There's no surprise that DC Universe Online wins this week's poll in a landslide. It's really the only game in which players can interact with DC's official Booster Gold in all his salesman glory. However, every game has its fans except for one: has nobody played the new DC Adventures RPG yet, or is it really just not that good in comparison to these other fine games?

Last week's poll question: What is the best game that includes Booster Gold? (32 votes)

Halloween is upon us, and since the holiday falls on a Monday this year, festivities will run throughout the weekend. Most of the fun of the Halloween holiday is choosing a costume. Do you live a power fantasy as dressing like one of your heroes? Or do you take the opportunity to prove your geekiness by dressing like your favorite niche character? Let's find out.

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As Vladimir Lenin once said, "capitalists are no more capable of self-sacrifice than a man is capable of lifting himself up by his own bootstraps." Heroes should be selfless men of the people, not shameless self-promoters. With your life on the line, you would hope for someone willing to risk their life for yours. You would want a hero like Red Star.

Perhaps one of the greatest misconceptions about the DC Universe is that all of the greatest heroes are American, and therefore that Americans are winning the heroic arms race. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. The other first world powers also have their champions of the oppressed, and few are as celebrated as Russia's Leonid Kovar, better known by his code name, Red Star.

Red Star was the son of an archaeologist who set out to prove that the 1908 Siberian Tunguska Event was not a meteor strike but the crash landing of an alien vessel. Scientifically adept, young Kovar eagerly aided his father in locating the unworldly craft which unexpectedly bestowed upon him superhuman speed, stamina, strength, energy manipulation, and flight. Since that time, Kovar has used his new-found abilities to fight for his homeland as a selfless agent of the Russian government.

In his early days as the original Starfire -- a code name reflecting the origins of his powers -- Kovar wore a green costume similar to those of his Western counterparts. This costume was for propganda purposes only; Red Star needed no technological gadgets or cumbersome robotic sidekicks to augment his inherent power. His costume included goggles and a high collar with a star prominently visible on the chest. This costume looked so good, just like his original code name it would later be copied by Western heroes. Kovar has changed his costume several times since, but each has prominently featured his trademark red star.

Lamentably, the unimaginative and misguided Titans would "borrow" Kovar's original code name for their new alien teammate. This forced Kovar to change his own nom de guarre to the more fitting Red Star to avoid confusion. The Red Star is an artifact of Russian history and a potent symbol of the Communist Party that Kovar has long championed. Unfortunately for Kovar, the theft of his original code name has proven to be the least of his concerns.

Fate has been unkind to Leonid Kovar. He was ridiculed in his first encounter with the West for failing to prevent a simple jewel theft. Though he would eventually prove himself to the Teen Titans, their mutual respect has always remained strained by the differences in their personal and political ideologies.

Over time, Red Star gained greater and more positive notoriety in the Western world as his exploits grew. He nobly fought beside the heroes of the Crisis on Infinite Earths to save mankind, including defeating a Tyrannosaurus Rex in single combat. (Unlike certain self-promoting American heroes who merely boast of plans to fight dinosaurs, Red Star simply gets it done.) When Red Star makes headlines, it is because his exploits are newsworthy, not because he seeks publicity or fame.

Otherwise, Red Star has not been without more than his share of tragedies. Kovar's first love was killed as an unwilling pawn in a madman's game of international espionage. Red Star has been attacked by his countrymen, temporarily exiled from Russia, and seen his father executed as a traitor to the Russian government. Worse, Red Star was unable to prevent his new family from being slaughtered by a rampaging Superboy-Prime.

"Living life is not like crossing a meadow," reads the Russian proverb. Forged by his trials, Red Star has emerged a stronger and even more dedicated champion of justice. He is now recognized as an official State Protector of Russia, a title he takes very seriously. Red Star remains loyal to his friends and views many Western heroes as comrades even if they are still blinded to his selfless heroism by their political differences. self-interested, fame-obsessed American heroes may make for good headlines, but when you need a real hero, look for the Red Star.

See more fine heroes at these other fine sites:

FIRESTORM FAN: The Source for DC Comic's Nuclear Man!
THE INDIGO TRIBE: Green Lantern Reviews and Commentary
DC BLOODLINES: Covering a Variety of DC Comics Characters
DIANA PRINCE AS THE NEW WONDER WOMAN
POWER OF THE ATOM: Celebrating the Tiny Titan and Captain Atom
JUSTICE LEAGUE DETROIT
THE IDOL-HEAD OF DIABOLU, a Martian Manhunter Blog
SPEED FORCE: Following the Flash, the Fastest Man Alive

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Gone are the days of "Blue and Gold," but that doesn't mean that Booster Gold is destined to be a loner forever. Remember that although Blue Beetle may have been Booster Gold's familiar partner, he wasn't the only one. For a while in the late 1990s, "Blue and Gold" was replaced with "Red and Gold" as Booster Gold joined forces with Firehawk!

Originally, Firehawk was the partner of Firestorm. Even before her metagene was activated by a villainous science experiment, red-headed Lorraine Reilly had spent most of her time pursuing Firestorm romantically. Once she became Firehawk, Lorraine pulled out all the stops and joined her boyfriend in the never-ending battle against evil. Their relationship, like the Firestorm Matrix itself, ultimately proved unstable, and the pair grew apart.

Like Firehawk, Booster Gold found himself working solo after the dissolution of his Justice League. Blue Beetle had semi-retired from costumed crime-fighting, focusing his energy on inventing and managing a number of corporate enterprises, including Blue and Gold Software and Blue and Gold Express. With Beetle spending all of his time in the lab and Skeets' AI incorporated into his latest Power Suit, Booster was looking for a new partner to add fuel to his smoldering career.

Destiny played its hand at a Teen Titans promotional event in a Metropolis toy store. Firehawk attended in the hopes of joining the reassembled Teen Titans. Booster Gold was crashing the party to promote his own line of "Action Toys." Sparks flew when the pair met, and a partnership was formed.

During the hectic events of the alien "Invasion!", the pair had worked together in Superman's strike-force against the alien's Australian stronghold. Booster no doubt remembered Firehawk's radiant beauty and grace under fire. Certainly Booster has always liked hot chicks, yet it is possible that Booster had even less pure motives when he suggested a partnership.

In their days together as teammates of Extreme Justice, Booster Gold and Firestorm had a difficult relationship. At the time Ronnie Raymond was the sole component of the Firestorm Matrix. Raymond's alcoholism resulted in immature, boorish behavior that was openly antagonistic toward Booster, who felt old and trapped in a life-supporting armor. Years later, Booster may have seen a partnership with Firehawk as a good way to get back at his former teammate by stealing Firestorm's old flame.

Given the nickname "Red and Gold" by the mainstream press (despite the fact that Firehawk's wings were now blue, not the red of original costume), Firehawk and Booster Gold were a hot topic of their day. The pair was linked romantically almost as soon as the partnership was formed. Both were coy about the nature of their relationship in public, but friends and family -- including Blue Beetle, who remained Booster's best friend despite the change in their professional relationship -- were aware that the pair had become more than just business partners.

Getting used to a new partnership is difficult with the firmest foundations; it couldn't have helped that Booster Gold and Firehawk were known for wearing their emotions openly. It should be no surprise that the partnership between Booster Gold and Firehawk pair blew hot and cold from the start. Break-ups and make-ups were commonplace between public appearances. As is common for the adrenaline junkies of the super heroic set, happiness eluded the couple as familiarity set in. Over time, the flame of their relationship dimmed and expired.

Exact details are unknown, but Booster had entered semi-retirement by the time of Identity Crisis and Firehawk would soon follow, officially extinguishing their partnership permanently. Both would eventually re-enter public life, but on separate paths. The pair have crossed paths since, but only in large group settings such as the memorial for Conner Kent and the battle against Superman-Prime. It is clear that there will be no rekindling of the old flame between the two. Booster Gold has moved onwards and upwards, leaving his days of playing with Firehawk behind him.

Read more about the disastrous relationship between Firehawk and Booster Gold over at Firestorm Fan.

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Lex Luthor hates everything, even time travel the conventional way. Panel from 52 Week Thirty Four, 2006. Art by Bennett, Jose, Baron, and Lanham.

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As a thank you for a boosterrific 2010, I am proud to present as a holiday gift to you, loyal Boosterrific.com readers, my personal desktop background. Just right click and download it, if you like. (Image is a 1600 pixel by 900 pixel 525kb jpg file.)

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