and related events, Nightstar becomes part of a small super-team investigating reality disturbances in Planet Krypton, a restaurant owned by Booster Gold. This leads to a battle with Gog and the eventual discovery of Hypertime.

In The Kingdom: Nightstar, it is revealed that she has an interest in botany, a fear of death, and works with security at Green Lantern Alan Scott's space station The Green.

Powers and abilities

Like her mother, Nightstar is capable of atmospheric flight, has super-strength, and can fire starbolts from her hands. Her eyes are green and pupilless.

Relationships with other heroes

Friends include Olivia Queen (Black Canary III, daughter of Dinah Lance and Oliver Queen), Avia (daughter of Mister Miracle and Big Barda), and Manotaur.

She is also romantically involved with Ibn al Xu'ffasch, son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. Her father disapproves of this relationship.^[5] Justice Society of America, vol. 3, #22, shows that Nightstar will eventually marry Ibn and have a daughter and son .

References