The Excelsior Information Page

What is Excelsior?

Excelsior a support group for former teenage super heroes, founded by Turbo and Phil Urich. Its stated goal is to help fellow teenage super heroes to adjust to mundane lives and dissuade other super-powered teenagers from becoming heroes. They were introduced in "True Believers," the first arc of Runaways volume two. A mysterious benefactor offered Excelsior a million dollars to fund their bankrupt organization, all they had to do was stop the Runaways from being on the streets and back into normal safe homes. Even though Excelsior was formed to help former heroes live life after the costume comes off, they all costumed up to bring the Runaways down. Following a fight with Ultron, the mysterious benefactor turned out to be Rick Jones who offered to sponsor Excelsior full time. He didn't reveal who he was until then because he wanted to make sure that Excelsior was genuine in helping the kids and ex-superheros in general. After Rick gives that speech, all of Excelsior agreed to it except for Jono who had left and went back to his home, where it was shown that it was an impostor the whole time, and possibly Alex Wilder in disguise.

The members are as follows:

Darkhawk

Real Name: Chris Powell

Powers: When he becomes Darkhawk, Chris' human body is transferred to another dimension while his consciousness resides in an android. Powell's android form is self-repairing, and generates forceful "dark blasts." the amulet was part of an alien experiment into android technology, and that when Chris grasps the amulet his body is sent into the Darkhawk ship in "Null Space" and his mind is transferred into the Darkhawk body on earth.

History: Chris found a mysterious amulet in an abandoned fun house which provided him with a powerful android body on command. Believing his police officer dad was on the take, Chris vowed to use his newfound powers for justice. He got some tips (and some enemies) from Spider-Man, and was a back-up member of the New Warriors. For a time, the android (with Chris' mind) and Chris (also with Chris' mind) co-existed on Earth; this was just too darn confusing, and the two were re-united.

Turbo

Real Name: Michiko 'Mickey' Musashi

Powers: Mickey has no super powers herself. She is highly trained in the operation of the Torpedo armor, which she uses in the identity of Turbo. The suit has four collapsible nuclear-powered turbines. The turbines on her wrists can fire powerful air gusts or let her throw a hyper-punch, while the helmet's visor has telescopic sights, can detect energy patterns and, thanks to modifications made by the Spaceknight Rom, shape-shifters. The armor disperses energy attacks and has strength and agility enhancing properties. It's appearance can be altered by the will of it's user. The suit is able to repair itself when damaged.

History: Michael Jeffries discovered the Torpedo armor and thought it just a costume and loaned it to his friend Long Island University sophomore Michiko Musashi for a costume party. The party was crashed by flying gunmen who had tracked the suit there because it's power had been reactivated. Afterwards, Mickey and freshman Mike Jeffries took turns using the suit and the identity of Turbo.

Chamber

Real Name: Jonothon Evan Starsmore

Powers: Chamber is a mutant who is naturally composed of pure psionic energy. With the injuries he suffered when his powers manifested, Chamber has no need to eat, drink, or breathe. It has been theorized that his body is merely an unliving shell to contain his psionic energy, since his body currently lacks major organs, such as heart and lungs. Chamber is able to project large blasts of psionic energy from the area where his torso existed, and is also capable of telepathic speech. His telepathic speech is his only way of communication, since his initial blast destroyed his mouth, voice box, and lungs.

History: Jonothon Evan Starsmore was invited by Professor Charles Xavier to attend the newly reopened Massachusetts Academy shortly after his mutant powers manifested. When his mutant ability manifested itself in a large blast of psionic energy, Jonothon blew a hole in his body that stretches from his mouth to his lower torso, and cost his then girlfriend, Lady Gayle Edgarton, the use of her legs. After a brief stint with the X-Men, Jonothon joined Weapons X and they fixed up his face and upper torso. He later got mad at a drunk in Fresno, California and blew off his face again.

Update: As of volume 2 issue #6, we learn that Jono is really an imposter in disguise and his true identity points to Alex Wilder, the ex-leader of The Runaways. Alex died back in volume 1 issue 17 after revealing his true motives, that he was loyal to The Pride the whole time and duping the Runaways for his own personal gain. Nico had mentioned in volume 2 issue 2 that she had tried a resurrection spell to bring Alex back from the dead, but she thought it didn't work. It looks like it may have worked just fine.

Ricochet

Real Name: Johnny Gallo

Powers: Super-agility and also has an early warning danger sense similar to Spider-Man’s spider-sense and an innate targeting ability with thrown objects

History: A student at ESU who works at a video store and fights crime on the side. He lives with his father. His mother was killed years ago by the Orphan Maker. Was a member of Slingers who helped Spiderman clear his name.

-No pic as of yet for Julie Power-

Lightspeed (formerly Molecula, Mistress of Density, and Starstreak)

Real Name: Julie Power

Powers: Can fly, leaving a rainbow-esque trail behind her.

History: Was one of the four Powers kids that got super human powers via an alien named Aelfyre "Whitey" Whitemane, who was a Kymallian. Whitey passed on his powers after he was mortally wounded by his race's mortal enemies, the snarks. The snarks had kidnapped the Power's dad because he was a scientist and figured out anti-matter. Dying, Whitey passed on his powers to each one of the Power's kids hoping they'd stop the snarks and save their parents. After living a superhero life, Julie did some soul-searching and came to the conclusion that adventuring deprived her of normal childhood. She quit being a superhero and moved to Los Angeles, hoping to become an actress.

The "Good" Green Goblin

Real Name: Phil Urich

Powers: Normal human but when he wore the Green Goblin suit he had superhuman strength and speed. The suit also shields him from damage. But now because there suit was destroyed, he has no super human powers.

History: Accompanying his uncle Ben Urich on a story, Phil stumbled across a secret warehouse housing the chemicals and paraphernalia of the Green Goblin. After being immersed in the chemicals, he donned the costume to battle a group of thugs hassling his uncle. At first Phil just got a kick out of the goblin gear and the eerie laugh that the mask generated; as he began to battle more powerful foes, he began to realize that with his powers came with great responsibility. The Green Goblin suit was destroyed when he fought Onslaught and he left superheroing and went to finish his Journalism major. After finishing it, he moved out to Los Angeles and started Excelsior with Mickey.