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| © DC Comics / Used without permission |
Real Name: Salu Digby
First Appearance: Action Comics #276 [DC Comics May 1961]
Character created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney
ABILITIES
Prowess 5 {Good}
Coordination 5 {Good}
Strength 3 {Average}
Intellect 3 {Average}
Awareness 5 {Good}
Willpower 5 {Good}
Stamina: 9
Determination: 5
SPECIALTIES
Deception
Investigation Expert
Martial Arts
Stealth Master
POWERS
Shrinking 10 {Supreme}
Growth Momentum
Micro-World
EQUIPMENT
Legion Flight Ring
QUALITIES
. Sharp wit, although diffident. Survivor: Since her abduction, has become more forceful and able to protect herself
. Determined not to be imprisoned again
Points: 62
ORIGIN STORY
Salu Digby comes from the planet Imsk, whose natives have the ability to shrink to microscopic proportions. Despite her shy, retiring nature, she joined the Legion of Super-Heroes under the codename Shrinking Violet.
Their race didn't originate on Imsk, but were descendants of a starfaring race colony. They arrived on Imsk almost a million years ago. On the eleventh year, the whole world began to shrink. For fifty days the planet continued to dwindle smaller and smaller, but the residents of the world remained "giants." One of the colonists was able to discover a peculiar energy from radioactive boulders, and he turned that radiation on the others. This altered their genetic structure and the people began to shrink. From then on, the ability to shrink became a hereditary trait passed down from generation to generation.
Shrinking Violet's membership with the Legion for her first ten years was as quiet and demure as she was. When on a mission, she met Duplicate Boy of Lallor. They fell in love and continued a long distance romance for several years.
Shrinking Violet in her early years did not make any particular deep friendships in the Legion, although she was on good terms with everyone. At times, she seemed to look up to and/or admire the physically or emotionally strong men on the team, such as Mon-El, Superboy, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad. Although Colossal Boy had a crush on her and she knew of it, she never reciprocated. She spent time with her fellow Espionage Squad members Invisible Kid, Phantom Girl and Chameleon Boy, so was perhaps friendliest with them. When she was especially lonely without Duplicate Boy around, she agreed to go on a date with Matter-Eater Lad, but they ended up staying just friends. After Violet returned to active duty after her kidnapping, she struck up a friendship with Lightning Lass who had also recently gone through a life-altering experience. Also, Violet seemed to be friendlier with strong-willed members such as Sensor Girl, but less friendly towards old friends Chameleon Boy and Colossal Boy.
Several years into her time with the LSH, Shrinking Violet was kidnapped by Imskian radicals and replaced by Yera, a Durlan shapeshifter who assumed her identity. Despite “Violet’s” change in personality, her teammates only became suspicious when she suddenly showed romantic interest in Colossal Boy. Shrinking Violet was eventually rescued, and returned to duty after recovering from the traumatic stress of being kidnapped. More cynical than she was before her abduction, Shrinking Violet became more aggressive in dealing with criminals, and became an important member of the Legion Espionage Squad. Determined never to be taken advantage of again, Salu’s personal combat training has made her one of the best female hand-to-hand combatants in the Legion. Violet broke off her relationship with Duplicate Boy when she discovered that he knew she had been replaced but had not alerted the Legion nor attempted to rescue her. She has been dating Gossamer since then.
Their race didn't originate on Imsk, but were descendants of a starfaring race colony. They arrived on Imsk almost a million years ago. On the eleventh year, the whole world began to shrink. For fifty days the planet continued to dwindle smaller and smaller, but the residents of the world remained "giants." One of the colonists was able to discover a peculiar energy from radioactive boulders, and he turned that radiation on the others. This altered their genetic structure and the people began to shrink. From then on, the ability to shrink became a hereditary trait passed down from generation to generation.
Shrinking Violet's membership with the Legion for her first ten years was as quiet and demure as she was. When on a mission, she met Duplicate Boy of Lallor. They fell in love and continued a long distance romance for several years.
Shrinking Violet in her early years did not make any particular deep friendships in the Legion, although she was on good terms with everyone. At times, she seemed to look up to and/or admire the physically or emotionally strong men on the team, such as Mon-El, Superboy, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad. Although Colossal Boy had a crush on her and she knew of it, she never reciprocated. She spent time with her fellow Espionage Squad members Invisible Kid, Phantom Girl and Chameleon Boy, so was perhaps friendliest with them. When she was especially lonely without Duplicate Boy around, she agreed to go on a date with Matter-Eater Lad, but they ended up staying just friends. After Violet returned to active duty after her kidnapping, she struck up a friendship with Lightning Lass who had also recently gone through a life-altering experience. Also, Violet seemed to be friendlier with strong-willed members such as Sensor Girl, but less friendly towards old friends Chameleon Boy and Colossal Boy.
Several years into her time with the LSH, Shrinking Violet was kidnapped by Imskian radicals and replaced by Yera, a Durlan shapeshifter who assumed her identity. Despite “Violet’s” change in personality, her teammates only became suspicious when she suddenly showed romantic interest in Colossal Boy. Shrinking Violet was eventually rescued, and returned to duty after recovering from the traumatic stress of being kidnapped. More cynical than she was before her abduction, Shrinking Violet became more aggressive in dealing with criminals, and became an important member of the Legion Espionage Squad. Determined never to be taken advantage of again, Salu’s personal combat training has made her one of the best female hand-to-hand combatants in the Legion. Violet broke off her relationship with Duplicate Boy when she discovered that he knew she had been replaced but had not alerted the Legion nor attempted to rescue her. She has been dating Gossamer since then.
This is the second installment of my ongoing pursuit to depict the Legion of Super-Heroes characters in ICONS. Converted characters unavoidably exceeds the 45-point limitation that the ICONS Superpowered Roleplaying Game core book recommends. Revised, according to the ICONS Great Power book. Because of an earlier inquiry by Cameron Mount, I included a paragraph of why Imskians got their ability to shrink. Streamlined, once again, according to ICONS Superpowered Roleplaying: The Assembled Edition.
2 comments:
I wish I knew more about the Legion. I guess I've just never really been a fan of DC.
I think her powers are pretty interesting, but the background (not your fault at all, obviously) just strikes me as odd. I'm trying to think of a good reason that a race of being would evolve the ability to shrink to microcosmic proportions. But good job with the write-up.
Cameron,
It was never explained, in comics, why Imskians (Shrinking Violet's people) developed the ability to shrink. It was hinted - in the so-called Threeboot version of Legion - that it has something to do with the shrinking ray created by Brainiac (the same one used to shrink the Kryptonian city of Kandor).
You made me think with this one. Consistency is not a forte in superhero comics, indeed.
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