Sylvester Pemberton

* Sylvester
* Starman

**Sylvester Pemberton** is a character in The CW and DC Universe series, *Stargirl*.

Sylvester is a rich socialite during the day, but in secret, he began his superhero expeditions as the **Star-Spangled Kid**, until he wielded a mysterious anti-gravity weaponed called the Cosmic Staff. He became the courageous and confident superhero known as **Starman**. He was a member of the Justice Society of America and Seven Soldiers of Victory. His longtime partner was his sidekick, Stripesy, better known as Courtney Whitmore's stepfather, Pat Dugan.

Because his body became imbued with the energy of the Cosmic Staff, it kept his body in perfect stasis after he seemingly died. He was revived by Icicle, Dragon King, and Ultra-Humanite to play a key role in their ultimate plan. After defeating the villains, the modern day JSA rescued Sylvester's brain and reunited it with his true body, giving him a second chance at life.

Sylvester is the brother of Merry King/Girl of 1000 Gimmicks and the uncle of Henry King Jr..

## Biography

Sylvester Pemberton was born to a wealthy and well-respected family in California. He is the brother of Merri. When Sylvester was fifteen, his family hired twenty-year-old Pat Dugan to be their driver and mechanic. Sylvester eventually put on a mask to stop criminals who were threatening his parents, and Pat helped him. Their partnership eventually turned to friendship with Sylvester extending his crime-fighting antics to superheroism as the masked hero, Star-Spangled Kid. Pat joined Sylvester as his sidekick and guardian, Stripesy. The duo's antics caught media attention after they defeated the villainous Dr. Weerd.

At the beginning of their crime-fighting days, Sylvester and Pat joined the underappreciated group the Seven Soldiers of Victory. They followed the leadership of Shining Knight, working alongside notorious superheroes such as The Flash. The team encountered Dragon King, a mad scientist who was wanted for mass murders, while traveling through New York. The team, assisted by The Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, stopped Dragon King before he could destroy the city. With Dragon King in hiding, the Soldiers disbanded and lost contact with one another. Sylvester's parents discovered his superhero secret and died later as a result of the crime-fighting life.

In his adult years, Sylvester discovered the cosmic staff whit only activated in his hands. He reinvented himself as the adult superhero Starman, though Pat still operated under the sidekick moniker, Stripesy. Sylvester was quickly recruited into the Justice Society of America, an elite team of superheroes that gained much media attention. Sylvester brought Pat into the JSA and the team became close friends.

Things shifted in the JSA after the death of Charles McNider's daughter, Rebecca, at the hands of Eclipso. The team sought justice for the little girl and wanted to defeat Eclipso, but the being's power was too strong for them to face alone. The Shade offered his help to Sylvester Pemberton, and told him the only way to stop Eclipso was to kill his current host, the human Bruce Gordon. The spirit would then be returned to The Black Diamond, where it would remain dormant so as long as no one touched the stone. The JSA were split on how to handle the situation, as Jay Garrick and Pat Dugan were against the idea of murdering an innocent man, while Rex Tyler and Ted Grant wanted to kill the host. Sylvester was torn, but Pat argued that it went against everything the JSA stood for, and they had to find a way to exorcise Eclipso from Bruce. However, as the situation escalated and more of the JSA members fell victim to Eclipso, the team were forced re-evaluated their choices.

Eclipso had begun to threaten the lives of the JSA's families, including Pat's because Sylvester thought of him as a brother. Hourman and Wildcat voted for killing Eclipso's host, while Flash and Stripesy voted against. The tie breaker landed in Starman's hands, and he surprised everyone by voting for the death of Bruce, even though he'd previously stated that it wasn't the only way. The team killed Bruce and placed the Black Diamond in a wooden case that was entrusted to Starman. After the act, Starman admitted to Stripesy that the latter was right; the JSA should never resort to killing. The event placed a wedge between the JSA and the group disbanded for years and fell out of contact with one another.

In the meantime, Sylvester's sister Merri operated as a superheroine in her right as the Girl of A Thousand Gimmicks. They didn't cross paths in any notable incidents but remained close in their personal lives. Merri married Henry King and the couple had a son, Henry Jr. Sylvester's role in his nephew's life is unknown, due to the friction between Dr. King and Sylvester. Dr. King was aware of Sylvester's alter ego as "Starman" and had one as well, though he operated as the villain Brainwave. Brainwave was a member of the Injustice Society of America, a group of powerful villains that were the primary antagonists to the Justice Society.

In 2010, the Injustice Society lured the JSA into a battle in an abandoned California mansion. Unbeknownst to them at the time, the battle was a trap by the ISA, who planned to eliminate the JSA so they could further their secret agenda of brainwashing half the population of the United States. Starman fought valiantly alongside his comrades but his efforts were futile as the team was massively overwhelmed. He tried to save Stripesy, who arrived late to the battle, by attacking Brainwave and blasting the man away. Before he could greet his late friend, he was impaled by an ice spear thrown by ISA leader, Icicle. With the rest of the JSA having fallen during the battle, Starman and Stripesy escaped the battle in Pat's car. Starman died later that night as a result of his injuries. The news of his death hit newspapers around the country, with Icicle being labeled as his killer.

After Sylvester's death, Pat went into hiding and retired his crime-fighting moniker. Pat, however, was the only member of the JSA to attend Sylvester's funeral. He also safeguarded the Cosmic Staff in case the day would come when a hero rose to the mantle. Merri, however, was heartbroken over her brother's death and the role that Henry played in Sylvester's murder. She interfered with Brainwave's plan to help the ISA which resulted in Brainwave murdering her.

## Series

### Season 1

On Christmas Eve 2010, Sylvester Pemberton battles against the Injustice Society of America as his superhero alter ego, Starman. Pat Dugan desperately tries to reach Sylvester, telling his friend he'll be there soon to help. Sylvester tries to sway Pat not to come, warning that it's dangerous and that Pat isn't a member of the JSA. He screams over the radio and his comms die causing Pat to flee to the manor in which the battle is being held. When Pat enters, he is overwhelmed by the ISA and attacked by The Wizard. Sylvester shoots a cosmic blast at The Wizard, knocking the villain aside. Starman lands on the ground and greets his friend by stating that Pat was supposed to wait in the car.

Starman is suddenly levitated several feet into the air by Brainwave, who uses telekinesis to levitate the hero along with debris. Starman shoots a cosmic blast at the villain, who uses a mental shield to block the attack. A war between mind and will proceeds until Brainwave succumbs to the power of the staff and is hit with the cosmic blast. Starman turns victorious and smiles to Pat, but is stabbed with a dagger of ice in the chest, courtesy of Icicle. Starman falls to the floor. Pat rushes to his friend's side and tries to help the man. Starman feebly whispers that the Justice Society of America is gone.

Pat helps Starman to his feet and rushes outside in an attempt to escape the caving building. They climb into Pat's car; however, Solomon Grundy gives chase, and as he nears Pat presses a button that allows the car to converts into jet-setting mode and flies off as Solomon hits the back of the vehicle. Damage is done, as the engine dies mid-air and the car crashes into the woods. The two men escape seconds before it explodes, and Pat sets Starman on the ground. He explains that they need to go to a hospital, but Starman is resolute that it's the end for him. He tells Pat the JSA must live on, and its legacy must survive. Someone with grace, honor, and courage must carry it - but not Pat. In his dying words, he states Pat was a good friend. He dies while Pat crouches next to his lifelong friend, crippled by emotion.

Sylvester's legacy does live on in the heart of Pat, who takes his friends Cosmic Staff with him on his many endeavors. His most recent is moving to Blue Valley with his wife, son, and stepdaughter. Pat's stepdaughter, Courtney, discovers the staff and both are surprised when it whirls to life for the first time since Sylvester's time with the staff. This leads Courtney, who assumes the mantle of Stargirl, to believe that Starman must have been her father, as he disappeared the same night Courtney's father was supposed to meet her. Driven by her desire to get justice for Sylvester and the rest of the JSA, Courtney rebuilds the JSA in Starman's honor. She tells Sylvester's story to her new friends and inspires them to be the best versions of themselves. Pat takes Courtney to the JSA's former headquarters where she is able to find a banner of Starman and learn more about his history with the JSA. Courtney later discovers that she isn't, in fact, Sylvester's daughter, but is his legacy.

### Season 2

Beth Chapel suffers from hallucinations from Eclipso, which includes versions of Starman, Wildcat, and Hourman. The men tell her that she doesn't belong there. Eclipso appears and says that Beth is the wrong age, gender, and color. She ultimately breaks through this illusion.

Decades ago, mourners gather at Rebecca McNider's funeral, including the Justice Society of America, who don civilian clothing. Once the service is over, the JSA convenes to discuss Eclipso, who murdered Rebecca. Jay Garrick arrives and Pat happily calls Jay The Flash, which earns him a reprimand from Sylvester for using code names in public. Jay greets Pat as Stripesy, but then mentions he's learned more about the demon they're facing. The diamond originally came from an island but was brought to the town by Bruce Gordon. While he isn't sure how they will defeat Eclipso, he knows it's possible.

Once alone, Sylvester tells Pat that they'll find Bruce and find out what he knows. Pat asks his friend to let him help even though he isn't on the team, but Sylvester refuses, as that they can't let another child die. Shade appears and Sylvester knows Shade isn't there for a fight, telling Pat to go back to the garage. He walks off with Shade. They disappear behind a tree, and Pat runs over only to see they're gone.

Back at the garage, Pat works on the Racer. Sylvester comes in and says that Shade called what they're facing a spiritual parasite, and somehow Bruce found it and it possessed him. It can make its victims' nightmares come true, and Shade told Sylvester how to stop it. Sylvester saw fear in Shade's eyes when he said he faced the demon before, and called it real evil. According to Shade, the only way to kill it is to kill its host. Pat is shocked at the idea of killing another human, and Sylvester explains that when the host dies, Eclipso will be forced into the diamond and lose its power. Pat reminds Sylvester of both the JSA and Sylvester's moral codes. They have to save the host. Sylvester agrees as there's always a way.

A few days later, the JSA visits Pat in the headquarters' garage, as they need an odd number in case of a tie. None of their other members were able to defeat Eclipso, who is now threatening to harm the JSA's families. Wildcat thinks they should kill the host, Bruce Gordon, and take a vote. Pat objects to killing a human being, and Wildcat angrily doesn't understand why Pat is even involved as he isn't a real member of the team - he doesn't risk his life everyday like the rest of them. Despite the hostility, Flash defends Pat and his involvement. Wildcat votes to kill as he has a son to think of, Flash votes not to kill, Hourman votes to kill, and Pat votes against. The deciding vote rests in Starman's hands, with both Flash and Pat assuming their leader will vote no. However, Starman surprises everyone by voting yes to the death of Bruce. Pat and Flash are shocked, but Starman explains they don't have a choice as Eclipso is threatening his family and he will protect them. He commands Pat to make sure the Star Rocket Racer is ready, with Pat initially refusing to obey. However, Pat eventually does concede and drives the car for Starman.

Pat drives the Racer to Bruce's manor, and waits outside as the JSA confronts Bruce. He waits for a while before bracing himself to go in. Starman gets into the Racer with Pat, morosely admitting that he was right and the JSA should never take a life, but it's too late now. Pat sees the blood on Starman's costume. Starman briefly looks at the black diamond in its case and tells Pat to drive back to JSA HQ.

In 2020, Pat relays the story to Courtney and the new JSA. While the JSA members did kill Bruce Gordon, they broke apart after that night as they were never the same after what they did. Pat frequented the headquarters, but no one returned until the ISA resurfaced with a new leader and mission. Pat believes the reason the JSA lost the battle against the ISA because they weren't a team anymore.

### Season 3

The Ultra-Humanite works with Jordan Mahkent and Dragon King to dig up the fallen heroes body. The scientists woke up Sylvester, who sees Jordan off to the side. He questions what the man is doing there and fights against his restraints. They share their plan to put Ultra-Humanite's brain inside of Sylvester's body, turning on the saw to do just that. Sylvester fights against the restraints as he screams for them to stop, demanding to know what they did to Stripesy, and if Pat is okay.

For nine months, the Ultra-Humanite lives as Sylvester, slowly infiltrating the lives of Pat Dugan and his family, all while conspiring with Icicle and Dragon King. Pat defeats Ultra-Humanite with a rock, which leaves the man's brain irreversibly harmed. Courtney and Pat decide to keep Sylvester's body on life support just in case Ultra-Humanite was lying about Sylvester's brain being destroyed. By 2031, the JSA successfully find Sylvester's brain and reunites it with his body, giving him a second chance at life.

## Personality

Sylvester was a complicated man with an egotistical air to his persona, as he knew his place in the JSA as their leader and often reminded Pat of their roles. Despite being friends with Pat and knowing the man since Sylvester was a child, he treated Pat as someone lesser than himself and frequently reminded him that he wasn't a real member of the JSA. He either didn't notice the isolation it placed on Pat, or didn't care how his words and actions affected his so-called friend. Even as a hero, he struggled with a sense of justice combined with the desire to be in charge or in the spotlight.

Sylvester came from a rich family and was driven to be a hero as a way to protect his family. This sense of protectiveness carried into his adult years, as he was protective of his sister and team. He was sarcastic, witty, and wry in his humor. Sylvester was shown to be stern and condescending, especially towards Pat who was his sidekick and best friend. He didn't like it when Pat didn't do as he was instructed and often reprimanded him and didn't take his thoughts and feelings into consideration.

But Sylvester knew to apologize when it was necessary. After the original JSA broke up, Sylvester openly apologized to Pat for not trusting his judgement when it came to killing Bruce Gordon. He admits that, Pat was there for him more than his parents were and considers him more than just his best friend, but his brother.

Sylvester would further, prove that, his desire to protect Pat would be the most important in his life as he views him as his brother. This was shown when Icicle, Dragon King, and the Ultra-Humanite dug up his body and brought him back to life just for the Humanite to transplant his brain into it, Sylvester only concern was for Pat's safety as he was frantically begging his tormentors to spare Pat.

But unfortunately, Sylvester had permanently lost the complete trust and respect from the other members of the Justice Society of America, who were all completely enraged and disgusted, by the fact that, he had violated the JSA's moral code, by aided Ted in killing an innocent individual, Gordon, who was a victim of Eclipso, as they had all refused to work, with Sylvester again.

## Physical Appearance

Sylvester is a handsome man with a pale complexion. He has dark blue eyes, unkempt light brown hair, and a short beard. He is tall, standing at 6'4", with an athletic and muscular physique, most likely to help him execute his heroic deeds. In the present day, Sylvester is leaner than he was in 2010, with less facial hair and a casual sense of style. In 2010 Sylvester had a average looking hairstyle, and in the present day he has short hair on the sides and long slicked black hair on the top.

## Powers

* **Abilities via The Cosmic Staff:** When wielding the Staff, Sylvester is granted special powers. As he has wielded the staff a lot longer than its new owner Courtney Whitmore, he knows how to use it much better than she does allowing him to use his powers more effectively.
	+ **Flight:** While using the staff, Sylvester was able to fly. With his "Shooting Star" technique, he can launch himself very high into the air.
	+ **Stellarkinesis:** Sylvester can create and manipulate stellar energy generated by his Staff to use against his opponents.
	+ **Photokinesis:** Sylvester was able to use the light generated by his staff to blind people or distract them.
	+ **Altered Physiology:** From repetitive usage with the Cosmic Staff, Sylvester became a conduit for the cosmic energy within the staff. Overtime, he became imbued with the energy and it altered his physiology. His altered physiology allowed his body to remain intact after his death.
	+ **Accelerated Healing Factor:** As a result of being absorbing the cosmic energy, Sylvester can heal his body at an accelerated pace, beyond that of any human. Charles McNider believed these enhanced healing abilities are the reason he seemingly came back to life, as they were active as his body remained in a form of stasis. Ultimately, while his body healed, it wasn't enough to bring him back life. After being brutally ambushed at The Gambler's RV, Sylvester's body endured non-fatal wounds which began to heal within the day, saving the Ultra-Humanite's life.

## Abilities

* **Master Martial Artist:** Sylvester is a highly skilled fighter due to being a superhero from a young age. He was able to defeat nearly every member of the ISA individually by himself. Sportsmaster himself who was one of the best fighters in the world once stated that Sylvester had a killer right hook.
* **Escapism:** According to Pat he was the one who taught him how to slip any restrain by disjointing both of his thumbs.

## Equipment

* **Cosmic Staff:** Sylvester was given the staff when he went by the alias, *Star-Spangled Kid*. After being anointed as the Staff's new handler, he changed his alias to Starman. The staff gave Sylvester the ability to fly, shoot cosmic blasts from the rod, and gave him an upper-hand against many villains. He passed the staff onto Pat Dugan for safekeeping moments before he died.
* **Starman Suit:** This suit hid Sylvester's identity while he fought crime as Starman. It kept him safe from numerous attacks due to its durable fabric. Pat Dugan took the suit after Sylvester's death, however, it would later be used as a base for Stargirl's suit.

## Quotes

* Season 1
* Season 2

**Sylvester (to Pat):** The Justice Society must live on. Its legacy must survive. Someone with honor and strength must carry the torch. Not you. Someone with grace and heroism. You, you can't do it. But someone out there will. But it's definitely not you. Pat. You were a good friend.
**--** "*Stargirl*"

**Sylvester:** I was wrong to bring you with us. Bringing you...I thought there would be a chance...somehow we could find a way to save Bruce Gordon. Because we always find a way. I mean that's what we do, right? Instead I brought you to a murder. Family isn't born. It's chosen. You taught me that. My sixteenth birthday, I got into a fight at school. Do you remember Hop Heragon? He and his buddies beat me up, stole my watch. That was my birthday gift. An engraved watch. My parent's left it on my dresser for me that morning. I owned that watch for a whole four hours and it was gone. I was so scared to tell my mom and dad that I had lost their present. But I did. I told them. You know what? They had no idea what I was talking about. They never gave me a watch. They even forgot it was my birthday. You snuck that gift into my room...because you knew they would forget. They always did. I caught up with Heragon the next day and I got it back. Because it meant the world to me. (places watch on car) Still does. You taught me how to drive, Pat. You taught me how to stand up for myself. Taught me how to think for myself. You're more than a friend. You're my brother. And I know most of the time I...don't treat you that way. Maybe I just have too much of my mom and dad in me still. I'm sorry.
**Pat:** It's okay.
**Sylvester:** Pat. When Eclipso was threatening everyone's families. Rex's wife. Ted's son. He threatened my family too. He threatened you. I don't know what's gonna happen to the JSA. But I do know that I don't want this to destroy our family.
**Pat:** To chosen families.
**--** Sylvester and Pat after Bruce's murder in "*Summer School: Chapter Ten*"
## Appearances

* *His appearance in "*Summer School: Chapter Eight*" is a hallucination.*

## Notes and Trivia

* Sylvester and Courtney are the only known people who can wield the Cosmic Staff.
* He was seemingly murdered in 2010 by ISA leader Icicle during the Battle of Los Angeles. His body, however, was healed from cosmic energy, which kept him in a form of stasis for over a decade until he was "awakened" by the Ultra-Humanite and Shiro Ito.
	+ His physical body was then used by Ultra-Humanite, who transplanted his brain into Sylvester. Sylvester's brain was put in a cave until the modern day JSA reunited him with his true form. He is the only known victim for Ultra-Humanite to be reunited with his body after it had been used by the Humanite.
* He was mentioned in every episode of the first season despite only appearing physically in the first episode.
* Sylvester, along with the rest of the Golden Age JSA, are responsible for the murder of Bruce Gordon, who was possessed by Eclipso at the time. But Sylvester is widely believed to be the member who physically killed Bruce.
* Sylvester never met his nephew, Henry King Jr., despite the boy having been born long before Sylvester's death in 2010.
* Charles McNider believed the Cosmic Staff altered Sylvester's physiology, giving him the power to regenerate and heal his wounds, not dissimilar from Cindy Burman. But while this healing ability preserved Starman's body, his brain was unable to heal, ultimately killing him.
* Because the JSA successfully bring Sylvester back, he is the last surviving member of the Pemberton family. The Pemberton parents died when Sylvester was young, his sister Merry King and nephew Henry were both murdered by his brother-in-law Brainwave, who was later killed by Yolanda.

## Comic Comparisons

* This incarnation of Sylvester blends elements of his comic counterpart with Jack Knight, son of the original Starman Ted Knight, and the wielder of the Cosmic Staff before Courtney. In the comics, Sylvester never took the name "Starman," nor did he wield the Cosmic Staff.
* Sylvester's Starman costume is based on his comic counterpart's "Skyman" costume.

## Gallery

* Season 1
* Season 2
* Season 3

Starman's suit

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "*Stargirl*"
2. ↑ "*S.T.R.I.P.E.*"
3. ↑ "*The Justice Society*"
4. ↑ "*Icicle*"
5. ↑ "*Shining Knight*"
6. ↑ "*Summer School: Chapter Eight*"
7. ↑ "*Summer School: Chapter Nine*"
8. ↑ "*Chapter Thirteen: The Reckoning*"