Blackfire

For other uses, see Blackfire (disambiguation).
Blackfire

Cover to New Teen Titans #23 (September 1982). Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance New Teen Titans #22 (August 1982)
Created by Marv Wolfman
George Pérez
In-story information
Alter ego Komand'r
Team affiliations Citadel
Abilities Energy projection
Faster-than-light flight (TV series only)
Superhuman strength, stamina, endurance, durability, agility, reflexes
Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
Immunity to intense cold and radiation
Linguistic assimilation
Immunity to vacuum

Blackfire (Komand'r) is a female supervillain who appears in the fictional DC Universe. She is the older sister of the Teen Titans member Starfire and Omega Men member Ryand'r. The character first appears in New Teen Titans #22, and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.[1]

Fictional character biography

Komand'r was the firstborn child and eldest daughter of Tamaran's royal family. The first princess born in over one hundred years, she should have been courted and showered with honors. On the day she was born, the Citadel Empire attacked and destroyed the western Tamaranean city of Kysarr and killed three thousand citizens in her name. Though she was in no way at fault for what had happened, Komand'r was for all time inextricably linked with that terrible day. To make matters worse, Komand'r was crippled by a childhood illness that left her unable to absorb ultraviolet radiation to fly as most Tamaraneans did. Because of Komand'r's naturally grim disposition, a stark contrast to the royal family's generally contented outlook, the subjects of Tamaran hated her. As a result, though first in the line of succession, she was denied her birthright to be the next Princess of Tamaran to maintain the respect and prestige of the royal family. Her privileges, honors, and her royal style and dignity were transferred to her younger sister, Princess Koriand'r (who would later become known as Starfire). Inwardly, Komand'r's rage grew and her resentment turned to hatred for her planet, her people, her family, and lastly her younger sister who, in Komand'r's eyes, made the fateful mistake of being born. Komand'r's hatred continued and intensified when she and her sister were sent, per Tamaran's warlike custom, for warrior training with the Warlords of Okaara. Komand'r's true feeling were exposed when during a sparring exercise she attempted to kill her younger sister. As a result, she was expelled by the Warlords. Humiliated by her own transgression, Komand'r swore vengeance and joined the Citadel, quickly rising through their ranks to become a warrior-maiden fighting against the forces of her own world and, ultimately, her own family.

Komand'r later betrayed her home world with detailed information about Tamaran's planetary defenses to the Citadel. They conquered Tamaran with ease, and the surrender conditions included the enslavement of Koriand'r. Koriand'r was never permitted to return, since that would mean the Citadel would devastate the planet for abrogating the treaty. Komand'r was her sister's master and made the most of her younger sister's bondage with years of horrific servitude and torture. When Kory killed one of her rapists, Komand'r decided to execute her as punishment, but not before the sisters were attacked and captured by the Psions. Psions, largely a species of sadistic scientists, performed a deadly experiment on both of the sisters to see just how much energy their Tamaranian bodies could absorb before exploding from the overload. During the procedure, Komand'r's forces attacked the Psion ship to rescue her and while the Psions were distracted, Kory broke free with the starbolts, destructive blasts of solar energy, which were a result of the experimentation. Against her better judgment she decided to free Komand'r, who was still absorbing more and more starbolt energy. However, far from grateful, Komand'r had struck her younger sister down with the same (but much stronger and more powerful), starbolt energy and had her restrained for later execution. Kory escaped and stole a space ship to planet Earth, where she met a young group of heroes and helped form the new Teen Titans.[1]

Komand'r appeared in the Rann-Thanagar War limited series, during which she killed Hawkwoman in her pursuit of a New Tamaran. She formed an uneasy alliance with the surviving players of the war in order to deal with more pressing concerns (Infinite Crisis). She was not seen during the Crisis series itself, but was featured in Outsiders (vol. 3) #31-32 (Infinite Crisis tie-in issues) and has recently appeared in Hawkgirl and JSA: Classified, attempting to kill Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The Hawks defeated Komand'r, after which Hawkman used Psion technology to strip the villain of her starbolt powers.

She later appeared in R.E.B.E.L.S. (vol. 2), with her powers already having been restored by the Psions. When Vril Dox moved the planet Rann into the location formally held by Tamaran in the Vega System, Blackfire arrived with her army in attempt to seize the planet for her own people. Dox was able to quickly stop the hostilities, however, and brokered a treaty allowing Blackfire and her people to settle on the uninhabited southern continent of Rann. During these events, Blackfire gained a newfound sense of respect for Dox, realizing his egocentric personality was very similar to her own. The two went on an unofficial date disguised as a diplomatic dinner and after Dox was captured by Starro the Conqueror, Blackfire joined forces with Adam Strange and other members of L.E.G.I.O.N. to rescue him. Blackfire then subsequently claimed Dox as her consort.

DC 2011 relaunch

With the September 2011 DC Comics relaunch, some people's origins and personalities have been changed to an unknown degree. While never referred to by name, it is said Starfire's sister sold her for the safety of their planet, if this was a malicious way to get rid of her sister or sincere peace offering for the safety of their planet is unknown.[2] It's revealed that a parasitic race known as the Blight has taken over Tamaran, their purpose unknown and Koriand'r fears the worst for her sister.[3] Komand'r appears via flashblack as her sister talks about their relationship, saying that they rarely get along and that Kori is embittered toward Komand'r and the People of Tamaran for letting her be enslaved. After Kori fought her way free, she was praised as a Hero, and given a ship by Komand'r but the rift between the girls was still there. Komand'r appears to a captured Roy Harper, and appears to be working with or under the Blight. [4] Roy's capture, however, was revealed to be a mission to rescue Komand'r, as he successfully teleported her back onto the Starfire. Kom and Kori reconcile in a teary conversation as Kori forgivers her sister, and the issue ends with the sisters preparing to take back Tamaran by themselves. [5]Kom and Kori fight through the hordes of The Blight with Jason, Roy, and a few of the members of Kori's ship. Komand'r is stabbed in the back by a spear thrown by The Blight's leader. Kori's emotions send an energetic shock wave, wiping out everything around her. When the smoke clears she holds the defeated Blight leader. After the battle, Kori is next to the throne, and Kom stumbles next to her. She asks Kori to stay, but realizes she can't. They hug and Kom gives them a ship to get back to Earth.[6]

In other media

Television

Blackfire, as seen in the Teen Titans animated series.

Film

Miscellaneous

References

  1. 1 2 Jimenez, Phil (2008). "Blackfire". In Dougall, Alastair. The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 55. ISBN 0-7566-4119-5.
  2. Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1 #1
  3. Red Hood and the outlaws Vol.1 #10
  4. Red Hood and the outlaws Vol.1 #11
  5. Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1 #12
  6. Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1 #13

External links

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