| Silhouette | |
|---|---|
 Silhouette, artistMark Bagley | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The New Warriors (vol. 1) #2 (August 1990) |
| Created by | Fabian Nicieza (writer) Mark Bagley (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Silhouette Chord (Silhouette is the English translation of her Cambodian name Roubpheap Sramol) |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Secret Avengers (Civil War) Folding Circle New Warriors Concrete Dragons The Concrete Carrion Gang |
| Abilities | Superb hand to hand combatant Expert martial artist Enhanced strength, speed and agility Shadow teleportation Darkforce energy manipulation Ability to become a living shadow |
Silhouette (Silhouette Chord) is a fictional character, asuperheroine appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. She first appeared inThe New Warriors #2 (August 1990), and was created byFabian Nicieza andMark Bagley.[1]
Silhouette and her brother Aaron Chord (Midnight's Fire) are mutants withmagical powers gained from the bloodline of their mother, a member of a temple cult inSoutheast Asia who married anAfrican-American soldier from theVietnam War. She manipulates theDarkforce, having the power toteleport, hide in shadows, and more. She is also aparaplegic, having been paralyzed from the waist down by a bullet injury sustained tracking drug gangs early in her career.
Silhouette and her brother Aaron (Midnight's Fire) are the children ofAndrew Chord and his wife Miyami, and were born inNew York City. Chord met Miyami in 1966 while inCambodia serving in theVietnam War. Miyami was a member of the cult Dragon's Breath, which was based in an ancient temple in Cambodia. The temple had been built above a wellspring of energy known as the Well of All Things, whose power they intended to pass to their children.[2]
Silhouette and Midnight's Fire are operating as independent vigilantes in New York when they meetDwayne Taylor and begin working with him in a coordinated effort to take down local gangs. After Silhouette is shot by the police and paralyzed from the legs down in a sting gone wrong, Midnight's Fire blames Dwayne and becomes estranged from him, ultimately becoming adrug lord.[3] Silhouette remains on good terms with Dwayne, distancing herself from her brother.[4]
Years later, Silhouette battles the villainBengal and seeks aid from theNew Warriors, who she eventually joins.[5] Upon reuniting with Dwayne, she reveals her ability to manipulate shadows to him. Silhouette is given a special costume made of unstable molecules which become intangible when she does.Reed Richards, who holds the patent for unstable molecules, gives his personal blessing for her to use them because he understands the heroic work the New Warriors do.[6]
Andrew Chord's former comrade Diego Casseas, now calling himself theLeft Hand, steals the power of the Well from his child, then gathers the other children of the pact into a group called theFolding Circle. The Circle attempts to take control of the Well away fromTai. The members of the Circle, together with the New Warriors, manage to defeat Tai. The Well is sealed, Casseas and Tai are apparently killed, and the surviving members of the Circle escape in a stolenQuinjet.[2]During the "Civil War" storyline, Silhouette is seen as a member ofCaptain America's "Secret Avengers", who oppose theSuperhuman Registration Act.[7] Silhouette is part of the backup team whenIron Man wants to meet Captain America atYankee Stadium at night when it is empty.[8] During the meeting, all the stadium's lights turn on at once. WhileUltra Girl,Spider-Man andLuke Cage attack Iron Man, Silhouette takes Captain America away.
Silhouette has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who have registered after the Civil War.[9] She later confronts the 'new' Night Thrasher and learns that he is actuallyBandit.[10]
InBlood Hunt, Silhouette is among theDarkforce users who lose control of their powers, blocking out the sun and facilitating avampire invasion.[11]
Silhouette is able to manipulate theDarkforce for a variety of effects. She can "melt" into any shadow or area of darkness, thus entering the Darkforce dimension, and then reemerge through another shadow or area of darkness. Silhouette originally had the power to become nearly invisible while under the cover of darkness, as well as the ability to teleport herself. After a disturbance in the Darkforce that affected everyone who used it, Silhouette gained the ability to teleport others and transform into living darkness.[4] In the fourth volume ofNew Warriors, Silhouette demonstrates the ability to create Darkforce tendrils.[volume & issue needed] Like her brother Midnight's Fire, Silhouette possesses enhanced speed, strength, agility, and senses.
Silhouette is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and capable martial artist, and master of an unspecified martial art.
After she became disabled due to injuries inflicted by gunfire, Night Thrasher designed and built a special pair of combat-capablecrutches andleg braces for her. Night Thrasher designed the crutches to include both a hidden electrictaser that can emit electrical charges to stun an adversary, and a slim anesthetic needle injector that delivered paralytic chemicals. The crutches are also equipped with "smoke gas" and metal firing pellets.
A later design had retractable braces in specially designed open metal gauntlets.[volume & issue needed]
She wears a costume made fromunstable molecules, which prevents it from falling off when she becomes intangible.