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Wildfire (Drake Burroughs)

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For another character, see Wildfire (Carol Vance Martin).
Wildfire
Wildfire pencilled and inked by Dave Cockrum
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195 (June 1973)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoDrake Burroughs
SpeciesMetahuman
Place of originEarth (31st century)
Team affiliations
Legion of Super-Heroes
Notable aliasesERG-1, NRG
Abilities
  • Anti-energy physiology
    • Superhuman strength and durability
    • High-speed flight
    • Energy manipulation
    • Minor object conjuration

Wildfire is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. Created by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum, the character debuted in Superboy #195 (June 1973).[1]

Publication history

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Cockrum originally wanted to name the character Starfire, but was rejected because there were already plans to introduce a character named Starfire in the Teen Titans.[2]

Wildfire was immediately popular with readers. At that time, the editors of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes held periodic elections in which readers could choose the Legion's leader. Soon after his introduction, Wildfire was elected to that post. In-story, Wildfire lost the election to Superboy, but as no candidate had received a majority of the votes, the membership decided that the Legion needed a member who was available full-time rather than Superboy, who is a part-time member of the Legion.

Fictional character biography

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Original

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Wildfire is originally Drake Burroughs, a failing astro-engineer student at Metropolis University. While helping with a propulsion system the university is developing, Burroughs is disintegrated by a blast of anti-matter energy and transformed into an anti-energy entity. He gains a special suit to contain his form, but loses his senses.[3]

Calling himself ERG-1 (Energy Release Generator 1), Drake attempts to join the Legion of Super-Heroes, but is rejected because his abilities overlap with other members. He actually had another power which was unique, but chose not to reveal. Drake is apparently killed saving Colossal Boy from a giant robot, but is later revealed to have survived and joins the Legion under the codename "Wildfire".[4]

Post-Zero Hour

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Wildfire
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceLegionnaires #74
In-story information
Alter egoDrake Burroughs
Team affiliationsLegion of Super-Heroes
Amazers (Atom'X only), Workforce (Blast-Off only)
Justice League
Notable aliasesERG-1, Atom'X (Randall Burroughs), Blast-Off I (Jahr-Drake Ningle)
AbilitiesComposed of thermonuclear energy

Following Zero Hour, Wildfire is absent from Legion comics for some years, and when he returns, he is given a drastically different origin.

Atom'X (Randall Burroughs) and Blast-Off (Jahr-Drake Ningle), members of the Uncanny Amazers and Workforce respectively, are seemingly killed by Mordru. Later, they are discovered to have survived and fused into an energy being who becomes known as Drake Burroughs.[5]

One year later

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A new incarnation of Wildfire resembling the original version appears in "The Lightning Saga" crossover storyline.[6] This version's containment suit is made from Red Tornado's robotic shell, giving him access to his memories.[7][8]

The New 52

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In Legion Lost, Wildfire, Dawnstar, Chameleon Girl, Tellus, Tyroc, Gates, and Timber Wolf are stranded in the 21st century while battling a time-travelling terrorist. During this time, he temporarily joins the Justice League.

Powers and abilities

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After being disintegrated by an anti-matter wave, Wildfire was transformed into a being composed of it with the ability to manipulate energy, fly at high speeds, and alter his size. However, he is forced to wear a containment suit at all times to maintain his form and prevent his energy from hurting others.

As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Wildfire is provided a Legion Flight Ring, which enables him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments.

Other versions

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  • An alternate universe variant of Wildfire appears in Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #5.
  • An alternate universe variant of Wildfire appears in Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #7. This version is the last surviving Legionnaire, his energy powers having rendered him immortal.
  • An ancestor of Dawnstar known as Wildstar is a member of the 21st-century hero team R.E.B.E.L.S. She has the combined powers of Dawnstar and Wildfire.

In other media

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References

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  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 328. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Cadigan, Glen (2003). The Legion Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 978-1893905221.
  3. ^ Superboy #195 (June 1973)
  4. ^ Superboy #201 (April 1974)
  5. ^ Legionnaires #76 (October 1999)
  6. ^ Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #5 (June 2007)
  7. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #9 (July 2007)
  8. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #10 (August 2007)
  9. ^ "The World's Finest - Batman: The Brave and the Bold". dcanimated.com. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
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