| Silver Banshee | |
|---|---|
.png) The Siobhan McDougal incarnation of Silver Banshee as depicted inSuperman #17 (March 1988). Art byJohn Byrne. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Action Comics #595 (December 1987) |
| Created by | John Byrne |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Siobhan McDougal Siobhan Smythe |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Secret Society of Super Villains |
| Abilities |
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Silver Banshee is the name of twosupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics, with both primarily as opponents ofSuperman. The first,Siobhan McDougal, made her debut inAction Comics #595 while the second,Siobhan Smythe, debuted duringthe New 52 inSupergirl vol. 6 #7.
Both McDougal and Smythe have appeared in DC Comics media outside of comics, withOdessa Rae portraying McDougal inSmallville andItalia Ricci portraying Smythe inSupergirl.
Silver Banshee first appeared inAction Comics #595 and was created byJohn Byrne.[1]
Siobhan McDougal was the first-born child of Garrett McDougal, the patriarch of an oldGaelic clan that has occupied an island midway betweenScotland andIreland 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 toMetropolis. Killing anyone that stood in the way of her search attracted the attention ofSuperman, 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 enlistMartian 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 wasBatman who finally found the book among some stolen goods inGotham 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 riverStyx 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 toGorilla 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 withBizarro,Mongul, and theMaster Jailer - to be sent against Superman byManchester 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 theSecret Society headed byAlexander Luthor Jr. She was one of the members who turned onBlack 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]
In 2011,The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. Siobhan Smythe first appears inSupergirl 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]
InDawn of DC, Silver Banshee begins datingJimmy Olsen.[7]
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 asuccubus orpsychic vampire.
As Siobhan Smythe ofThe 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.
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An unidentified Silver Banshee appears inDC 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.
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