Dawnstar

Dawnstar bears a strong resemblance to a character called Miramanee, from the original Star Trek series. She was from a planet called Amerind (a word used to describe Dawnstar's people), and was portrayed in a racially insensitive manner. No connection has ever been mentioned by Dawnstar's creator, Mike Grell, but the similarities are pronounced. She appeared in "The Paradise Syndrome," Star Trek season 3 episode 3 (4 Oct. 1968).

The story from Tales of the Legion #321–323 (Mar.–May 1985) seems to have been partially inspired by that episode, as well as an earlier Star Trek episode, "The Apple."

Original Dawnstar

In the 23rd Century, a group of American Indians (aka "Amerinds") left Earth to settle on the planet Starhaven, at the core of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is known for its natural wonders and limited industrialization. (Legion vol. 2 #305)

Dawnstar was born on 12 April 2966 to Mist-Rider and Moonwalker. While most inhabitants of Starhaven had natural wings, Dawnstar (a self-described "mutant") was gifted with superhuman tracking skills and the ability to fly unaided through interstellar space. (#240)

By age 13, Dawnstar was working as part of her family's business, leveraging her powers as a freelance space navigator. Her efforst alone funded some of Starhaven's own defense technology.

In this capacity, she met the Legion's founder, R.J. Brande. He persuaded her to attend the Legion Academy — for which she will be paid a "handsome" salary. She made freinds with her fellow Academy students and quickly drew the attention of their mentor, the Legionnaire Wildfire.

He asked her out one day, but she refused him. She told her roomate Laurel Kent that her busy adolescence somewhat hindered her social development, and that the exercises at the Academy felt like some kind of game. But on a real mission in Metropolis, she was struck down. Dawnstar showed humility and respect toward her fellows and and recommitted to her training there. (Superboy & the Legion #240)

Not long after this, Wildfire became the Legion's leader, he brought in Dawnstar to help with a case. She used her tracking powers to help chase down some elusive raiders but when the mission turned dangerous, she did not hesitate to join the fight. Afterwards, she accepted Wildfire's offer to become a member. (#226)

While the Legion had alien Legionnaires who were not white-skinned, Dawnstar was only the second non-white member of Terran heritage. The first was Tyroc, who a She and Shadow Lass, and Tyroc are trapped on Marzal when it vanishes from Earth's dimension. Legion vol. 2 #264 (June 1980) Dawnstar apparently continued to work as a freeancer; she was called back to Legion duty fromm a rescue mission in the asteroid belt and

. Her powers failed her while trying to track Dagon the Avenger who had a device that could disrupt her tracking sense.

Tyroc decided to remain with his people, using his powers is causing Marzal to prematurely fade out of Earth's dimension. He returns Dawnstar and Shadow Lass to Earth, but he himself remains on Marzal, effectively ending his membership in the Legion. Legion vol. 2 #265)

The Legionnaires frrequently traveled back in time to Superboy's era. Dawnstar's first trip came when it was they suspected that Ultra Boy had been lost in time.

The Legionnaires and Superboy battle the Molecule Master and are arrested by the U.S. Army for interfering with an atomic bomb test. Phantom Girl, Dawnstar, and Superboy escape to 20th century Bgztl. Legion vol. 2 #281)

Phantom Girl, Dawnstar, and Superboy find Ultra Boy in the Bgztl Buffer Region and learn how he (in Superboy's body) became Reflecto. Superboy decides to resume active membership in the Legion. Legion vol. 2 #282 (Dec. 1981)

Blok, Dawnstar, Invisible Kid, White Witch, and Wildfire battle Kharlak on the Asteroid Archipelago. Legion vol. 2 #298 (Apr. 1983)...

At age 18, it was time for Dawnstar to undertake the sacred matriarchal ritual of her people. She took a leave of absence from the Legion to begin a "grand tour" — the search for her soul mate. (Legion vol. 2 #304) On Starhaven, her parents gave her a special gem to assist her on her. While she did not hesitate to honor the tradition, she secretly professed her love for Wildfire. (#305)

Countless alternate Earths are destroyed by waves of anti-matter. In the 20th century, the Monitor assembles an army of heroes and villains, including the Legion's Dawnstar, to defend the remaining universes. Crisis #1)

Meanwhile, Wildfire goes to Starhaven looking for Dawnstar. Legion vol. 2 #311 (May 1984)

Dawnstar and Brainiac 5 crash on the planet Exile. Dawnstar finds herself drawn to a native priest called Jhodan. Brainiac 5 finds evidence that Exile may have been settled by 24th-century Terrans. Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #321)

Brainiac 5 finds more 24th-century Terran artifacts on Exile, while Dawnstar runs afoul of the natives. Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #322)

Brainiac 5 and Dawnstar leave Exile after realizing that the germs they carry are causing an epidemic. Dawnstar bids a sad farewell to Jhodan, promising to one day return. (#323)

She remained standoffish towards Wildfire as well, though he was ever persistent. When Dawnstar turned eighteen and went on her people's traditional grand tour of the galaxy during to find her soul mate. (Legion vol. 2 #304) She resisted the quest, hoping to retain her friendship, however platonic, with Wildfire. She went, but Wildfire followed her, and caught up with her just as the image of her future mate was about to appear. She took this as a sign that Wildfire was indeed her intended and reported this to her parents, who were upset, but did not challenge it. (#311)

But doubts soon entered. One occurred when she and Brainiac 5 got stuck on a previously-unknown planet called Kol, where the local priests, believing her a demon, tried to kill her, and one, Jhodan, stopped them. (Tales of the Legion #321) Dawnstar found herself attracted to Jhodan, but the Legionnaires were forced to leave Exile after realizing their extraterrestrial germs were causing an epidemic. Dawnstar bid a sad farewell to Jhodan, promising to one day return. (#323)

Countless alternate Earths are destroyed by waves of anti-matter. Dawnstar is drawn to the 20th century to join the Monitor's army. (Crisis #1)

Phantom Girl, Dawnstar, Invisible Kid, and Shrinking Violet search for Chameleon Boy, unaware that he and Colossal Boy have been captured by Starfinger II. . Legion vol. 3 Annual #4 (1988)

Meanwhile, Dawnstar and Wildfire attempt a physical relationship, but find that Dawnstar still cannot touch Wildfire's new energy body without suffering burns. In Metropolis, Sarvisa leaves an urgent message with Antonio Stefanacci of the Museum of Mystic Arts, as Wildfire and Dawnstar decide to once again go their separate ways. Legion vol. 3 #57)

Upon her return from meeting Jhodan, Dawnstar resumed her relationship with Wildfire, but the couple found intimacy a problem due to the issue of his containment suit. Their fellow Legionnaire, Quislet, who is also an energy being, helped Wildfire train to control his form without the containment suit. (Legion vol. 3 #36) Despite these efforts, the pair's relationship remains unfulfilled.

Another occurred when Wildfire learned how to create a physical body for himself so that he could love her physically. Suddenly she was unsure if she was willing to make that sort of commitment to him. When, after much thinking, she finally decided to, the act covered her with radiation burns–a fact that bothered him more than it did her. He broke off the relationship, which was just as well, since he soon lost the ability to hold a physical form anyway.

Notes

Paul Levitz on Dawnstar: "Writer Paul Levitz says that Dawnstar was mostly Mike Grell’s creation. Levitz says he simply asked Grell what kind of character he’d like to draw." —Legion of Substitute Podcasters (episode #70)

Bounty: Glorith Reality

Black Dawn

The Dominion race covertly infiltrated the government of Earth. As they did, they made life increasingly difficult for the Legion. The team was already fragile when Dr. Regulus attempted to destroy the sun. In this event, called "Black Dawn," Wildfire was apparently destroyed. Dawnstar resigned just days later. (Legion vol. 4 #28, 52)

She returned to Starhaven. She was visited by Laurel Gand, who remarked to others that her friend was acting strange and withdrawn; she assumed that Dawnstar was coping with the losses of Black Dawn. (2995: Legion Sourcebook)

Bounty

At some point, Dawnstar succumbed to possession by a noncorporeal entity. Brainiac 5 later noted the presence of an "unknown organic compound of intense sedative effect." This may have been produced by the entity. During this possession she also lost her wings. Taking the name Bounty, the entity totally assumed her life, becoming a bounty hunter. Dawnstar remained aware of its actions.

Bounty sometimes worked with the private investigator Celeste Rockfish (aka McCauley). They were hired by the ex-Legionnaire Dirk Morgna (Sun Boy) to track down Roxxas, who had killed another Legionnairer, Blok. They and by Daily Planet reporter Devlin O'Ryanset out to enlist the former Element Lad of Trom. (Legion vol. 4 #6)

They followed the trail to Winath, where many Legionnaires had gathered. (#7) Roxxas attacked there, badly injuring Bounty and Celeste. (#10) When they recovered, Bounty returned to Earth to maintain the Rockfsh agency (#20) while Celeste ostensibly joined the reformed Legion. Those who knew Dawnstar commented about her resemblance to Bounty, but did not probe further. (2995: Legion Sourcebook)

Bounty became allied with the SUBs, joining an underground battle to unseat the Dominators. She worked with former Dominator ally, Circe, to gain access to their Pinnacle Command. (#23, 29, 30)

ted the young Legionnaires' flight rings from working. Bounty and Circe form an uneasy alliance with Spider Girl deep within Science Police Earth headquarters, which is destroyed by the SW6 Legion. The SW6 Legionnaires also help the Subs and the resistance escape from the chambers, but before departing, Grinn arms the chamber's self-destruct mechanism, causing a chain reaction that destroys nearly all the chambers #32 (Aug. 1992)

The malevolent entity within Dawnstar struggled to maintain composure among Legionnaires. Its nature craved the hunt and the kill. When Bounty crossed paths with Monica Sade, she remembered a high price on the assassin's head. Bounty was unpreparerd for her tenacity and skill and Sade shot Bounty through the torso. The trauma forced the entity to vacate its host, saying "I believe this body has outlasted its usefulness … time to find … another." She was to Brainiac 5 for care, who confirmed that Bounty had been Dawnstar all along. (#36)

Recovery

When she was stable, her parents came to Legion headquarters to bring her home to Starhaven. (#50) On Starhaven, Dawnstar underwent a trial to face her personal demons. She reclaimed her power against the Bounty entity and emerged somewhat healed. (#55)

She decided to return to the Legion, which at that time was racing to find a bomb planted by the Khunds on Weber's World. (#58)

This was just before the original Legion's timeline ceased to exist with the time fluctuations of the Zero Hour. Dawnstar disappeared just before the end. (Legionnaires #17)

Notes

Tom and Mary Bierbaum on Dawnstar: "She came across mostly as Marvel pretension with not much real personality, but we tried to deal with her as a hero who was, at once, aloof and troubled, cocky and vulnerable." —Interlac (2000)

Some fans have hypothesized that the Bounty entity was also responsible for the first Bounty, a male foe who appeared in Superboy & the Legion #234 (Dec. 1977). This Bounty was hired by the United Planets to stop a rampaging "Composite Legionnaire."