Grava of the Earth colony Extal was a long-time fan of Star Boy, and wanted desperately to become a member of the Legion. Hoping to gain superpowers she foolishly jumped from a space ship into the tail of a passing comet - failing to realize that Star Boy had flown through a particular comet while inside a starship, rather than unprotected by anything more than a futuristic space-suit. The ploy worked and the comet gave her the ability to fly in the vacuum of space as well as the ability to emit various "comet-like gases." The comet tail also altered Grava's physical form, giving her hair the appearance of streaming flames; presented as nominally humanoid in flashback, her father appeared to be some species derived from something akin to rats, and this would suggest she was of mixed parentage or possibly adopted. In Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #336, reserve Legionnaire Bouncing Boy described to his comrade Superboy how he came to meet the young heroine while he was on a goodwill tour to a planet called Quaal III; Comet Queen ambushed him in the hotel and introduced herself, declaring him her very own "personal Legionnaire." Bouncing Boy rejected Comet Queen's initial bid for membership on the grounds that she has not proven herself. Later, he finds out from several hotel guests, including Grava's own father, that the girlhad gone off in a fit of dejection to search for Quaal III's lava seas to seek out the planet's mythical natives, as a "super-feat" to prove herself worthy - mirroring Supergirl's bid to join the Legion by excavating various Earthling artifacts. Instead, Bouncing Boy and Comet Queen ended up in a near-death situation until they work together, combining their powers, and finding an escape. As a result of Comet Queen's adventure with Bouncing Boy, she was accepted into the Legion Academy training program, located at Montauk Point and taught by Bouncing Boy and his wife Duo Damsel. It is here that she became friends with other Legion hopefuls, including Superman's supposed descendant Laurel Kent, and Shadow Lass' cousin Shadow Kid. Comet Queen's unusual appearance is paired with eccentric speech patterns – her dialogue is peppered with bizarre private slang that incorporates words relating to celestial bodies seemingly at random. In particular, she enjoys saying things like: "C-speed limit," "star-particles," "totally gravitied," "starshine," and "go nova." Her dialogue is usually presented in square, yellow-tinged speech balloons with thick lines, and her idiosyncratic rhythms baffle those around her, often as a spoof of stereotypical Valley Girl style. She was later recruited into a short-lived version of the Legion of Substitute Heroes; this version is formed by Cosmic Boy in order to deal with special missions. Other members of this group include Night Girl, Karate Kid II, as well as her former teachers Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel.
Post-Zero Hour
Comet Queen makes two appearances after , in Legionnaires #43, and later as a member of the new Legion Academy in Legion #25.
Post-Infinite Crisis/52
Comet Queen later appears in #5, among many Legionnaires from alternate realities and Legion-related characters who have been brought to fight the Time Trapper. Comet Queen made another appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #6, as part of the active class at the Legion Academy. Later in that series many Legionaries were considered lost presumed dead. The legion was shorthanded and she and several members of the academy were inducted into the legion. After a couple issues she betrayed the Legion to their enemies the Dominators. The book got canceled before the story line got resolved.
Powers and abilities
After exposure to a comet's tail, Comet Queen gained the ability to fly, even in the vacuum of space. She can also emit a variety of noxious gases that can be used to stun an opponent.
