The Darkstars were created and run by the Controllers, an offshoot of the Guardians of the Universe. Though their goal was to establish order in the universe, the ancient Maltusian race known as the Controllers were isolationists by nature.
History
NEMO
The Controllers created NEMO, the Network for the Establishment and Maintenance of Order. NEMO kept the troubles of the galaxy away from the Controllers' domain. The Controllers did not intend to use NEMO to benefit other races, but it did. Over the millennia the Controllers realized they would have to take a more active stance by attacking chaos at its roots. Despite all the good they did, there were too many NEMO operatives in too many different places. NEMO and the Controllers devised a new plan to ensure order. The Darkstars were created. The first of these new protectors was named Druu, one of a thousand to carry the name Darkstar.[1]
Earth
The first Darkstar to arrive on Earth was Ferrin Colos. He was tracking the supervillain Evil Star, but in the process, encountered a ring of intergalactic drug smugglers in Dallas. He was authorized to appoint two humans as his deputies, giving them less powerful versions of the Darkstar uniform. John Flint and Mo Douglas filled the slots,[2] though Flint left early on because he had command issues.[3] Carla White, who had at that point already been an ally of the group, became his replacement.[4] They participated in the fight against the Triarch on Maltus, but Colos found his orders contradictive, and chose to ignore them. As it turned out, a Controller was responsible for it all, causing loyalty issues within the ranks.[5]
Corruption
As in many large corporations, agents of NEMO used their position to advance their own interests. Dirnu Jurnin committed several high-tech crimes on Earth and framed the criminal Bindar Kleeg.[6] Huvah Jeddigar's arrogance proved much worse. He nurtured a small universe with which he hoped to expand his powers. Merayn Dethalis stole it from him, and Jeddigar made her the subject of a manhunt, claiming she bore a dangerous weapon. Colos' attempt to investigate eventually lead to a court martial, which he lost. He tried to expose Jeddigar, but in the fight, they were both sucked into the borning universe. Jeddigar had already selected a replacement in Donna Troy, while the Controllers themselves selected former Green Lantern John Stewart to keep a closer watch on the corrupt officials.[7]
With Jeddigar gone, Stewart was eventually made director. He recruited many old members of the Green Lantern Corps after its collapse, who were grateful of this new opportunity to prove themselves. They saw their first action in a gang war between the Syndicate and Crimelord. With Colos gone, Carla White resigned her position as deputy, but Mo Douglas accepted a full commission, and helped refugees that were driven away from their homes by Psimon.[8] Ferrin Colos eventually escaped from the universe and rejoined the ranks.[9]
Dwindling numbers
The Controllers had pulled out of the Darkstar project, because they felt the agents would no longer follow their ideas. As a consequence, the majority of the Exo-Mantles were powerless.[9] Only a new model, introduced after Jeddigar's betrayal, still functioned. In the meantime, Grayven hunted down Darkstars, and slew them cruelly. Stewart learned of this, and the remaining Darkstars with a functioning armor —only seventeen— intercepted him on Rann.
The battle was brutal, and saw the deaths of K'ryssma, Charlie Vicker and several others. John Stewart was crippled. Kyle Rayner had to help them out, and he defeated Grayven. Merayn and Donna resigned to tend to John, leaving only four Darkstars alive: Bron, Munchukk, Colos and Galius Zed.[10] They stayed behind to rebuild Rann, and contemplated their future. Galius Zed was murdered by Fatality in her hunt for former Green Lanterns.[11]
Demise
The last three members returned to Rann years later to help in the fight against the energy vampire Starbreaker. They siphoned off a considerable amount of power from him, which helped save the day, but their suits ruptured and all were disintegrated.[12]
Not long after that the Darkstars were revived and empowered by the murderous demigoddess Lady Styx to act as her vessels to spread her word and her twisted religion across the cosmos.[13] The Stygian Passover used the Darkstars as a weapon against all unaffiliated faiths and their gods. Roving from world after world razing their cultures to the ground and murdering everyone in sight, all in order to cull rival theological movements to pave the way for the coming of their lady.[14] With every world they slaughtered the ranks of the Darkstars grew considerably, as they reinforced themselves with the reanimated corpses of their victims.[15]
Members
- Aa of Stoneworld
- Carla White of Earth
- Charlie Vicker of Earth
- Chaser Bron of Baaltar IV
- Dirnu Jurnin of Eigess
- Donna Troy of Earth
- Druu
- Epernix
- Ferrin Colos of Zamba
- Galius Zed of Noc'sag
- G'nort Gneesmacher
- Hollika Rahn of Rhoon
- Huvah Jeddigar
- Jengis of Eigess
- John Flint of Earth
- John Stewart of Earth
- Klali
- Kwintz
- K'ryssma of Etrea
- Lotta
- Medphyll of J586
- Merayn Dethalis of Bavacqua Seven
- Munchukk of Urrigen
- Oroong
- Phil
- Mo Douglas of Earth
- Rayyana
- Sleer Prigatz of Eigess
- Tarant of Vroxtak
- Threllian
- Tuprolix of Elyrion
- Vardan Radz
- Varix of Naktos
- Xax of Xaos
- Zifor
- Primus of Euphorix
- Kalista of Euphorix
- Herpis of Aello
- Demonia of Aello
- Shlagen of Slagg
- Auron of Okaara
- Artin of Psion Homeworld
- Rynoc of Okaara
- Zirral of Tamaran
- Oho of Changralyn
- Lianna's Mother of Zamaron
Paraphernalia
Equipment:
Darkstar Exo-Mantle
See Also
- 86 Appearances of Darkstars (New Earth)
- 9 Images that include Darkstars (New Earth)
- Team Gallery: Darkstars (New Earth)
Links and References
Footnotes
- ↑ Darkstars #0
- ↑ Darkstars #1-2
- ↑ Darkstars #7
- ↑ Darkstars #10
- ↑ DCU: Trinity
- ↑ Darkstars #13-17
- ↑ Darkstars #19-22
- ↑ Darkstars #27-33
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Darkstars #38
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 3) #71-75
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 3) #82
- ↑ Adam Strange (Volume 2) #8
- ↑ Omega Men (Volume 2) #1
- ↑ Omega Men (Volume 2) #2
- ↑ Omega Men (Volume 2) #3