Thara Ak-Var

Thara Ak-Var is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, created by Geoff Johns and James Robinson. The character first appeared during the Superman: New Krypton storyline in Superman #681 (October 2008). She is the latest character to take on the role of Flamebird.^[1] Along with Nightwing (Chris Kent), Thara is the feature character in Action Comics beginning with issue #875 (May 2009). Thara Ak-Var's name is a reference to Ak-Var, the second pre-Crisis Flamebird, and his wife Thara.

Thara Ak-Var
Thara Ak-Var as Flamebird, as depicted in Action Comics #886 (April 2010). Art by Pere Pérez.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Superman #681 (October 2008)
Created by	Geoff Johns James Robinson
In-story information
Full name	Thara Ak-Var
Species	Kryptonian
Place of origin	Krypton
Partnerships	Nightwing (Lor-Zod) Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)
Notable aliases	Flamebird
Abilities	Powers and abilities identical to those of Superman: Superhuman strength, super speed, flight, stamina and freezing breath, super hearing, multiple extrasensory and vision powers Flamebird powers: Pyrokinesis Rapid healing Immunity to gold kryptonite Psychic link to Chris Kent

Esmé Bianco portrays Thara in the third season of Supergirl.

Fictional character biography

Silver Age

In the Silver Age, Thara is the wife of Ak-Var, the assistant of her uncle Van-Zee, who later assumes the mantle of Nightwing. Superman and Supergirl are her second cousins.^[2]

Modern Age

Thara Ak-Var is a resident of Argo City and a childhood friend of Kara Zor-El who survives Krypton’s destruction after Zor-El erects a force field around the city. After Brainiac captures and shrinks Argo City, Thara becomes its chief of security and the avatar of the deity Flamebird.^[3][4]

After Superman liberates Argo City and Kandor, Thara moves to Earth and becomes the superhero Flamebird.^[5][6][7] In Superman: War of the Supermen, Thara sacrifices herself to save the remaining Kryptonians after Reactron destroys New Krypton.^[8]

Powers and abilities

Thara has all the standard abilities of a Kryptonian exposed to the light of a yellow sun: super strength, super speed, invulnerability, flight, heat vision, super-breath, x-ray vision, and super hearing. She also possesses an undefined connection to the mythic "Flamebird" entity, which gives her pyrokinesis, immunity to gold kryptonite, and a psychic link with Chris Kent.

Like all Kryptonians, Thara is weakened by kryptonite radiation and fatally vulnerable to prolonged exposure.

In other media

• Thara Ak-Var appears in Supergirl, portrayed by Esmé Bianco. This version is the police chief of Argo City.^[9]
• A young Thara Ak-Var appears in Superman: Unbound, voiced by Melissa Disney.^[10]