Shadow Lass

Original Shadow Lass

The Mallor family has defended the desert world of Talok VIII for thousands of years. It started when Talok VIII was under the rule of alien conquerors, who enslaved the Talokians through the use of technology, which the primitive blue-skinned humanoids had never seen before. When it finally dawned on the natives that the machines were the cause of their woes, a band of freedom fighters set out to destroy them, and in the forefront of the fight was Mallor. When he destroyed the power source for the machines, the radiation it released altered his genetic structure, and gave him the power to project darkness.

This newfound power became a rallying point for all Talok, and the oppressors were driven out. For centuries, as each member of the Mallor clan matured, they were brought to the cave of shadows, to be judged and empowered by their ancestors' spirits. (Skeptics believe that it is the gases in the cave which unlock the genetic potential that the Mallors possess, and that this gas is somewhat hallucinogenic, leading to the perceived encounter with the dead.)

When worshippers of the god Makkas — the hill-dwelling Yakka-Mahor encircled the enlightened city where most Talokians live, the city-dwellers had no ready defense. They combed the city until they found a descendant of their most recent champion, Sarven Mallor: his granddaughter Tasmia Mallor. Using a compass that was supposed to point to the shadow cave, she slipped out of the city and made it to the cave, where she found another grandchild of Sarven Mallor, who was raised in the wilderness rather than in the city, her cousin Grev Mallor.

The two scared but brave children entered the cave, where they were enveloped by the shadows, and empowered with the hereditary ability by their predecessors. With the shadow power, Tasmia became Shadow Lass, champion of Talok VIII, and drove the Yakka-Mahor back. For the next several years she defended Talok City from threats of many different sorts. (Secret Origins vol. 2 #8) Grev would later adopt the alter ego of Shadow Kid.

One day, while she was off-planet on a diplomatic mission, the Fatal Five came in contact with Talok through another dimension, and, through their contacts, took over the world. When Tasmia saw what had become of her world, she decided to call the Legion of Super-Heroes to help take it back. The Fatal Five, who had counted on the Legion's intervention, freed themselves from that dimension and attacked the Legion in its own headquarters, almost destroying it. During the siege, Shadow Lass officially joined the Legion, and helped them defeat the Five. (Adventure #365-366)

Tasmia was originally attracted to Brainiac 5, but after seeing that he was already spoken for, fell for Mon-El instead. (#375) They were been steadfastly commited to one another for many years. Her devotion to the Legion was similarly constant. She survived a near-death possession (Superboy vol. 1 #183) and was badly injured by a sewer monster. (#248)

Tasmia was shaken to her core when Darkseid assembled his army and used the DNA of her 20th century ancestor, Lydea Mallor, to create a dark servant. (Legion vol. 2 #289, 291) Lydea and her mother Lyrissa Mallor were both affiliated with the intergalactic police force called L.E.G.I.O.N. Lyrissa died early in the group's history. (L.E.G.I.O.N. #21)

At one point, Shadow Lass doubted her place in Mon-El's heart. She donned Caucasian body makeup and called herself "Shadow Woman" in order to be more attractive to him. Mon-El dismissed her insecurities and reassured her of his love. (#299-300) Note: This story was an homage to the "Adult Legion" tale from Adventure Comics #354 (1967), which depicted a Caucasian Shadow Woman who was said to have died in the line of duty.

She was also there to help Mon-El through his own near-death bout with lead poisoning. (Legion vol. 3 #21, 23)

Though she has returned to Talok VIII, she does not serve on-planet as Champion. On her last visit home, she helped her cousin Grev defeat the Persuader, who had allied with Lady Memory, a power-hungry woman from a rival tribe. (Tales of the Legion #318-319)

After Mon-El was critically injured during the conspiracy against the Time Trapper (Legion vol. 3 #50), Tasmia conducted a marriage rite to wed him and set off to find proper treatment for his condition. (#51-53, 56) He apparently died in space when his life support equipment lost power. (#61)

He was laid to rest on Shanghalla, but soon reanimated by the Time Trapper. (Legion vol. 4 #3) Mon-El travelled back to find Tasmia on Talok VIII and warned her about the Trapper; they sought help from Brainiac 5. In the resulting battle between Mon-El destroyed the Time Trapper and caused the Legion's timeline to cease to exist.

Notes

Shadow Lass' real name was first revealed in Adventure Comics #369 (June 1968). Her mother first appeared in Legion vol. 2 #263 (May 1980), her grandfather (as a ghost) in Secret Origins #8 (Nov. 1986). Superboy & the Legion #240 initially described Grev Mallor has her younger brother, rather than her cousin.

Shadow Lass is among the many Legion characters originally proposed by Legion fans. In this instance, she was submitted by George Vincent and Mike Rickford, along with Chemical King. This was in the pages of the Legion fanzine, The Legion Outpost. Issues surrounding Shadow Lass's race and creation are covered in the web column, Comic Book Legends Revealed #276. It's generally beleived that she was intended to be the Legion's first black member, but that DC editors weren't ready for that.

Shooter, who created Shadow Lass, purposely showed her memorialized before her own introduction. He intended to kill her off, but never got around to it. He placated himself by killing off Ferro Lad, though. (The Legion Companion, Glen Cadigan, Two Morrows Publishing, 2003)

Jim Shooter on Shadow Lass: "A romantic, a busybody, probably a gossip and a bright, sexy, sultry, swinging chick who is a lot of fun for Mon-El." —Interlac (1976)

Tom & Mary Bierbaum on Shadow Lass: "She's a great hero, but also a bit of a schemer and manipulator. Has a dark side and can be a brat. All of which makes her a great partner for stuffy Mon-El, getting him to loosen up and enjoy life a little more." —Interlac (2000)

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

Tasmia went on to wander the galaxy with her husband, Valor (Mon-El's name in the timeline that resulted after Glorith rebooted it)…

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Valor and Shadow Lass wandered the galaxy aiding people in need. Their path led them back to Talok VIII, where they helped defend her home planet from the Khunds. (Legion vol. 4 #15-17) Then went on to dismantle a Dark Circle cult on Orando and Carggg. (#18)

Eventually they rejoined the Legion, but before long their reality came under seige. During the cosmic crisis in time called the "Zero Hour," time fluctuations caused Shadow Lass to cease to exist. (Legion vol. 4 #59, Valor #23)

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Appearances + References

Reboot: Umbra

The Tasmia Mallor of Universe-247 goes by the code name Umbra. That universe was destroyed in the Infinite Crisis, but she remains with that team, wandering the multiverse…

Tasmia Mallor is the latest descendant of a family of heroes that has defended Talok VIII for centuries with their power to project darkness. She, though, was deemed too zealously protective of Talok's unique traditions by a planetary leadership which wished to have greater contact with other worlds, including joining the United Planets, and she was therefore removed from her position planetary champion. She traveled throughout the U. P.. eventually taking the code-name Umbra and joining the Legion of Super-Heroes during their open call for new members which followed their unfortunate encounter with the Emerald Eye of Ekron, which she considers something of a consolation prize.

During the Blight's attack on Earth, Umbra was one of several Legionnaires who were taken over by the Blight. After she was freed of the Blight, she took the memories of her actions while under Blight influence harder than anyone else, and her usually bristly personality became even more extreme. Umbra became one of ten Legionnaires who disappeared into a rift in space, and during that time, despite her best efforts at keeping to herself, she has softened somewhat. She and the others returned to Earth after a battle against former Legionnaire Element Lad, who had become the genocidal Progenitor.

Soon after she returned from the Second Galaxy, Umbra found that her powers were waning, and they eventually disappeared altogether. (The Legion #2) She embarked on a return journey home (#10) and found that in her absence, Talok VIII had been completely consumed by the darkfield that powered her. Her people presumed that she was dead. And since she was the last of her direct bloodline, they attempted to use technology to graft the Shadow Champion's power onto her distant cousin, Grev. Grev couldn't handle the power, which eventually killed him and went berserk. Upon reestablishing contact with Tasmia, the shadowforce realigned to her.

Afterwards, the Legion established a permanent teleportational threshold with Talok VIII so that Umbra could serve her people at a moment's notice. (#24)

Notes

Olivier Coipel on Umbra: "Umbra is one of my favorites too: I had a girlfriend like her before so it makes me think of my ex! I had a hard time trying to imagine Umbra at the beginning but once I found the right kind of old fashioned haircut for her, I began to understand the character better. We're pushing a contrast in her visual right now, focusing on a lot dark area, so we'll see how it goes" —Comic Book Resources

Powers

Umbra can generate a "darkfield" which creates total darkness and some concussive force. She is also a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant.

Threeboot: Shadow Lass II

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Tasmia Mallor is descended from a long line of "shadow champions." She is the most skilled fighter in the Legion after Karate Kid. She comes from a race of warriors and likes to get physical. She appears to have a casual relationship with Ultra Boy.

Shadow Lass encourages Ultra Boy to train with Karate Kid. (#6)

Shadow Lass and Karate Kid find they are incompatible and split up. (#22)

Shadow Lass asks for Karate Kid's help rid Ultra Boy's of his jealousy of Supergirl. In a faux mission, Val pairs Jo with Supergirl on a red sun world, and he has to send her back. The ploy gives Jo confidence. (#22)

Atom Girl accompanied Shadow Lass back to her homeworld, Talok VIII, where Tasmia sparred with her brother, Grev to defend her title as Planetary Champion. Tasmia's Legion training (especially the martial arts with Karate Kid) gave her an edge in the battle and she prevailed again. Atom Girl encouraged Shadow Lass to run for Legion leader. (#23)

On Lallor, Shadow Lass uses her position as Planetary Champion to smooth over tensions. E.R.G. arrives to kill the President and tells the Legionnaires he once applied for membership. (#34)

On Talok VIII, Brainiac 5 helps Shadow Lass against the strange alien invaders. He uses new teleportation tech using wormholes. (#40)

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Rebirth: Shadow Lass III

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Appearances + References

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:  

• Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium #2
• Superman vol. 5 #14-15

» SERIES:

• Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 8, 12 issues (2019–2021)

» SEE ALSO:

• Rebirth

Other Versions

Shadow Lass has appeared twice in animated form. First in Justice League Unlimited, season 3, episode 10 (air date: 15 April 2006). Second, in the feature length Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019).