Who's Who: Shadow Kid

Shadow Kid
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Grev Mallor

Super-Power(s): Shadow casting
Planet of Origin: Talok VIII

Relationship to Legion: Brother or Cousin of Shadow Lass; Legion Academy member

Legion Log
Grev Mallor was sent to live with his grandfather, Sarven Mallor, when he was a young boy. They lived in the hills above the deserts surrounding the main city, close to the shrine of their ancestors. When Sarven died, Grev believed himself to be all alone. However, his cousin Tasmia soon arrived, having been sent by the city to go into the shrine and acquire the mysterious Mallor legacy powers. The cousins decided to enter the mysterious shrine cave together, and both were granted shadow powers. Tasmia and Grev became the young champions of Talok VIII as Shadow Lass and Shadow Kid. 

The cousins would do their best to protect the space around their planet, so would sometimes go off-planet of missions. On one such mission, Shadow Kid was captured by the super-villain named Nardo, who threw him into his Super Stalag of Space. He remained a prisoner until the Legion of Super-Heroes shut Nardo down and freed all of the captured heroes.

When Shadow Lass was off-planet on a mission, the Fatal Five took over Talok VIII. She returned with the Legion, and then went off-planet with them. Shadow Kid stayed on Talok VIII as the planet's sole protector.

Several years later, Shadow Kid entered the Legion Academy in order to receive more training in the use of his powers. He eventually split his time between return trips to Talok VIII and studying at the Legion Academy.

In one memorable adventure, Shadow Kid was on-planet when the princess of the hill people, calling herself Lady Memory, teamed up with the Persuader and tried to take over Talok VIII. Shadow Kid called in his cousin and the Legion to help save the planet from their plot.

Five years later, Shadow Kid and Lady Memory were a married couple, ruling Talok VIII benevolently, having brought together its two dominant tribes, albeit with some reservations on his part. As Champion of Talok VIII, he defended his planet from a Khund invasion.

In the Reboot, Shadow Kid is distant cousin of Umbra, chosen to be champion after she was presumed dead, but actually lost in another part of space. He used technology to boost his latent abilities, but a malfunction killed him. The shadow force then used his animated corpse as a conduit until Umbra returned and reclaimed its power.

In the Threeboot, Shadow Kid challenges Tasmia for the title of Champion several times, according to tradition, but fails each time. In this timeline, they are brother and sister.

After Infinite Crisis, Shadow Kid's original history has presumably been more or less restored. He later graduated from the Legion Academy and returned to Talok VIII, where he assumed the planetary champion's role from his cousin.

Evidently, Shadow Kid as Shadow Lass' cousin was the creation of E. Nelson Bridwell, who wrote him into the origin portion of her profile, which was published in Superboy/Legion #205. Previous to this, he had only once appeared as a prisoner at the Super-Stalag of Space (Adventure Comics #344), but had not been identified as being any relation to her at all.

Important Shadow Kid stories:

Adventure Comics #344
(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 2)

First appearance of a hero called Shadow Kid

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #205
(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 5)

First mention of Shadow Kid being Shadow Lass' cousin

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #240

(reprinted in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1)

First mention of Shadow Lad, as Shadow Lass' younger brother

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

First appearance of Shadow Kid as Shadow Lass' cousin

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v1) #3 (1984)
(reprinted in The Legion: The Great Darkness Saga
and The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Curse)

Shadow Kid intends to return to Talok VIII

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #4

(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye)

Shadow Kid is still on Earth, ready to help defend it

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #318-319

Shadow Kid returns to Talok VIII to fight Lady Memory and the Persuader

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v2) #3 (1987)
(reprinted in The Legion: The Great Darkness Saga
and The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Curse)

Shadow Kid is back on Earth, at the Legion Academy

Secret Origins (v3) #8

Flashback origin of Shadow Kid as well as Shadow Lass

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #47

Shadow Kid is still on Earth, and still at the Legion Academy

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #15

Five years later, Shadow Kid is married to Lady Memory

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #17

Shadow Kid defends Talok VIII from the Khunds

The Legion #24

In the Reboot, Umbra fights her distant cousin's possessed corpse to regain her powers

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #23

In the Threeboot, Shadow Kid challenges his sister for the title

Adventure Comics #527

Shadow Kid graduates from Legion Academy