Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Convince me that Shadow Lass is interesting!

Something else else like this?

Sort of. But I like the idea that Talok has high tech stuff that doesn't look high tech, so I'd like to capture that idea. So a bit more medieval looking?

I'm still in love with her as potentially a pulpy sort of John Carter of Mars sort of figure, a sword and blaster wielding alien princess from a savage world of desert adventure (with Talokk VIII being visually similar enough to Barsoom to carry that vibe). Unlike John Carter, *she's* the big damn hero, and some dude (Grev?) can be the 'damsel in distress' and play Dejah Thoris' role.

Being able to create darkness, on a world where they don't even use guns, normally (being more fond of melee weapons, in the appearances we've seen), and to see through her own darkness, gives her an enormous advantage on her home world, since she's essentially fighting a bunch of blind people (an alien Dr. Midnight). Off-world, in a fantastic future where lasers are common weapons, which are useless against a darkness generator, she retains her powerful advantage.

But yeah, her darkfields don't do squat against bullets or punches or blades, so she should definitely wear something more protective than a teensy-weensy bikini. (Leave that sort of outfit to people like Supergirl, Laurel Kent or Andromeda, who are both invulnerable, *and* solar powered!)

It's the 31st century, 'though. There's no reason her 'armor' can't be sleek and sexy, or even transparent! (Or even a bulked up version of the transsuits, powerful protection against radiation, temperature extremes and atmospheric pressure or vacuum, and yet 'molecule-thin' and effectively invisible!)

It wouldn't even necessarily have to be drawn, except when it blocks an attack, the attack being shown to impact the otherwise invisible armor protection, and perhaps leaving behind some scratches or char marks. A quick comment like, 'Good thing my armor took the brunt of that! I don't think it will hold up to another hit!' and it's established, without the artist having to draw all of the Legionnaires in bulky Khund-style battle armor, which looks more massive and medieval than far-futuristic anyway.

While I don't care for the bikini (preferring the full body suit she wore during the Great Darkness Saga, which was plenty sexy!), I do like the new cape effect, in which it's a raggedy 'cloak' of darkness, and not actual cloth.

I like the idea that shadows swirl and coil around her, perhaps snaking out across surfaces she walks across or leans against, always moving like a living thing not entirely under her conscious control, would make for a very cool image (one that would work better in an animated or live action appearance, where the darkness moving around, like Dracula's contrary 'shadow' from the movie with Gary Oldman, would be visible, or in text, like a novel or fanfic, than on a comic page...).

Do we have any idea how long individual Talokkians live? It occurs to me that Coluans have been described as one of the universes most long-lived races (the reason why 'Brainiac 5' is 1000 years after Brainiac 1, originally, although it's been changed more recently), and Mon-El is 1000 years old as well (and, if Daxamites are anything like Kryptonians, might live for centuries even outside of the zone). If Talokkians also live for centuries, perhaps Shady's interest in Brainy and Mon has something to do with their apparent longevity, as she avoids falling for people who are going to be dead in a single brief century?

The thing I find most interesting about Shadow Lass is Talok VIII itself.

Although clearly acquainted with interstellar travel and other races for at least a thousand years, the society on Talok VIII is clearly somewhat barbarous and perhaps even Luddite in nature. Marriages, for example, are contracted by amputation of the ulnar digit. (Of course, it is possible that Talokans can regenerate such small lost limbs, who knows?)

The rivalry between the Mallor (the Shadow Champions) and the Nahtahnie (the Memory Peerage) is clearly political in nature, but has also devolved into violence from time to time. Whether the Malloran and Nahtahnie states comprise only a local rivalry, or whether the entire planet is split between one loyalty or another has not been addressed. However, the marriage between Grev Mallor and Kahnya Nahtahnie was clearly of significant political importance.

The silver-age Tasmia is one of the weaker Shadow Champions, with shadow-casting being her only ability. It seems likely that Talokans are able to alter the genetic structure of their zygotes in order to make them compatible with alien DNA. This allows the Mallor and Nahtahnie to acquire additional abilities and powers from generation to generation, although these additional abilities seem short-lived.

It is also possible that Tasmia and her clan are genetically pre-disposed to be romantically attracted to powerful champions. This would explain both her attachment to Mon-El, and later to the otherwise unappealing Kirt Niedrigh.

At last! The answer to the Shady/Earth Man conundrum! Thank you, Klar.

After Legion 24 in the Postboot, she had shadowy figures hanging out around her. I think they represented her ancestors.

Batista never drew them, so must have they faded away shortly after that issue.

Yeah, I don't recall seeing them again after that at all. I should have said, "at the end of issue 24".

For a good long while, Tasmia, Gates and Brainy were the Legionnaires who didn't like anyone else



The Postboot Tasmia's darkfield was shown, as early as Legionnaires 64 (before DNA showed up) to be able to smash through the hull of an enemy ship. This was a one-off thing though.

DNA ratcheted up her powers even further by making her almost like a dark Green Lantern. Very similar to the Shadow Lass in Superboy's Legion.