Few female superheroes have left a mark on pop culture quite like Starfire. With a massive, devoted fanbase and a presence that spans comics, animation, and beyond, she’s one of DC’s most iconic characters. That’s why it’s mind-boggling that DC has been getting one of her key features wrong for years. Fortunately, one DC artist has evidently made it his mission to rectify this with a canon-accurate Starfire design.

Otto Schmidt is an exceptionally talented DC artist, best known among fans for his work on the Elseworlds series DC vs. Vampires and its ongoing sequel DC vs. Vampires: World War V, where he remains the lead artist. Over the years, Schmidt has also gained recognition for his sketches of DC’s most iconic and beloved characters, including several standout interpretations of Starfire.

Schmidt's take on Starfire is widely considered one of the best by a DC artist, largely because he stays true to her canon design, including her often-overlooked height, a key feature frequently missed in most Titans portrayals.

Starfire’s Canon Height Finally Gets the Attention It Deserves

Nightwing & Starfire Sketch by Otto Schmidt

To put it bluntly, Starfire is extremely tall, at least compared to the average human female. The Titan is canonically 6'4", a height that would be envied by most men. However, some fans may be surprised to learn just how tall Starfire actually is, since most of her appearances in comics and other media fail to do her height justice. While she is typically drawn as "tall," few artists depict her as someone who stands even taller than Batman or Superman. This is why Otto Schmidt’s portrayal of Starfire is always refreshing, as he truly captures just how tall the alien princess is.

Schmidt brilliantly emphasizes Starfire’s 6'4" height by creating a clear and often dramatic height difference between her and other characters. He achieves this by placing Kori next to others and showing her visibly towering over them. Schmidt has consistently shown this height contrast in his work, with some of the most notable examples including a sketch where Starfire stands next to Raven and Donna Troy, clearly towering over both women, and another where she is shown beside Nightwing, appearing noticeably taller than Dick. Both of these sketches, shown above, are perfect examples of Schmidt staying true to comic canon in his art, which is a truly commendable feat.

How Otto Schmidt Captures Starfire’s Impressive 6’4” Height

Nightwing & Starfire Sketch by Otto Schmidt

While most fans would undoubtedly describe Starfire as tall, many would likely be surprised by just how tall she actually is. Standing at 6'4", Starfire is two inches taller than both Batman and Wonder Woman, who each stand at 6'2", and a full inch taller than Superman, who is listed at 6'3" in current continuity. The reason many fans may not realize this is because DC rarely highlights her true height by depicting her as taller than some of the publisher’s other tallest characters. This is especially frustrating when it comes to how she is usually drawn next to Nightwing, who has a respectable height of 5'10".

Considering Starfire is a solid six inches taller than Nightwing, she should tower over her ex-boyfriend. Yet this is rarely the case in modern comics. She is often shown at a height close to Dick’s or just slightly taller. However, even depicting her as only slightly taller does her a disservice, as an accurate portrayal should show her clearly towering over him. It’s also worth noting that Starfire’s 6'4" height does not include her hair, which would further emphasize the height difference between her and her peers. This is why Otto Schmidt stands out among DC artists for consistently representing Starfire’s commendable height with accuracy and impact.

Schmidt's Faithful Representation of Starfire's Iconic Hair and Height

Starfire & Black Canary Sketch by Otto Schmidt

Speaking of Starfire’s height-contributing hair, Schmidt’s portrayal of the Tamaranean princess is also comic-accurate thanks to his faithful depiction of her classic, original hair, which is defined by its extreme length and volume. Starfire’s creators, Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, designed her hair with unrivaled length and fullness, a detail that has sometimes been overlooked in more modern interpretations of the character. Seeing Schmidt honor both Kori’s signature hair and height is what makes his take on Starfire a fan favorite. DC would do well to take a cue from Schmidt and consistently portray Starfire with her canon-accurate hair and height.

Source: Otto Schmidt (1), (2), (3), (4)