STAR SPANGLED BANNER BABE

Star-Spangled Girl

Height: 5'5" 110Lbs.
Real name: Courtney Whitmore
Known relatives: Barbara Dugan (mother), Patrick Dugan (stepfather), Michael Dugan (stepbrother)
First appearance: Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E  #0, July 1999
Occupation: adventuress, student
Hair color: blonde
Eye color: blue
Residential area: Blue Valley, Nebraska


When Courtney's mother and new stepfather decided to move to Blue Valley, Nebraska, the town where the third Flash and former Kid Flash, Wally West, used to live, she wasn't especially happy, since it was away from her usual city haunts. So when she discovered that her stepfather Pat Dugan had once been the superhero Stripesy, and that he also kept the original Star-Spangled Kid's cosmic converter belt around the attic, she decided to take up the role first taken by Sylvester Pemberton, mainly to annoy Pat, but she soon discovered that being a superheroine was quite fun. She uses Sylvester's cosmic converter belt in her newfound butt-kicking career, which gives her increased strength, energy beams, and even a few other as yet undefined abilities. Her real father is a criminal who collaborated with the Royal Flush Gang, and whom Courtney fought, and sent her father back to the pen after defeating them.


Courtney was allowed to join the JSA, and while she gets on the nerves of some of the members at times, she's forged some strong friendships with Hawkgirl and Atom Smasher, the latter who remembers what it was like being a novice hero around the JSA in its All-Star Squadron days, when he became a member of its satellite team of younger members, Infinity Inc, and also with the Justice League America. Though she may not be looked upon too kindly by some of the more established heroes, she certainly proved herself when she succeeded in helping out Hector Hall in becoming the new Doctor Fate, and thus bringing about the defeat of Mordru, and she also proved herself to Merry Pemberton, the sister of Sylvester, the original Kid, when leading the de-aged Society on a mission in space. Thanks to this on an indirect basis, she was chosen by the current Starman Jack Knight to use his cosmic anti-gravity rod, which she can use in the future when she feels ready to do so. And, she's become the gal-pal of Billy Batson, alias Captain Marvel, when in their daytime guises as well.

Courtney Whitmore was the awkward teenage daughter every parent fears. Having been happy with her mother living alone, she was quick to balk against her new step father, Pat Dugan. Particularly when this meant she would have to move to the sleepy country town of Blue Valley, away from the city she had grown up in and grown used to. This all changed when Courtney discovered that Pat used to be a super hero. Fighting as Stripsey alongside Sylvester Pemberton aka the Star-Spangled Kid, Pat had kept a lot of the memorabilia from his crime-fighting times. One item that particularly interested Courtney as she was rummaging was the original Star-Spangled Kid’s Cosmic Converter Belt. Courtney decided to become the new Star-Spangled Kid in order to torment and annoy her step father. In response, Pat built himself a robotic suit and fought alongside Courtney, mainly to keep her out of trouble.


Courtney took to heroics with much aplomb and fought a variety of villains whilst trying to survive at her new school. Pat secretly tried to hide his identity as S.T.R.I.P.E. from her but Courtney could tell it was him through the way he spoke to her and so would call him Stripsey to rile him. One of Courtney’s earliest adventures saw her helping the school janitor recover from his amnesia, only to discover that he was actually Sir Justin, the Shining Knight. With Sir Justin’s help, Courtney was able to defeat the Dragon King, a powerful magical entity. Courtney also managed to defeat the Nebula Man on her own. This surprised Pat who had called in back up from the JLA, JSA and Titans, as well as other miscellaneous heroes, only to discover that the situation was under control.

While fighting the Dragon King, Courtney broke the Cosmic Converter Belt in an argument with her half brother over who should own the belt and the mantle of the Star-Spangled Kid. When Pat gave his blessing to Courtney she took the belt to Ted Knight, the original Starman, to get it fixed as he had originally created it. Courtney was with Ted when news of Wesley Dodds’ death broke. Sentinel took her away to learn about the legacy of the original Star-Spangled Kid.

Courtney was also forced to confront her birth father. Having not seen him in years, Courtney was overjoyed to return home from fighting with the JSA to find her father waiting. Her joy was quickly dispelled though as her father had only come to see her to ask for a pendant he had given her so that he could bail his brother out of jail. Courtney refused and her father left. Knowing she would never see her father again, her mother also told her that her father was an only child.

By this time Courtney had joined the latest incarnation of the Justice Society of America after making an impressive showing against the Sons of Anubis. Courtney received the honour of opening the JSA museum and was on hand to help fight Black Adam. Courtney also attended the funeral of Ted Knight before being caught up in the plans of Klarion the Witch Boy. Being aged ten years older, Courtney travelled to the planet Myrg where she once again impressed an older generation with her maturity and skill. This time it was Merryweather Pemberton, the original Star-Spangled Kid’s sister, who was forced to eat her words and admit that her brother’s successor was worthy of the name. Further endorsement came from Sylvester Pemberton himself. Owing to time manipulation by the villain Extant, Courtney was able to fight alongside the original Star-Spangled Kid and received his blessing.

One of Courtney’s most impressive showings was when she defeated Shiv, Blackbriar Thorn, Icicle and the Thinker as well as rescuing Mr Terrific and a seriously wounded Sentinel on her own. This act as well as the other deeds that had given her credibility led to her being made successor to another legacy. Jack Knight called Courtney to Opal City and asked her to take up the Starman mantle after him. Courtney received his leather jacket, flying goggles and Cosmic Rod. Soon after Courtney was forced to battle a Jokerized Solomon Grundy alone and succeeded again.

After a collection of villains managed to teleport several of the older JSA members away, the JSA were visited by the Spectre who said that the only way the team could help free their team mates was to redress the emotional troubles in their past. This led Courtney to travel to Atlantic City and meet with her father. While investigating his whereabouts, Courtney and S.T.R.I.P.E. helped stop and attempted robbery by the Royal Flush Gang on a casino. Courtney made short work of the gang until her father, a gang member, levelled a gun at her. Disgusted, Courtney knocked out her father and took the gang to prison. Courtney’s dad mocked her from his cell after she refused to release him saying she was just like her dad. Courtney turned her back on him and confided to Pat that she was just like her dad, meaning Pat! After this she embraced the legacies of both her sets of powers and took the name Stargirl.

When the JSA fought Mordru and Obsidian, Courtney was transported to the Shadowlands along with Captain Marvel. Marvel transformed back to his civilian identity of a 16 year old boy which shocked Courtney. Over the time they spent there the two grew close and shared a kiss. Their relationship continued in the real world though many were unaware that the adult Captain Marvel was really Courtney’s age and so disapproved.

Courtney was amongst the heroes who travelled to Khandaq to stop Black Adam’s attempted coup. While there she confronted her former friend Atom Smasher, Al Rothstein, but was unable to reach him. This led to her holding a deep ill feeling towards him, despite certain premonitions and prophecies that have pointed at the two eventually being married. In the real world Courtney and Captain Marvel split up as Captain Marvel was aware of the ill feeling towards the relationship and knew that the Wisdom of Solomon would not let him surrender his secret identity. This broke Courtney’s heart and led to Captain Marvel leaving the JSA.

Courtney instead grew close to Jakeem Thunder. While the two initially had little in common and would often fight, they have grown to be friends. More recently Courtney has been prey to the time machinations of Per Degaton. This has resulted in her mother, Pat and both her step brother and sister being brutally murdered. Courtney has joined the time traveller Rip Hunter and several other JSA members in trying to stop Degaton by reforming the JSA after the HUAC disbanded them. This also brought about Courtney’s first meeting with Atom Smasher in many months. While Al was apologetic towards Courtney, she remained aloof and not interested in what he had to say. Courtney’s task was to find Ted Knight and cure him of his insanity. This task done it is yet to be seen whether her past can be corrected and her family saved.

Courtney wears the Cosmic Convertor Belt. This gives her increased strength, agility and the ability to fire stars that blind in low grade explosions. She also carries the Cosmic Rod, tailored for her so as to be collapsible. The rod enables her to fly and project solid light constructs. There are many subtle uses of the Cosmic Rod beyond blasting energy bolts, forming shields and flying but only the original Starman has shown mastery of the tool and as such it is unknown how proficient Courtney will become with the Cosmic Rod in time.

At her young age, Courtney Whitmore knew two things for sure. She hated Nebraska, and she hated her brand new stepfather Pat Dugan. Despite her begs, her mother had made up her mind to leave California and live with Pat in Blue Valley. Courtney made up her mind to make his life as miserable as possible.
At some point, she found out with delight that Dugan had been the sidekick of the Star Spangled Kid. She stole the hero's cosmic converter belt became the new Kid simply to make Dugan mad. A skillful engineer, Pat created a mechanical suit he named S.T.R.I.P.E. to watch over her. Her mother, though, does not have a clue. Reckless Courtney applied for the JSA, but she was strongly rejected. She did not mind. She kept trying until, recently, she became a member of the group. She is basically annoying to most members and, specially, to Starman, who has similar powers and maturity. She has also found out with dislike that the group has hired Dugan as their engineer. Recently, Courtney had the chance of meeting the original Star Spangled Kid in the past and the experience seems to be making her think more than all the words that the group has had with her.