There are a number of fascinating weapons in the DC Universe. Some of them are powerful enough to kill off a god, while others will just about get our heroes by in battle. Some have very niche utility to get our heroes out of clutch situations, while others are so strong and dependable they make battles just a little too easy. The Cosmic Staff could be considered one of the latter, as one of the most amazing weapons that DC's heroes have ever seen.
The upcoming Stargirl series is sure to feature this otherworldly weapon in all its glory. While we're not sure how powerful the staff will be in the show, we've seen a lot of the fantstic things the weapon can do in the comics. Before it makes its live-action debut, then, here are some interesting details about the Cosmic Staff that fans should know about.
10 ORIGIN
The Cosmic Staff, originally called the Cosmic Rod was made by the original Starman. In the early days of the comics, the first Starman was Ted Knight. Much like the modern incarnations, he was an incredibly powerful and heroic member of the DC Universe.
He created the Cosmic Staff in order to channel some of the energy that he wields. The weapon actually siphons off stellar energy that it has absorbed. This means that it can grant its user extra powers and abilities, as a result of the cosmic power that it holds.
9 DEBUT
The Cosmic Rod was first seen in Adventure Comics issue 61. The issue centered around Starman, actually allowing readers to become familiar with this cosmic hero. This was during the earlier days of comic books, where many of the heroes were more reality-based.
The debut of this weapon shows its longevity as a piece of iconic symbolism for the character. The fact that it has survived in comics for so long is a testament to the original concept and design. Since it made its debut in 1941, it's truly impressive!
8 STARMAN
The second wielder of this weapon was the second Starman. This is the hero that most DC fans would be more familiar with. He took over the mantle after the first Starman had been around in comics for some time. He symbolises a shift for the character, part of the attempt to modernize the comic industry.
There has also been another version of Starman. Jack Knight, the son of the original, was known for using the Cosmic Rod/Staff, but William Payton is not associated with the weapon. That's because someone else important possessed it at this point.
7 ALTERNATE VERSIONS
There have been a few variations on the Cosmic Rod. We've already mentioned that the rod has actually been called a few different things. It is currently known as the Cosmic Staff, due to its size increasing with a new wielder. There have been a few different versions of it, however.
It was once known as the Gravity Rod because it allowed its user to fly, thus defying gravity. In other realities and with other versions of these characters, the Cosmic Rod has been adapted slightly. For some, it's a much smaller weapon known as a Quarvat.
6 STARGIRL
The current wielder of the Cosmic Staff is Stargirl. Stargirl is the centre of attention at the moment due to her upcoming TV show on the DC streaming service. That's not the only time we've seen her in live-action, though: a version of the character has appeared in the Arrowverse previously.
Courtney Whitney is one of the most popular versions of the character. The Cosmic Staff has really become a key part of her design and it's hard to imagine a comic run without her wielding it. The best thing is, Jack Knight actually hand-picked Courtney to wield the Staff, as he had seen her do it once before.
5 FLIGHT AND OBJECT MOVEMENT
Now we're going to talk about some of the abilities of this amazing weapon. Its original --and most famous-- use is manipulating gravity to move things around. This can be utilized in a variety of different ways, with the heroes only scratching the surface of its potential.
It was originally just used for flight. The Rod could help propel Starman into the stars, literally, helping the character differentiate himself from other heroes. It has since been used to actually move other objects, sometimes to throw them as offensive weapons.
4 ENERGY BLASTS
This weapon has been shown to do so much more, though. Because of the cosmic energy it has absorbed, it can actually create more energy that can be used as a weapon. Heroes have used this in the past to blast their greatest enemies away.
The energy blasts are yellow and red in colour. They have been shown in the past to significantly weaken Kryptonians, which is especially useful when facing a villain like Zod. The Staff can also absorb other energy shot at it, which it will then use again in the future.
3 FORCE FIELDS
The Staff is always being used as a weapon, but it is also a powerful defensive tool. The Rod can also use its energy to create a protective shield.
These force fields are quite strong, although they are breakable. Despite this, they've been used in a number of dangerous situations and have sufficiently protected their wielder. The force field also works in flight, protecting Starman when flying in space and high in the atmosphere.
2 OWNERSHIP
The Cosmic Staff or Cosmic Rod is very well attuned to its owner. It creates a form of bond with the hero that is wielding it. That's why it's so important to choose the successor of these heroes wisely. Such a powerful weapon needs to be in the right hands.
There's a number of benefits to being so connected to the weapon. The Rod can be used without touching it (and power can still be drawn from it) even if it is quite a distance away. This gives the heroes an advantage even if the Staff has been taken from them.
1 A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
There's so much power and energy in the Cosmic Staff that it could actually cause its user some damage. In the past, various Starmen have actually struggled with the sheer power in their hands. The energy it gives off is actually incredibly bright.
In order to protect his eyes from long-term damage from the weapon, Jack Knight wore special goggles. It's not an issue that has affected more modern wielders, though, and this brightness was also good as a way to momentarily dazzle enemies in battle.