Who's Who: Science Police - Shvaughn Erin

Shvaughn Erin
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Shvaughn Erin

Super-Power(s): None
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Science Police liaison

Legion Log
Officer Shvaughn Erin entered the lives of the Legion when she was dispatched to Legion HQ on the brink of Earthwar to warn them that their old enemy, Mordru, had escaped. Prevented by the Dark Wizard from revealing what she knew, she was only able to help Earth's defenses as the Khund forces attacked.

Familiar with the Legionnaires from working with them during Earthwar, Shvaughn was happy to volunteer to be Science Police Legion Liaison Officer, a role she maintained for more than four years.

During this time Shvaughn roomed with fellow SP Officer Gigi Cusimano. Shvaughn introduced Cusimano to several Legionnaires. They were roommates as well as friends.

Shvaughn slowly became friends with all of the Legionnaires, and with Element Lad in particular. They worked together to solve the mystery of Shrinking Violet, which proved to the shy Legionnaire that Shvaughn was intelligent as well as trustworthy. They started dating immediately prior to Element Lad winning Legion Leader for the first time.

Soon after this, Element Lad and four other Legionnaires went missing and were presumed dead. Shvaughn was heart-broken, but kept hoping that somehow Element Lad would return. Eventually, they did, and the two took their relationship to another level.

Towards the end of Element Lad's second term as Legion Leader he brought Shvaughn to his home planet, Trom, in order to pray together. As the last living Trommite, Element Lad wanted to share his culture with his girlfriend. In Shvaughn's opinion, this intimate ceremony was similar to his asking her to marry him. 

After Element Lad stepped down as Legion Leader, Shvaughn spent more time with him and less time with the new Legion Leader, Polar Boy. At about this time, SP Chief Zendak was replaced by Officer Erin's old roommate and friend, Gigi Cusimano. Chief Cusimano counted on Erin to be one of her most trusted advisors.

With the advent of the Magic War, Officer Erin was therefore one of the top officers on Earth. When the Magic War ended, Shvaughn stepped up to help the Science Police and the Legion rebuild Earth.

Five years later, Shvaughn has ended her relationship with Jan Arrah, and Earth's government has fallen under the covert control of the Dominion. During this period, it is revealed that she is a transgender woman who had been taking Profem medication to reassign her gender. With open warfare across the planet, access to Profem is disrupted and her biological sex reverts to male. As Sean Erin, Jan is still completely supportive of her, and would resume their relationship if she wanted to. She doesn't. Ultimately the Dominators are defeated, and Sean is appointed chief of the Science Police contingent on New Earth. Whether she acquires Profem or not after this is rendered moot when Zero Hour strikes and this particular continuity comes to an end.

In the Reboot, Shvaughn Erin is an adult Science Police officer, older than the Legionnaires, acting as liaison between the Science Police and the Legion. In the aftermath of a battle with an Emerald Eye, she is propelled back in time to 20th-Century Earth, with a small group of Legionnaires.They spend many months there before finding their way home.

Shvaughn Erin never appears in the Threeboot.

After Infinite Crisis, Shvaughn's original history has presumably been more or less restored.

Important Shvaughn Erin stories:

Superboy & The Legion of Super-Heroes #241
(reprinted in Superboy & The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2)

The debut of SP Officer Shvaughn Erin

Superboy & The Legion of Super-Heroes #244
(reprinted in Superboy & The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2)

Officer Erin participates in Earthwar

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v1) #1 (1982)
(reprinted in The Legion: The Great Darkness Saga TPB)

Officer Erin becomes Legion Liaison Officer

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #298
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Shvaughn Erin begins to spend time with Element Lad

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #302
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

First appearance of Shvaughn's crush on Element Lad

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #304
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Officer Erin shows off her detective prowess

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #307
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Shvaughn and Element Lad see each other outside of duty at LSH HQ

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #310
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Shvaughn and Element Lad finally kiss

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #312
(reprinted in The Legion: The Curse TPB)

Shvaughn helps several Legionnaires investigate a traitor in the SP

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #317

Shvaughn is assigned to help Dev-Em infiltrate the Dark Circle

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #323

Gigi relieves Shvaughn on her Dark Circle assignment

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #
(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye TPB)

 Element Lad kisses Shvaughn goodbye before heading off to face the LSV

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #
(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye TPB)

Shvaughn pines for the missing Element Lad

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #9

(reprinted in The Legion: The More Things Change TPB)

Shvaughn celebrates the return of Element Lad

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #12
(reprinted in The Legion: The More Things Change TPB)

Shvaughn is teased by her friends about her Legion connections

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #19

Shvaughn is ordered to investigate the mysterious incidents involving SP officers

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #27

Element Lad brings Shvaughn to his home planet for the first time

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #2 (1986)

Shvaughn and Element Lad try to solve the mystery of Validus

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #28

Shvaughn is alerted to the mysterious disappearances of law officers in the UP

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #33

Shvaughn is content, controlled by Universo

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #37

Marella Tao wants to talk to Shvaughn about the difficulties in dating a Legionnaire

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #57

Shvaughn isn't jealous of her friend's promotion to SP Chief

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #62

Shvaughn is on Earth helping control the masses during the Magic War

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #2

Shvaughn Erin, 5 years later

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #3

Shvaughn reacts to Blok's murder

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #31

The secret origin of Shvaughn Erin, as she struggles without access to Profem

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #41

Sean Erin is promoted to New Earth Science Police Chief

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #0

The Reboot's Shvaughn Erin makes her first appearance (with Quav)

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v4) #6

Shvaughn is named Legion liaison

Legionnaires #35

Shvaughn helps deal with an intruder alert in Legion HQ

Legionnaires #40

Emerald Violet turns Shvaughn into a baby

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #84

Even as a baby, Shvaughn goes on the mission to stop Emerald Violet

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #85

Shvaughn is with the Legionnaires sent to the 20th Century by Emerald Violet

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #94

While in the past, Shvaughn keeps meticulous records of the Legion's adventures and relationships

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #98-100

Shvaughn's Legion files are used by C.O.M.P.U.T.O. to defeat the team (oops!)

Legion of Super-Heroes: Secret Files and Origins #1

An interview with Shvaughn Erin

Legionnaires #58

Upon her return home, Shvaughn receives a promotion

Legionnaires #63

Shvaughn deputizes some Legionnaires so they can get around a Legion ban

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #122

Shvaughn is part of the resistance against the Blight

Legion Worlds #1

After the Legion has been disbanded, Shvaughn returns to more normal Science Police duties

The Legion #17

Shvaughn Erin vs. Ra's al Ghul