Rampage (DC Comics)

Rampage
Kitty Faulkner/Rampage, art by Gary Frank.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Superman vol. 2 #7 (July 1987)
Created by	John Byrne
In-story information
Alter ego	Karen Lou "Kitty" Faulkner
Team affiliations	S.T.A.R. Labs
Abilities	Superhuman strength and endurance

Rampage (real name Karen Lou "Kitty" Faulkner) is a fictional character in the DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman comic books, and was later utilized in Starman. Rampage has a distinct appearance, with orange skin, a towering, muscular build, and a fiery red mohawk. Rampage's personality is (like her namesake) hot-tempered, aggressive and uninhibited, the complete opposite of her alter ego Kitty Faulkner.

Publication history[]

Rampage first appeared in Superman vol. 2, #7 and was created by John Byrne.

Fictional character biography[]

Dr. Kitty Faulkner was working on a pollution-free energy source for a competition sponsored by the Daily Planet. Faulkner was exhibiting her installation when Dr. Thomas Moyers, a colleague arguing the potential dangers of the project to reporter Lois Lane, shut off the machine's safety systems. The resulting explosion transformed Faulkner into a huge, incredibly strong orange-skinned Amazon.^[1] Kitty had gained the ability to absorb solar energy through her skin, which made her grow continually taller and stronger. Disoriented and confused, she began to run amok through the streets of Metropolis. The Daily Planet, not knowing she was actually Kitty Faulkner, quickly dubbed her "Rampage". Superman stepped 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 a collar that 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 at S.T.A.R. Labs.^[3]

Faulkner proved to be a talented administrator and earned a transfer to new S.T.A.R. Labs in Phoenix. Once there, she befriended the young superhero Starman AKA 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 the Final Night crisis.^[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 while Supergirl - 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 hero Antaeus. 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 on Parasite before his death.

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

Rampage recently resurfaced under the control of Starro.^[8]

Mon-El fights 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[]

Kitty can absorb and store solar energy, causing her to grow in size; she also gains superhuman strength, endurance and leaping ability, but experiences rage and decreased inhibitions.

In other media[]

Television[]

• In the animated series Justice League Unlimited, Rampage is a member of the Secret Society. She made her first full appearance in "Dead Reckoning", and, while uncredited, was likely portrayed by Susan Eisenberg or Lauren Tom. At Nanda Parvat, Rampage was possessed by Deadman when he tried to avenge his master's death. She also fought Wonder Woman at Gorilla City and was tied to her lasso and swung around. Later, Rampage sided with Grodd against Lex Luthor and was frozen by a turncoat Killer Frost. No mention is made of her origins. Unlike her comics counterpart, this incarnation of Rampage seems to be a conscious and willing participant in criminal activity.

Miscellaneous[]

She appeared in the first arc of the digital-first Adventures of Supergirl series, based on the Supergirl television show.^[10] In keeping with the show's plot, she is changed into an alien named Caren Falqnerr, but can still take on a human appearance.

References[]