Vixen is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner, she first appeared in Action Comics #521 (July 1981), in a Superman story, working alongside the superhero to catch a poacher. An African superhero, she is considered one of the earliest created black superheroes in comics.
Hailing from the fictional African nation of Zambesi, Mari Jiwe (Mari McCabe after she emigrated to America) is the wielder of the Tantu Totem, a totem passed down in her family that allows her to take the attributes of any animal on Earth. Her role as a fashion model and a superheroine has made her operate in different cities, the main ones being Metropolis and New York. Having varied backgrounds over her publication history as a descendant of the warrior Tantu while connected to Anansi, the African trickster god who has been her family's patron for generations, the character serves as a fashion model, businesswoman, animal rights activist, and public superheroine affiliated with the Justice League, its derivative groups (Justice League Detroit and Justice League International), Birds of Prey, and Suicide Squad, at times taking a leadership position.
The character has been adapted in various DC Comics–related media, including the DCAU Justice League Unlimited and Injustice 2 as an alternate "skin" of Cheetah with her own lines while sharing a move-set. Two versions of the character appeared in The CW's Arrowverse. The Mari McCabe version debuted in the CW Seed animated series Vixen, voiced by Megalyn Echikunwoke, who also reprised her role in an episode of the live-action Arrowverse series, Arrow. Legends of Tomorrow introduced a World War II–era Vixen and Mari's grandmother, Amaya Jiwe, portrayed by Maisie Richardson-Sellers.
Creation In an interview, Conway discussed his reasoning for the character's creation:
Publication history
Vixen was intended to be the first African female DC superhero to star in her own series, but the first issue of her series was cancelled in the DC Implosion in 1978, never to be released. The story was subsequently printed in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade.
Since her debut in Action Comics, she has primarily appeared in team books, most notably various incarnations of the Justice League and Suicide Squad.
In October 2008, G. Willow Wilson began a five-issue limited series, Vixen: Return of the Lion.Talking to G. Willow Wilson - Air, Vixen and More, Newsarama, August 29, 2008G. Willow Wilson talks "Vixen", Comic Book Resources, September 10, 2008
Fictional character biography
Background and early life Centuries ago in Africa, the ancient warrior Tantu approached the Kwaku Anansi during an era where animals and men alike could commune and requested a totem that could channel the powers of the animal kingdom but could only be used for good. Gifting him the "Tantu Totem" (named after the warrior), Tantu became an African legend, noted as its first legendary heroes and his descendants would inherit the totem for generations, eventually settling in the Jiwe family.
Born and raised up in a small African village in Zambesi as the daughter of Reverend Richard Jiwe and Jeanne-Mari Jiwe, she learns the legend of the Tantu Totem from her father, who raised her as a single father following her mother's death at the hands of poachers and a man named Aku Kwei. Her father is soon killed by his half-brother and Mari's uncle, General Mustapha Maksai, while seeking to claim the Tantu Totem for his dark purposes and Mari fled to America subsequently as an orphan. Living in New York, Mari eventually becomes a successful and renown fashion model and international celebrity under the name "Mari McCabe".
Becoming Vixen Mari eventually back to Africa to reclaim the Tantu Totem and defeats General Maksai, eventually becoming the hero known as Vixen. Her earliest solo crime fighting adventures including fighting poachers in India and against the techno-psycho criminal, Admiral Cerebrus.DC Comics Presents #68 (April 1984)Action Comics #521 (July 1981) Shortly into her crime fighting career, Aquaman disbanded the original Justice League of America and began a new iteration based in Detroit (informally known as Justice League Detroit) and she was accepted as for a full-time membership after applying. During Vixen's time with the team, the totem was taken from her by General Maksai, who still sought its power.Justice League of America #234–235 The totem would only grant its full power to those who would use it to protect the innocent, and it caused Maksai to be transformed into a raging beast. Maksai died in battle with Vixen.Justice League of America #239 When the team faced the killer android Amazo, Vixen and several of her teammates were beaten into unconsciousness and then left bound and gagged in a walled-off pit but Vixen saved herself and her teammates using her powers to shatter her bonds and dig to freedom.Justice League of America #242 The team' was short-lived, however, as Steel and Vibe, were killed, leading to Martian Manhunter disbanding the team.Justice League of America #261
Suicide Squad
Vixen returned to modeling, but a Caribbean photo session turned violent; Mari's colleagues were killed by drug smugglers. She appealed to the government, who turned the matter over to the Suicide Squad. She went undercover to capture the drug kingpin Cujo, whose appearance had been revealed by footage from the photo shoot. Along with Captain Boomerang and Black Orchid, she destroyed the operation, but not before she lost control and killed the criminal kingpin. Revolted by what she had become, she agreed to work with the Squad until her animal instincts could be curbed.Suicide Squad #11–12 (March–April 1988) She worked with the Squad for some time, again seeing more teammates and friends killed. When it was disbanded for a year,Suicide Squad #39 (March 1990) Mari returned to modeling and even launched a successful line of clothing. Her failed romance with Ben Turner (the Bronze Tiger) made Vixen decline an offer to rejoin the Squad. She realized that Turner needed mental support, and she reluctantly returned.Suicide Squad #40 (April 1990) She ultimately gave up on a future with the Tiger, sensing that he would never admit to needing help, and left the team.Suicide Squad #58 (October 1991)
Other adventures After the Suicide Squad's heyday, Mari continued to do undercover work. She was drafted for at least one mission for Checkmate (the Squad's brother organization).Hawk and Dove vol. 4 #2–5 (December 1997–March 1998) At some point, she assisted Oracle and the Birds of Prey. She went undercover to investigate a strange "superhero" cult, where the leader was using mind control and wound up brainwashed by him herself. Huntress tried to help her and was nearly killed. Vixen regained her senses by channeling the stubbornness of a mule to hold back the mind control of the cult leader. She and Huntress then rescued the other brainwashed heroes.Birds of Prey #69–72 (September–October 2004)
Vixen may still have had trouble controlling her animal side while using the totem, as witnessed when she worked alongside the Flash to stop Gorilla Grodd.Flash vol. 2 #44–46 (November 1990–January 1991) She also served on one mission with the Justice League Task Force,Justice League Task Force #7–8 (December 1993–January 1994) helped Wonder Woman during a battle with Circe,Wonder Woman vol. 2 #174–175 (November–December 2001) and helped her former JLA comrades protect Lex Luthor.JLA/JSA: Virtue & Vice (December 2002) She then joined the loose-knit Ultramarine Corps.JLA #26 While part of the Corps, Mari was brainwashed by Gorilla Grodd who sent her and other heroes to battle the JLA. Ultimately, Vixen and the others were freed.
Infinite Crisis
After Sue Dibny is killed in the Identity Crisis miniseries, Vixen rejoined her Justice League colleagues. She was present when Firestorm died during a battle with the Shadow Thief. Vixen adopted a new uniform in Infinite Crisis #7, resembling her Justice League Unlimited counterpart.
One Year Later
Vixen was tricked into battle in Hub City by Solomon Grundy, who had gained increased intelligence following his resurrection.Justice League of America vol. 2, #1 (October 2006)Justice League of America vol. 2, #2 (November 2006)Justice League of America vol. 2, #3 (December 2006) Using her totem, Grundy planned to merge his spirit with Amazo's body and thus gain further power. Without her totem, Vixen found that her innate connection to the "Red", the 'essence' of animal life', was falling apart.Justice League of America vol. 2, #4 (January 2007) She managed to 'lock onto' the totem, but her mind became lost in a flock of migrating birds. After mimicking the abilities of a young boy, Vixen managed to regain her mind and quickly flew to New York to retrieve her totem.Justice League of America vol. 2, #5 (February 2007) Vixen literally dropped into the JLA battle against Amazo.Justice League of America vol. 2, #6 (April 2007) After the villains were subdued, Vixen became a charter member of the newly revamped Justice League of America.Justice League of America vol. 2, #7 (May 2007)
Justice League of America Vixen's main story arc in the early issues of Justice League of America Vol. 2, revolved around a change in her powers; Vixen changed from no longer drawing on animal characteristics, but to drawing on the powers of those around her. She matched others' skill levels and, as she suspected, drained powers from them. Superman was first to catch on to this and she subsequently revealed it to Red Arrow.Justice League of America vol. 2, #11 (September 2007)
Vixen sought out her former Suicide Squad teammate Bronze Tiger to discuss her situation, and subsequently admitted everything to the League.Justice League of America vol. 2, #22 (June 2008) Chairperson Black Canary instructed her to hand in her credentials and removed her from the team. Afterward, Dinah discussed with Mari the possibility of fixing the properties of the totem with the assistance of Zatanna.
When Zatanna attempted to find the source of the problem, she saw a mystic image of Vixen and Animal Man as puppets. When she tried to break the spell, she was repelled by an unknown force. When Vixen attempted to defeat the newly restored Amazo by absorbing all his stolen powers, she became mysteriously weak.Justice League of America vol. 2, #23 (July 2008) She then fell unconscious, with Amazo bearing down on her.Justice League of America vol. 2, #24 (August 2008)
When Zatanna and Red Tornado finally resolved the crisis, Vixen went to seek Animal Man, since he had been affected by similar power fluctuations, and was left unable to tap into the powers of Earth-borne animals. There, they were both sucked into the Tantu Totem, where, like in Zatanna's vision, they were trapped in Anansi's net. Anansi revealed his powers and how being the god of stories, he changed Buddy and Mari's personal histories and sources of powers to test them.Justice League of America vol. 2, #25 (September 2008)