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Nightshade
Nightshade

Real Name

Eve Eden

First Appearance

Captain Atom #82 (Sept. 1966)

Original Publisher

Chalrton

Created by

Steve Ditko & Joe Gill

Origin

As a child, Eve Eden’s mother, Magda, revealed to her and her brother, Larry, that she was a princess from the Land of the Nightshades. Magda was forced to flee from her dimension and come to Earth to escape the evil Incubus. She then showed her children how to cross dimensions through shadows, an ability they both inherited from her. While in the Land of the Nightshade they were attacked by the Incubus’ flying warriors and Magda was mortally stabbed. Larry was kidnapped, but Eve managed to change into shadow-form and transport Magda and herself back to Earth. Before Magda died, Eve promised her mother that she would return someday to rescue Larry.

Since her father, Senator Warren Eden, didn't know her mother's true nature, Eve was forced to lie about their disappearance. He grew distant with Eve, and withdrew from her. Partially to spite her father, she dropped out of school and moved to Washington, D. C. There, Eve began her self-imposed training by studying martial arts, becoming especially skilled in karate. Former partner of Judomaster, Tiger trained Eve in the martial arts.

Once all grown up, Eve hid her training from her father, and, when she was older, became the C.I.A. operative Nightshade. She hid her new alter-ego from him, as well. Senator Eden began to think of his daughter as a shallow jet-setter without a care in the world.

As Nightshade, Eve works with the C.I.A. to expose and apprehend foreign agents. She often times found herself teamed-up with Captain Atom on many missions. Her ultimate goal is to reach a level of training where she can return to the Land of the Nightshades and rescue her brother.

Silver Age Appearances

Captain Atom #82, 85-89

Notes

  • While the first appearance of Nightshade and all of her Silver Age appearances are public domain, any appearances after 1977 are NOT.
  • Nightshade briefly appears in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies voiced by Rachael MacFarlane. After she first attacks Superman, Batman notices her speech pattern and deduces she's being controlled by Gorilla Grodd so he knocks her unconscious with a batarang filled with knockout gas.
  • Watchmen: The character of Silk Spectre II, Laurie Juspeczyk, is partially based on Nightshade, though it could also be argued that the character of Silhouette had more of her visual style.
  • Nightshade was included in a roster of prospective Justice League members by producer Bruce Timm, but she did not make it into the series once it entered production.

See Also

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