Sylvester Pemberton was once the World War II hero known as the Star-Spangled Kid.
History
In 1942, his sidekick, Stripesy and he joined the Seven Soldiers of Victory.[5] The Seven Soldiers became lost in time on their last mission in October 1948, and were rescued by the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America; the members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory who chose to do so were brought to the present day (originally a timeline jump of 20+ years).[6]
Although he had previously been a non-powered hero, using fisticuffs, gadgets, and a keen strategical mind to fight crime, upon joining the JSA, Sylvester gained possession of the Cosmic Converter Belt designed by Starman. This belt gave him the ability to fly. He also was given use of Starman's cosmic rod on several occasions, but declined to take on the mantle of Starman himself.
As an adult, Sylvester founded the Los Angeles-based super-hero team, Infinity, Inc.[7] Late in his career, he abandoned his Star-Spangled Kid persona and adopted the more adult identity of Skyman.[8] Skyman shared in many adventures with Infinity, Inc., until the fateful day when Solomon Grundy used the insensate form of the poisonous Mister Bones to burn Sylvester's face, killing him.[9]
After Sylvester's death, the Cosmic Converter Belt and the name of Star-Spangled Kid were taken up by Courtney Whitmore.
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-Two era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and no longer apply.
- Infinity Inc. #50 shows Skyman's 61st birthday party, but he was only in his twenties due to having been time-displaced in his battle against Nebula Man. Taking 1988 as year of that publication, he was born in 1927; he was only 14 in his debut as Star-Spangled Kid (1941); and he was 21 when he fought Nebula Man (1948). The passage of time in the comics, however, is quite relative.[10]
- In Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #9, Stripesy tells his children (Courtney and Mike) that the final meeting of the Seven Soldiers of Victory was "right after Sylvester's 19th birthday" and that it occurred in late October 1948. This would place Sylvester's date of birth in October 1929. This retelling also states that the Seven Soldiers returned to the present over 40 years later, placing their return somewhere from the late-1980s to the mid-1990s.
Recommended Reading
- Infinity Inc. (first featured in issue #1)
- Leading Comics (first featured in issue #1)
- Star-Spangled Comics
- World's Finest (first featured in issue #6)
Related
- 299 Appearances of Sylvester Pemberton (New Earth)
- 29 Images featuring Sylvester Pemberton (New Earth)
- 3 Quotations by or about Sylvester Pemberton (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Sylvester Pemberton (New Earth)
Footnotes
  Justice Society of America member |
  This character is or was a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, or the Seven Soldiers in any of its various incarnations, created during World War II and later, it returned to battle time-traveling, dimension-spanning mysteries and monsters. |
 This character is or was a member of the All-Star Squadron in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "All-Star Squadron members" category. |