Born on the planet Rur many light years away as Mara, she possessed that world's top scientific mind. When war broke out between the Rurians and Kronons, a Rur expedition was sent to Earth to retrieve Paragon to fight for the Rurian cause. In awakening Paragon from his comatose state, Dr. Mara's equipment was able to store a mixture of stellar energy and a backlash of Paragon's own excess paranormal powers. Mara used this energy to transform herself into the superpowered being known as STARDUST when Paragon balked at fighting for the Rurian cause. Eventually she convinced Paragon to help, but it was her new-found powers that ultimately made the difference in vanquishing the Kronons.

Stardust's stellar infusion charged her with the power of the Universe's greatest energy source, the stars themselves. Able to survive the vacuum of outer space without oxygen or protective clothing, her body is virtually invulnerable to physical harm, and, acting as a constantly recharging battery, she can generate blinding solar flares and discharge destructive stellar power bolts. Like a comet, she can streak through the heavens trailing a shower of golden particles that are her namesake.