Jack Knight (New Earth)

From DC Database

History

Sins of the Father

Jack was the younger son of the original Starman, Ted Knight. His mother died when he was young, and he grew up in the shadow of his legendary father, who had been a member of the original Justice Society. Like most of the other members of the team, Ted was kept young through a variety of mystical means. As a boy, Jack idolized his father, keeping a scrapbook of his exploits, but his relationship with Ted turned sour as he grew older. Jack began to rebel, finding his father's career as Starman embarrassing and rather silly. Jack began to abandon painting, which he had evidently been very good at, and his obsession with collectibles and antiques began.

Soon after Jack reached adulthood, Ted came out of retirement along with the other members of the Society during Zero Hour and was involved in the battle with Extant that killed Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Hourman and also aged himself and other members to a much older age. Ted then retired and passed the job of Starman to his son David. That was fine for Jack, who never wanted to be a superhero. He was perfectly happy running his junk shop in Opal City.

Everything would change for Jack when his father's arch-enemy, the Mist, who was rapidly descending into senility, decided to come after his hated enemy one last time. He ordered his children, Kyle and Nash, to attack Ted and his family. Kyle murdered David while Nash, who had Jack at her mercy, decided she couldn't go through with it. Obtaining a cosmic rod, Jack was forced to kill Kyle in a battle. After that battle, Jack swore he would not take another life. Nash was arrested along with her father, but the death of her brother would have a profound change upon her, transforming her in to the new Mist II.^[1]

Recognizing that Opal City needed a hero, Jack agreed to fulfill that role if Ted would devote his science to helping humanity rather than superheroics. Jack was a reluctant new superhero. He refused to adopt the Starman costume, fashioning a custom-made one from his junk shop that was more like street clothes. He even refitted the Cosmic Rod into a staff to better suit him. He met the Shade, an immortal super-villain who had fought his father and the original Flash. Contrary to his reputation, the Shade was not looking for a fight. Indeed, he wanted Jack to become Opal's champion, and insisted that Jack read the Shade's journals. More allies were found in the O'Dare Family, five siblings who were all in law enforcement, and whose father had been a close confidant to Ted. Jack also found that at certain times of the year he could communicate with David, who appeared as a ghost. ^[2]

A (K)Night at the Circus

While looking for collectibles in the suburbs of Opal, Jack came across a circus. He saw the Freak Show and entered a tent that claimed to house a "Cosmic Geek". Inside, he encountered a tall man with blue skin and thinning red hair, with a crystal in his chest. When he toucheed Jack, Jack was overwhelmed by strange visions. He tried to get the circus owner to give him more information, but was duped and attacked, eventually left unconscious outside of the circus. Jack returned to the circus, this time with his Cosmic Rod, and met the freaks, who told him that the owner of the circus was in fact a demon named Bliss. Bliss had been feeding off their misery. Jack resolved to free them, and battled Bliss. During the fight, the silent blue-skinned "Cosmic Geek" revealed powers of his own, flying through the air and blasting Bliss with energy from the crystal from his chest. With Bliss defeated, Jack and the blue-skinned alien returned to Opal where Ted discovered that the alien's name was Mikaal Tomas, and that once, he bore the name Starman.

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Powers and Abilities

Powers

None

Abilities

Jujutsu: Jack is trained in jujutsu to an above-average degree, though he is nowhere near master level.

Jack is also very knowledgable about antiques and collectables.

Strength level

Average: Jack possesses the strength level of a man his age, size and weight who engages in moderate regular exercise.

Paraphernalia

Transportation

• The Cosmic Staff allows Jack to fly.

Weapons

• Cosmic Staff

See Also

• Discuss Jack Knight (New Earth) on the forums
• Appearances of Jack Knight (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Jack Knight (New Earth)
• Quotations by Jack Knight (New Earth)
• Images featuring Jack Knight (New Earth)

Links and References

• Starman at Wikipedia
• Starman biography page at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
  

Footnotes

1. ↑ Starman (Vol.2) #0-4
2. ↑ Starman (Vol.2) #5-6

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