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Rampage (DC Comics)

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Rampage
Rampage as depicted inSupergirlvol. 4 #6 (February 1997). Art byGary Frank.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperman(vol. 2) #7 (July 1987)
Created byJohn Byrne
In-story information
Alter egoKaren Lou "Kitty" Faulkner
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliationsS.T.A.R. Labs
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength,stamina, durability, and leaping
  • Solar radiation absorption
  • Gifted intelligence

Rampage(Karen Lou "Kitty" Faulkner) is a fictional character in theDC Comics.The character first appeared inSupermancomic books,and was later utilized inStarman.Rampage has a distinct appearance, with orange skin, a towering, muscular build, and a fiery redmohawk.Rampage's personality is (like her namesake) hot-tempered, aggressive and uninhibited, the complete opposite of heralter egoKitty Faulkner.

Publication history[edit]

Rampage first appeared inSuperman(vol. 2) #7 and was created byJohn Byrne.

Fictional character biography[edit]

Dr. Kitty Faulknerwas working on a pollution-free energy source for a competition sponsored by theDaily Planet.Faulkner was exhibiting her installation when Dr. Thomas Moyers, a colleague arguing the potential dangers of the project to reporterLois Lane,shut off the machine's safety systems. The resulting explosion transformed Faulkner into a metahuman with the ability to absorb solar energy and continuously grow in size and strength.[1]Disoriented and confused, she began torun amokthrough the streets ofMetropolis.TheDaily Planet,not knowing she was actually Kitty Faulkner, quickly dubbed her "Rampage".Supermanstepped in, but showed restraint in subduing her, mistakenly thinking this was an alternate identity of Lois Lane. After Rampage was revealed to be Dr. Faulkner, Superman was able to drain off her excess solar energy and return Kitty to normal.[2]

Months later, Dr. Faulkner fell ill finding that her body now needed exposure to a certain amount of solar and cosmic energy or she would die. Dr. Moyers gave her a technological device in the form of acollarthat would maintain the proper amount of exposure to keep her alive. Moyers also had a sinister motive - he transformed Faulkner into Rampage and had her sabotage the presidential campaign of Herbert Forrest. Forrest and Moyers were former friends, but Moyers had come to resent the candidate's corrupt morality. After several attacks Superman helped free Rampage from Moyers' control and sent him to jail. After modifying the regulator control collar, Kitty had her powers under control, and accepted a job atS.T.A.R. Labs.[3]

Faulkner proved to be a talented administrator and earned a transfer to new S.T.A.R. Labs inPhoenix.Once there, she befriended the young superheroStarmanAKA Will Payton. She helped him on several occasions as Rampage, and the two formed a relationship. Her part-time career of heroics and her romance came to an end when she was sent back to Metropolis to take part in the major re-organization of S.T.A.R. Labs necessitated by the destruction of the corporation's main laboratory. She supervised S.T.A.R. Labs' efforts to reignite the sun in theFinal Nightcrisis.[4]

When Kitty's new colleague Christine Bruckner framed her for embezzlement, Superman tried to speak in her defence, but found himself forced to pursue Rampage as she tore through the town of Leesburg trying to kill Christine for her betrayal, Superman limiting collateral damage whileSupergirl- who had recently settled into Leesburg after adopting the civilian identity of Linda Danvers - tried to stop Rampage. When Superman allowed Rampage to attack Christine to end the pursuit, however, Rampage accepted that she didn't have it in her to commit murder, returning to Kitty while Supergirl forced Christine to confess what she had done.[5]

Faulkner supervised the enhancement of the abilities of the heroAntaeus.In return, S.T.A.R. Labs gained valuable knowledge about the nature of genetically enhanced super-beings.[6]

Since her return to Metropolis, it has been hinted that Kitty may have developed a crush onParasitebefore his death.

She has received a promotion to director of Metropolis S.T.A.R. Labs.[7]

Rampage recently resurfaced under the control ofStarro.[8]

Mon-Elfights an out of control Rampage in Metropolis as his first test as the new guardian of the city. He carries her high into the air and carelessly drops her unaware that he might hurt her or someone else.[9]

Powers and abilities[edit]

Kitty can absorb and store solar energy as sustenance. When her cells aremetabolized,she grew in size with immense physical traits. Rampage is able to leap great distances by simulating the effects of flight. The more she feeds, the bigger she gets, but too much sunlight would overload her body.[10]She wore a modified regulator collar that controls the proper amount of exposure for her to maintain human form. As Dr. Faulkner, she has scientific knowledge, but as Rampage, she became short-tempered, less inhibited, and always ready for the nextadrenalinerush.

Other versions[edit]

Futures End[edit]

An alternate version of Kitty Faulkner / Rampage appeared in theFutures Endstoryline. 5 years in the future of the New 52 continuity, Faulkner was an employee atLexCorp's genetic research laboratory, and met Fraudulent S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Ethan Boyer in a conference in Paris. She later worked on a failed experiment that mutated her into Rampage, leaving her in a perpetual berserker state while retaining some of her intelligence. WithLex Luthorunable to cure her, she broke Boyer out of jail, hoping his knowledge on genetics could cure her. Boyer, however, furthered her berserker rage instead, using her to distract the new Superman from him. Rampage then went on a rampage for the following weeks, before facing off against Superman, who was revealed during the fight to actually beBilly Batson.Rampage attacks Batson, but is caught by Stormguard, who defeats Rampage. Stomguard then promises to her that geneticists will be able to help her once she is taken into custody.[11][12][13]

In other media[edit]

Television[edit]

  • Rampage appears inJustice League Unlimited,voiced bySusan Eisenbergin "Dead Reckoning" and byLauren Tomin "The Great Brain Robbery", both of whom were uncredited. This version is a member ofGorilla Grodd'sSecret Societywho consciously and willingly takes part in criminal activities. Prior to and during the episode "Alive!",Lex Luthortakes control of the Society, but Grodd mounts a mutiny to retake command. Rampage sides with the latter, but is frozen byKiller Frostand killed byDarkseidalong with Grodd's other loyalists.
  • A character loosely based on Karen Faulkner namedKit Faulknerappears in the second season ofSuperman & Lois,portrayed byCatherine Lough Haggquist.[14]This version is a geologist working for AmerTek Industries who oversees a mining operation at the Shuster Mine inSmallvilleand is connected toAlly Allston's Inverse Method cult. While attempting to keep people away from the Shuster Mine, Faulkner is killed byBizarro.

Video games[edit]

Rampage appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[15]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Rampage appears in theSupergirltie-in digital comicAdventures of Supergirl.[16]This version is an alien namedCaren Falqnerrwho can assume a human form.

References[edit]

  1. ^SupermanVol. 2 #7 (July 1987)
  2. ^Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010).The Essential Superman Encyclopedia.Del Rey. p. 332.ISBN978-0-345-50108-0.
  3. ^SupermanVol. 2 #24 (December 1988)
  4. ^Final Night#1-4 (1996). DC Comics.
  5. ^Supergirl(vol. 4) #6. DC Comics.
  6. ^JLA: Superpower(November 1999). DC Comics.
  7. ^DCSecret Files and Origins2000. DC Comics.
  8. ^Teen Titans(vol. 3) #51. DC Comics.
  9. ^Superman#686. DC Comics.
  10. ^Who's Who: Update '87Vol. 1 #4 (November 1987)
  11. ^The New 52: Futures End#9. DC Comics.
  12. ^The New 52: Futures End#12. DC Comics.
  13. ^The New 52: Futures End#15-#18. DC Comics.
  14. ^Morrison, Matt (January 23, 2022)."Superman & Lois' Doomsday Plot Secretly Teases DC's Hulk Origin".Screen Rant.
  15. ^Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013)."DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide".IGN.RetrievedJune 28,2024.
  16. ^White, Brett (December 15, 2015)."DC Announces" Adventures of Supergirl "Digital Series from Gates, Bengal".Comic Book Resources.
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