Skyman
Sylvester Pemberton is a not-so-well-known DC superhero from the Golden Age of Comics. But despite his unfamiliarity among many superhero fans, he played an important role in the early age of superhero history.
Star-Spangled Kid
Sylvester Pemberton became the Star-Spangled Kid in order to fight Nazis in the 1940s. You could say he was DC’s watered-down version of Marvel’s Captain America. It was common for comic book writers to make supervillains Nazis during World War II since they were an easy group to pick on. Star-Spangled Kid, along with his sidekick Stripesy (how’s that for an original superhero name?), who was a grown adult. Sylvester Pemberton and Pat Dugan (which was the alter ego of Stripesy) did not have any superpowers, but they had exceptional agility and acrobatic abilities for being normal human beings. Sylvester also used a cosmic rod (owned by Starman), which allowed him to fly and project energy.
Pemberton in Smallville
When Sylvester Pemberton grew up, he changed his name to Skyman, and he founded the superhero team Infinity, Inc. This team of Justice Society-rejects is made up of many other small-name superheroes, but they still made a difference in the world of evil that is the DC Universe. Some of the team’s members include Obsidian, Silver Scarab, and Fury.
Stargirl in Smallville
The story of Sylvester Pemberton does not have a happy ending, as he was killed by Solomon Grundy. After this, the stepdaughter of Pat Dugan, Courtney Whitmore, found Stripesy and Star-Spangled Kid’s superhero gear, and made herself the second Star-Spangled Kid. Later, she changed her name to Stargirl.
The only non-comic media appearance for Sylvester Pemberton is in Smallville, in the two-hour special “Absolute Justice.” Pemberton is played by Jim Shields, and he only appears briefly at the beginning. He warns Chloe Sullivan about someone hunting down superheroes, then is killed by Icicle. Courtney Whitmore, played by Britt Irvin, finds Sylvester’s staff and becomes Stargirl.
Watch Sylvester Pemberton on Smallville here.
Jack Stewart is a writer for Superhero Legacy
