Thanks to her successful television show, Stargirl has been rejuvenated. It has been a while since Courtney Whitmore has donned the Cosmic Converter Belt and Cosmic Staff in DC Comics. Yet, thanks to the company's Infinite Frontier initiative, she came back in Stargirl's Spring Break Special. Joining her is a team not seen for a long time.
In her one-shot special, Courtney works with a new version of the Seven Soldiers of Victory. It's a group that features recent incarnations of past members. This includes Green Arrow, Shining Knight, the first Vigilante, and Crimson Avenger. Before readers delve into this story, they should familiarize themselves with all the characters from their other tales.
10 Leading Comics Was Home To The Second-Tier Seven Soldiers Of Victory
In the Golden Age of comics, All-Star Comics was home to the top-tier Justice Society. Meanwhile, Leading Comics was home to the second-tier Seven Soldiers of Victory. Where the JSA lasted for a decade before they disappeared, the Soldiers had a shorter history.
The original team was comprised of the Golden Age Green Arrow and Speedy, Shining Knight, Crimson Avenger, Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, and the original Vigilante. The Soldiers appeared in Leading Comics for 14 issues before the series went all humor.
9 Justice League Of America #100-102 By Len Wein & Dick Dillin Followed The Search To Reunite The Seven Soldiers
It took quite a bit of time for the Seven Soldiers to return to comics. In fact, it didn't take place until an annual Justice League-Justice Society team-up in 1972. Even then, not one member of either team knew that they existed. Luckily, a being known as Oracle describes their fate.
It seems the Seven Soldiers were sent into limbo after defeating the Nebula-Man. Now a new threat, the Iron Hand, looks to destroy Earth-Two. Thus a search began across the team's respective globes to recombine the Seven Soldiers and defeat a great evil.
8 All-Star Comics #64 By Paul Levitz & Wally Wood Introduces The Cosmic Converter Belt
After disappearing from the shelves in early 1950, All-Star Comics returned in 1976 to bring readers new stories of the Justice Society. Among the latest members of the team were Superman's cousin, Power Girl, an adult Robin, and Sylvester Pemberton, the Star-Spangled Kid.
When he was with the Seven Soldier, the hero didn't have any special abilities. However, in All-Star #64, he introduces the Cosmic Converter Belt to his wardrobe. Charged through Starman's Cosmic Staff, it gives the Kid enhanced speed, strength, and light powers. It's this belt that Stargirl eventually adopts as her own.
7 Infinity Inc. Focused On Star-Spangled Kid
In 1984, writer Roy Thomas and artist Jerry Ordway introduced a new generation of Earth-Two heroes to the comic book world -- Infinity Inc. Comprised of the son, daughters, and other relatives of Justice Society members, they wanted to be part of the original team. However, when that didn't happen, they went off on their own.
Unhappy with the results of the induction vote, the Star-Spangled Kid left the JSA, along with Power Girl and the Huntress, to join Infinity Inc. He eventually became the team's leader and changed his identity to Skyman. Unfortunately, during a battle with Injustice Unlimited, the hero was killed due to the touch of Mr. Bones.
6 Crisis On Infinite Earths #12 By Marv Wolfman & George Perez Features The Death Of Golden Age Green Arrow
Some readers might wonder, "Wait, the Seven Soldiers were in Crisis on Infinite Earths?" Not quite. The reason why the last issue of this legendary maxi-series is here is it features the death of one of the team's founding members.
The goal of Crisis was to clean up the mess that multiple Earths created over the decades. Unfortunately, one of its victims was the Golden Age Green Arrow. In one panel toward the middle of the book, he's unceremoniously killed by one of the Anti-Monitor's shadow creatures.
5 Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E Continues The Legacy Of The Star-Spangled Kid
In 1999, writer Geoff Johns resurrected the legacy of the Star-Spangled Kid in a new form -- Courtney Whitmore. Finding the hero's old costume and Cosmic Converter Belt, the young girl took on the role of the new Kid. Mostly to annoy her stepfather.
That person would be Pat Dugan, the original Star-Spangled Kid's one-time chauffeur and partner. To help Courtney out, Pat designed a giant robot, S.T.R.I.P.E, that he piloted as he joined her on various adventures. Eventually, Courtney found her way as a hero and changed her name to Stargirl.
4 Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E #9 By Geoff Johns & Scott Kolins Introduces A New Crimson Avenger
An important story in the run of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E is issue nine. Here, two things happen. The first is a tale of the Seven Soldiers of Victory. It retells a story of the team's greatest victory. Additionally, it details the group's lineup minus the Golden Age Green Arrow and Speedy.
The other thing that happens at the end of the issue is the introduction of the new Crimson Avenger, who is part of the Spring Break version of the Seven Soldiers. A former attorney, she uses the original Avenger's handguns to seek justice. Being cursed, they changed her. She could now teleport to places where violent justice needed to be done.
3 JSA Showcased Stargirl As An Important Team Member
After a long and successful stint writing Starman, James Robinson was given the task of bringing back the Justice Society in 1999. The result was the long-running JSA. Eventually, taken over by Geoff Johns, the series would meld classic Golden Age heroes with a new generation.
One of the next phases of heroes was Stargirl. Fresh off a run in her own series, Courtney became an integral part of the team through the series. She, along with characters like Jakeem Thunder, provided a young perspective to the team. She also established a relationship with a hero mentioned below.
2 Starman #80 By James Robinson & Peter Snejbjerg Shows Courtney Receiving The Cosmic Staff
Courtney wasn't always the owner of both the Cosmic Converter Belt and the Cosmic Staff. The latter was in the possession of Jack Knight, son of the original Starman. For nearly a decade, Jack served as the Modern Age version of the hero, battling old and new villains and interacting with his namesakes from different dimensions and timelines.
In Starman #80, Jack decided to retire from the superhero business. When he did, he passed his costume, goggles, and Cosmic Staff over to Courtney. Though reluctant, she took it. As a result, her powers significantly increased.
1 Justice League Of America Made Changes To Courtney's Origins
Courtney has been on a few teams during her time as Stargirl. In addition to the JSA and the Seven Soldiers, she was also part of the Justice League of America. This took place during the DC Comics' New 52 era.
On top of being on a new team, Courtney's origins were changed as well. Since the Star-Spangled Kid and Starman no longer existed, she found the Cosmic Converter Belt and Cosmic Staff while cleaning an office. Courtney is much older as well. She remained with this Amanda Waller-based Justice League after it moved from the U.S. to Canada.
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