Silver Banshee (DC)

Villain Overview

“	Don't. Supercrop has been protecting you identity, so you must be someone special but I don't care who* you are. Just know this. You have you first archenemy.*	„
	~ Silver Banshee to Superman and Superwoman

Silver Banshee is a supporting antagonist from the DC Comics universe, appearing primarily as an opponent of both Superman and Supergirl. She is the former archenemy to Supergirl and is currently redeemed and dating the Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen. She was originally named Siobhan McDougal, but after the New 52 reboot of the comics, she was renamed as Siobhan Smythe.

Siobhan McDougal was originally the eldest child of an ancient Gaelic clan. When her father died, she expected to inherit leadership. However, the clan required her to undergo a mystical rite in the family's ancestral crypt. During the ritual, she was interrupted by her jealous brother and dragged into the Netherworld. There, she was cursed and transformed into Silver Banshee, a ghostly figure with immense supernatural powers. She eventually returned to Earth bound to serve an otherworldly spirit (often named The Crone), collecting specific magical artifacts to secure her freedom.

Portrayals[]

Portrayals
In Justice League Unlimited, she was voiced by Kim Mai Guest. In Smallville, she was played by Odessa Rae. In Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem, she was voiced by Kari Wahlgren. In Supergirl, she was played by Italia Ricci. In Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and LEGO DC Super-Villains, she was voiced by Julie Nathanson. In DC Super Hero Girls, she was voiced by Cristina Milizia. In My Adventures with Superman, she was voiced by Catherine Taber.

Biography[]

Modern Age[]

Siobhan McDougal was the first-born child of Garrett McDougal, the patriarch of an old Gaelic clan that has occupied an island midway between Scotland and Ireland for a thousand generations. On that island is Castle Broen, where first-born McDougals undergo a ritual to prove themselves worthy to lead the clan.

When Siobhan was young, she traveled the world, only returning to Castle Broen when she heard of her father's death. Her uncle Seamus determined that no woman would lead the clan and intended her brother Bevan to become the new patriarch. She went ahead with the family ritual by herself, which involved calling on supernatural forces for power. She was interrupted by Bevan, and the distraction proved disastrous as she was dragged away into an infernal netherworld.

An entity called "the Crone" granted her powers and the ability to return to Earth as the Silver Banshee, but demanded payment in the form of an occult book that belonged to her father. She found that her father's book collection had been shipped off for sale in the United States.

Her quest brought her to Metropolis. Killing anyone that stood in the way of her search attracted the attention of Superman, who was able to defeat her when he realized that she could only kill a person once as she turned away from someone who resembled a previous victim; by faking his death, Superman was able to enlist the Martian Manhunter attack Banshee by posing as Superman's ghost. Unable to defeat Superman, she chose to retreat and continue her mission at a later date.

Silver Banshee returned to Metropolis twice more, but was halted both times by Superman. It was Batman who finally found the book among some stolen goods in Gotham City. Superman brought the book to Castle Broen where he was confronted by Silver Banshee. The Crone appeared at the castle, and after an enigmatic warning to Superman, she dragged the Banshee, Bevan, and Seamus off to her Netherworld.

In Leesburg, Supergirl rescued Silver Banshee from Satanus' Netherworld when the chaos flow brought the river Styx to the town. Silver Banshee was left in a confused state, eventually going back to her psychotic persona and using Supergirl's friend Mattie as a host while rampaging on the streets.

Mattie and Silver Banshee thus proceeded to nearby Schnaffenburg where Mattie tried to get revenge on Gerald McFee, who killed her brother during Final Night while in thrall to Gorilla Grodd. Supergirl calmed Silver Banshee, separating Mattie from her, which led to Silver Banshee temporarily vanishing.

Silver Banshee was one of the final four villains- along with Bizarro, Mongul, and the Master Jailer- sent against Superman by Manchester Black, Black using his powers to make Banshee and Bizarro sane enough to tactically out think Superman, also granting Banshee awareness of his Kryptonian name so that she could use her magic against him more effectively.

Despite this, Superman was able to defeat the four, forcing Mongul to expend his energy before dropping a nuclear-powered superhuman onto the deserted island that they were currently inhabiting. Silver Banshee attempted to collect the billion dollar bounty President Luthor placed on Superman’s head in Superman/Batman #3, but failed, with Batman using an ultrasonic generator to keep her nullified.

Silver Banshee later joined the Secret Society headed by Alexander Luthor. She was one of the members who turned on Black Adam when Luthor needed him for his machine. She also took part in the Battle of Metropolis. Silver Banshee battles Supergirl in Supergirl #34, and is expected to be a recurring nemesis for Supergirl, as well as Superman, as part of an attempt to tie Supergirl's book in with Superman's titles.

In Superman #682, Supergirl was used as a diversion as some members of Kandor captured Silver Banshee, placing her in the Phantom Zone. Later, Superman freed Silver Banshee to be taken to Belle Reve. Inspector Henderson with other police officers break into an apartment, but it explodes and then they found a corpse covered in runes. Kara meets with Inspector Henderson, who's following a case his old mentor was never able to close, and thought it has to do with items Silver Banshee needs to lift her curse.

Inspector Henderson finds his mentor had the item, but it embeds itself in Inspector Henderson's hand, allowing Silver Banshee to track him. Silver Banshee shows up and fights Supergirl, but Supergirl opens a package from Henderson and becomes possessed by a Banshee hybrid.

Banshee-Supergirl and the Silver Banshee battle each other as events are recapped. Supergirl tells Silver Banshee they hid the artifacts in people, in order to keep them hidden from her. Apparently all the items were hidden not as a curse, but as a test for prospective clan leaders. Henderson punches Banshee-Supergirl, which is effective because of the artifact in his hand.

Supergirl tried to exorcise the spirits possessing her but fails. Henderson realizes the spirits were tied to the artifacts and could be used against them. He then stabs his hand and breaking Supergirl free from her spirits. Silver Banshee then uses her wails to disperse the spirits. She finally uses magic to remove the artifacts from Henderson's hand and lets him know she is indebted to him.

The New 52[]

In The New 52 (a reboot of the DC Comics universe), Siobhan Smythe first appears in Supergirl vol. 6 #7 as a girl from Dublin who had immigrated to the United States to start a new life after her mother died, and to escape her father (the also dead Black Banshee). She befriends Supergirl, and stood up to the National Guard who tried to gun Supergirl down, as she could clearly see that Supergirl had saved the city from Kryptonian Worldkillers, but is the only one who can speak her language.

She invites Kara to live with her, and brings her along to a cafe where she performs music when her dead father, the Black Banshee, attacks, prompting her to transform into Silver Banshee. The two fight Black Banshee only for Supergirl to be absorbed into the villain's body. While inside she relives nightmarish versions of her own memories and encounters Tom Smythe, Siobhan's brother. He explains how the Banshee is a curse passed down along his family line and how Black Banshee had plans for his daughter to join him in conquering the world. Tom had sacrificed himself in Siobhan's place, hoping it would end the curse. Instead he only managed to delay it. Fighting Black Banshee together, they succeeded in escaping and defeated him for good. Siobhan reverted to normal and was reunited with her brother. Later Supergirl left them, feeling she was only putting them in danger by being around them.

Siobhan later appears in the Red Daughter of Krypton storyline, when Supergirl gets taken over by a Red Lantern Ring after a battle with Lobo. Siobhan transforms into Silver Banshee again but struggles for control over her body. Due to Supergirl's vulnerability to magic, Siobhan manages to hold her own against her and uses her sonic abilities to teleport herself and a berserk Kara from New York to the Catskill Mountains to avoid casualties. Unable to defeat Kara, she manages to convince her to leave Earth before she ravages the entire planet.

Dawn of DC[]

During DC Rebirth, the McDougal version of the character has returned to her criminal activities in Metropolis. Siobhan was eventually granted parole. Putting her life back on track, she had become a singer and Jimmy Olsen's girlfriend. Completely against her wishes, old enemies of Luthor forced Silver Banshee to attack Superman as part of their larger plan against Lex. However, Superman and Olsen help free Siobhan from this situation.

Powers and Abilities[]

Silver Banshee has superhuman strength, agility, speed, endurance,flight (through sonic waves) and a high degree of resistance to physical and energy-based attacks. Her incredibly strong and destructive hyper-sonic wails, sonic screams, and sonic yells can kill anyone within a certain range as long as she can see her victim and knows their secret true name. Victims are usually reduced to desiccated husks. Silver Banshee is able to use her sound/sonic-based abilities to teleport via sound waves.

In DC's I Know What You Did Last Crisis #1, it is revealed that Silver Banshee can spontaneously extend her hair, using it to grasp heavy objects securely, and strike, smother or kill human targets, like Kayako Saeki.

As Siobhan Smythe in The New 52 continuity, she has also exhibited a gift for language, becoming fluent after hearing merely a few words in not just humanoid languages, but also animal languages (she shows off to Supergirl by talking to doves), though she tends to speak every language with a strong Irish accent.

Other versions[]

JLA/Avengers[]

In the limited series "JLA/Avengers", Silver Banshee appears as a villain in Metropolis under Krona's control. She helps take down the Vision and Aquaman but is ultimately defeated by Wonder Woman.

JLA: The Nail[]

In the Elseworlds story "JLA: The Nail", the Silver Banshee made an appearance in Professor Hamilton's Cadmus Labs.

In other media[]

Television[]

Justice League Unlimited[]

Main article: Silver Banshee (DC Animated Universe)

Silver Banshee appears as an antagonist in the third and final season of Justice League Unlimited. This version can fly and drain her opponents of their life energy at will which will age them in seconds. Kim Mai Guest is credited for voicing Silver Banshee even though she has no identifiable dialogue.

Smallville[]

Main article: Silver Banshee (Smallville)

Silver Banshee appeared in the Smallville episode "Escape" played by Odessa Rae. This version is a deceased Gaelic heroine who was cursed and placed in the Underworld. Siobhan managed to escape from the Underworld, possessing great powers. Just like her recent appearances in the comics, this version needs to possess a host. She was released when Lois Lane accidentally ripped a portrait of Bevan (which had been painted over a portrait of Siobhan) at the McDougal Inn. Her abilities are sonic scream, superhuman strength, stamina and durability. When she utilizes her powers, her irises glow white.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold[]

A character similar to Silver Banshee named "Scream Queen" appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold television series. She debuts in the cold open of the episode "Trials of the Demon!". Alongside Scarecrow, she's part of a Halloween scheme to infect Gotham’s jack-o'-lanterns with fear gas.

She attempts to attack the Flash with devastating sonic screams while Batman and Flash attempt to stop the chaotic plan. The Flash outsmarts her by shoving a fear-gas pumpkin into her mouth, and the effects disorient her enough for them to apprehend her. She also appears briefly in the musical-themed episode "Mayhem of the Music Meister!" and in a sidekicks training simulation in "Sidekicks Assemble!". She can unleashes destructive supersonic blasts, transforming her head or hood into a gaping mouth for powerful effect. She also can fly, even fast enough to match the Flash in mid-air.

Supergirl[]

Main article: Siobhan Smythe (Arrowverse)

Italia Ricci appears as Siobhan Smythe in Supergirl starting in episode 14. The character eventually becomes Silver Banshee and forms a team up with Leslie Willis. Despite being the Smythe version, she is based on the McDougal version of the character, having long silver hair and acting as a villain/enemy to Supergirl.

DC Super Hero Girls[]

In the DC Super Hero Girls reboot, Silver Banshee was voiced by Cristina Milizia. This version is a vengeful ghost who haunts McDougal Academy, a boarding school in Metropolis. Katana initially attempts to capture the Banshee using her sword, the Soul Taker, but needs help. Batgirl and Supergirl step in. Supergirl, ever the skeptic, tries turning the hunt into a prank until she serendipitously films Silver Banshee herself.

Through Katana's sword, Silver Banshee reveals her tragic past; centuries ago, her younger brother Bevin (ancestor of the current headmaster) killed her out of jealousy and stole a family heirloom meant to mark her as the rightful clan leader. So she returned as a ghost, haunting the school until atonement is made. When the headmaster, realizing his family's dark wrong, returns the heirloom, Silver Banshee finds peace and departs the mortal realm.

My Adventures with Superman[]

Main article: Silver Banshee (My Adventures with Superman)

In My Adventures with Superman, Silver Banshee was voiced by Catherine Taber. This version is a young member of the Intergang and the sister of Kyle Nimbus aka the Mist. After her incarceration, she became a member of the Task Force X.

Siobhan starts as a petty criminal. She was imprisoned for botched robberies and later freed by Mist and Rough House, who use stolen alien tech from Livewire to break her out. Rather than magical abilities, this version of Silver Banshee relies on a sound-amplifying helmet that grants her a powerful sonic scream, used to break vaults and subdue enemies, including Superman. After being freed, Siobhan and the Intergang uses their newfound tech for a bank heist and clashes with Superman, who thaws the bank using heat vision while the trio is caught. Later, they're picked up by Deathstroke.

Film[]

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies[]

Silver Banshee appears in the animated movie Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. This version can also fly. She is one of the many supervillains that want to collect the $1 billion bounty that President Lex Luthor placed on Superman. She was defeated when Superman took her to the upper limits of the atmosphere where she cannot breathe, and while she is unconscious, Batman puts a device on her that would nullify her power by turning it against her will.

Superman Reborn[]

Silver Banshee, along with Parasite, Brainiac, and Doomsday, were considered as the main villains in Superman Reborn, but the film was cancelled before it began production.

Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem[]

The Siobhan McDougal version of Silver Banshee appears in Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem, voiced by Kari Wuhrer. She (along with Scarecrow, Solomon Grundy and Clayface) joined the Joker's gang of monsters to wreak mayhem on Gotham City.

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay[]

Main article: Silver Banshee (DC Animated Movie Universe)

Silver Banshee appeared in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, where she served as one of Professor Zoom's minions along with Blockbuster. She previously had a sexual relationship with Steel Maxum, who was serving as Doctor Fate at the time. Despite Steel being removed from the mantle by Nabu due to losing the Get Out of Hell Free card to Scandal Savage and Knockout, he was abducted by Zoom's crew to interrogate the card's latest location out of him.

Banshee ambushed Killer Frost in a public restroom, with her and Blockbuster taking her to Professor Zoom, who removed her cranial explosive to recruit her to his side. After Zoom removed the card from Vandal Savage's chest, Frost betrayed him by sealing him in ice, while also using her powers to internally freeze Blockbuster and Banshee, with thick icicles bursting out of their mouths, before they fall on their faces, causing the icicles to stab through the back of their heads, ensuring their deaths.

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