Known Powers:

Kari Donovan is the latest in a long line of Purple Phloxes. She can change into the Phlox or back to Kari by act of will. By changing, Kari enhances her senses and strengthens her defenses. The primary weapon of the Purple Phlox is the Crystal Staff. The Staff can burn those who would do evil either physically or mentally. It can absorb or dispel magical related attacks and repair damage done to the Phlox. Lastly, the wielder can teleport back and forth to the Mobius House or fly. In addition the Purple Phlox can cast magical spells. To do so, she must study and learn the spell. Most of her spells involve the use of mystic symbols or circles of power that must be precisely drawn or layed out. Other simpler spells are not so hindered.

Notes:

Kari Donovan grew up a normal young woman. She pursued the dream of becoming a television journalist, but was never really taken seriously as a newswoman. Among her first jobs was that of TV weatherwoman. Angry and frustrated, Kari managed to secure an investigative reporter job for a syndicated television show "Supernatural America". She was paired with cameraman Peter Ramsey and given an RV to roam the country in searching for news stories with a supernatural element to them. Peter fully believed in the supernatural while Kari was the skeptic.

One such story led the pair to Pineboro, New York. Tales of a haunted house had attracted their attention and during their interviews Peter had recognized one figure that kept reappearing as the Purple Phlox. Peter claimed that the Purple Phlox was a figured heavily referenced in various mystic tomes and that he fought against those who would use magic for evil ends. Kari was rather dubious of the whole thing.

The next few nights would prove Kari to be wrong. Unwittingly, the pair was drawn into a conflict between the Purple Phlox and the demon Gallifrey inside the Croft Manor. The mage and his foe appeared out of nowhere at midnight inside the house. A portion of the Purple Phlox's power was transferred into Kari seemingly by accident before the man appeared to die and burst into flames. Later, Kari was possessed by this essence of the Purple Phlox and the Phlox's flames enveloped her head. While under the Phlox's influence, Kari drew a strange mystic looking circle inside the house.

The next night the Purple Phlox and his foe appeared once more, but this time the circle Kari had drawn destroyed the demon. Kari, influence by the portion of the Phlox she had absorbed, seized the Crystal Staff. In the process, the Phlox's hold on Kari seemed to grow in intensity, much to Peter's concern.

Kari explained to Peter that she was destined to become the next in a long line of Purple Phloxes and that she accepted this responsibility. The Purple Phlox was a figure that pre-dated human history. In the distant past was an age were magic and magical creatures existed without restraint. Those who did evil were running rampant. A group of good sorcerers forged several magic items that could be used to combat these menaces. The Crystal Staff of the Purple Phlox was just one such item.

On the third night, Kari fully became the Purple Phlox as she gained the last of her predecesor's powers. It turns out that the former Phlox had been moving backwards in time and with Kari's assistance had destroyed the demon, but at the expense of his own life. Now fully powered and armed with the Crystal Staff, Kari seeks to continue the legacy of the Purple Phlox. Her role as a reporter for Supernatural America continued as a perfect cover. Assisted by Peter and her pet cat Snowball, Kari seeks to stop those who would use magic to evil ends.

As part of her legacy, Kari has inherited the Mobious House which was the base of operations for the previous Purple Phlox. To the casual onlooker, the house appears to be rundown and deserted. However, while in the presence of Kari it appears as something else entirely. The destroyed rooms are restored to a Victorian elegance, but with subtle creepy touches, such as couch legs appear as claws and the like. There is a previously unnoticed third floor to the house as well. By using the Staff, Kari can teleport to the house and back to where she came from.

While investigating a story near Aspen, Colorado, Kari sensed the presence of something demonic and went to investigate. Together with Peter and Snowball, the Purple Phlox discovered a cave that had recently been uncovered by a landslide. Inside they found a demon that had been imprisoned in a statuette. Peter accidentally touched the statuette and was possessed by the demon Ansara. Fortunately, the Enchantress and Sorceress had been on a skiing vacation and sensed the presence of the demon. Together with the Purple Phlox, they managed to free Peter from his possession and re-imprison the demon in the bowels of the Earth.

The Purple Phlox was created by Muskateer and Spectrum. Character sheet was designed by Spectrum with original art by Muskateer.

Appearances:

Troubleshooters #13-15, 25

Awards:

Voted Co-Winner of Most Wanted for 2002.