Blackfire

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	Ultraviolet energy projection FTL 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 of space Prehensile tongue Longevity Master manipulator

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.

Publication history

Blackfire 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 faster than light 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 Kori 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 ultraviolet 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, Kori broke free with her newly developed starbolts, highly destructive blasts of bright green-colored ultraviolet 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. Kori 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.

The New 52

In The New 52 (a reboot of the DC Comics universe), 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.

• Blackfire appears in the Teen Titans animated series, voiced by Hynden Walch (the voice actress of Starfire in the same series). In the series, this version is depicted as a young woman, yet is shown to be a few years older than her sister Starfire. In contrast to the other Tamaraneans shown on the series, all whom have red hair or brown hair and green eyes with green sclera, Blackfire is shown to have black hair and purple eyes with white sclera - likely a reference to her comic counterpart being born deformed by Tamaranean standards. Blackfire possesses superhuman strength, durability, flight, as well as the ability to generate bright lavender-colored starbolts from her hands that are quite powerful and destructive. In a contrast with her comic book depiction, Blackfire also has the ability to fly through the air at will. Presumably, she has all of the same abilities as Starfire, as the two are quite evenly matched in combat. Her clothes in the series are quite similar to Starfire's as seen in the prequel episode "Go!", but Starfire's was purple whereas Blackfire's outfit is black and Starfire's skin shows while Blackfire's is covered by a metal plating of sorts. Blackfire's debut appearance came in the first season episode "Sisters", where Blackfire comes to Earth to visit Starfire. However, it is soon revealed that Blackfire is actually an infamous galactic criminal, and she has actually come to Earth in an attempt to frame her younger sister for her crimes. Fortunately, her plan was thwarted and the result ended in an epic fight between sisters. Their battle is interrupted when Blackfire is arrested by Centauri police forces. In the third season episode "Betrothed", Blackfire is revealed to have escaped, and in control of Tamaran. As Grand Ruler/Empress of Tamaran, she uses her authority to have Starfire married to a swamp alien in return for the magical Jewel of Charta, under the guise that Tamaran would be destroyed if Starfire did not comply. The Teen Titans soon discover that the elder sister's plan is a hoax, and Starfire proceeds to challenge Blackfire to a duel for the Tamaranean throne. The Jewel of Charta was shown to greatly enhance Blackfire's abilities (turning her starbolts from lavender to red at the time), until Starfire took the jewel from her sister by force and crushed it. After Blackfire was defeated by Starfire, Blackfire is then forced into exile. Blackfire hasn't been seen for the remainder of the show. The New Teen Titans animated short "Blackfire's Babysitter" depicts Blackfire as having quadruplets with the swamp alien she had attempted to force Starfire into marrying, but the animated short was created as a joke and is not considered canon.

• Blackfire also appears in the animated series Teen Titans Go!, again voiced by Hynden Walch. She first appears in the episode "Mr. Butt". After getting into trouble with the Galactic Police again, Blackfire seeks refuge with Starfire. After Starfire gave Blackfire delighted hugs, Blackfire is introduced to the rest of the Teen Titans, to which her little sister's teammates took an immediate disliking to her. After Blackfire flirts with Robin, the Titans try to tell Starfire that Blackfire was one of the most wanted criminals. Starfire then claims that she was going to give Blackfire one more chance, but if Blackfire crushed Starfire's sisterly feelings once more, a thoroughly enraged Starfire would destroy her. After Blackfire grudgingly does 'sisterly stuff' with Starfire (making Starfire look exactly like her), the Galactic Police find Starfire (dressed as Blackfire), and take her prisoner where Starfire, both heartbroken and revenge-torn, swears to destroy Blackfire once and for all. Blackfire is next seen silently watching Robin work out, while the Boy Wonder doesn't (but eventually does) notice, much to Blackfire's pleasure. After Blackfire tells Robin 'Did anyone tell you that you have a nice butt, Robin', Robin sees Starfire is gone but Blackfire is there, and angrily demands for Blackfire to tell where Starfire is. When Blackfire tells him to 'Relax, Mr. Butt', the Titans see that Blackfire was a horrible older sister. Cyborg gives her a list of items to pick up, because she was going to 'Sister School'. After learning to listen to a sister's problems (listening to Beast Boy whine and yelling to 'man up'), how to hug a sister (she refuses to hug the other Titans yet eagerly gives Robin a long seductive hug which Robin calls bad), and how to live with a sister (the Titans dress up as Starfire and pester Blackfire), Blackfire feels guilt for her horrible actions toward her younger sister, and becomes a better older sister. In the midst of this, a thoroughly enraged and revenge-torn Starfire breaks into Titans Tower, bent on destroying Blackfire once and for all. Blackfire tries to help with sisterly loving actions, but Starfire makes it clear (after punching Robin, causing Beast Boy to say 'Mr. Butt, are you okay?') that she wouldn't fall for that again. Starfire slams Blackfire through many buildings (barely missing a window washer) and tears up a long stretch of street using her head before slamming her through a dress shop. Blackfire finally gets her sister to stop momentarily by showing the doll that she had stolen from Starfire as a five-year-old child, and apologizing for it, also stating 'I've changed, now.'. Starfire, momentarily touched by the apology, remembers herself, disintegrates the doll, and says 'So have I.', before shooting Blackfire with a bright green starbolt eye blast. Later, in Titans Tower, Blackfire and Starfire appear in the main lounge, causing the Titans to jump up and ask how it went. After Blackfire faints from exhaustion and pain, Starfire cheerfully states that they had "worked things out".

Film

• She is briefly mentioned in the Justice League vs. Teen Titans. When Starfire is complaining to Nightwing about Damian Wayne's behavior, she said that he reminds her of her sister.

Miscellaneous

• While she does not appear in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Blackfire makes a cameo appearance in issue #9 of the tie-in comic book series to Batman: The Brave and the Bold as one of the villains defeated by Hawkgirl.
• In Teen Titans Go! issue #48, there's an alternate universe where Starfire's evil counterpart is Blackfire of the Teen Tyrants.

References

1. 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

• Blackfire at the Comic Book DB
• Blackfire at Spider-Bob.com
• Blackfire at the Internet Movie Database