Shadow Thief
Shadow Thief is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Carl Sands
Some years ago, he had been committing a robbery when he attempted to hide from the police. However, a cop came to see his shadow allowing them to arrest the criminal. Sentenced to prison, he spent long years in a cell where at first he blamed his shadow for his capture. Over time though, he began to contemplate on being able to manipulate his shadow to help him. After his release from prison, he began a period of study into the science behind shadows which he used as the basis for creating a machine that could control shadows. This research had limited success but one day came to open a gateway to an adjacent dimension where he came upon an alien being in trouble. Aiding the alien, the entity was thankful to the human and seeing his interest in shadows decided to repay his debt. Going to his laboratory, the alien came to gift the human with a dimensiometer that had the power to manipulate his own shadow. (Brave and the Bold v1 #36)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Carl Sands
Later on, Sands was among the many villains who accepted the invitation from the demon Neron. In exchange for selling their souls, he offered to increase their power. Carl was among those who agreed to sell his soul to Neron for more power. The demon king gave Sands a more powerful shadow suit which was linked with magic and has vastly augmented abilities to enact greater criminal schemes. (Underworld Unleashed v1 #1) Taking his newfound power out for a spin which he would spread chaos and mayhem, all while enacting a bit of personal revenge that brings him into conflict with The Flash and Captain Marvel. (The Flash v2 #107)
Sometime later, he came to be a member of the Injustice League. (Justice League of America Wedding Special v1 #1) In reality, Carl's actual allegiance lay with the same individual whom he heard in his head through the Shadow Suit he wore. Making him powerful enough to not only overwhelm the likes of Hawkman easily enough. But now give two teams of superpowered beings a run for their money, as well as initiate extinction level events in magnificent displays of raw power. (Justice League of America v2 #30)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Carl Sands
One night, Sands was sent a message by Lex Luthor, who wanted to meet him on a rooftop in Midway City. The Shadow Thief went to the meeting spot, where he was greeted by a holographic projection of Luthor. Luthor offered Sands an upgrade to his Shadow Vest, free of charge, which would allow him to not only imitate shadows, but control them entirely. Sands gladly accepted the offer, as he craved the power to finally defeat Hawkman. (Hawkman v5 #14)
Overview
Personality and attributes
After gaining the power to become a shadow, Sands came to adopt the name of the Shadow Thief. (Brave and the Bold v1 #36)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Sands was an ordinary human being with no inherent or special abilities. (Brave and the Bold v1 #36)
Through contact with an alien being, he came to be provided a highly advanced device known as a dimensiometer that had the power to turn its wearer into a shadow. The odd shaped object located on his wrist allowed Sands to trigger his transformation into a shadow being. When using his abilities, Sands appeared as a moving featureless shadow that was intangible to others with physical contact simply passing through him. Physical attacks did not hurt him with even weapon fire such as bullets simply passing through his body. The Shadow Thief was capable of also using this to move through solid objects through the slightest of gaps. (Brave and the Bold v1 #36)
Sands was given true superpowers courtesy of a new backer, now not only could the Shadow Thief simulate his original abilities thanks to his Thanagarian tech. He could manipulate shadows to any degree he imagined with relative ease on his part. (Justice League of America v2 #29)
Notes
- Shadow Thief was created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert where he made his first appearance in Brave and the Bold v1 #36 (July, 1961).
Alternate Versions
- In JLA: The Nail v1 (1998), an alternate version of Shadow Thief appeared in a reality within the Multiverse. He gained his abilities from Xaraponian technology. He was being chased by Hawkwoman and Zatanna. He opens a portal to Xarapon to escape, but he was apparently destroyed when the portal was affected by the temporal disruptions.
- In Flashpoint: Legion of Doom v1 #1 (2011), an alternate version of the Sands Shadow Thief appeared in the altered reality of Flashpoint. He was a metahuman criminal who was captured and sent to the flying prison known as the Hall of Doom. He joined Atomic Skull's metahuman prison gang. During Heatwave's prison break, Shadow Thief was stopped by the prison guard-robot Amazo.
- In Hawkman v5 #18 (2020), an alternate version of Sands known as the Shadow Sheriff appeared as an inhabitant of Earth-3 in the Multiverse. This version was a hero who came to be the leader of the Justice Society All-Stars on the crime-ridden world.
In other media
Television
- In Justice League Unlimited, a different version of the Shadow Thief appeared in the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe where he was voiced by actor James Remar. This version was the physical manifestation of Carter Hall's inner darkness. Introduced in the episode "Shadow of the Hawk", he manipulates Hall and Hawkgirl into unearthing an Egyptian tomb containing Thanagarian technology. Despite being foiled by them and Batman, he successfully escapes. In the episode "Ancient History", Shadow Thief attempts to kill Green Lantern so Hall can have Hawkgirl all to himself, only to be defeated and reabsorbed by Hall.
- In The Batman, the Shadow Thief appeared in the animated television series in the episode "What Goes Up" where he was voiced by actor Diedrich Bader. Shadow Thief first appears to break Black Mask from Arkham Asylum. Shadow Thief then tries to steal a meteor from the Thanagar Star System. When Batman and Robin attack, Black Mask's men attacked. Shadow Thief easily takes down Batman and Robin, and Black Mask prepares to kill them. Hawkman arrives just then to fight Shadow Thief. Batman, Robin, and Hawkman then pursue the van that Black Mask and Shadow Thief escaped in, when Shadow Thief covers the entire Batmobile in shadow and sends it veering off a cliff. Hawkman, using his strength and amazing wings, saves the vehicle in midair. Black Mask and Shadow Thief later siphon some of the Nth element in a plot to rob the gem depository.
Appearances
- Brave and the Bold v1: 1961)
- Justice League of America v2:
- Hawkman v4:
- Hawkman v5:
External Links
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