S.T.A.R. Labs
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- This article is about the fictional organization in DC Comics. S.T.A.R. labs is not related to S.T.A.R.S.
Science and Technology Advanced Research Laboratories, usually shortened to S.T.A.R. Labs, are a research organization in various stories published by DC Comics. S.T.A.R. Labs is most often seen in the Superman and Teen Titans comics.
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[edit] History and locations
S.T.A.R. was founded by a scientist named Garrison Slate, who wanted a nationwide chain of research laboratories unconnected to the government or any business interests. He succeeded not only on a national scale, but an international one as well: S.T.A.R. Labs currently maintains facilities in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan as well as in the United States, with the total number of facilities numbering between twenty and thirty at last recorded count.
A partial list of some known locations of S.T.A.R. Labs facilities and their research focuses where known includes:
- New York City, New York: specializing in research and technology
- Gotham City: specializing in weaponry
- Metropolis (Queensland Park Borough, near Metropolis Harbor): specializing in marine biology
- Metropolis (central branch, New Troy Island): catch-all facility
- Wichita, Kansas, specializing in computer engineering
- Central City, Missouri
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, radioactive storage and testing centers
- Keystone City, Kansas
- Chicago, Illinois: specializing in research and technology
- Phoenix, Arizona: specializing in meteorology and natural disasters
- San Diego, California: specializing in chemical research
- Los Angeles, California: specializing in genetics and disease control
- San Francisco, California: specializing in studying meta-humans
- Seattle, Washington: specializing in studying psychology and psionics.
- Melbourne, Australia
Among the dismantled or otherwise inactive facilities:
- Detroit, Michigan: specializing in physics research. Shut down in 2004.
[edit] Comic appearances
S.T.A.R. Labs was introduced in Superman Vol. 1 #246 (December 1971).
In the Superman comics, Professor Hamilton formerly worked there, and Dr. Kitty Faulkener, also known as the superheroine Rampage, does so currently. Lex Luthor has attempted to buy out S.T.A.R. on at least one occasion.
The Metropolis S.T.A.R. Labs is most often seen as a temporary holding area for captured supervillains, as research is made on how to contain them.
In Teen Titans, Cyborg's parents, Silas and Eleanor Stone, and former love interest Dr. Sarah Charles all worked for S.T.A.R. The technology used to maintain his mechanical parts comes from S.T.A.R. Labs. Other past Star Labs employees are Murray Takamoto, Dr. Jenet Klyburn, and Dr. Albert Michaels (the first Atomic Skull).
The 1993 comics miniseries S.T.A.R. Corps was about a group of superhumans who had inadvertently gained their powers in a S.T.A.R. Labs experiment.
[edit] Other media
In the TV series The Flash Dr. Tina McGee, the scientist who helps the Flash deal with his superspeed, works for S.T.A.R. Labs.
In Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, S.T.A.R. Labs was often mentioned as a source of scientific information. It gained more prominence with the introduction of S.T.A.R. scientist Dr Klien as a recurring character from the third season onwards.
In Superman: The Animated Series S.T.A.R. Labs served much the same purpose as it did in Lois and Clark, save that the recurring scientist was Professor Hamilton. S.T.A.R. has also made appearances in Justice League Unlimited (although the role it serves in the ongoing story has changed with the darkening tone of the series),and was briefly mention in Batman the animated series (it´s name was shown in a monitor in one of Batman´s Reaserch).
