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"There is a weapon in the universe more powerful than all others. No more coveted, feared, loved, or hated thing exists. Only a fool, or a madman - or the right man - would dare possess... the Star Brand!" These are the first (and incidentally, the last) words uttered in the comic book known as the Star Brand. And the author of these words wasn't kidding, as this device could destroy worlds.
Essentially, the Star Brand is a zero-point energy collector, drawing power from the fabric of space-time itself. It is unlimited in potential, though the upper limits of the star-like tatoo of power are determined by the imagination of its wielder. The device was created under rather mysterious circumstances, and similarly was given to its first host, one Ken Connell, in a very bizarre manner: by himself.
However, Connell ultimately couldn't use the Star Brand's infinite potential properly, and as such, he managed to forever change the face of his world, mostly by inadvertently causing both the White Event and the creation of the Pitt (in the so-called Black Event). Since then, the Star Brand has passed on to various others, all of which (including several other important people) are described here:
the Star of our Show:
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the Star Brand: itself a paradox, the Star Brand came into being when the universe was compressed into a single point of space for a mere microsecond. Its infinite power requires a sentient being to reside in, however, so it promptly created Ken Connell to bear it... the Star Brand comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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the Many Faces of Ken Connell:
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Ken Connell - the Star Brand: while riding about on his dirt bike just outside of Pittsburgh, Ken Connell met an old man who gave him a weapon of infinite potential: the Star Brand! Ken tried using this item as a super hero at first, but his own bumbling almost destroyed the world... Comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Ken Connell - the Old Man: sent into the past as an effort to atone for his many sins, Ken Connell was immediately gripped by the mental programming inflicted upon him by the Star Child, and as such was lost in a delusional state of being that would persist until the end (?) of his existence. Comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Ken Connell - the Star Child: the son of Ken Connell and his girlfriend Deb 'the duck' Felix, the Star Child was born with full command of the Star Brand and its strange energies. Lacking any real knowledge, however, he set out to learn about both the Brand and his place in the universe. Comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Other New U Wielders of the Star Brand:
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Jacob Burnsley: Jacob is a retired Army quartermaster who, after an encounter with the Star Child, walked away with a portion of the Star Brand! Having been implored to use his powers wisely by the Star Child, Jacob has performed various good deeds with the Star Brand. Jacob Burnsley comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Lt. Jim Hanrahan: while investigating a bizarre energy discharge over the Pitt, Air Force pilot Jim Hanrahan was blasted out of the air during a duel between the Old Man and Jacob Burnsley. When Jacob healed Jim, a portion of the Star Brand inexplicably clung to him... Lt. Jim Hanrahan comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Roger Price: husband of Debbie Felix's best friend, Jane, Roger got involved with the Star Brand during the very birth of the Star Child itself. After being reflexively killed by the Star Child, Roger was brought back to life better than before - wielding a portion of the Star Brand itself! Roger Price comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Other Marvel U Wielders of the Star Brand:
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Kayla Ballantine: when her boyfriend Quasar returned from a cross-time adventure, he inadvertently passed the Star Brand to Kayla. Though she didn't realize it at first, various villains were able to perceive her new power, and thus schemed to take the Brand from her. Kayla Ballantine comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Ereshkigal: a planar explorer, this third generation Deviant sorceress believed that the 'cosmic powers' were stifling the development of the multiverse, and thus became an agent of Chaos in order to unseat them. She found the perfect tool to this end in the form of Kayla's Star Brand... Ereshkigal comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Quasar: appointed the Protector of the Universe in his timeline, Wendell Elvis Vaughn uses the mighty Quantum bands to perform his duties. His bands failed him in the New Universe, however, and he sought out the Star Brand as a means of getting himself home. Quasar comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Additional Folks of Note:
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Gladiator: Randy Kellog was blessed with amazing power by the White Event, his body changed to forever increase its density over time. He attempted to use his power to help the world, but his short-sighted scheme almost caused World War III - and would've if not for the Star Brand. Gladiator comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Hysteria: this crazy old woman was given the ability to cause irrational fear in others by the White Event. Using it to escape the asylum, she began to roam free with two other paranormals, and proved (with her new friends' aid) to be powerful enough to stand up to the Star Brand himself. Hysteria comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Pinhead: a minor hood before the White Event, the man known only as Pinhead became a greater menace once that astronomical phenomenon granted him a comically twisted appearance, and rather deadly physical weaponry on his cone head. The lowlife known as Pinhead comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Scrunch: after encountering two insane paranormals, Mr. Lovejoy was himself swept up in their mania. Of course the fact that his own powers made him incredibly dangerous when subject to his new friends' emotion-controlling abilities was exploited by them at times... Scrunch comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Spotty: a would-be criminal mastermind, the thug known as Spotty was a two bit hood before the White Event, and got even worse once he gained a horrific appearance and rather crafty illusion generating powers. He tends to perpetrate various crimes with his co-hort, Pinhead. Spotty comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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Tantrum: Dean is a sort of unbalanced fellow who, using the powers he'd recently gained thanks to the White Event, gleefully manipulates the emotions of others to serve his own, mercurial purposes. Only Hysteria seems to hold his manic urges in check. Tantrum comes in Classic and Saga styles! |
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the Star Brand Text File Archive:
In the event that you should actually want to utilize any or all of the characters from the short-lived series starring Ken Connell and the various wielders of the Star Brand, I have made available a text file archive of all the materials in this section. From character descriptions to issue guides, either Classic or Saga in flavor, all you need to play in the little world of Star Brand is now available in one convenient download.
the Star Brand issue guides:
Extra Goodies:
Ken Connell art by John Romita Jr. and Al Williamson!
the Star Brand created by Jim Shooter and Archie Goodwin!
Return to the New Universe main page!
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