Blackfire, whose real name is Princess Komand'r, is a Tamaranean from the planet Tamaran and the elder sister of Koriand'r, better known as Starfire. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, she made her first appearance in The New Teen Titans #22 in 1982. Born on the day of a devastating Citadel attack that killed thousands, Komand'r was afflicted by a childhood illness that impaired her ability to absorb ultraviolet radiation for flight, leading to her ostracism by Tamaranean society despite her status as firstborn heir. This resentment deepened when her birthright was transferred to her younger sister, fueling a profound jealousy and hatred that defined her early villainous path.
Komand'r allied with the Citadel, betraying Tamaran's defenses and facilitating the enslavement of Koriand'r as part of a peace treaty, during which she tormented her sister. After experiments by the Psions enhanced both sisters' abilities—granting Komand'r flight and powerful energy projection known as "blackbolts"—she adopted the name Blackfire and pursued Koriand'r to Earth, becoming a recurring antagonist to the Teen Titans. Over time, she engaged in interstellar conflicts, including alliances during the Rann-Thanagar War and a relationship with Vril Dox in the R.E.B.E.L.S. series, showcasing her ambition and occasional shifts in allegiance.
In the New 52 continuity reboot, Blackfire's role was altered, portraying her sale of Starfire into slavery as a sacrificial act to protect Tamaran from the invading Blight, introducing elements of familial loyalty and complexity. Subsequent developments, such as in Justice League Odyssey, saw her occasionally align with heroes against greater threats, reflecting a nuanced evolution from pure villainy while retaining her core traits of power-seeking and rivalry with Starfire.