Spoilers for Infinite Frontier ahead!
One of DC’s forgotten villains, the Shade, made his return in the recently concluded Infinite Frontier, and he might, and deserves, to be a larger player in what comes next. The fan-favorite character has been largely absent from the DC Universe over the past few years but returned in Infinite Frontier #3. It was a brief appearance, and while it may have seemed like a fun cameo at the time, it may foreshadow something bigger for the character.
The Shade first appeared during comics’ Golden Age, in 1942’s Flash Comics #33, created by Gardner Fox and Harold Sharp. The Shade possesses the ability to control and manipulate shadows, able to form them into constructs he can then use to attack people—much like Obsidian. For the next 50 years, the Shade was portrayed as simply another low-level super-powered villain. During James Robinson and Tony Harris’ Starman run, starting in 1994, the Shade was reimagined as an immortal, almost 200 years old with an ambiguous moral code. While the Shade traveled the world extensively, he called Starman’s Opal City home, and when Jack Knight became Starman, the Shade acted as his mentor, aiding Jack Knight and his allies. Starman concluded in 2001, and the Shade made sporadic appearances across the DC Universe, most notably during “The Archer’s Quest” in Green Arrow.
In Infinite Frontier #3, Alan Scott and his son Obsidian visit the Shade, hoping he may have information on who is behind mysterious attacks on them. Unfortunately, the Shade does not have much for them, saying his contacts have “gone quiet.” The Shade suggests the enemy they seek may not be an enemy of Alan Scott, but the legacy of the JSA---meaning Obsidian, and his sister Jade.
The Shade does not appear again for the rest of Infinite Frontier, but in light of revelations made at the end of issue six, he could end up having a larger role. Issue six ended with Darkseid declaring his intention to harness the Great Darkness—a dark, primordial force that exists outside the Multiverse. Both Obsidian and the Shade draw their powers from this source. Infinite Frontier #6 ended with Obsidian helping foil Darkseid’s plan to crack the walls of the multiverse; while this saved the day, it put Obsidian on Darkseid’s radar. The Lord of Apokolips is almost certainly going to come after him, especially now that he knows of Obsidian’s powers.
How might the Shade factor into this? Will Darkseid learn of his existence as well? Unlike Obsidian, the Shade’s morality is a little more nebulous—he had no issues terrorizing the Flash and Green Lantern, but he would protect Opal City to the bitter end. He murdered people in cold blood but also was a mentor to Jack Knight. The Shade might ally himself with Darkseid, but only at first; when push comes to shove, the Shade will not let Darkseid destroy the universe and enslave humanity.
The Shade is one of DC’s forgotten villains—and he may be one of their most powerful. His abilities will be coveted by Darkseid, which could potentially make into one of Infinite Frontier’s major players.