Silver Banshee

Last updated
Silver Banshee
Silver Banshee (Siobhan McDougal).png
The Siobhan McDougal incarnation of Silver Banshee as depicted in Superman #17 (March 1988).
Art by John Byrne.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Action Comics #595 (December 1987)
Created by John Byrne
In-story information
Alter egoSiobhan McDougal
Siobhan Smythe
Species Metahuman
Team affiliations Secret Society of Super Villains
Abilities

Silver Banshee is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, with both primarily as opponents of Superman. The first, Siobhan McDougal, made her debut in Action Comics #595 while the second, Siobhan Smythe, debuted during the New 52 in Supergirl vol. 6 #7.

Contents

Both McDougal and Smythe have appeared in DC Comics media outside of comics, with Odessa Rae portraying McDougal in Smallville and Italia Ricci portraying Smythe in Supergirl .

Publication history

Silver Banshee's debut in Action Comics #595 (December 1987), cover by Byrne. Action Comics -595.jpg
Silver Banshee's debut in Action Comics #595 (December 1987), cover by Byrne.

Silver Banshee first appeared in Action Comics #595 and was created by John Byrne. [1]

Fictional character biography

Siobhan McDougal

Siobhan McDougal was the first-born child of Garrett McDougal, the patriarch of an old Gaelic clan that has occupied an island midway between Scotland and Ireland for a thousand generations. On that island is Castle Broen, where first-born McDougals undergo a ritual to prove themselves worthy to lead the clan. When Siobhan was young, she traveled the world, only returning to Castle Broen after her father's death. Her uncle Seamus determined that no woman would lead the clan and intended her brother Bevan to become the new patriarch. She went ahead with the family ritual by herself, which involved calling on supernatural forces for power. She was interrupted by Bevan, and the distraction proved disastrous as she was dragged into an infernal netherworld. An entity called the Crone granted her powers and the ability to return to Earth as Silver Banshee, but demanded payment in the form of an occult book that belonged to her father. She found that her father's book collection had been shipped off for sale in the United States. Banshee's quest brought her to Metropolis. Killing anyone that stood in the way of her search attracted the attention of Superman, who was able to defeat her when he realised that Banshee could only kill a person that she believed to be alive; Banshee was unable to affect a potential victim that she mistook for a previous victim. By faking his death, Superman was able to enlist Martian Manhunter to attack Banshee by posing as Superman's ghost. Unable to defeat Superman, she chose to retreat and continue her mission at a later date. [2]

Silver Banshee returned to Metropolis twice more, but was halted both times by Superman. It was Batman who finally found the book among some stolen goods in Gotham City. Superman brought the book to Castle Broen where he was confronted by Silver Banshee. The Crone appeared at the castle, and after an enigmatic warning to Superman, dragged the Banshee, Bevan, and Seamus off to her Netherworld.

In Leesburg, Supergirl rescued Silver Banshee from Satanus' Netherworld when the chaos flow brought the river Styx to the town. Silver Banshee was left in a confused state, eventually going back to her psychotic persona and using Supergirl's friend Mattie as a host while rampaging on the streets. Mattie and Silver Banshee thus proceeded to nearby Schnaffenburg where Mattie tried to get revenge on Gerald McFee, who killed her brother during "Final Night" while in thrall to Gorilla Grodd. Supergirl calmed Silver Banshee, separating Mattie from her, which led to Silver Banshee temporarily vanishing.

Silver Banshee was one of the final four villains - along with Bizarro, Mongul, and the Master Jailer - to be sent against Superman by Manchester Black, the latter using his powers to make Banshee and Bizarro sane enough to tactically outthink Superman, also granting Banshee awareness of his Kryptonian name so that she could use her magic against him more effectively. Despite this, Superman was able to defeat the four, forcing Mongul to expend his energy.

Silver Banshee later joined the Secret Society headed by Alexander Luthor Jr. She was one of the members who turned on Black Adam when Luthor needed him for his machine. She also took part in the Battle of Metropolis.

Inspector Henderson begins investigating a case his old mentor was never able to close, and thinks it has to do with items Silver Banshee needs to lift her curse. Henderson finds his mentor had the item, but it imbeds itself in Henderson's hand, allowing Silver Banshee to track him. Silver Banshee shows up and fights Supergirl, but Supergirl opens a package from Henderson and is possessed by a Banshee hybrid. [3] Supergirl tells Silver Banshee they hid the artifacts in people, to keep them hidden from her. Apparently all the items were hidden not as a curse, but as a test for prospective clan leaders. Henderson punches Banshee-Supergirl, which is effective because of the artifact in his hand. Supergirl tries to exorcise the spirits possessing her but fails. Henderson realizes the spirits are tied to the artifacts and can be used against them. He then stabs his hand and breaks Supergirl free from her spirits. Silver Banshee disperse the spirits and removes the artifacts from Henderson's hand, stating that she is indebted to him. [4]

Siobhan Smythe

In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. Siobhan Smythe first appears in Supergirl vol. 6 #7 as a girl from Dublin who had immigrated to the United States to start a new life after her mother died, and to escape her father (the also-dead Black Banshee). She befriends Supergirl, and stands up to the National Guard when they attack her. Siobhan invites Kara to live with her, and brings her along to a cafe where she performs music when the Black Banshee attacks, prompting her to transform into Silver Banshee. The two fight Black Banshee only for Supergirl to be absorbed into the villain's body. While inside, Supergirl relives nightmarish versions of her own memories and encounters Tom Smythe, Siobhan's brother. He explains how the Banshee is a curse passed down along his family line and how Black Banshee had plans for his daughter to join him in conquering the world. Tom sacrificed himself in Siobhan's place, hoping it would end the curse, but only managed to delay it. Supergirl escapes and defeats Black Banshee; afterwards, Siohan reverts to normal and is reunited with her brother. [5] [6]

In Dawn of DC , Silver Banshee begins dating Jimmy Olsen. [7]

Powers and abilities

Both incarnations of Silver Banshee possess preternatural levels of strength and resistance to injury powerful enough to prove physically challenging for super-powered Kryptonians like Superman and Supergirl. While not completely invulnerable, they are able to wound Kryptonians to a limited degree when they exert their full strength. While physically powerful, a Banshee's signature weapon is her sonic scream or "death wail". Her cry kills anyone who hears it, provided she knows their full name, reducing them to desiccated husks as the scream drains their life-force to strengthen the Banshee, akin to a succubus or psychic vampire.

As Siobhan Smythe of The New 52 continuity, Silver Banshee has exhibited an affinity for "omnilingualism" - able to instinctively speak any language fluently from the first moment she hears it, including being able to commune with animals.

Other versions

In other media

Television

Italia Ricci as Siobhan Smythe / Silver Banshee as depicted in Supergirl. Silver Banshee (Italia Ricci).png
Italia Ricci as Siobhan Smythe / Silver Banshee as depicted in Supergirl .

Film

Video games

Miscellaneous

An unidentified Silver Banshee appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2015)[ citation needed ] as a member of Super Hero High School's debate team and a rock vocalist in the school's band club.

See also

References

  1. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 273. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 358–359. ISBN   978-0-345-50108-0.
  3. Gates, Sterling ( w ),Dagnino, Fernando ( p ),Fernández, Raúl ( i ),Fletcher, Jared K. ( col )."Song of the Silver Banshee" Supergirl ,vol. 5,no. 48(February 2010).DC Comics.
  4. Gates, Sterling ( w ),Camp, Matt ( p ),Camp, Matt ( i ),Ruffino, Nei ( col )."Death & the Family" Supergirl ,vol. 5,no. 49(March 2010).DC Comics.
  5. Green, Michael ; Johnson, Mike ( w ), Asrar, Mahmud  ( p ),Asrar, Mahmud ( i ), McCaig, Dave  ( col )."Graduation Day" Supergirl ,vol. 6,no. 7(May 2012).DC Comics.
  6. Green, Michael ; Johnson, Mike ( w ), Pérez, George  ( p ), Wiacek, Bob  ( i ), Mounts, Paul  ( col )."Girl In The World" Supergirl ,vol. 6,no. 8(June 2012).DC Comics.
  7. Williamson, Joshua  ( w ),Campbell, Jamal; Dragotta, Nick ( p ),Campbell, Jamal; Dragotta, Nick ( i ),Campbell, Jamal; Martin, Frank ( col )."Chapter Four: Screams From the Past" Superman ,vol. 6,no. 4(July 2023).DC Comics.
  8. Davis, Alan (w); Davis, Alan (p), Farmer, Mark (i). JLA: The Nail #3. DC Comics.
  9. Abrams, Natalie (January 24, 2010). "Smallville Casting Exclusive: Odessa Rae Joins as DC Villain". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Silver Banshee Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  11. Stanhope, Kate (December 4, 2015). "'Supergirl' Taps 'Chasing Life's' Italia Ricci to Recur as DC Comics Villain". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  12. "Truth, Justice and the American Way". Supergirl. Season 1. Episode 14. February 14, 2016. CBS.
  13. "Worlds Finest". Supergirl. Season 1. Episode 18. March 28, 2016. CBS.
  14. "EXCLUSIVE TRAILER DEBUT: Joker Rules in "Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem"". Comic Book Resources. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  15. "The LEGO Batman Movie Set/CMF Rumors & Discussion". Eurobricks Forums. 24 March 2016.
  16. Brittany, Michele (March 30, 2018). "WONDERCON 2018: JULIE NATHANSON TALKS SILVER BANSHEE IN 'SUICIDE SQUAD: HELL TO PAY'". Fanbase Press. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  17. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN . Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. Nieves, Davey (22 July 2018). "SDCC'18: LEGO DC SUPER VILLAINS Cast and Devs Dish on Funever Evil". The Beat.