Booster Gold
Context
Booster Gold is a DC Comics character who appeared in the wake of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, in 1986. He felt significantly more modern a character than the pre-Crisis/Bronze Age DC roster, which often came across as dated.
Though his own book tanked after 25 issues, Booster as a character proved enduring and continues to regularly appear to this day.
This profile is a bit old (early 2000s, IIRC) but it’s a good overview of classic Booster Gold.
Background
- Real Name: Michael Jon Carter.
- Other Aliases: “Goldstar”.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Ellen Carter (Mother, deceased), Michelle Carter/Goldstar II (Sister, presumed dead), Father (Unknown).
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Group affiliations: Justice League Reserve, Extreme Justice (Former), Conglomerate (Former).
- Height: 6’5” Weight: 215 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Blond.
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Powers and Abilities
Booster’s superhuman abilities are found entirely in his battlesuit. It is made of a unique LexCorp polymer fabric weaved with micro-circuitry. This is the same material used to create Superman’s containment suit during his “Superman Blue” period.
The fabric was augmented with components from his previous battle armor. This previous armor was in turn created by merging Skeets, his old armor, and the Jrxan armor (the “Flesh Driver”.) The battlesuit also has the consciousness of Skeets, Booster’s robotic guide from the 25th century, downloaded into it.
History
Born in the 25th century, Michael Jon “Booster” Carter was a college football star. At the height of his career, he was caught betting on college games, including those he played in. He was disgraced and expelled.
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Forced to work in the Space Museum as a security guard, Carter studied heroes of the 20th century. He decided that it was the century he belonged in.
With aid of a security robot named Skeets, Carter stole a Legion of Super-Heroes flight ring and various other items to create his costume. His intentions were to use these items to simulate super powers and become a super-hero, using the name Goldstar. Using a time machine built by Rip Hunter, Carter journeyed back through time to the late 20th century.
No time like the present
Immediately after arriving, Carter foiled a plan by Chiller and The 1000 to assassinate the U.S. President, gaining immediate notoriety. Taking the name Booster Gold, Carter cashed in on his fame while battling the 1000.
He formed his own corporation, Goldstar Inc, and immediately hired a staff. His endorsements of products and commercial ambitions were met with disdain by other heroes.
When Booster found his powers fading, he returned to the future in a prototype time machine built by Rip Hunter. He found himself a hunted criminal in 2462 A.D. and faced execution.
A rescue by Rip Hunter, Jack Soo, Trixie Collins, and his own sister Michelle enabled him to return to 1987, where he carried on his super-hero career, very much in the public eye.
Top-of-mind brand presence
The original Goldstar Inc. recently gave way to Booster Gold International (BGI), located in a refurbished mansion. In addition to handling Booster’s endorsements, BGI handles research and development, trying to rival K.O.R.D. Inc. and S.T.A.R. Labs.
Booster was also tapped by Justice League International financier Max Lord to join the team. However, the rest of the team originally denied his membership, as they didn’t recognize Max as any kind of JLI authority. After he proved himself in battle with the Royal Flush Gang, the League accepted Booster as a member.
Though he was now in the JLI, Booster’s private career was about to go down the tubes. His sister Michelle, in battle using the Goldstar suit (a suit built by Jack Soo to allow someone to have magnetic powers), was killed.
Furthermore his manager Dirk Davis swindled him out of his fortune. Originally, Dirk was revealed to be a Manhunter Agent, but post-ZH he simply cheated Booster.
Hitting the right demos
Booster was forced to close BGI, sell his mansion and move into the JLI embassy and live off his JLI salary. Booster remained with the JLI for the next few years, and went into several get-rich-quick-schemes with his “partner in crime,” Blue Beetle (Ted Kord).
After the Kooey-Kooey-Kooey fiasco (in which Booster and Beetle temporarily bankrupt the JLI to build an island casino), Booster realized he had become a laughing stock, and quit the JLI in anger.
Booster met up with Claire Montgomery, a representative of several different corporations (as well as one of Max Lord’s ex-wives). She approached Booster about creating a new super-team, one that would have corporate sponsors, much in the same way JLI was an arm of the United Nations. Booster agreed, and, after some recruiting, The Conglomerate was born.
The Conglomerate and the JLI met several times, sometimes as friends, sometimes in conflict. Booster left the Conglomerate, finding that the corporate sponsors weren’t interested in saving lives or helping people, merely looking out for their own interests. At the same time, the JLI had disbanded following the “Breakdowns” saga.
Accurate segmentation
Superman and Green Lantern II later called in several heroes to stop the Royal Flush Gangs attack on Disneyworld. Booster was one of the heroes who responded, and, soon, he found himself in a new incarnation of the League, led by Superman (who joined officially for the first time). However, this version was not to last.
Booster was among the Leaguers who responded to a distress call in rural Ohio of a monster rampaging. The monster was Doomsday, and he made short work of the League. As a result of the battle:
- Superman was killed.
- Blue Beetle was put into a coma.
- Fire lost her powers.
- Guy Gardner was nearly blinded.
- Booster’s powersuit and equipment were irreparably damaged.
Booster was powerless, and out of active League service. Several new members (including newcomer to the League Wonder Woman) were brought in, and Booster found the League changed from the one he joined.
After Beetle came out of his coma, Booster pleaded with him to create a new armor that he could wear into battle. Beetle agreed, though he warned Booster that something like powered armor would be incredibly difficult to create.
Targeted promotions
During a mission in the Arctic, Booster rejoined the League in his new armor. However, a few minutes into the mission, a combination of the extreme cold and faulty, shoddily built electronics caused Booster’s armor to short circuit. The joints fused, and Booster was left paralyzed in the cold.
Beetle eventually improved Booster’s armor, which Booster wore in the opening battle of the Overmaster’s attempt at world domination. During a battle with the Cadre, he had his arm severed and was killed.
Barely given time to grieve, the League watched in horror as the Overmaster announced that he would stop all births and deaths for a period of 24 hours. Beetle was amazed to find Booster “alive,” though he had no pulse and doctor’s could not find any reason for him to actually be alive.
Beetle worked to repair Booster’s armor as well as add a cybernetic arm and rocket jets to replace the arm and Flight Ring Booster lost.
As the League defeated the Overmaster, Booster said a final goodbye and died again… until the life support system Beetle installed in the armor restarted Booster’s heart. Booster was saved, but could never leave the armor or he would die for good.
Brand loyalty
After the UN pulled the League’s funding and official sanctions over the actions of the Overmaster War, the League had to come to some hard decisions. After clashes over philosophies, Captain Atom and Wonder Woman formed two separate Justice Leagues.
Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Booster, Maxima and Amazing Man II formed a more pro-active League. Though the name of the book was Extreme Justice, that was never a term used for Cap’s team.
Some time after “Extreme Justice” was formed, a second being calling himself Monarch created a cult-like temple in Central Park, New York City. He claimed to be able to heal any ailment. Against Captain Atom’s express orders, Booster went to see Monarch, sick of living his life in “a tin can.”
“Extreme Justice” went after Booster, but arrived to late. They stormed Monarch’s citadel to find… a completely healed Booster, not wearing his armor.
It seemed too good to be true, and it was. On the flight back to New Mexico, Booster began mutating into a freakish monster due to the implants that Monarch put in Booster’s body. Beetle managed to jam the signal Monarch was sending to Booster’s implants, and the Exorian’s “Flesh Driver” merged with Booster’s armor and Skeets to create a new armor.
Transmedia campaign
After the UN requested “Extreme Justice” to shut down following an international incident, Booster and Beetle used the money Booster had “recovered” from Dirk Davis to create “Blue and Gold Software.”
They produced a number of video games and other softwares. Though they still were business partners, they dissolved their informal partnership as heroes.
Booster was in Metropolis following Superman’s battle with Metallo immediately after the Genesis Wave altered his powers. After seeing Superman dispersed into the upper atmosphere, Booster was able to use his force field to contain Superman’s energy form. Superman was able to reintegrate himself, but the resulting EMP destroyed Booster’s armor.
Feeling he had a debt to repay, Superman took Booster to see Professor Emil Hamilton. Hamilton was able to use the micro-circuitry fabric he used to create Superman’s containment suit to build a new powersuit for Booster.
Hamilton used the components from Booster’s old armor to download Skeets’ personality and memories into the powersuit. He was able to include in the powersuit many of Booster’s original suit’s powers.
Social media virality
Booster recently began a highly publicized relationship with the heroine Firehawk (which did not sit very well with her ex-boyfriend Firestorm, a former teammate of Booster’s).
Booster also hired Plastic Man to get an “in” at the JLA Watchtower so he could use its teleporters to run an “instant delivery” service, teleporting parcels all over the world. After accidentally teleporting a package into Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)’s apartment, it is assumed the delivery service has been shut down.
Description
Booster is a fit man of about 28. He has medium-length blond hair and blue eyes. His powersuit is a full-body yellow/blue combination with a blue star on the chest. The head piece lets his hair out, has an opening for his mouth and chin and has a large visor.
Personality
Booster is amiable and upbeat. He was the consummate straight man to Beetle.
After the Overmaster War, Booster fell into a deep depression.
Booster is always looking for the “get-rich-quick-scheme” that will solve all of his problems, and he loves the spotlight.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Booster Gold
| Dex: 06 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Thrill of Adventure |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Hero/Repossessor/Adventurer-for-Hire |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 13/03/07 (In that order) |
| Init: 019 | HP: 090 |
Powers:
Self Manipulation: 12
Bonuses and Limitations:
Self Manipulation represents the Quantum implants placed in his body by Monarch II. Booster cannot control his Self Manipulation power directly – it must either be controlled by Monarch (via Quantum broadcasts which are currently jammed by the JLA on all frequencies) or channeled through his old armor (it is unknown whether or not his new battlesuit can access these implants).
Skills:
Charisma: 07, Martial Artist: 05, Scientist: 04, Vehicles: 04
Advantages:
Attractive.
Connections:
JLA (Powerful, High), U.S. Government (Powerful, Low), Firehawk (High), Conglomerate (High), Extreme Justice (High), Blue Beetle (Low), Plastic Man (Powerful, High).
Drawbacks:
Dark Secret (25th Century Felon), MIA (Attractive women), MIA (Money), MIA (Fame).
Equipment:
BOOSTER GOLD BATTLESUIT [/STR/ 10 /BODY/ 10 INT 09 WIL 04 MIN 02 INF 02, AUR 02 SPI 01, Energy Absorption: 04, Energy Blast: 09, Flight :13, Force Field: 15, Power Reserve (/STR/, /BODY/, Energy Blast, Force Field): 08, Radio Communication: 12, Recall: 10, Sealed Systems: 08, Telescopic Vision: 05, Thermal Vision: 07, Charisma: 03, Gadgetry: 09, Medicine (First Aid): 09, Scientist: 06, Scholar (History), Bonus : Force Field can be projected (loses 1 AP of effect for each AP projected), Limitations : Sealed Systems can only be used within the Force Field, Notes : Mental Attributes, Mystical Attributes, Skills and Scholar represent Skeets’ personality and memory, downloaded into the Battlesuit].
Original power suit
Originally (from Booster Gold #1 through Superman [Vol 2] 74), Booster Gold’s powers were derived from several separate pieces of 25th (and 30th) century equipment :
- POWERSUIT [/STR/ 07 /BODY/ 07, Energy Absorption: 02, Force Field: 15, Force Shield: 02, Power Reserve (Force Field, Force Shield, /STR/, /BODY/, Energy Blast of Wrist Blasters): 06, R#2].
- GOGGLES [BODY 07, Microscopic Vision: 02, Telescopic Vision: 05, Thermal Vision: 07, Ultra Vision: 07, R#2].
- WRIST BLASTERS (x2) [BODY 07, Energy Blast: 06, R#2].
- LEGION FLIGHT RING [BODY 05, Flight: 08, Radio Communication: 08].
Kord battle armour Mk1
The goggles, powersuit and wrist blasters were destroyed by Doomsday during the Justice League’s battle with him. Feeling helpless and powerless, Booster turned to his then best friend, Blue Beetle to help create him a new set of armor.
Booster took this new armor into battle prematurely, and it proved to be extremely faulty, and even blew itself out (during JLA v1 #81), leaving Booster unable to move. Beetle corrected this flaw and made some other improvements (after JLA v1 #82, the armor’s R# was reduced to 3):
BATTLEARMOR MARK I (JLAv1 80-JLAv1 85) [/STR/ 06 /BODY/ 06, Force Field: 05, Energy Blast: 04, Flight: 05, R#7. Bonus : Booster can attack through the Force Field , Limitations : If any of the armor’s abilities burn out, they all do (excluding /Body/), and (prior to JLAv1 81 only) it left Booster paralyzed (Dex=0); Optional “Damage-adds-to-R#” rule mandatory with armor; Force Field protects Booster only].
Kord battle armour Mk2
Through tinkering and modifications, Beetle improved Booster’s armor, which he used effectively (with the help of his Flight Ring) until the return of the Overmaster.
BATTLEARMOR MARK II (JLA 86-JLA 89) [/STR/ 06 /BODY/ 07, Energy Blast: 07, Force Field: 07, Flight: 06, Power Reserve (/STR/, Energy Blast, Force Field) 07, R#2. Limitations : When Power Reserve adds it’s APs to one of Booster’s stats, that stat’s R# is increased by the APs enhancing it].
Kord battle armour Mk3
During the opening battle with the Cadre, Booster was apparently killed and his right arm was severed by Devastator. The Overmaster held all dying people suspended, neither living nor dying. Booster was temporarily resuscitated, and Beetle worked feverishly to repair his armor.
Once the Overmaster was destroyed, Booster died again. But Beetle had included a Life Support system in the armor, which saved Booster’s life. The only problem was that Booster could never remove the armor or else he would die. Booster was also outfitted with a cybernetic arm by S.T.A.R. Labs:
- BATTLEARMOR MARK III (JLA 89-Extreme Justice 14) [/STR/ 08 /BODY/ 08, Energy Blast: 07, Flight: 06, Force Field: 07, R#2. Drawbacks: R# represents Booster’s life support system. If he rolls a 2 on any action involving the armor, the life support system begins to fail (Booster takes damage from his Fatal Vulnerability, and all of his actions suffer +2 CS to the OV). The system can be reset by Beetle if he can access Booster’s armor].
- CYBERNETIC ARM [BODY 05, Extra Limb: 04].
- Booster also had his Str reduced by 1 AP, and the Serious Physical Restriction (Missing an arm, any actions requiring both arms suffer +2 CS to the OV), and Fatal Vulnerability (Removing his armor, no intrinsic range Drawbacks.
Armour breakdown and Monarch healing
Booster lived with his disability for as long as he could take it, slowly being driven insane by being forced to live in his armor. When his armor began to run down (he suffered +1 CS to the OV of every action due to the pain), Booster sought help from Monarch II who had appeared in New York City offering to heal people and cure afflictions.
Booster, against orders, jumped at the chance. Extreme Justice followed after him, and were shocked to find him completely healed by Monarch. Monarch had also implanted several “quantum implants” which served to temporarily mutate Booster, but these were later deactivated.
In game terms, his physical form was restored to its main stats.
Fused suit
After an encounter with the Exorians Zan and Jayna, the Jrxan “flesh driver” they were carrying merged with Booster’s armor and Skeets to form a new, final version of his armor.
The armor ran off of the Quantum Implants in Booster’s body for power and could access and control those implants, allowing Booster to use his Self Manipulation power via the suit (which he called it’s “Midas Mode”).
BATTLEARMOR MARK X (Extreme Justice 14-Superman [Vol 2] 124) [/STR/ 09 /BODY/ 10 INT 10 WIL 05 MIN 06 INF 04 AUR 03 SPI 03, Energy Absorption: 03, Energy Blast: 08, Flight: 10, Force Field: 15, Language Comprehension: 12, Power Reserve (/STR/, /BODY/, Energy Blast, Force Field): 06, Radio Communication: 12, Recall: 10, Sealed Systems: 08, Scholar (20th Century), Loss Vulnerability (wearer must have energy source within their Body. Without one, armor is useless; All Powers and Stats; No Intrinsic Range). Bonus : Force Field can be projected (loses 1 AP of effect for each AP projected) , Limitations : Sealed Systems can only be used within the Force Field, Notes : Mental Attributes, Mystical Attributes, Skills and Scholar represent Skeets’ personality and memory, downloaded into the Battlesuit].
Booster used this armor until an encounter with Superman Blue destroyed it. Superman and Emil Hamilton used some fabric leftover from creating Superman’s containment suit and pieces of Booster’s old armor to create the above battlesuit.
Source of Character: Booster Gold, Justice League America, Extreme Justice (DCU).
Helper(s): John Colagioia.