Silver Banshee is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, with both primarily as opponents of Superman. The first, Siobhan McDougal, made her debut in Action Comics #595 while the second, Siobhan Smythe, debuted during the New 52 in Supergirl vol. 6 #7.
Both McDougal and Smythe have appeared in DC Comics media outside of comics, with Odessa Rae portraying McDougal in Smallville and Italia Ricci portraying Smythe in Supergirl.
Publication history
Silver Banshee's debut in Action Comics #595 (December 1987), cover by Byrne.
Silver Banshee first appeared in Action Comics #595 and was created by John Byrne.[1]
Fictional character biography
Siobhan McDougal
Siobhan McDougal is the first-born child of Garrett McDougal, the patriarch of an ancient Gaelic clan living on an island between Scotland and Ireland. On that island is Castle Broen, where first-born McDougals undergo a ritual to prove themselves worthy to lead the clan. When Siobhan performs the ritual, she is transported to the netherworld and granted powers by the Crone entity.[2]
Siobhan Smythe, the second incarnation of Silver Banshee, is introduced in The New 52 continuity reboot. She is an Irish girl who immigrates to the United States to start a new life following her parents' deaths.[7]
Both incarnations of Silver Banshee possess preternatural levels of strength and resistance to injury powerful enough to prove physically challenging for super-powered Kryptonians like Superman and Supergirl. While not completely invulnerable, they are able to wound Kryptonians to a limited degree when they exert their full strength. While physically powerful, a Banshee's signature weapon is her sonic scream or "death wail". Her cry kills anyone who hears it, provided she knows their full name, reducing them to desiccated husks as the scream drains their life-force to strengthen the Banshee, akin to a succubus or psychic vampire.
As Siobhan Smythe of The New 52 continuity, Silver Banshee has exhibited an affinity for "omnilingualism" - able to instinctively speak any language fluently from the first moment she hears it, including being able to commune with animals.
Siobhan McDougal appears in the Smallville episode "Escape", portrayed by Odessa Rae.[10] This version is a deceased Gaelic heroine who was cursed, placed in the underworld, and needs to possess a host.
An unidentified Silver Banshee appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Kim Mai Guest.[11] This version is a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society. Prior to and during the episode "Alive!", Lex Luthor takes control of the Society, but Grodd mounts a mutiny. Silver Banshee sides with the latter, but is knocked out by Star Sapphire and killed off-screen by Darkseid along with Grodd's other loyalists.
The Siobhan Smythe incarnation of Silver Banshee appears in Supergirl, portrayed by Italia Ricci.[12][13] This version's abilities are derived from a familial curse tied to a banshee spirit that can only be quelled if she kills the source of her rage. She joins forces with Livewire in an attempt to kill Supergirl and Cat Grant, only to be defeated and incarcerated in National City Prison's metahuman wing.[14]
The Siobhan McDougal incarnation of Silver Banshee appears in the DC Super Hero Girls (2019) episode "#SchoolGhoul", voiced by Cristina Milizia.[citation needed] This version was chosen to lead her family's clan centuries ago in medieval Scotland before her jealous brother stole their family heirloom and killed her. Centuries later, his descendant became headmaster of the McDougal Academy, a Metropolis girls' boarding school, which Siobhan haunts in search of the heirloom. While fighting Katana in the present, Siobhan ends up in the latter's sword, where she reveals her history and quest. After she confronts the headmaster, he returns the heirloom and apologizes, allowing Siobhan to leave McDougal Academy in peace.
The Siobhan McDougal incarnation of Silver Banshee appears in My Adventures with Superman, voiced by Catherine Taber.[11] This version is a leading member of Intergang and sister of fellow member Mist whose abilities are derived from a sound-amplifying helmet.
According to concept art, Silver Banshee was originally planned to appear in The Lego Batman Movie.[16]
The Siobhan Smythe incarnation of Silver Banshee appears in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, voiced by Julie Nathanson.[17][11] She was hired by Professor Zoom to help him retrieve a "Get Out of Hell Free" card in exchange for his help in getting revenge on her former clan for banishing her, only to be killed by Killer Frost.
Video games
An unidentified Silver Banshee appears as a playable character in DC Unchained.[citation needed]
An unidentified Silver Banshee appears as a playable character in DC Legends.[citation needed]
An unidentified Silver Banshee appears as a playable character in the mobile version of Injustice 2.[citation needed]
The Siobhan McDougal incarnation of Silver Banshee appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Julie Nathanson.[19][11]
Miscellaneous
An unidentified Silver Banshee appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2015)[citation needed] as a member of Super Hero High School's debate team and a rock vocalist in the school's band club.
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 273. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
^Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 358–359. ISBN978-0-345-50108-0.
^ abcdef"Silver Banshee Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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