Creation

The bandit team of 31st century aliens named the Starburst Bandits first appeared in the DC Comics series Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, #252, February 1981. They were created by Steve Ditko and Gerry Conway.

History

Original Continuity: New Earth

The group of six aliens were a bain to the United Planets of the 31st Century galaxies, raiding interstellar ships and pirating vast amounts of wealth. However the Starburst Bandits as they would come to be known as due to the energy wielding weapons they carried would be captured by the Science Police and made pay for their crimes. Incardinated in a maximum security prison in the Himalayas on Earth.

Unfortunately for the prison the Science Police had made an error in believing that the Bandits power came from their weapons, instead the weapons were a conduit for their own natural powers. Taking this information to the warden was a staff scientist but by the time he was informed the Bandits had escaped, killing a guard and stealing several space crafts in their wake.

Arriving at Metropolis the Bandits were headed to the Metropolis Space Zoo too retrieve their space horse and planed to wreck chaos until they left Earth. At that very moment the Legion of Super-Heroes are having a try out session with a few of the students from the Legion Academy. Lightning Lad the than leader of the Legion decides to send the students to the zoo along with a few Legionnaires. Blok, Dawnstar, Lamprey, Nightwind, and the Crystal Kid all join the Legion members to take down the Starburst Bandits.

As the heroes arrive in separate groups to the Zoo the Bandits easily take down three of the students with a hearty discharge of energy blasts. The Bandits also take down legion members Wildfire by destroying his containment suit and blasting down Sun Boy. Dawnstar and Blok are left alone to attempt to defeat the Bandits, which occurs when Blok reflects the energy projected from the Bandits back at them.

Powers and Abilities

The Starburst Bandits and have an amazing ability to absorb radiant stellar energies and release them in powerful short bursts from their palms which they call "Starbursts". These bursts of energy also contain red solar energy which could really hurt Super Boy or any Kryptonian. It is not know how long their stores of stellar energy lasts for or how much time is required to be recharged.

The Bandits were also a very disciplined and capable unit. All the members were well trained in flying spacecrafts of various designs, horse riding, and para-military skills.

Weapons and Paraphernalia

Starburst Wrist Blasters:

Originally wearing matching wrist mounted blasters which projected their Starburst effect. however the wrist blasters were a well staged mockup to reroute the attention from their own natural energy wielding abilities.

Stellar Mounts:

The Bandits also possessed a herd of flaming beasts which appear similar to Earth horses which they would ride. these stellar mounts would be able to fly through the air at amazing speeds. It is unreviewed if these stellar mounts could do the same in space.