Cosmic Staff

“	You have no idea what I possess! The staff is a conduit of spiritual enlightenment. The power of creation itself. And only one can control it. Only one!	”
	— Eclipso about the staff

The Cosmic Staff, affectionately dubbed Cosmo, is a six-foot-long anti-gravity rod previously used by superhero and JSA member, Starman. It has since been passed down to his legacy, the superheroine known as Stargirl. It is most known for its sentient qualities that make it appear alive. The Cosmic Staff was created by Ted Knight.

Series[]

Ted Knight created the staff at an unknown time. After receiving the Cosmic Staff, Sylvester Pemberton retired his teenage alias of the Star-Spangled Kid and reinvented his alter-ego as Starman. He became trained and fully-equipped with the Staff, as it had deemed him honorable and courageous enough to allow him to wield it. Unfortunately, their bond would be broken Christmas Eve 2010 after he succumbed to Icicle's fatal attack, entrusting his sidekick and best friend Pat Dugan with its care until the Staff would someday choose their successor to lead a new generation of fearlessness, hope, and heroism. In the meantime, however, Pat stored it away in a trunk, where it would remain a decade later.

But one day would come in the present where Pat's new stepdaughter Courtney Whitmore, having discovered her stepfather's secret double life as a past sidekick, would uncover the Staff as it glowed excitedly in her presence. Noting as it glowed whenever her hands came near it, the Staff had officially chosen its new handler. It soon began to show its anti-gravity aeronautics paired perfectly with the girl's gymnastics. With a mentality of its own to help Courtney train in the wake of a rise of new villain hood, the Staff becomes not just a weapon, but a mentor of its own to a girl destined to continue a legacy. Because of the rarity that is the staff choosing an owner, Courtney believed that Starman, Sylvester Pemberton, was her birth father and that was why the staff chose her; to help her get justice for the JSA members who were slain ten years ago - including her father.

With the staff, Courtney defeated Brainwave and went toe-to-toe with Icicle. Icicle was the first person to paralyze the staff with his cryokinetic ability. Stargirl then recruited three new members to the modern-day Justice Society of America to help fight the ISA. She had become one with the staff and friends with it, often treating it as a pet in the way she spoke to it and handled it. It showed an affinity for its crate. But when Courtney refused to go out with the staff for the first time it attempted to go on its own and attacked Icicle and Brainwave. It was easily overpowered and outsmarted, which led to it being kidnapped by Icicle. Stargirl and the JSA led a mission to rescue the staff and Henry's father, though they were only successful in retrieving the staff.

“	It chose you because it believed in you. It’s just waiting for you to believe in yourself again, that’s all. Heroes can come from anywhere.	”
	— *Pat to Courtney in "Shining Knight"*

When the young heroine learned that Starman wasn’t her father, she fell into a state of crisis that forced her to question her identity. She felt unworthy of being Stargirl or wielding the staff. Her belief in herself dwindled and thus, so did the Cosmic Staff, which no longer came to life in her grasp. She consequently gave up on her team and Blue Valley. But when Brainwave threatened to attack, Courtney knew she must regain the Staff’s trust. Pat told her the staff never worked for her because she was Starman’s daughter, it worked for her because it believed in her. In her grace and heroism. The staff worked because heroes can come from anywhere.

With the support of her only parental figures behind her, Courtney placed her hands on the staff and believed in herself once more. The staff glowed and accepted Courtney as she accepted it, and they glowed in perfect harmony. While the blinding light forced her parent’s eyes away, Courtney’s relished in the light and beauty of the staff. The lights all around them popped as Courtney was ready to be Stargirl once again.

Stargirl continued to use her staff in the battles that came her way, including the Battle of Blue Valley against Icicle and the ISA. She and the staff moved as one, which showed a strong bond even after the ISA was defeated. Courtney believed the staff still worked because it sensed a threat was near, and their work in the JSA wasn't completed. She was proven correct, especially when the ominous Richard Swift/The Shade and the evil entity Eclipso made their presences known. Stargirl used the staff to free a mentally manipulated Paul Deisinger from Eclipso's clutches through the power of light.

She used the cosmic staff again in a battle against the Injustice Unlimited, which quickly escalated when Eclipso took control of Shiv's body. He held the black diamond that contained his essence while Stargirl advanced on her staff in an effort to destroy the diamond, as she believed it would defeat Eclipso. The tip of the staff touched the diamond, which caused it to crack and then shatter into five pieces. With the diamond destroyed, Eclipso was set free from his prison. Stargirl attempted to stop him with the staff, but he caught it and used his darkness to deactivate it. The darkness seeped into the staff and it didn't regenerate as it did when Sportsmaster stunned it a year prior. In the days that followed, the staff began to heal but was still too weak to fight. Courtney believed that while the staff hurt Eclipso, he also hurt it back.

As the staff struggled to heal itself, Courtney affectionately called it Cosmo. She carried the disabled staff with her when she searched for an Eclipsed Rick, though the staff barely had enough power to send a single blast. After two weeks, the staff fully healed itself and befriended the Whitmore-Dugan's dog, Buddy. Courtney was thrilled that her friend had healed and wielded it again in the battle against Eclipso. She used the staff in partnership with Shiv's fighting abilities, which allowed them to wound the creature. However, Eclipso threw the heroines out of a window. The staff saved Courtney from the fall, though she was weakened by the landing.

Eclipso taunted Stargirl as he threatened to break Pat's arms and kill him in front of her. He forced her to voice her true feelings toward the monster, and Stargirl caved to the pressure as she screamed that she hated Eclipso. Eclipso relished in the admission and used her first acceptance of darkness to possess her body. She fell to the ground as the staff went dark. When she did grab the staff, it glowed a dark purple as it reacted to the darkness inside Stargirl's body. Now Eclipso, he wielded the staff while he possessed the staff's true owner, Courtney. He turned to the sky where portals he opened portals The Shadowlands with its power. His grand plan was in motion, as he sought to bring The Shadowlands to this world so he could consume all of humanity by wielding both darkness and light. Wildcat and Shiv sought to separate him from the staff, but he furiously fought back and used the cosmic energy to stun Shiv. He shouted that the staff was a conduit for spiritual enlightenment and is creation itself. Only one person could wield the staff.

The Ultra-Humanite, who was inside Sylvester Pemberton's body after a brain transplant, gripped the staff at the same time as an eclipsed Courtney, as he snarked that two people could. The two were locked in a battle of will as the staff rose them into the air and glowed fiercely. It sparked both light and dark energy, as if it reacted to the light and darkness in both wielders. As the sparks flew, Ultra-Humanite tried to reach Courtney as she had to fight the possession. At the same time, Eclipso also taunted her. She remembered her family and friends, the good sides of her, which allowed her to expel Eclipso from her body. A burst of mixed light exploded from the staff as its wielders fell from the sky. Ultra-Humanite gripped the staff as he caught Stargirl in his arms.

Together, they used the cosmic blasts to defeat Eclipso in combination with Jennie's ring and the Thunderbolt. Courtney held the staff after the creatures defeat. The next day, Yolanda asked Courtney if "Sylvester" came back to take the staff for himself. Courtney admitted her fears to Pat, who didn't know what the future held. She admitted that being under Eclipso's control made her realize that there is darkness in everyone - even herself. But there's also a lot of good in people too, and his manipulation made her believe in people that much more. Ultra-Humanite, who posed as Sylvester, remarked that is why the staff chose her. He admitted that he wasn't there to take the staff, but rather, offered to show her what it can really do.

While Ultra-Humanite claimed that he didn't return for the staff, he struggled to let go of the bond "he" once shared with it. He built a special display case for the staff next to his bed and retired the crate to the garage. Cosmo was thrilled with the gift and flew into the case to rest. Ultra-Humanite explained to a worried Courtney that he just wanted to show his gratitude for the staff, since it's the reason he came back. He woke up in his coffin and dug his way out, only to be completely fine when he emerged. His theory was that when Courtney formed a bond with the staff, she reactivated the bond he shared with it too, which revived him. He later broke his promise to Courtney that he would abandon his life as "Starman", when he took to the skies with S.T.R.I.P.E. and saved a plane. The staff warbled sadly with Ultra-Humanite and he returned the staff to Courtney.

Courtney followed with Cosmo to see if he was okay. He admitted that he lied as he did come back for the staff. She thought so, as it had to be something. He came back to life only to realize he didn't have a life to come back too, as everyone he loved was dead. All he had was Starman, so he didn't know what he would do without it. She sadly asked if he wanted the staff back, and let it float towards him. He didn't, and the staff stopped. He thought Pat was holding the staff but when he saw her with it, he knew it chose her. He would never ask for it back, because she's the future, not him. He volunteered train her, though, and show her some pretty great tricks. After that, he doesn't know what will happens. The staff drifted back to Courtney but stopped when she spoke with an idea. The staff still worked for him and that had to mean something. She couldn't ignore that. She decided to make an arrangement - he can use the staff while she's at school, and she'll take it back when she's out. Sylvester is reluctant, but Courtney proclaimed that it was settled - Starman is back. The staff twirled in the air in joy, which sent sparks as it warbled happily.

Courtney and Sylvester train with the staff, as he wants her to know everything the Staff can do now, in case the killers try to strike again. Plus, they both need to have some fun. The staff warbles in response, making them both smile. Sylvester needs to see what she can already do. She executes some acrobatic flips and then takes off into the air, throwing the staff and landing on it. She flies around the tower by standing on the staff, then lands perfectly on the ground. He applauds her, smirking that she should teach him. She wants to see what he can do, and tosses the staff to him. He does a flip and then twirls the staff, creating a whirl of energy. He poses with the staff, then lowers his head. When he looks back up, his eyes glow with energy. An aura surrounds his body, drawing from the staff and filling his immediate surroundings. He hits the end of the staff on the ground, then takes off in a burst of pure cosmic energy. He soars into the sky, sparks like fireworks popping from behind him as he flies.

She questions Sylvester about what the move was. He calls it the Shooting Star, tossing her staff. She wants to try it. He tells her to dig her feet in. She's going to funnel her energy - the positive emotions she exudes - into the staff. Then, she'll amp it up, and when she's ready, slam the end of the Staff down into the ground. He adds that she should hold the hell on. She smiles and prepares to try it. She grips the staff and focuses, then raises it, slamming it down. A blast knocks her onto the ground with a thud. He rushes over, asking if she's okay. She is, so he asks what she was thinking about. She didn't want to screw up in front of him. He chuckles as this is not about him, it's about her. She has to give herself credit for the home she gives everyone, and the love she has for her mom, and Pat, and sometimes Mike. For the faith she has in her friends. She smiles, adding "like him", which makes him smile softly - she can throw that in there, too. He backs up and she digs her feet into the ground. She grips the staff and focuses. Energy swirls around the tip of the staff and slowly creeps down the staff, swirling around itself and through her hands. She flashes to her best memories - sitting with the JSA on her front steps after defeating Eclipso, hugging the team after defeating the ISA, reuniting with her mom from The Shadowlands, hugging Pat on Christmas when she gives him the mug, and finally, meeting Sylvester for the first time. She opens her eyes and they fiercely glow with cosmic energy. She thrusts the staff into the air, a golden aura surrounding her body and flowing through her. She slams it to the ground, blasting into the air in a bolt of cosmic blast. She cheers loudly in the air, two sparks of firework-type-sparks spraying behind her.

Sylvester, Courtney, and Cosmo visit The Shade's house. The tension between Sylvester and Richard rises. Sylvester opens his hand and the staff whooshes to his hand. He blasts Richard and flips off the porch, pointing the staff at him, trembling with rage as he repeats that Shade killed the JSA Courtney rushes to the yard and yells out, "stop!", which makes the Staff fly to her hand. Sylvester turns in surprise. That night, Sylvester talks to the staff, seemingly having a conversation as the staff warbles in responses that Sylvester understands.

Powers and Abilities[]

“	Are you alive?	”
	— Courtney Whitmore

The Cosmic Staff is a powerful weapon and device that absorbs stellar energy and uses it to create a wide range of abilities that its wielders use to fight crime. Notably, its anti-gravity abilities pair with the user to perform gymnastic feats. Its use of cosmic light beams serves as projectile attacks.

The Staff is perhaps more remarkable for its sentient personality and an intelligent consciousness demonstrated through its communication method of warbled noises and airborne gestures to the handler. It can also attack by itself, but with the handler's direction. The Staff also has a sense of built-in direction and can sense those it deems are bad, even from a great distance. It can also move and travel on its own even to the point of waking Courtney up so they could practice. The staff has enough mental awareness to find people when its handler is in imminent danger. It flew to Pat and discreetly got his attention, leading him to a badly injured Courtney in BVHS. It later sensed the danger that Sylvester was in and woke up Courtney, persistently tapping her until she woke up. She covered her eyes with the pillow to not be disturbed, triggering the staff to send a small blast into the pillow. It then got her up by sliding under her, and pulled her to where Sylvester had been ambushed, guiding her to his body. When Yolanda was introduced to the staff, she could barely look at too long due to its brightness, while the light didn't seem to bother Courtney. The staff can dim or brighten its appearance on command.

Aerokinesis: The ability to emit gusts of air, adding a useful tactic to the staff's repertoire. Sylvester used the power to blow leaves away from a hatch that leads to Dragon King's secret lair.
Anti-Gravity: The otherworldly engineering that went into the Staff's design granted it an advanced form of aeronautics, somehow disobeying the laws of gravity and physics. It can stand upright on its own and float several inches above the ground, as well as travel great distances on its own and avoid obstructions in its path.
Calling: The staff can respond on command, mental or otherwise, from its designated wielder. Courtney can silently call the staff to her by holding out her hand, summoning it to her. When Sylvester came back, he got into a fight with The Shade and held out his hand, which triggered the staff to fly from Courtney's hand to his. He then used the staff to attack Shade unprovoked. Courtney intervened and by yelling "stop!" the staff flew out of Sylvester's hand and into hers. This shows that the staff reacts verbally to commands and the will of its handlers above all else.
Communication: The staff can communicate its feelings and emotions by moving the energy within the staff, dimming or brightening, and making warbling sounds. When excited, the staff more-or-less dances and twirls around. When overjoyed, it sends sparks from its staff. Sylvester understands these warbles and movements of the energy, using it to converse with the staff.
Electrokinesis: When Courtney got her connection to the staff back in "Shining Knight," the energy from the staff popped the light bulbs in the Whitmore-Dugan basement.
Selection: The staff chooses a new wielder when the former dies or fails to believe in themselves. Pat Dugan believes the staff chose Stargirl because she displays qualities such as leadership, heroism, and a penchant for justice. The only two people known to wield the staff are Starman and Stargirl. The Staff lit up in the presence of Stargirl and drew her nearer. When the Staff is in the hands of those it doesn't deem worthy, it lies dormant and stayed that way for ten years after Starman's believed death.
Sensing: The staff can sense danger, locations, and hidden passageways while active. It knew to yank Courtney and Yolanda from eyesight, where the hidden entrance to the tunnels was, and knew when Courtney wanted to use it. It flew by itself to the school when she needed it.
Stellarkinesis: The staff can create and manipulate stellar energy generating powerful blasts of energy to use against its opponents. The power is usually used in conjunction with a handlers willingness, such as Starman attacking Brainwave or Stargirl blinding a school bus of students. The staff used this power by itself for the first time in "Brainwave Jr." when it attacked Icicle and Brainwave.
- Energy Shield: As demonstrated by Sylvester, if the staff is spun around really fast it can create a stellarkinetic shield to protect its wielder from harm.
- Darkness Negation: Because the staff is created by light, it is the opposite of Eclipso's darkness, and can negate the potency of his powers. Courtney can free anyone of his induced visions and hallucinations. Courtney uses the staff to free Yolanda from Eclipso's Brainwave vision by resting her hand on the staff. She also uses it to free Pat from his Bruce Gordon vision and Mike from his hallucination of being attacked by Cameron Mahkent.
- Photokinesis: Stargirl uses the light generated by her staff to temporarily distract people from their task at hand. She most notably used this to distract a school bus of students from seeing S.T.R.I.P.E. This power is also the only known thing that can hurt or aggravate The Shade. Through photokinesis, Courtney can use the light generated from the staff to counteract Eclipso's darkness, essentially rendering his powers mute.
The Shooting Star: Aptly named by Ultra-Humanite while posing as Sylvester, this maneuver requires the handler to funnel their energy and positive thoughts they exude into the staff, then "amp it up". He and Courtney's eyes both glowed with the energy of the staff, the light surrounding them and filling their skin. Slamming the end of the staff into the ground creates a huge energy blast that propels the handler into the air in a streak of cosmic energy. The staff releases two busts of sparks once in the sky. The handler can then land on the ground with a blast of energy.

Handler Advantages[]

Cosmo has the unique ability to choose who is worthy of wielding its power, and who isn't. How the staff selects an individual is unknown, though the people it chooses usually share similar personalities. They care beyond measure for the people around them, but require a guidance to be the person they're meant to become. Both Sylvester and Courtney chose to use the power of the staff for good, becoming superheroes to fight evil. When someone bonds with the Staff, they become one for all intents and purposes.

Once bonded, the Staff protects its handlers and cares for them as though they are friends. It protects Courtney from falling onto the ground by using its anti-gravity properties to keep her upright and even permit her to practice a form of unsupported flight, with Courtney herself easily able to fluidly balance herself upon the Staff even as it soars at high speed with her as passenger. It also saved her from falling to her death after being attacked by Brainwave. It can predict her movements and she can always trust it to be there when she needs it. While she's performing gymnastic feats it protects her from attacks such as when it blocked tires that Brainwave threw, or when it blocked Sportsmaster's bat from impacting Courtney.

Overtime, Cosmo's connection to its handlers becomes cellular, as its handler absorbs the cosmic energy after prolonged exposure. From extended use with the staff, Sylvester began to absorb the cosmic energy, becoming imbued with it overtime. When he was killed in 2010, his body remained in stasis as the energy within him healed his fatal wounds. The energy kept his body in perfect condition, but unable to awaken without assistance. The Ultra-Humanite transplanted his own brain into Sylvester's body, and as such, experienced the same accelerated healing abilities. He completely healed within a few days of being ambushed.

The staff seemingly bonds with the physical body of its wielder, and can't identify when the "soul" of the individual is compromised. When Eclipso, a creature perhaps the least worth of the staff's powers, possessed Courtney, the staff still worked perfectly for the creature. It even adapted in color to match Eclipso's dark purple hues. The staff returned to normal when Courtney exorcised Eclipso from her body, breaking the creatures bond with the staff. Ultra-Humanite transplanted his brain into Sylvester Pemberton's body, and because of Ultra-Humanite's body of choice, Cosmo was fooled into thinking he was still Sylvester. Courtney's bond initially remained prevalent, as she commanded Cosmo back to her grasp when Ultra-Humanite attacked Shade. As Ultra-Humanite and Cosmo grew closer and communicated, he became capable of silencing the staff and depowering it on command. He took the staff forcefully from Courtney, claiming she wasn't worthy of it, as it always belonged to him.

Barbara proposed a theory to Courtney that Ultra-Humanite needed her to believe the staff could work for him, and it was her belief that she wasn't entirely worthy that made the artifact "choose" the Ultra-Humanite. With renewed confidence, Courtney exclaimed to Ultra-Humanite that he wasn't worthy, which depowered the staff in his grasp. While Cosmo flickered on and off during their fight, Courtney accepted that she is worthy and drew the staff back to her, reclaiming it once more. Ultra-Humanite's bond with Cosmo was broken, and she was once again its handler.

Weaknesses[]

Cryokinesis: Extreme cold has a serious effect on the staff, as seen when Icicle incapacitated it with an ice blast. His ice froze the staff and rendered it incapable of using any of its powers. It also didn't glow when Stargirl held it, leaving her vulnerable.^[1] When the staff went out on its own with Stargirl, Icicle was able to easily freeze the staff via touch and then lock it in a metal box so it couldn't escape.^[2]

Explosive Device: An explosive device wielded by Sportsmaster can deactivate the staff. The device attached itself to the staff, almost like a magnet. Once the staff was several feet in the air, the device triggered an explosive which rendered the staff unusable. It landed in Stargirl's hands but didn't glow for a few seconds. However, it warbled back to life and was able to be used once again. With the staff deactivated, Stargirl was left vulnerable to an attack which allowed her foes to gain a temporary advantage.^[3]
Disbelief: When Courtney no longer believed in herself or her mission as Stargirl, the staff stopped working for her. This is due to the staff choosing its wielder based on the amount of belief it shares with the user. Courtney thought the staff didn't want her now that she knew she isn't Starman's daughter, but Pat reminded her that the staff also knew she wasn't a Pemberton. It wanted her because of her heroic nature and is waiting for Courtney to believe in herself again. When Courtney did believe in her destiny again, she was able to activate the staff once more.
Darkness: The staff is made of pure light and energy, with its polar opposite being true darkness. Those who wield the power of darkness, such as Eclipso, can affect the staff by infecting it with dark energy. During a battle against Eclipso, he grabbed the staff in mid-air, managing to drain the staff's energy supply. The staff sparked and flashed a few times before going dark. Unlike its reaction to Sportsmaster's explosive device, the staff did not warble back to life within a few seconds. Instead, it remained dormant in her hands. It stayed in this weakened state for two weeks until it healed itself.

312 SC (125) — Ultra-Humanite forces Cosmo to "power down"

Verbal Commands: When Ultra-Humanite completed his bond with Cosmo by making Courtney believe she wasn't worthy of the staff, he gained the ability to control Cosmo with verbal commands. He made it stay with him instead of being swayed back to Courtney, and later on, made it "power down". The staff "argued" at first, as it disagreed with its handlers actions, but Ultra-Humanite overrode the staffs desires with his verbal commands. This demonstrates that Cosmo does not have complete free will over its actions and can be negatively controlled to a certain extent by its handler. This trait is fundamentally different than when Courtney calls Cosmo back to her person when Ultra-Humanite is misusing its power, or when she tells it to go back to its crate at night, as those commands are beneficial to both the handler and Cosmo.

Wielders[]

Sylvester Pemberton/Starman (Formerly)
Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl
Eclipso (Formerly; while possessing Courtney)
Ultra-Humanite (Formerly; while posing as Sylvester)

Personality[]

“	I know in the past we've had our differences and haven't always seen eye-to-eye on everything. At times, you know, it seemed... Well, you didn't even really respect me all that much, and as long as I'm speaking honestly, I felt that you were pretty impulsive and reckless. I know you want justice for Sylvester, and I do too... But Courtney could have died today. And I'm asking you to protect her. If it gets to be too much... Take her away from the danger instead of towards it. Can you hear me?	”
	— *Pat to the Cosmic Staff in "Shiv Part Two"*

The staff, despite being a seemingly inanimate object, has a sentient personality that is beyond anything known to the world. It has an intelligent consciousness demonstrated through its communication method of warbled noises and airborne gestures to the handler. Its personality lended to Courtney nicknaming it "Cosmo". Its intelligence often comes across as stubbornness or an unwilling desire to obey Courtney, when most times, it is protecting itself or the wielder. It took initiative and knocked Wildcat to the ground so that all three of them could avoid being seen by Henry. It later stopped Stargirl from turning off the power in the medical center as it somehow knew that people were on ventilators and other life-supporting equipment, and would be harmed if she succeeded.

104 SC110 — The staff is excited with Courtney

The staff has some traits of a child or puppy; it gets startled easily, hid under the bed when Pat caught it and Courtney out late, is excitable, and even capable of "feeling" sad. The staff is also considerate, as it dimmed the brightness of its energy when Yolanda claimed it was hurting her eyes. The staff can get excited and the tip brightens when it is. It jumps up and down and wiggles about when it is excited or enjoying a moment. Its positive demeanor seems to be reflected in its handlers, as both were humorous and light-hearted.

When Courtney was gravely injured in her battle against Shiv, the staff flew away to find Pat. It then led him back to Courtney, where it continued to nudge Courtney and warble nervously. This showed that the staff cares for its wielder and wants to protect her, but is also able to navigate covertly as it wasn't spotted while getting Pat's attention. It does value protecting its handler, as it agreed to take Courtney away from danger instead of towards it, per Pat's request. It also understands and respects Courtney's need to focus on her school work. When she tried to leave the house it pulled her back to point at her unused Algebra book. Ultimately, the staff obeyed Courtney's desire to learn information about The Shade instead of studying.

Appearances[]

Stargirl	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
Season 1	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★
Season 2	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	★
Season 3	★	★	★	★	★	★	★	M			★	★	★

Road Trip
"Dude, Where's My Gar?"

Notes and Trivia[]

Upon coming into contact with Brainwave's head, the Staff caused his mind to short circuit and he lost control over his powers. This created a cosmic force field around him and Courtney before it exploded and he fell to the ground. The combination resulted in him becoming comatose.
Pat Dugan once asked the staff to take Courtney away from danger instead of towards it if she were in danger. The staff obeyed his wishes temporarily, but ultimately gave in to Courtney's desire to help save the JSA.
The staff can go out without its handler; however, it is notably less powerful and intellectual in its attacks. It was easily apprehended by Icicle and Brainwave.
The light the staff emits is blinding to everyone around it except its handler. This is evident three times; when the staff emits light to force school students from seeing S.T.R.I.P.E., once with Yolanda Montez in the basement, and once with Pat Dugan and Barbara Whitmore.
It is the only known artifact to deter The Shade, most likely due to their opposing elements of sunlight and darkness.

Comic Comparisons[]

In the comics, the cosmic staff was built by Ted Knight, the first Starman (based on his own "Gravity Rod"), and wielded by his son Jack before being given to Courtney.
Courtney initially used the cosmic converter belt that belonged to Sylvester Pemberton, until Jack gifted the staff to Courtney after his death.
Once fully bonded with the holder, the staff could receive mental commands from its holder.
The staff doesn't have the same sentient personality or energy that Stargirl's staff has. This trait is exclusive to the television series.
The blasts and light from the staff were intense, even for the holders, as Jack Knight used goggles to protect his eyes. This differs from the TV series, where the holders are immune to the bright lights.