Starman
(Jack Knight)
Context
“Starman” is a really popular code name in the DC Universe. Jack Knight is, I think, the seventh person who bore the name, and that was 20+ years ago (he appeared in 1994).
Jack had his own comic, written by James Robinson. It was very popular and had an enthusiastic fan base, perhaps in part due to some autobiographical aspects.
This ancient profile is for Jack Knight during the first two years of the Starman series. I must insist – even though it was entirely revised once from Mark’s early notes, it’s very old. We hope to rewrite it eventually, but there are no plans to do so right now.
Background
- Real Name: Jack Knight.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Ted Knight (father, aka Starman I), David Knight (brother, aka Starman VI, deceased), mother (deceased), son (fathered with Mist II without his consent, name unknown).
- Group Affiliation: Successor of Starman I.
- Base Of Operations: Opal City.
- Height: 6’1” Weight: 165lbs.
- Eyes: Black Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Jack Knight seems to have an astounding gift for brawling and athletics. While he only studied jujitsu for a few years as a teenager, he has shown the ability to defeat several armed opponents with his bare hands. He can perform any feat of daring or brawn the standard action hero can, including surviving severe wounds, dodging small arms fire or jumping from rooftop to rooftop.
Starman uses a customized, prototype Cosmic Rod his father built in the 1950’s. That was the model from before he built the smaller, transistorized Cosmic Rod he used for most of his career as Starman I. Jack Knight could competently use the Rod for blasting, acrobatic flying maneuvers or as a bo stick from almost day one.
History
In the 1940s, Ted Knight was both a millionaire playboy and a brilliant scientist. Working with the man who designed Phantom Lady’s black light ray, he invented means to draw power from the stars, and became the first Starman. As such, he was the protector of Opal City and a classic member of the JSA and All-Star Squadron.
An integral part of the JSA, Starman had a long and distinguished career. It included disappearing into Limbo with the rest of the JSA to fight an eternal war, and reappearing during Zero Hour .
Having been bathed in Extant‘ energy, Starman I was among the JSAers who were the least affected by ageing. He seems to physically be about 60 as of this writing.
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The two sons of Starman the elder
Knight had two sons : the tough, scientific one, David, and the rebellious, artistic one, Jack. Mrs. Knight died when the boys were very young, and the brothers never got along very well. David, the good son, always strove to please his father and one day become the new Starman.
Jack, on the other hand, had numerous fights with both his father and his brother, and had a tumultuous adolescence. He was strongly into punk and new wave music, then threw himself into painting and jujitsu as phases. He acquired an obsessive taste for old items, which we would today consider collectibles.
While David became Starman, Jack dealt into collectibles. He opened a shop named “Knight Past”.
Ill-fated
However, David was killed a few weeks after his debut. Thus, Jack was forced to defend his city and his father against his father’s arch-enemy, the Mist.
Jack hated the idea of being a superhero. He thought that it was ridiculous, and did not want to call himself Starman. He has always refused to wear the Starman costume, preferring street clothes adorned with some star symbols.
Jack Knight has gone a long way since this beginning. He reconciled with his father (admitting that he had always admired him), accepted his duty as a hero (to which he admirably adapted), and has become the defender of Opal City and of the Starman legacy.
Description
Jack Knight wears his everyday clothes as Starman, with two additions :
- A tough leather jacket with an astrological star on the back and a vintage Crackerjack sheriff star pinned on the front.
- WWII era tank goggles to protect his eyes from wind and flashes.
His Cosmic Rod is bigger than the classic Starman one (no symbolism here !), and he modified it so its looks were closer to his tastes.
Personality
Jack, for a good part of his life, was all about snide remarks and bad attitude. He liked old objects better than he did most people, and was not a very likeable young man.
His new responsibilities have sobered him up and he is now more mature. He still enjoys making cutting remarks and acting cool, but this bit of attitude is backed by undeniable toughness and intelligence. He also developed an excellent sense of what it means to be a hero in modern times.
He loves old things and popular culture, and is a merchant and haggler at heart. He spends most of his time buying, selling and trading collectibles.
Quotes
“Jake has some Edsel parts and log books and literature that I *know* if I get, I can trade to an Edsel collector for five Disney cels he got from heaven knows where.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Starman
| Dex: 07 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Responsibility |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 06 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Hero, second-hand collectibles dealer |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 05 |
| Init: 021 | HP: 050 |
Skills:
Artist (Painter): 05, Charisma*: 06, Martial artist*: 07, Weaponry (Cosmic Rod)*: 07
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Opal City), Connoisseur (Collectibles only), Free Access (Opal City), Rich Family (Father), Scholar (Pop culture).
Connections:
Starman I (High), Sandman I (Low), O’dare clan (High), Shade (Low).
Drawbacks:
Public ID, MIA toward Haggling.
Equipment:
- 1950s ANTI-GLARE GOGGLES [BODY 04, Shade: 04, Do nothing: 01].
- COSMIC ROD [BODY 10, EV 04 (05 w/STR, 08 w/ Martial Arts)], Energy blast: 13, Flame project: 13, Flash: 10, Flight: 13].
Source of Character: Starman comics (DCU).
Helper(s): Starman VII v1 by Mark Ayen at the beginning of the series ; Sean MacDonald.