Who's Who: Starlight and Starbright

Starlight and Starbright
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Unknown

Super-Power(s): Both sisters can fly and are super-strong; Starlight shoots black light beams of destruction; Starbright drains the energy of her antagonist via her "star shield." 
Planet of Origin: Unknown; found by Starfinger II in the desert of Mars

Relationship to Legion: Adversaries

Legion Log
Almost nothing definite is known of the sisters Starlight (the brunette) and Starbright (the blonde).  They were discovered by the man who would become Starfinger II on the planet Mars, while he was trying to escape from the Science Police. They appeared to him, almost magically, as if they were genies of the star-shaped ring. They saved his life, and swore eternal servitude to him, although no reason was ever given for their sudden devotion. It was later shown that both Starlight and Starbright live inside the star-shaped ring when they are not at Starfinger II's beck and call.

As Starfinger II built up his exhortion ring (ha-ha), Starlight and Starbright were often called upon to be his "muscle." Both can fly, breathe in the airless vacuum of space, and shoot energy bursts from their hands. Starbright also has what she calls her "star shield" which seems able to absorb energy from her adversary, possibly to the extent of his life. Starlight shoots "dark" energy beams which are akin to controlled explosive devices.

When the Legion of Super-Heroes swore to take down Starfinger II's gang, Starlight and Starbright were also targeted. In their final confrontation they were blasted by Science Police officers before they could attack. Starfinger then pulled himself and the two sisters back into the ring.

Having learned that Starlight and Starbright lived in the ring, the Legion took it and handed it off to the Science Police. Starlight, Starbright, and Starfinger II appear to be content living inside the ring under permanent "house arrest."

After the so-called Five-Year Gap, Molock Hanscom (formerly the leader of the Cosmic Spy League and brother of Lars) took on the Starfinger role by arranging the assassination of the previous Starfinger. He sent killers (including the Persuader) to capture the ring and set himself up as a crime lord. Starlight and Starbright eventually went to work for him. They were unable to prevent his death at the hand of the Khund Legionnaires however, though the sisters survived the encounter and probably returned to the ring.

Starlight and Starbright never reappeared, in any continuity.

After Infinite Crisis, Starlight and Starbright's original history has presumably been more or less restored.

Important Starlight and Starbright stories:

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #41

The debut of Starfinger's operatives

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #47

We learn that the sisters live in Starfinger's ring

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #49

Starlight & Starbright take down Chameleon Boy

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) Annual (1988) #4

We learn that the sisters are like "genies" who live in the Starfinger ring.  
They are trapped there now by the Science Police

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #57

Five years later, Starlight and Starbright are working for Starfinger III