Mikaal Tomas
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Starman (Mikaal Tomas) is a fictional character in
DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...
and is one of the
Starmen Starman, Star Men, or variations, may refer generally to any space traveller, or more specifically to: People * "Starman", onstage alter ego of Kiss frontman Paul Stanley * Starman (wrestler) (born 1974), Mexican professional wrestler * "Starman" ...
within the
DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the shared universe in which most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. In context, the term "DC Universe" usually refers to the main DC Continuity (fiction), continuity. It contains v ...
. He is openly
bisexual Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...
.


Creation

Writer
Gerry Conway Gerard Francis Conway Thomas, Roy. "Roy's Rostrum" (" Bullpen Bulletins") in '' Marvel Super-Heroes'' #43 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1974. (born September 10, 1952) is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, science ficti ...
said he simply liked the name Starman and created the character as an homage, not to the original 1940s Starman, but the Starman featured in issues of ''
The Brave and the Bold ''The Brave and the Bold'' is a comic book series published by DC Comics as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983. It was followed by a reprint miniseries in 1988, two original miniseries in 1991 and 1999, and was revived as an ongoing anthology ...
'' during the mid-1960s. In 1st Special #12 editorial wrote that the initial genesis of the character was inspired by the current popular U.F.O theories mixed with traditional super hero dynamics.


Publication history

Mikaal Tomas is a DC Comics superhero, introduced in the 1970s. The character later suffered
amnesia Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage or brain diseases,Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009) Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. but it can also be temporarily caused by t ...
until he turned up in the 1990s ''Starman'' series. In James Robinson's 1990s series, Mikaal was given the name Starman not as a means of carrying on
Ted Knight Ted Knight (born Tadeusz Wladyslaw Konopka; December 7, 1923August 26, 1986) was an American actor known for playing the comedic roles of Ted Baxter in ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', Henry Rush in '' Too Close for Comfort'' and Judge Elihu Sm ...
's legacy, but rather in reference to the song " Starman" by
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
. The song tells of a benevolent alien who arrives on Earth to save it from destruction, similar to Mikaal's backstory. The 1990s series also revealed that Mikaal originates from the planet Talok III and that his species is related to
Shadow Lass Shadow Lass (Tasmia Mallor) is a superheroine appearing in books published by DC Comics. She first appeared as a statue in ''Adventure Comics'' #354 (March 1967), and was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan. She was called Shadow Woman, was depi ...
. Mikaal's origins have been noted to bear certain similarities to that of
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
character
Mar-Vell Captain Marvel (real name: Mar-Vell; Earth alias Walter Lawson) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and designed by artist Gene Colan, the character first appeared in '' ...
. A 2010 Robinson story subsequently clarified that Mikaal identifies as gay.''Starman/Congorilla'' one-shot (March 2011) Commenting on the series, Gerry Conway said he "was flattered and amused" that someone would revive a character he had created strictly as a one-off to fill an issue of ''1st Issue Special''. In 2009, Mikaal appeared as a main character in '' Justice League: Cry for Justice'', written by Robinson. In the '' DC Pride 2024'', written by
Al Ewing Al Ewing ( ; born 12 August 1977) is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press, for '' 2000 AD'', and for Marvel Comics. Career Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the four-page '' Future Shocks'' format for '' ...
, Mikaal is clarified to be bisexual, not gay. He tells an interviewer that the label "bisexual feels right... I landed in 1976, that was the word I learned for me. I like guys, I like girls, I like folks beyond the whole binary thing." He explains that his species is divided by factions, not sexualities. In the same story, Mikaal enters a relationship with Komak, his former nemesis.


Fictional character biography

Mikaal Tomas is an alien who traveled to Earth to help conquer it, but instead turned against his war-like people in defense of the human race. He wears flight-discs on his feet and a medallion containing a sonic crystal that enables him to fire energy bolts. Robinson's series also portrayed Starman in a
gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
relationship; Mikaal's partner Tony was introduced in a 1998 issue of ''Starman''. Starman's specific sexual identity is not addressed in print. Starman meets and befriends
Congorilla Congorilla (originally in human: William "Congo Bill" Glenmorgan) is a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and Vertigo Comics. Originally co-created by writer Whitney Ellsworth and artist George Papp, he was later transform ...
, a fellow hero who is mourning the death of
Freedom Beast Freedom Beast (Dominic Mndawe) is a fictional comic book character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character made his live-action debut in the fourth season of the HBO Max series ''Titans'', portrayed by Nyambi N ...
. The two heroes travel to
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, where they kill the two assassins but are unable to learn who hired them. They later learn that
Prometheus In Greek mythology, Prometheus (; , , possibly meaning "forethought")Smith"Prometheus". is a Titans, Titan. He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by taking theft of fire, fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technol ...
was responsible, defeat him, and aid in rescue efforts after Prometheus destroys Star City. Mikaal appears in the ''
Justice League of America The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in '' The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived t ...
'' series, where he joins the eponymous team. After being injured during a battle on Gemworld, Starman resigns from the League, which disbands shortly afterward.''
Shade Shade, Shades or Shading may refer to: * Shade (color), a mixture of a color with black (often generalized as any variety of a color) * Shade (shadow), the blocking of sunlight * Shades or sunglasses * Shading, a process used in art and graphic ...
'' (vol. 2) #1 (October 2011)


References


External links

* Mikaal Tomas at the DC Comics wiki
Starman III (Mikaal Tomas) – Gay League ProfileStarman (2016)
{{Starman, state=expanded Characters created by Gerry Conway Comics characters introduced in 1976 DC Comics aliens DC Comics extraterrestrial superheroes DC Comics LGBTQ superheroes DC Comics male superheroes Fictional bisexual men Fictional characters with amnesia Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities Starman (DC Comics)