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This Article Contains Spoilers - WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all.

I'll say it for the last time: Stay out of my way!
~ The Shade warns the young JSA.
Your poor deluded... child! Don't you know there is a difference between bad and evil? I've been called wicked more than once; a law broken here, rule bent there, the odd life taken... but nobody ever didn't deserve it!
~ Shade to Courtney.

Richard Swift, known as the Shade, is a supporting character in the CW series Stargirl.

Richard is an english immortal shadow bending meta-human; who is tall and slim man with an elegant 19th century way to his speech and manners, he masks the horrors he has experienced and other individuals that; he has lost in all the time alive with wry, witty retorts and a false sense that nothing really matters. He is a former member of the Injustice Society and the former mentor of Starman.

Richard is portrayed by Jonathan Cake; who also portrayed Marcus Woll in Law & Order and Patrick Mulregan in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Richard Swift was born at an unknown time in the past; his first known appearance traces back to the 1800s. Richard was abducted as a part of a dark ritual to summon a demonic god, which resulted in Swift gaining the power to control shadows, travel through darkness and gain immortality. He then took full advantage of his new-found superpowers and used them to cheat his way through life and forge a life of wealth and stature for himself. Wielding these powers, he later adopted the moniker of the "Shade" and turned to villainy, eventually joining the Injustice Society of America; when their goals aligned. But the Swift had great distaste for his comrades and considered their plans for Project New America to be folly. On Christmas Eve 2010, the Shade participated in the ISA's attack on the headquarters of the Justice Society where his shadows consumed the hero, Dr. Mid-Nite.

Although it appeared that Mid-Nite had been killed, he was instead ripped; into the Shadowlands where he remained stranded ever; since. Some time after the attack on the JSA, the Shade parted ways with the ISA; which it's leader Icicle considered to be a betrayal. But ten years later, the Shade returns to Blue Valley after he learns that; the ISA has fallen and that; their plans have been thwarted. Claiming to be bored after his unnatural long lifetime, he plans to find the black diamond; which houses the demonic and corrupting entity, Eclipso, intending to hurl the diamond; into the deepest depths of the ocean; in order to prevent Eclipso from ever influencing any humans again.

Search for Eclipso[]

After the Shade's arrival at Blue Valley, he visits the American Dream, believing that; the black diamond to be in the possession of the recently deceased William Zarick. He introduces himself as an antiques collector interested in Zarick's collection and; makes contact; with Barbara Whitmore. Later, while having tea in a restaurant, Shade is met by Pat Dugan; who was a sidekick of JSA member Starman and recognizes him as his former enemy. After confirming his suspicions, Pat alerts the new JSA - consisting of his step daughter Courtney and her friends - to the Shade's arrival.

Having recognized Pat as Stripsey, the Shade expects the arrival of the young heroes. When they eventually turn up, he surprisingly welcomes them with tea and biscuits, claiming they should have a conversation. When the team sits down, the Shade reveals that; he has no sinister intentions and that; he will leave Blue Valley once his business is done. But the team does not believe him and; when the impulsive Mike frees the Thunderbolt, chaos erupts. But the JSA has no chance and the Shade procures his shadows, taking all of the enemies down in seconds. He refrains from causing any wounds and instead merely pins the enemies down. Annoyed; by their stubbornness and unruliness, he warns them once more to stay out of his way before vanishing; into the shadows.

Only; when Courtney keeps investigating the Shade's plans and starts connecting him to Eclipso does the Shade reveal himself to her once more. Having found out that; Eclipso's diamond is gone, he warns Courtney to stop her investigation. Courtney defiantly accuses him of planning to conspire with Eclipso; which the Shade takes as an insult. He instead reveals his true intentions to the dumbfounded Courtney - also revealing that; Eclipso had murdered Dr. Mid-Nites ten year old daughter - and once more disappears leaving more questions than answers.

Powers[]

  • Umbrakinesis: Shade possesses incredible shadow bending powers, allowing him to control darkness and travel through it at will. His powers are so advanced that he was able to defeat the entirety of the JSA and the Thunderbolt all while staying seated in his chair. He merely toyed with them, and if he wanted to kill them, the team would have been dead in seconds.
  • Immortality: An added benefit of Shade's darkness manipulation powers is that he is also granted an infinite lifespan and will never die unless killed.

Trivia[]

  • Richard Swift identifies as a Reasonable Evil; in that he considers himself "bad", but not evil.
  • This is Jonathan Cake's second time playing a character in a DC TV series. He previously appeared as the pirate Blackbeard, in the third season of DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

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