Princess Projectra

:"This page discusses the humanoid version of the character. For the post-Zero Hour/pre-Threeboot version, see Sensor"

Superherobox


caption = Projectra on the cover art for Legion of Super-Heroes #6. Art by Barry Kitson.
character_name = Princess Projectra
publisher = DC Comics
debut = as Princess Projectra:
"Adventure Comics" #346 (July 1966)
as Sensor Girl:
"Legion of Super-Heroes" (vol. 3) #14 (September 1985)
creators = Jim Shooter
alter_ego = Wilimena Morgana Daergina Annaxandra Projectra Velorya Vauxhall
full_name =
species = Human
homeworld = Orando
alliances = Legion of Super-Heroes
aliases = Queen Projectra
Sensor Girl
supports=
powers = The ability to create realistic illusions.

Princess Projectra is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. She lives in the 30th and 31st centuries, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Created by Jim Shooter, she first appeared in "Adventure Comics" #346 (July 1966).

Fictional Character Biography

She is a member of the royal family of the low-tech planet Orando, and possesses the superhuman ability to generate illusions affecting all five senses. During her membership in the LSH, she met, fell in love with, and married the martial artist Karate Kid. After her father King Voxv died, she fought her cousin Pharoxx and her mentor Hagga who sought to usurp the throne. Afterwards she became Queen Projectra of Orando and she and Karate Kid became reserve members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. When the Legion of Super-Villains invaded Orando, Nemesis Kid defeated Karate Kid in personal combat and killed him. Projectra subsequently killed Nemesis Kid in revenge, claiming royal privilege to do so even though it violated the Legion's code against killing. She resigned from the Legion of Super-Heroes during Karate Kid's funeral and used the Legion of Super-Villains' warp devices to take Orando to another dimensional to preserve them from 30th century technology and dangers.

Projectra was later ordered by her elders to pay penance for indirectly bringing the Legion of Super-Villains to Orando and returned to the Legion's dimension, using the pseudonym Sensor Girl. Her powers were enhanced giving her the ability to see beyond the illusions of life (such as the "illusions" of distance and physical obstacles). Rather than create obvious illusions, she used her illusion-projection effects to partially or completely block her opponents' senses, project an illusion of darkness (similar to that of Shadow Lass), or disorient victims by making it appear that their skin had vanished. Projectra kept the basis of her sensory alterations secret, since enemies familiar with her illusions might be able to ignore them. Initially she kept her identity hidden even from her fellow Legionnaires except for Saturn Girl, who vouched for her. She also cloaked herself with an illusionary disguise which fully masked her face. Some Legionnaires (particularly Brainiac 5) believed that she was a clone of Supergirl, who had been murdered by the Anti-Monitor during the Crisis. Projectra was later unmasked by the Emerald Empress during a battle with the Fatal Five. Afterwards, however, most individuals outside of the Legion continued to remain unaware of her true identity. Sensor Girl was the Legion leader before the Giffen "reboot".

Within the five-year timespan following the Magic Wars, Earth fell under the covert control of the Dominators, and withdrew from the United Planets. During this period, Projectra lost her heightened Sensor Girl abilities (although her original illusion-casting powers remained). Some time later, the members of the Dominators' highly classified "Batch SW6" escaped captivity. Originally, Batch SW6 appeared to be a group of teeange Legionnaire clones, created from samples apparently taken just prior to Ferro Lad's death at the hands of the Sun-Eater. Later, they were revealed to be time-paradox duplicates, every bit as legitimate as their older counterparts. However, the SW6 version of Projectra was killed in battle (along with SW6's Chameleon Boy and Karate Kid) fighting Dominion troops.

Post-"Zero Hour" reboot

The 1994 event known as "Zero Hour" removed Projectra/Sensor Girl from continuity. A new, less humanoid Sensor character with similar powers was introduced in her place.

Threeboot

In the new continuity launched in 2005, Projectra is once again humanoid, and is initially depicted as a spoiled child of the Orando royals, though her demeanor changes when her homeworld is destroyed. Although she is at first a non-powered but financially well-endowed supporter of the new Legion, the tragic demise of her parents has awakened her hereditary powers, the ability to generate illusions, based on a particular form of witchcraft. She apparently is in a relationship with Timber Wolf. Furthermore, as Orando's destruction left her without a family and any economical and social privileges, Projectra's attitude is becoming increasily cold, detached, and almost selfish in nature.

"Lightning Saga"

In the pages of "Justice Society of America" #6, the pre-Crisis Sensor Girl seemingly returns, and now the seventh pre-Crisis Legionnaire to arrive along with Dream Girl, Star Boy, Dawnstar, Wildfire, Timber Wolf, and Karate Kid. Writer Geoff Johns has indicated that this group is, for all intents and purposes, the original Legion, who have merely been "missing" from continuity since "Crisis on Infinite Earths", possibly due to machinations by the Time Trapper.Fact|date=August 2008

Sensor Girl, after being sent into the past along with the six other Legionnaires, suffered a type of mental breakdown and hid in Slaughter Swamp until her presence was almost discovered by Damage, Liberty Belle, Wonder Woman, Hourman, and Black Lightning. She then created the illusion of an abandoned hideout of the Secret Society of Super-Villains (visually resembling a run-down version of the Hall of Doom), along with illusions of Triplicate Girl and Computo to try to keep them distracted.

The Computo illusion attacked the heroes until the Legionnaires and the rest of the Justice League and Justice Society arrived. Dawnstar re-awoke Sensor Girl using the "wake-up word" that was used on the others (Lightning Lad in Interlac). However, Superman remembered the original battle between Computo and the Legionnaires, when Computo killed one of Triplicate Girl's copies, thus turning her into Duo Damsel. He and Power Girl saw through the façade using their X-ray vision. However, all seven of the Legionnaires had already left by the time they noticed, with Sensor Girl still playing out the mock battle. Rejoining her team, Sensor Girl participated in a mysterious ritual using lightning rods created by Brainiac 5.

Sensor Girl returned to the future after the Legionnaires completed their mission in the 21st century. Some time later, when the Legion was discredited by the Earth-Man and his "Justice League of Earth," she was counted among the missing Legionnaires who had disappeared during the Legion's dispersal across the galaxy.

External links

* [http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/1645.htm A Hero History Of Princess Projectra/Sensor Girl]
* [http://www.studiosanning.shawbiz.ca/legion_of_super-heroes/membership/princess_projectra/index.htm The Silver Age Pre-Crisis Princess Projectra]