Origin | Super-Power | Personal Data | Membership Record
She can draw strength from the slightest shadow or dark corner. She can also build up her power by wrapping her face in the folds of her cape and shielding her eyes from glare. As she expands her shadow nearer to light sources the pressure becomes greater, making her mind feel like its on fire (Adventure Comics No. 365). Her shadows can cancel out Mordru's search-shadows (Adventure Comics No. 369). Shadow Lass can "see" through her projected shadows, and is able to cast them around persons who are out of physical sight and elsewhere in a city (369). Once, when her power was "beefed up", Shadow Lass could cast shadows that could span half the globe and blot out the sun (Adventure Comics No. 368).
Speculative Explanation of Power: Visible light travels in waves that have frequency highs (nodes) and lows (antinodes). Shadow Lass has special cells in her skin that have the ability to emit waves of electromagnetic energy, invisible to the naked eye, that are of equal frequency but of opposite phase to the light waves. The superposition of her "anti-light" waves over the light waves cause destructive interference, the result being the cancellation of light, causing areas of darkness. Concentrated rays of bright light, however, are too powerful for her anti-light wave-generating cells to overcome. Physical Description: The blue-skinned Tasmia has medium length black hair, held with a hair-band, with bangs coming down over her forehead and a strand of hair curled in front of each ear.
Compared to 20th century Americans, Tasmia has an exotic accent, which is why she posed as an exchange student. Mrs. Lang commented: "You must have come quite a distance, Betsy!" (Adventure Comics No. 369). The name Norcross is of English origin. Skills: Tasmia understands the customs of the Yakka-Mahor, mountain people who are considered savages by the general population of Talok. She is one of the few outsiders who can speak their language (Adventure Comics No. 365). Interests: Tasmia like to talk about boys and relationships with her girlfriends (Adventure Comics No. 368). Previous Occupations: Heroine of Talok VIII (Adventure Comics No. 365)
Relationships: When Tasmia first joined the Legion of Super-Heroes she was attracted to the cerebral Brainiac 5, calling him "brilliant", "strong-willed", "proud", "handsome" and "so logical" (Adventure Comics No. 366) She eventually dropped this crush for him when she discovered that he was Supergirl's boyfriend (368). She then turned her affections to Mon-El (369, 375). She can show slight insecurity and feelings of jealousy over him regarding their blossoming relationship (Action Comics No. 379/2). Her closest Legion friends are Brainiac 5, Superboy (Adventure Comics No. 365, 366), and Duo Damsel (369, 370). She has held a slight grudge against Karate Kid ever since he sent Mon-El on a three-day mission when he only had four days to live, even though Mon-El had asked for it (Action Comics No. 384/2). Known Relatives: None Application: Though she had always dreamed of becoming a Legionnaire, Shadow Lass never actually applied for Legion membership. The heroine of her world, she was returning from a mission in space when she narrowly avoided being blasted by her own people. She got a chance to work with the Legion in trying to discover why her normally peaceful home planet had become a threat to the United Planets. She acted as the Legion's guide across Talok VIII's Great Desert to the capital city of Ibid-Ganar. After discovering that Tharok's mind-control unit was behind it all, and that she and the Legionnaires themselves were responsible for their escape, she stuck with the Legion as they tailed the Fatal Five back to Earth. During the Five's attack on the Legion clubhouse, Shadow Lass asked to be sworn in as a member before the heroes met the villains in a fight to the finish.
Induction: Shadow Lass was made a Legionnaire in a temporary, emergency appointment by then acting leader, Superboy (Adventure Comics No. 365/366). Later, after a heated battle that ended with the destruction of the Legion's clubhouse, the team rewarded Shadow Lass with permanent membership for her heroism (377 "The Legion Outpost"). Aliases Used: "Betsy Norcross", an identity she took while hiding out from Mordru in 20th century Smallville. She wore pink make-up to cover her blue skin. Career Highlights: Adventure Comics No. 366 (Mar. 1968) "The Fight For the Championship of the Universe"
Adventure Comics No. 368 (May 1968) "The Mutiny of the Super-Heroines"
Adventure Comics No. 369/370 (June/July 1968) "Mordru the Merciless" / "The Devil's Jury"
For information concerning Shadow Lass after 2969, click here. |
||||||||||||||||||
Shadow Lass
received her power from the same source as Shadow Kid, also a
Talokite (or Talokian), although his powers are
different (Adventure Comics
No. 368 "The Legion Outpost", 340
"Bits of Legionnaire Business"). Shadow
Lass became a heroine of her planet (365).
Shadow Lass has the power
to create darkness 100 times darker than night. Her black
shadows are impenetrable by light. She has
shadow-sensitive eyes that give her the ability to see in
darkness. 
Limitations
and Weaknesses: A drawback to her ability
is that bright lights weaken Shadow Lass' power.
They sap her strength, leave her helpless, and,
with prolonged exposure, can even kill her (Adventure
Comics No. 365). 
Personality: Tasmia has a very
headstrong, passionate and take-charge personality (Adventure
Comics No. 365/366, 368, 369). and
a temper (Action Comics
No. 384/2). She is intuitive, though her sense of
curiosity can lead her into trouble at times (369). She
thrives on excitement and enjoys her role as a super-hero
(366). Tasmia enjoys comradeship, is friendly, and quick
to fit in (365/366). Deep down, Tasmia harbors fears of
failure and self-doubt in her abilities (369).
Nicknames: "Shady" (Adventure
Comics No. 366, 369); she calls
herself the "Mistress of Shadows" (369) 
Shadow Lass was sworn-in as
a member just before a major battle with the
Fatal Five, who were trying to get all the keys
to the U.P. defenses. She saved the others by
knocking out the Emerald Empress and blacking out
the battle area, giving her teammates the chance
to strike back.
Shadow Lass accidentally
released Mordru from his vault-prison and the
sorcerer pursued her, Superboy, Mon-El, and Duo
Damsel back to 1930s Smallville. While in the
past, Shadow Lass adopted the secret identity of
Betsy Norcross, an exchange student, and moved in
with Lana Lang and her family. She protected
herself and her teammates with a shadow of her
own, one that concealed them from Mordru's
search-shadows.