Stargirl

Origin

Courtney Whitmore was born to a couple that broke-up when she was still very young. Courtney wasn't taken by the man that her mother brought home, Pat Dugan. Courtney may not have liked Pat but her mother did, and they eventually got married. Courtney was at the wedding and when she went through his stuff she found the Cosmic Belt. Now knowing about Pat's history as an former superhero, she became Star-Spangled Kid mostly to annoy him. Pat would make a Mech suit to follow her around and thus the team "Stars and Stripes" were formed.

JSA

After a time as Stars and Stripes, she joins the JSA. When Jack Knight decides to quit being Starman, he gives Courtney his Star Rod to continue the legacy, but it won't be until a few adventures later, that she officially declares herself Stargirl.

Courtney becomes a frequent and a relied upon member of the JSA, and during her time with the team she gains a little sister in Patricia Dugan.

At first, Courtney and Jakeem Thunder do not get along, but after they work together to defeat Solomon Grundy in the sewers, they become, if not friends, then better allies. During this fight, Courtney has to deal with the fact that Grundy killed her namesake, Sylvester Pemberton. After the fight, Solomon developed an obsession with Courtney.

For a time she was in a relationship with Captain Marvel's alter-ego Billy, but when Jay pressured him about being roughly 25 and her being 16, Captain Marvel choose to stop seeing Courtney and leave the JSA, rather then telling Jay the truth about his younger identity.

Time Traveling and Black Vengeance

Courtney’s biggest love interest has been Al Rothstein or Atom Smasher. Courtney was heartbroken when Atom Smasher joined with Black Adam. She didn’t trust him after that but teamed up with him to stop Per Degaton from destroying the past JSA. Per's agents had killed Courtney's family, but after they returned from time traveling, her family was alive again. During this time she forgave Atom Smasher and showed her love for him.

During Black Vengeance, Albert sacrifices himself to Spectre. Stargirl cries about this, but Black Adam saves Albert before the JSA carries him away. Albert is sent to a year in Belle Reve prison and Courtney says. ”I’ll wait for him” Courtney then goes and attempts to help the original Liberty Belle who seemed to have lost control of her powers. Right after this, Courtney is told of her birth father's death. Because of this, Courtney finally accepts Pat as the first real father figure in her life.

Later Super-Heroics

During Infinite Crisis, She participates in the fight against Superboy-Prime. After this she starts going to college and changes her equipment set. She then rejoins the Justice Society. She strikes a friendship with fellow team mates Cyclone, Liberty Belle and Lightning.

During Fifty Two, Atom Smasher went to save Black Adam. After he was saved Black Adam went on a Rampage and his actions lead to World War Three. Stargirl was one of those who were attacked, but she was not badly hurt.

During the Gentleman Ghost storyline, Courtney is learning how to drive and she couldn’t be harmed by the Ghost because she was pure (a virgin).

During Final Crisis, Courtney is part of an underground resistance against Darkseid's forces.

JSA All-Stars

After a huge attack the JSA split in two, the JSA and the JSA All-Stars. Courtney joins the All-Stars, however she expresses regret in being assigned to this group and feels more at home with the other team. Power Girl tells her that she needed her on the team because the others look up to her. Johnny Sorrow then resurfaces again. He employs the Strike Force to abduct Courtney and deliver her to him in exchange for two million dollars. They agreed and attacked the Justice Society during the opening of the new JSA museum. In the middle of the battle Arthur Pemberton grabbed Stargirl and fled from the battlefield using a jetpack. It is then revealed Johnny is doing this because he's in love with Courtney.

The JSA arrives in the middle of a brawl between the Injustice Society and Arthur Permberton's troops. Johnny Sorrow then summons the King of Tears. He tells the Justice Society that the only way to get rid of it is to give him Stargirl. Stargirl unhappily listens. She breaks the Cosmic Rod and Johnny Sorrow takes her to some part of the Subtle Realms, where he abandons her. Atom-Smasher then appears there, powerless as well, during their time in the realm the two kiss. Al reveals himself to be Johnny Sorrow in disguise because he needed her pure love for Al as part of a spell he was working on. Al was being held prisoner in another part of the Subtle Realms. After being saved by Sandman and King Chimera, the two return to the ranch and Al rejoins the team.

Powers and Abilities

Courtney's star belt gives her many abilities including Martial Arts, Enhanced Strength and Agility, Star Blasts and Invulnerability. With the help of her Star-Rod, she can fly, shoot cosmic energy, manipulate energy, create energy constructs, and can create defensive force-fields. Being attuned with the staff, it can receive mental commands from a distance.

Alternate Versions

Titans of Tomorrow

• Courtney is shown to have become Starwoman and joined Luthor's Titans Army.

Earth - Three

• An evil counterpart of Courtney is shown to be part of the Crime Society of America.

Earth - Seven

• Courtney is shown to be older with a different costume, different hair colour and is now operating as Star Woman.

Earth - Thirty-Three

• Part of a magic group allied with Star-Man, in this Earth Courtney has magic powers.

In Other Media

Justice League Unlimited

She appears in JLU as a new member of the Justice League,voiced by Giselle Loren. Stargirl has a partner (S.T.R.I.P.E.) and they entered to the justice league. Stargirl, Green Lantern John Stewart, and S.T.R.I.P.E. go to Japan (they are holding a giant turtle). Stargirl is about to finish the job, when Supergirl appears and defeats the giant turtle. Supergirl has a great popularity in Japan, and Stargirl gets jealous. Stargirl and her group were at the center of the earth (there is a magnificent city and a beautiful culture). But a villain called Deimos wants to conquer the land. (Deimos has the help of Metallo and Silver Banshee). Stargirl and the members of the Justice League help in the battle. Supergirl is having problems with Metallo. Stargirl helps Supergirl against Metallo. Superman is in another galaxy and may not appear in a parade in Metropolis, Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E., Green Arrow, Vigilante and Shining Knight will replace Superman in the parade (Stargirl uses her Cosmic Converter Belt to create fireworks for the party). Unfortunately, the General Wade Eiling wants revenge on Superman (The General will attack Metropolis). Stargirl confronts the General. But the General defeats Stargirl. Shining Knight is involved in the fight and saved Stargirl. (Stargirl at the end, goes to the hospital). Stargirl help in the final battle against Darkseid. (When the forces of Darkseid invade Earth).

Smallville

Stargirl appears in the television series Smallville - episode Absolute Justice (2010). Stargirl appears alongside other members of the Justice Society of America. The actress Britt Irvin played Stargirl.

Courtney Whitmore appears in the Hospital of Metropolis, where it intersects with Clark Kent (Courtney is crying). After that, Courtney appears later in the streets (with the Cosmic Converter Belt) and find the Green Arrow. The Green Arrow said that the Belt does not belong to Courtney. Courtney and Green Arrow are discussing, however Mr Kent appears and disappears with Courtney. Courtney appears in the house of the Justice Society of America. Hawkman takes the belt. Courtney said they should ask for help to Clark (to solve the problem of deaths). Hawkman does not accept and decides behind the killers with Courtney and Mr Kent. Mr Kent, uses the helmet of Fate, and becomes Dr.Fate (Courtney is surprised). Clark goes to the hospital, but Dr.Fate is there to investigate a corpse. Dr. Fate disappears with Clark. Later Courtney fight against the villain (with the belt). After an epic battle, the villain escapes. Clark wakes up in the house of the Justice Society of America. Dr. Fate, Hawkman and Stargirl appear. Later,The killer decides to attack. Clark, Hawkman and Green Arrow attack the killer, but the killer defeats the heroes. The killer is about to kill Stargirl, however the Martian Manhunter appears and saves Stargirl. In the end the heroes defeat the killer.