| Shvaughn Erin | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #241 (July 1978) |
| Created by | Paul Levitz Jim Sherman |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
| Place of origin | Earth (31st century) |
| Team affiliations | Science Police |
| Notable aliases | Sean Erin |
Shvaughn Erin is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of theDC ComicsUniverse, appearing primarily as a supporting character in the variousLegion of Super-Heroes series. A native of Earth, she is a member of theScience Police, the law enforcement arm of theUnited Planets. She was one of the first characters in superhero comics to be identified astransgender.[1]
In the 30th century, the Resources Raiders attack Earth just as a diplomatic crisis develops between theUnited Planets and theDominion. These dual crises prevent neophyteScience Police officer Shvaughn Erin from informing theLegion of Super-Heroes that one of its enemies has escaped from imprisonment. Both events are precursors to the so-called "Earthwar", wherein the U.P. is attacked by theKhund empire and theDark Circle. The architect behind the conflict is eventually revealed to be the sorcererMordru—the escaped foe about whom Shvaughn tried to warn the Legion. She andKarate Kid fend off Khund troops at the Science Police headquarters, which allows the combined forces of the Legion of Super-Heroes and theLegion of Substitute Heroes to defeat Mordru and end the war.[2][3]
The following year, Shvaughn is appointed Science Police Liaison Officer to the Legion. On the first day of her new assignment, she is present when the rogue artificial intelligenceComputo possessesDanielle Foccart and seizes control of Legion HQ. The crisis is averted when Danielle's older brotherJacques drinks the invisibility serum developed byLyle Norg, allowing him to attack and immobilize Computo without being detected.[4] Shvaughn works closely with and enters a relationship withElement Lad, a character whose sexual orientation had previously been ambiguous, and many readers had interpreted as gay.[1][5]
Years later, Shvaughn has ended her relationship with Jan Arrah (Element Lad), and Earth's government has fallen under the covert control of the Dominion. When a Dominion soldier assassinates Earth President Tayla Wellington on live galaxy-wide video broadcast, full-scale war breaks out.[6] During this period, it is revealed that Shvaughn was born a man named Sean Erin and used the medication Profem to complete hisgender transition and biologically transform into a female.[7][8][1] With open warfare across the planet, he is unable to maintain constant access to Profem. Jan is completely supportive when Sean physically reverts to his original gender.[9] Ultimately the Dominators are defeated, and Sean is appointed chief of the Science Police contingent on New Earth.[10]
In post-Zero Hour continuity, Shvaughn Erin is once again a Science Police officer. In the aftermath of a battle with anEmerald Eye-enthralled Shrinking Violet, Shvaughn is transported back in time to 20th century Earth, along withWorkforce memberInferno and a faction of eight Legionnaires.[11][12] After many months and several encounters with 20th-century Earth’s superhero community, Shvaughn and the Legionnaires eventually find their way back to their own era.
