Origin and First Appearance of Superheroes and Villains Beginning With S

Sabbac

To combat the power of Captain Marvel, the forces of Hell gave the human Timothy Karnes the power to become a demon any time he says the magic word "Sabbac". 

Later, as he becomes more and more weakened through fighting Captain Marvel Jr., Sabbac loses his abilities when Hell revokes his powers.

Several decades later, Ishmael Gregor becomes the new Sabbac.

Sabretooth

Sabretooth's history is mostly unknown, but it is believed that his real name is Victor Creed.

Much of his memories have been tampered with and blurred as a result of the Weapon X experiments, similar to Wolverine's.

Sabretooth enjoys killing and cares little for his victims. Since his origins, he has been a primary antagonist of Wolverine.

Sabretooth has been both a member and enemy of the X-Men.

Sabretooth possesses healing factor, superhuman strength, speed, and durability, advanced eyesight and sense of smell, claw-like finger nails, and several other animal abilities.

Sandman

Wesley Dodds was a wealthy man of leisure who became a "mystery man" in the old-fashioned pulp tradition: he put on a suit, a fedora, and a mask, and carried a gas gun.

The Sandman's mask, however, put him far ahead of the other gas-gun carriers, as it was a terrifying gas mask.

Later, he would get a makeover into a yellow-and-purple-tights-wearing typical hero, along with a teenage sidekick named Sandy (see below).

He had no superpowers as such, but his gun could emit either sleep gas or a sort of "truth serum" gas that compelled evildoers to confess.

Later, he was a member of the Justice Society of America and the All-Star Squadron.

See our Rare Comic Books guide for more classic books.

Sandy the Golden Boy

Sanderson "Sandy" Hawkins was created as a teenage sidekick for The Sandman when DC decided to remake Wesley Dodds into a yellow-and-purple-tights-wearing, standard type of hero in 1941.

Sandy was the nephew of Wesley Dodds' girlfriend, and had no super-powers as such.

Sandy eventually became a new Sandman, after much trouble and strife.

Sandy the Golden Boy (Bronze Age)

The Bronze Age version of Sandy first appeared in a JLA/JSA crossover, which also explained why Sandman went back to his green suit and gas mask.

It seems that Sandy had been badly hurt by the explosion of an experimental weapon that Wesley Dodds was developing. The effects of the blast left Sandy transformed into a giant, seemingly insensate beast version of his former self.

Wesley, full of remorse, kept Sandy locked up in a secret vault under heavy sedation for years, before the events of this crossover brought Sandy out again.

He regained the power of speech, informing all present that he had been fully conscious and aware for the entire period of his imprisonment.

Saragon the Sorcerer

As a child, John Sargent came into possession of the Ruby of Life, a mystical gem that gave him control over everything he touches.

Once grown to manhood, he took on the role of a stage magician, complete with tuxedo, cape, and turban.

As with Zatana, this was mostly to disguise the fact that he was doing real magic.

With his stereotypical Irish comic sidekick-manager Max O'Leary, Sargon fought all sorts of mystical evil in the Golden Age.

He was revived in the Silver Age as a villain, and eventually died alongside Zatana at John Constantine's séance, just before the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Savage Dragon

Savage Dragon is Paul Dragon, an amnesiac man who remembers nothing before waking up in a burning field in Chicago.

He has green, scaly skin, and a fin on his head, and possesses super-strength, stamina, and invulnerability.

At first, he worked as a police officer for the Chicago P.D., combating the seemingly never-ending string of super-criminals that plagued that city.

Later, it was revealed that Dragon had been the evil overlord of an alien race, intent on destroying the earth.

Two scientists from his race managed to stop him, damaging his brain, erasing his personality, and exiling him to earth.

Savitar

After being struck by lightning while flying a supersonic jet, Savitar was imbued with super human speed. 

Savitar became the leader of a cult. He recruited Lady Flash to help him divert the power of the Speed Source to only himself and his cult. 

Later, Savitar is imprisoned in the Speed Source.

Scarecrow (Christopher Syn)

Christopher Syn was a brilliant scholar who had studied at Oxford, but who by night takes on the role of leader of a gang of smugglers.

After changing his ways and settling down as a respectable citizen, he finds that some of the local citizens in his new home town of Romney Marsh, Kent, are smuggling goods from France to avoid paying excessive and unfair government customs charges.

Some of them have been ambushed and captured by pirates, and other genuine criminals during smuggling expeditions, he decides to take action.

Creating a costume/disguise for himself from discarded scarecrow clothing and luminous paint, he created a frightening persona to help protect them, and so The Scarecrow became the leader of the smugglers, for a good cause.

Scarecrow (Batman)

Perhaps the scariest of all the Batman villains, Dr. Jonathan Crane is a psychologist and self-described "Master of Fear".

Using his Scarecrow alias, Crane develops a number of poisons and toxins that induce horrifying hallucinations in whoever comes in contact with them.

Crane becomes the psychologist at Arkham Asylum, trying out his experimental drugs on patients.

Scarlet Avenger

Jim Kendall had a tragic life. He lost his wife and daughter when the plane they were all traveling on was hijacked, and then crashed.

Jim's life was spared, but his facial muscles were paralyzed, rendering him incapable of smiling. He vowed revenge and pursued a life of vigilantism, donning a bulletproof red cloak and mask.

He had no superpowers, but was a jujitsu expert and invented some nifty things, including a magnetic ray, a paralysis ray, a rocket car, and a hypnosis machine.

After a year and a half, The Scarlet Avenger faded away, never to be revived.

Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch is the daughter of Magneto and one of the original members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Being one of the few conflicted X-Men villains who sometimes change sides, she reforms and joins the Avengers.

She is very close with her brother, Quicksilver.

Scarlet Witch is plagued by an inability to control her powers, eventually resulting in the depowering of millions of mutants (House of M and Decimation storyline).

Scavenger

Peter Mortimer, AKA Scavenger, was a deep-sea diver and pirate who scavenged the ocean floor looking for treasure and artifacts. 

Scavenger learns of an artifact known as the Time Decelerator, which he believes is held in Atlantis.

After demanding that the Time Decelerator be handed over by the Atlantians, Scavenger and Aquaman battle.

Later, Scavenger reforms and he and Aquaman become friends.

Scavenger (Superboy)

Scavenger is a paranoid man with delusions of a "great enemy" he must battle.

He obsessively stocks weapons, and has murdered innocent people whom he thought were enemies.

Scavenger also believes Superboy is working with the great enemy.

Scavenger possesses some degree of magic, and is able to teleport.

He also uses advanced technology, and has a base of operations on the Moon.

Scorch

Aubrey Sparks was just a normal girl, until Joker used the stolen power from Mr. Mxyzptlk to create an alternate universe.

Joker's transformation turned Aubrey into Scorch, a demonic clone of Earth's Supergirl. 

After Mr. Mxyzptlk returns things to normal, he keeps Scorch around and she joins the Secret Society of Super Villains.

Scorpion

The first Scorpion was a monster-sized scorpion who was mutated as a result of experimentation.

It developed a consciousness and hatred for mankind.

Later, Paul Rodgers is able to kill it.

Scorpion (Kid Colt Outlaw)

The second Scorpion was Sam Scorpio, an inventor who used a small derringer pistol and a silencer to take people down.

Scorpio and Kid Colt are enemies, until Kid Colt beats him.

Sebastian Shaw

Sebastian Shaw is the owner of Shaw Industries, and a mutant with the ability to absorb energy and use it to increase his strength, speed, stamina.

Shaw's goal is for world domination through the use of his power, money, and shadowy affiliates. 

As a world-renowned billionaire, Shaw has access to advanced weaponry and uses it to his advantage when battling the X-Men.

After Bolivar Trask dies, Shaw Industries begins creating sentinels.

Sensai

Sensei is a martial arts master and a leader of the League of Assassins.

Sensei is known for being mentally unstable; he lives only to kill and assassinate.

Sentinels

The Sentinels are robots programmed to capture or kill mutants.

Most Sentinels are three stories tall, capable of flight, and can project deadly energy blasts.

The Sentinels were first created by Bolivar Trask out of his paranoia of mutants.

Later, several other upgraded models were made, mostly by Shaw Industries.

Sentry (Venom)

Curtis Elkins, known as Sentry, was a guard at the Vault, a prison for super villain criminals.

After leaving the Vault, Elkins joined The Jury, a team assembled to hunt down and kill Venom.

Sentry uses advanced technology to fly, and wields a deadly energy rifle.

Sentry (Bob Reynolds)

Bob Reynolds was a washed up, overweight, middle-aged hero.

When the Void, Bob's archenemy, returns, Bob quickly shapes up and becomes the crime fighting hero Sentry again.

However, Bob discovers that the superhero world has completely forgotten about him – all records of his existence are nearly gone.

Mr. Fantastic discovers why - when the Void threatened Earth in the past, it was learned that the Sentry and the Void were two halves of the same person.

In order to save the world, Bob Reynolds erased his memory from the mind of nearly every person on Earth.

Separated Man

Jake Trask was a former cellmate of scientist Doctor Brian Holmes.

Upon escaping prison, Trask stole the professor's formula and used it to transform himself into the Separated Man.

Separated Man terrorized the town of Midville, until he was stopped by the Teen Titans.

Set

Set is a serpent-like god and over three billion years old.

Set is the creator of the Serpent Men and the Serpent Crown, which gives its wearer access to Set's powers.

The Serpent Crown was used by Naga to rule Atlantis.

Set is rarely seen in comics, and usually just mentioned. On rare occasions, he appears as a seven-headed serpent.

Seven Soldiers of Victory

The Seven Soldiers of Victory were a DC Comics super-team consisting of The Vigilante, the Crimson Avenger, Green Arrow and Speedy, the Shining Knight, and the Star-Spangled Kid with his sidekick, Stripesy.

Except for the Shining Knight, all of the Seven Soldiers were non-super-powered costumed heroes, making them unique among superhero teams.

Also making them unique was the fact that their ranks included two sidekicks as full members, something no other super-team has done.

After 14 issues, the team appeared no more in the Golden Age, but was revived in the 1970s, appearing once as a team, and the individual characters then going their own ways.

Shade

Originally a villain and foe for the Flash, Richard Swift was a thief with a sense of formal style and a cane that had power over shadows, helping him conceal himself.

Later, The Shade became mentor to Starman Ted Knight's son.

You can see more Golden Age Flash comic book values here.

Shadow Thief

Shadow Thief is the alias of Carl Sands, a criminal who learned how to turn himself into a shadow, becoming intangible and mostly invisible.

He is a frequent enemy of Hawkman, and later sells his soul to Neron for more power.

Shang Chi (Master of Kung Fu)

First Appearance, Shang Chi (Master of Kung Fu)

Special Marvel Edition #15, Marvel Comics, 1973

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Shang Chi was the son of legendary villain Fu Manchu, and in his first appearance travels to England on a mission to murder Dr. Petrie, a retired British agent and one of his father's old enemies.

He learns of his father's true nature through Sir Denis Nayland Smith and began working with British Intelligence against his father.

Shang Chi was extremely skilled at Kung Fu and all other Asian martial arts. In addition, Shang Chi was expert in the use of the bo, shuriken and nunchaku.

Eventually, after his father's death, he retired to live quietly, but was later drawn back into the world of superheroes several times.

Shark

Shark was the criminal Gunther Hardwicke.

He was a member of the Terrible Trio, along with Fox and Vulture.

He wears a shark mask and uses aquatic-themed technology to commit crimes.

See our Batman villains list for more classic Bat bad guys.

Sheena Queen of the Jungle

Sheena, Queen of the Jungle was created by the team of Will Eisner and Jerry Iger, based on a combination of Tarzan and the H. Rider Haggard jungle-chanteuse character "She."

Sheena had the usual qualities one might expect from a jungle queen: she could communicate with animals of every type, and had excellent survival skills, gained from being orphaned at a young age and being raised in the jungle by a mystical witch woman.

She was also skilled in the use of knife, spear, and bow, but her main weapon was surprise, which she used very effectively.

She was the first female superhero, and was popular for many years. Later, she would be the first female superhero to have her own title, in the 1950s.

She-Hulk

She-Hulk is Jennifer Walters.

She is Bruce Banner's cousin, and in the course of receiving a life-saving blood transfusion from him, acquired a somewhat milder case of "Hulk-ism" from him.

When she changes into a green-skinned version of herself, she keeps most of her own personality, while gaining strength, speed, and endurance like Hulk's, only slightly lesser.

She has been an Avenger, a Defender, a member of the Fantastic Four, and the Heroes for Hire, among other groups.

Jennifer Walters' day job is that of a criminal attorney.

She-Hulk (Lyra)

Lyra is from an alternate future of Marvel's main timeline, and is the daughter of Thundra and the Hulk.

She is sent back in time to prevent the extinction of her people.

Unlike Hulk and She-Hulk, Lyra is depowered when she gets angry.

To prevent this, Lyra uses meditation to help her fight and gain strength.

The Shield

The Shield predates Captain America, in case you were wondering.

While his origin wouldn't be divulged for six months, at the beginning of 1940, the Shield stood alone in American comics as a patriotically-themed hero.

Joe Higgins was the son of a discredited scientist who had been working on a super-strength formula before being killed by a Nazi agent.

He continues his father's work, finally perfecting the serum, and uses it on himself, gaining strength, invulnerability, and the ability to jump to incredible heights.

Higgins became The Shield, and fought Nazis and saboteurs and other nefarious enemies of freedom until after the war, when he and the other MLJ heroes were pushed out of the way by Archie.

Shocker

Herman Schultz is a brilliant engineer who became an expert burglar and the world's greatest safe-cracker.

Using his engineering genius, Schultz develops a pair of gauntlets that can shoot energy blasts, becoming the Shocker.

Since then, he has been terrorizing Spider-Man, committing high-profile robberies, and joins many organized crime syndicates.

Shock Gibson

Shock Gibson began as scientist Robert Gibson, who developed a formula that allowed him to generate, store, and control electricity in his body.

He could shoot bolts of lightning, fly, and had super-strength.

After starting off in red and yellow tights that left his legs and arms exposed, he ended up in an odd sort of Roman gladiator outfit with a yellow crest.

Brookwood would later be absorbed by Harvey, and like the other superheroes that Harvey acquired, Shock Gibson wouldn't last into the 1950s.

He's now in the public domain.

See our Rare comic books gallery and price guide for more information.

Shredder

Shredder is the archenemy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

His real name is Oroku Saki, and he wears an armor covered in blades.

Shredder is the leader of the Foot Clan, a ninjutsu criminal organization.

Shrike

Several Shrikes have appeared in the DC Universe.

The first Shrike is Toron Tos, an alien prince of the planet Moronon. 

He is captured by the Thanagarian, who then help him reclaim his throne from the evil dictator Boras Boran.

Later, another Shrike appears as a member of the League of Assassins.

Signalman

Phillip Cobb was a want-to-be Gotham City villain who no-one took seriously.

Furious, he became Signalman, and went on a legendary crime spree. 

After being beaten by Batman and Robin, he wasn't seen again for 15 years.

Silver Banshee

As a part of McDougal clan ritual, Siobhan McDougal was turned into the Silver Banshee by supernatural forces of the netherworld. 

With her new powers of superhuman strength and endurance, and the ability to produce deadly sonic screams, Silver Banshee goes on a mission to find a lost family spell book.

Her search leads her to Metropolis, and she and Superman battle many times.

Silver Surfer

Originally Norrid Radd from the planet Zenn-La, the Silver Surfer was born when Radd offered himself as a sacrifice to save his home planet from Galactus, eater of worlds.

He was transformed into a new being, completely silver, and given new powers to act as Galactus' herald.

Galactus gave the Surfer some "cosmic power", and a surfboard that allowed him to travel the spaceways.

Eventually, he betrays Galactus in an attempt to save Earth, and is exiled there by Galactus as punishment.

He can still be seen sporadically in the Marvel universe, and is perhaps the only major character who has not been retconned or rebooted.

Sin Eater

Sin Eater was originally Stanley Carter (there have been two others since), former agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., given super-strength and agility in a rough approximation of Captain America's powers.

He was obsessed with morality, wishing to destroy any and all who abused authority.

He was later revealed as the killer of Jean DeWolfe.

Sinestro

Sinestro was a member of the Green Lantern Corps and once considered one of their greatest members.

His desire for justice and order were unmatched, but eventually his ideas became too totalitarian.

After being exiled from the Green Lantern Corps, he became allies with the Weaponers, enemies of the Green Lantern Corps.

Since then, he has been one of the greatest enemies the Corps has ever faced.

Sinister Six

After losing to Spider-Man several times, Doctor Octopus decides to form an elite group of villains.

Dubbing themselves the Sinister Six, the group is made up of Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, and Sandman.

Later, Hobgoblin is added to the group after Kraven dies.

Skrulls

The Skrulls are a race of extraterrestrial shape shifters.

After gaining interstellar flight, the Skrulls meet the Kree alien race, thus beginning the millennia spanning Skrull-Kree War.

Later, the Skrulls find Earth and are determined to conquer it.

This desire continues on to this day, pitting the Skrulls against the Marvel Universe's best heroes.

Skull

SKULL is a criminal organization made up of rogue scientists and evil geniuses. 

At their peak, SKULL was led by the Atomic Skull.

Solaris

Solaris is an artificial and sentient sun, bent on destroying Earth and Superman. 

After centuries of battles and schemes, Solaris is finally defeated when Superman Prime uses a Green Lantern Ring to cause Solaris to cave in on itself.

Solomon Grundy

Solomon Grundy is a zombie super villain and enemy of Green Lantern, Batman, and Superman. 

Solomon was once a wealthy merchant in the 19th century, but 50 years after being murdered and dumped in the swamp, he was reanimated as a mindless killing machine.

It is possible that Solomon Grundy is the first zombie in comic book history.

Sonar

Bito Wladon wanted his small European nation of Modora to become the most powerful in the world.

To do this, he needed to develop a supersonic bomb.

Using his Sonic Scepter, a device that enables him to absorb sound, fly, and fire sonic energy blasts, Sonar attacks the Green Lantern, and attempts to steal advanced technology from America.

Later, Sonar's evil ways are carried on by his son.

Space Phantom

Space Phantom is a servant of Immortus (Kang the Conqueror).

Originally, it was thought there was only one Space Phantom, but it is revealed there are multiples.

Space Phantoms begin as people trapped in limbo and Immortus conditions them to do his bidding.

Space Phantoms can assume the identity of any person or thing.

In his first appearance, Space Phantom attempts to break up the Avengers by posing as different members, and creating in-fighting amongst the super-team.

Spawn

Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn was a man named Al Simmons, a CIA assassin who once saved the POTUS from an assassin's bullet.

After he begins to doubt the morality of the killings he does for the CIA, his superiors have him killed in a fire.

He dies, goes to hell, and, desperate to see his wife, Wanda, again, he agrees to sell his soul to a demon named Malebolgia in exchange for the chance to go back to the world of the living.

In a typical devil's bargain, he returns five years later with no memory of his old life.

Ultimately, after regaining his memory, he finds that Wanda has moved on, and he must now fight against the forces of both heaven and hell.

Spawn is functionally immortal, and has super-strength, speed, and agility, and can fly. He can change his shape, and teleport.

The Spectre

The Spectre began as Jim Corrigan, police officer.

Murdered by thugs, Corrigan's soul was refused entry to the afterlife. It returned to the earth, and dealt out justice in spirit form, with, for whatever reason, a white and green costume.

His powers varied from issue to issue.

Eventually, Jim Corrigan was brought back to life, and the Spectre merged with the reanimated body, coming out only when crime needed fighting.

Later, The Spectre ended up as a sort of guardian angel to a bumbling police officer, and disappeared entirely after WWII, only to resurface in the Silver Age with almost godlike powers and a greatly enlarged mythos.

Speed Queen

Speed Queen is a New God of Apokolips and member of the Female Furies.

She uses roller skates to move at extreme speeds.

Later, she is murdered by Infinity Man in his quest to kill all New Gods.

Spellbinder (Delbert Billings)

Delbert Billings was a brilliant painter who was able to create optical illusions with his art. 

Taking on the persona Spellbinder, Billings begins a life of crime, inventing hypnotic weapons and a group of henchmen to commit robberies.

His weapons worked so well, he was able to hypnotize Batman twice.

Spencer Smythe

Spencer Smythe was an arachnid scientist who developed robots that could sense and capture Spider-Man.

However, his robots always failed and Spider-Man escaped.

Later, after Spencer dies, his son Alistair takes up his father's mission as Spider-Slayer.

Spider-Man

Peter Parker was an ordinary teen with great scientific ability, when his life was forever altered by the bite of a radioactive spider on a school field trip to see a machine that produced radioactivity.

He gained the ability to walk up walls, and the proportionate speed, strength, and agility of a spider.

Using his knowledge of science, he devised web-shooters that could create webbing that would bind criminals or form ropes from which he could swing. After his Uncle Ben is killed by a criminal that Peter allows to escape, he realizes that "with great power comes great responsibility," and thus Spider Man was born.

In his red-and-blue suit, Spider-Man revolutionized comic books forever, and has been the core of the Marvel universe ever since.

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

The first Spider-Woman was Jessica Drew, who was the subject of several retcons within the first two years of her existence, and who would be dead in less than seven years.

What is certain is that she gained spider powers through some sort of combination of spiders and radiation, and decided to fight crime.

Her powers included enhanced strength, speed, and agility, flight, the ability to cling to walls, and resistance to poisons.

After her time, four others would take on the name Spider-Woman, confusing things thoroughly.

Spike

Spike is a member of the X-Statix team.

His mutant ability allows him to generate razor sharp spikes from his body and use them as projectiles.

Spiral

Ricochet Rita was a stunt woman and friend of Longshot, until she underwent extreme experimentation at the hands of Mojo.

As a result of the experiments, Rita is turned into Spiral ‚ a mystic woman with six arms but no memory of her former self.

Now a super villain, Spiral and Mojo attempt to kill Longshot and the X-Men.

Spitfire

Jacqueline Falsworth was the British daughter of the original Union Jack.

As a teenager, she met the Invaders and eventually gained super-speed after a blood transfusion from the Original Human Torch, later joining the Invaders.

Sportsmaster

Sportsmaster was Lawrence "Crusher" Crock, an athlete who had failed to achieve fame and fortune.

He took out his frustration by becoming the Sportsmaster, using his athletic ability to become a costumed foe of both Green Lantern and Wildcat.

Spragg

Spragg comes from an alien race that came to Earth billions of years ago, taking up residence inside Earth's magma core.

They take the shape of sentient mountains.

Spragg was exiled from the core and force to Earth's surface, where he enslaved a civilization.

Later, he is knocked into space by Bob Robertson.

Squadron Supreme

The Squadron Supreme is a superhero group who exist in an alternate universe, parallel to the main "Marvel" universe.

The group is based on DC Comics characters, and is similar in many ways (with some identical characters) to the "standard universe" super villain team, the "Squadron Sinister."

Consisting of Hyperion (based on Superman), Dr. Spectrum (based on Green Lantern), Nighthawk (based on Batman), The Whizzer (based on The Flash), the group was the equivalent of the Avengers (or perhaps the JLA) on the alternate Earth they lived on, and which the Avengers occasionally visited, and still visit from time to time.

Starman (Ted Knight)

Ted Knight is an astronomer and brilliant scientist who developed the gravity rod and cosmic rod that allow him to fly, shot cosmic bursts, and create force fields.

Using his powers to fight crime, he becomes Starman, the protector of Opal City.

Later, he joins the Justice Society of America, and retires after several years.

His son, Jack, then takes over the Starman mantle.

Starman (Jack Knight)

Jack Knight is the second son of original Starman Ted Knight. Ted retired and had originally passed the Starman mantle to his older son, David.

After David's death at the hands of the children of Ted's old archenemy, The Mist (scarcely a week into his tenure as the second Starman), Ted convinced Jack to become Starman.

Jack agreed, on the condition that his father would henceforth devote his scientific abilities for the betterment of mankind rather than to super-heroics.

Jack wore a very informal costume and used a version of his father's Cosmic Rod, modified by Jack into a Cosmic Staff, which gave him the ability to fly, levitate objects, absorb and manipulate various forms of energy, and create force fields.

Jack later retired to raise a family, passing on the mantle of Starman.

Starro

Starro is an intelligent alien resembling a giant starfish. 

Starro attempts to conquer Earth by granting his powers to three other starfish, but is defeated by members of the Justice League.

Later, a piece of Starro left behind forms a whole new body and he again attempts to conquer Earth.

Star Sapphire

Star Sapphire is the Queen of the Zamarons from the 7th dimension.

She wields a crystal which gives her amazing powers, similar to Green Lantern's power ring. 

Over the years, several mortal women embody Star Sapphire, a tradition that has been carried on for thousands of years.

Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris)

After the first unnamed Star Sapphire appeared as a villain of the Flash, the next was Carol Ferris.

She and Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) were childhood friends.

Later, Hal joins Ferris Aircraft (Carol's company) and the two begin a romantic relation.

However, Carol becomes the new Star Sapphire, and they become enemies. 

Each time they fight, Green Lantern wins and reverts Carol back to her normal self.

This continues for several decades of comics, as does their complicated romantic relationship.

Static

Static is Virgil Hawkins, a teenager and self-described comic book and video game "geek" who gained his powers in the so-called "Big Bang."

Virgil was seeking to get revenge on a gang member who had been bullying him and ended up in attendance at a gang war.

The authorities deployed a variety of tear gas that had what they believed was a 'harmless' radioactive marker, but which had also been admixed with something called Quantum Juice, which caused nearly all of those affected by it that day to develop super-powers.

Virgil gained the ability to produce and control electromagnetic energy, which he can use to create force fields, levitate objects, shoot force bolts, create bursts of ball lightning, and statically cling to objects.

Static has been back and forth in various incarnations, most recently as a part-time member of the Teen Titans.

Stegron

Inspired by the experiment that turned Kurt Connors into Lizard, Vincent Stegron injected himself with dinosaur DNA, turning himself into a Stegosaurus-humanoid monster.

Attempting to rule the Earth and turn everyone into dinosaurs, Stegron goes on a rampage across America, before being stopped by Spider-Man.

Stompa

Stompa is a New God of Apokolips and member of the Female Furies.

She was considered one of Granny Goodness's greatest students.

Stompa is a huge woman and the strongest member of the Female Furies.

She can create earthquakes just by stomping the ground.

Storm

Among the new X-Men team in the 1970s was Storm, who can control the weather and fly, among other powers.

She was born Ororo Munroe, the child of a Kenyan mother and an American father. After moving to Cairo, her parents were killed in the Suez war, orphaning Ororo, who after a time as a street thief, wandered in the African desert, where her powers first manifested themselves.

She spent time being worshiped as a rain goddess before Xavier came to recruit her.

She eventually married T'Challa, the Black Panther, and has been a consistent part of the X-Men since her introduction.

Stormwatch

Stormwatch is a superhero team created by Jim Lee.

The team was founded by Henry Bendix, known as The Weatherman, a man with cybernetic implants that helped him to monitor world events.

The heroes he initially chose for the team included Batallion, a telekinetic, Hellstrike, an energy being, Winter, an energy absorbing hero, Fuji, another energy being in a containment suit, and Diva, a female hero with sonic powers.

The team would go through many members and permutations.

Stranger

The Stranger is an alien scientist who comes to Earth for research.

Encountering the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the Stranger kidnaps Magneto and Toad to study them. 

Later, the Stranger determines that mankind is dangerous and sets out to destroy the Earth, using the Hulk as his pawn.

The Stranger is persuaded against destroying the Earth, and he later goes on to help many superheroes.

Suicide Squad

Aka Task Force X, the Suicide Squad is a top-secret organization of super-criminals.

In return for commuting their prison sentences, the US government calls upon the Suicide Squad to undertake high-risk missions.

Considered expendable, the SS is a hard-bitten, rough-living bunch of na'er do wells.

The Squad has just been announced as one of the upcoming DC comics movies, with their big screen debut slated for August 2016.

Superboy

Superboy is no more nor less (at least originally) than the teenage Clark Kent.

Already aware of his super-powers growing up in Smallville with Ma and Pa Kent, young Clark was inexperienced and not yet fully aware of his history or the extent of his powers.

His powers are the same as Superman's, but less-well-developed. His origin, is of course, the same as Superman's.

Superboy traveled through time to meet the Legion of Super Heroes, and it was in his continuity that Krypto, the Wonder Dog was introduced.

DC has since created later versions of Superboy that drastically change the character.

Super Buddies

The Supper Buddies is a team composed of former Justice League members, brought back together by Maxwell Lord.

However, the team is largely dysfunctional and can't come together to help anyone.

The team was composed of Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Mary Marvel, and other heroes.

Supergirl

After several abortive attempts at a female Superman-type hero, DC introduced Supergirl in 1959.

Kara Zor-El was Superman's cousin, the daughter of Jor-El's brother, Zor-El. She was sent to earth in a rocket like her cousin, but was sent later, her Kryptonian city somehow surviving the destruction of the planet inside a force field which later began to deteriorate.

She is found by Superman and set up to live in an orphanage to protect her identity while Superman trains her to be a superhero.

In a costume much like his and with powers just like his, and using the secret identity of Linda Lee (later Linda Lee Danvers after she is adopted), Supergirl fought crime and helped humanity until her death in the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Since then, the character has been rebooted several times, with varying identities and origin stories.

Superman

We all know the story of Jor-El, scientist on the planet Krypton, sent his baby, Kal-El, to earth in a spaceship to save him from the imminent destruction of their planet.

The baby was found in the wreckage of the spaceship by Ma and Pa Kent of Smallville, who raised him as their own.

The young lad, now named Clark Kent, becomes aware of his powers at a tender age, and after growing to manhood moves to Metropolis to begin a secret life as Superman, champion of the oppressed.

He has super-strength, can fly, has super-breath, X-ray vision, super speed, and several more powers, all activated by earth's yellow sun (Krypton's was red).

In this origin issue, however, we don't learn the name of his home planet, his real name, or any of the other goodies we would find out later.

You've got to start somewhere. One of the rare comic books we'd all love to own.

Origin first appearance, Superman Revenge Squad

Origin and First Appearance, Superman Revenge Squad

Action Comics #286, DC Comics, 1962

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The Superman Revenge Squad originally began as the Superboy Revenge Squad.

The group was composed of aliens from the planet Wexr II, who attempted to trick Superman into destroying his reputation, losing himself in a parallel universe, or revealing his identity.

Years later, another Superman Revenge Squad is formed by Morgan Edge.

Super-Skrull

Kl'rt is Super-Skrull, a member of the Skrull alien race who is embattled with the Kree and Earth's superheroes. 

Unlike regular Skrulls, Kl'rt isstronger than the Thing, can fly, is psionic, and can turn invisible.

He also can shape shift and hypnotize others.

Super-Skrull is a ruthless killing machine, and can out-match the Fantastic Four and other heroes.

Superia

Origin and First Appearance, Superia

Captain America #386, Marvel Comics, 1991

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Superia is criminal scientist and leader of the second incarnation of the Femizons. 

Superia envisions a future where females dominate over males.

Using her scientific genius, Superia has genetically modified herself to be amazing strong, durable, and able to shoot energy blasts from her hands.

Supreme

Supreme, created by Jim Liefield, made his first appearance in flip-book form in Youngblood #3, before being spun off into his own title.

The character's origin and background were changed numerous times, most notably in Alan Moore's meta-narrative reboot beginning in Supreme #40, but he began as a rather self-important Superman clone, with all the attendant powers of super strength, super speed, flight, invulnerability, and so on.

His alter ego is Ethan Crane, but that, too, has been rebooted and retooled numerous times.

Supreme Intelligence

Supreme Intelligence is a super computer created by the Kree.

It is composed of the brains of the greatest Krees, removed upon their deaths.

Eventually, Supreme Intelligence became so powerful, it ruled over the Kree, acting as its government.

Supreme Intelligence was also critical during the second Kree-Skrull War.

Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing's first appearance was a slightly different character than would be seen in the subsequent series or in Alan Moore's hands, years later.

The original Swamp Thing was Alex Olsen, seemingly killed in an explosion in a lab out in the woods.

Alex's partner, Damian Ridge, arranged the explosion to eliminate him and pursue Alex's wife, Linda.

Alex was somehow changed by the chemicals and the bog into which his broken body was flung, and returned as a Swamp Thing, a mossy and powerful giant made seemingly of plant material.

The character was rebooted for the ongoing series as Alec Holland, blown up by men trying to stop him from completing his bio-restorative formula, with similar results.

Later, the Swamp Thing would be reimagined yet again as a sort of plant elemental, with power that connected him to all living plant biomass on Earth, or on any planet, for that matter, in Alan Moore's hands.

Swordsman

Jacques Duquesne grew up in the French-occupied nation of Sin-Cong.

Hoping to liberate Sin-Cong from French rule, Duquesne becomes the Swordsman, a swashbuckling fighter and master of the sword.

Later, working under Mandarin, he joins the Avengers. Soon, he betrays the team, but he later rejoins and becomes a close ally.