Burton Thompson was a director of Metropolis's STAR Labs.
History
Burton Thompson introduced himself to Superman as director of STAR Labs when he barred the Man of Steel from entering to respond to an emergency. Thompson used a Psi-Helmet to neutralize an escaping creature. He ordered the creature, #121, to be locked up, and also for his men to reinforce their lab so Superman could not reenter.[1] Soon after, the Rudolph Jones (New Earth) attacked STAR Labs, accidentally releasing a number of monsters that headed into Metropolis. After Superman's battle with a multi-armed ape, Thompson appeared in a ceremonial outfit and destroyed the creature with a ray blast from his shield, vowing to stop the other creatures.[2] Thompson revealed that he was the one who had captured many of the creatures in the first place.[3] At some point, Thompson, posing as a drug dealer, picked up a young homeless man named Chip and attempted to activate his metagene. This scarred Chip and drove him insane.[4]
Later, Thompson used a more scientific ray to subdue another creature. His methods were decried by Kitty Faulkner. He continued his hunt, now searching for the Parasite, whom he found after Professor Emil Hamilton and the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit had already captured him. His assault, which almost allowed the Parasite to escape, was stopped by Superman.[5]
Thompson later met the time-lost Legion of Super-Heroes members when Brainiac 5 claimed the body of the original Brainiac, in their hopes to use his intellect to return them to their proper time.[6]
When Saviour was released from S.T.A.R. Labs by Morgan Edge, Thompson was going to attempt to capture him, but his resentment of Superman made him decide to let the hero do it on his own.[7]
During the Genesis event, Thompson was seen outside of STAR Labs' Queensland Park Research Facility capturing dinosaurs that Dabney Donovan created to detain Jimmy Olsen.[8]
Thompson and STAR Labs were called in to examine a mysterious "Dragon's Tooth" found in the Gobi Desert in China.[9] Soon after, Thompson offered his experience as a monster hunter to the S.C.U. to hunt down the self-styled Ripper.[10] He was willing to hunt it down with lethal force if necessary.[11]
Thompson was called in by Metropolis mayor Buck Sackett to work with the SCU and Superman to stop the Ripper creature. Thompson assaulted it, but was beaten, and saved from death by Maggie Sawyer, who killed the creature. Back at STAR Labs, it was revealed the creature was an escaped genetic experiment.[12]
Superman and Slam Bradley captured Chip, now called Inkling, and turned him over to STAR and Thompson.[4]
Burton was later seen defending STAR Labs when Riot released several of their creatures.[13]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Expert Hunter
Trivia
His name and nickname are a pun on journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Related
- 14 Appearances of Burton Thompson (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Burton Thompson (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Burton Thompson (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Burton Thompson (New Earth)
Footnotes
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #113
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #537
- ↑ Action Comics #724
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Action Comics #743
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #59
- ↑ Showcase '96 #11
- ↑ Action Comics #735
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #72
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #74
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #553
- ↑ Action Comics #740
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #554
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #569