Silver Banshee
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| Silver Banshee | |
 Cover to Action Comics #820, by Joyce Chin |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Action Comics #595 (December, 1987) |
| Created by | John Byrne |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Siobhan McDougal |
| Team affiliations | The Society |
| Abilities | Superhuman speed, durability, the strength of ten men. Her wail could kill human beings in her line of sight as long as she is aware of their identity. Her death wail has been shown to be effective even against the undead once the Banshee was aware of their proper names. Her sonic powers also allow her to teleport. |
Silver Banshee is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an opponent of Superman.
[edit] Character history
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 when she heard of 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 away into an infernal netherworld. An entity called "the Crone" granted her powers and the ability to return to Earth as the 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. Her quest brought her to Metropolis. Killing anyone that stood in the way of her search attracted the attention of Superman. Unable to defeat Superman, she chose to retreat and continue her mission at a later date.
Silver Banshee returned to Metropolis twice more, but was halted both times by Superman. It was Batman who finally found the book amongst 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, she 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 attempted to collect the billion dollar bounty President Luthor placed on Superman’s head in Superman/Batman #3, but failed.
Silver Banshee later joined the Secret Society headed by Alexander Luthor. 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.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Silver Banshee has super human strength, agility, speed, endurance, a high degree of resistance to physical and energy attacks. She’s wail can kill anyone within a certain range as long as she can see her victim and knows who they are. Victims are usually reduced to desiccated husks. Silver Banshee is able to use her sonic powers to teleport.
[edit] Other media
In Justice League Unlimited, SIlver Banshee accompanied Metallo to Skartaris to retrieve a large chunk of kryptonite in the episode Chaos At Earth's Core. She is captured by Green Lantern after he uses his power ring to gag her. She escaped soon after being captured by Green Lantern. Kim Mai Guest is credited for voicing Silver Banshee even though she has no identifiable dialogue. Silver Banshee is shown to be a member of the Secret Society shown on Justice League Unlimited finale, Alive. She is killed during the mutiny onboard the Secret Society's spaceship or was killed by Darkseid's invading forces.
