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Saint Patrick’s Day is upon us again, and, as luck would have it, that provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the effervescent heroes of the Emerald Isle. These comic book characters have a rich history rooted in early Irish American American culture and influenced by the mystical folklore of old Ireland. So, make sure you’re wearing your green garments because a pinch from these superheroes might do more than just leave a mark.
Banshee (Sean and Theresa Cassidy): Screaming At The Top Of Their Lungs
Taking a page from the Irish legend of the crafty leprechaun, I’m being a bit of a trickster myself, listing two characters in one spot. At different times, Banshee was the moniker for two superheroes in the Marvel Universe, a father, and his daughter. They get their name from a mythological Irish spirit that is said to let out a ghastly wail. Coming from an ancient Irish lineage (complete with a family castle, Cassidy Keep), Sean Cassidy and his daughter, Theresa, are both mutants with the ability to create “sonic screams” and even fly at incredible speeds using sound vibrations. Although Theresa went by the name Siryn for some time, she eventually adopted the title of Banshee to honor her father.
The original Banshee, Sean Cassidy, was created in 1967 by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth in the pages of X-Men #28. Although originally introduced as an adversary to the X-Men, Banshee grew to become a trusted ally and even a full-time team member. As a former NYPD officer and Interpol agent, Sean was not only a powerful mutant, but he was also an excellent detective and skilled hand-to-hand fighter.
Sadly, because of a nefarious scheme carried out by Black Tom, an Irish supervillain, Sean was unaware of his daughter Theresa’s birth. This resulted in him being absent for her entire childhood. However, thanks to Sean’s continued alliance with the X-Men, the two finally met, but the happy reunion would not last. During a mission with the X-Men, Sean sacrificed himself to save innocent lives even though he could have easily saved his own. Here’s to you, Sean Cassidy.
The Banshee legacy continued when Theresa, then going by Siryn, took up the name herself as a tribute to her late father. Created by legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont and artist Steve Leialoha, Theresa, like her father, debuted as a villain before shifting to a more heroic role in the Marvel world. She has the same sonic-based mutant abilities as her dad but has also shown the potential to be much more powerful, even taking on godlike characteristics after encountering the Morrigan, a goddess from Irish mythology, as a member of the X-Force. Theresa has been shown to have a drinking problem at times, but creators have avoided using the Irish stereotype as a crutch. Instead, while living a sober life, she struggles with the daily challenges of being an alcoholic and a superhero with a traumatic past.
Jack O’Lantern: No, He’s Not A Halloween Themed Character, He’s Irish
Where the previous entry, Banshee, is based on bits of Irish mythology, Daniel Cormac’s origin story plays out like pure folklore. Introduced in 1977 by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon as the son of a poor Irish farmer, Cormac was gifted a magical lantern by a fairy in return for his kindness to the Irish fairy people. The lantern not only gave him enhanced strength, but it also granted him the ability to fly, project flames, teleport, create illusions, and summon fog.
With these new powers, Cormac took up the title Jack O’Lantern. He became Ireland’s very own superhero, eventually earning a spot on the super team, the Global Guardians. Eventually, after a long and respected career, Daniel Cormac died of natural causes and passed on the superhero title to his cousin. Still, Jack O’Lantern does not get the attention he deserves as an extremely powerful DC Comics hero with mystical origins. So much for the luck of the Irish.
Judge Joyce: The Long, Lucky Arm Of The Law
Hailing from the city of Murphyville on Emerald Isle, Judge Fintan Joyce is an officer of the Justice Department in the 2000 AD (1977-) series, Judge Dredd. Though not exactly the country as we know it, Emerald Isle is meant to be a futuristic and dystopian Ireland. After his father, the prominent Judge-Sergeant Joyce, is killed by a suspect and thought to have been drunk on duty, Fintan Joyce takes up the family trade to reclaim his honor, becoming Judge Joyce.
Like Judge Dredd, Joyce is more of an anti-hero than a superhero, but they are the closest thing their world has. First appearing in 2000 AD #727’s “Judge Dredd: The Emerald Isle Part One” by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Judge Joyce has gone on to become a mainstay in the Judge Dredd universe. His sense of humor, much more common with Judges from the Emerald Isle, stands in stark contrast to the ever-stoic Judge Dredd. Still, Joyce is no stranger to beating a perp’s face into a bloody and broken mess if he thinks it will get him what he needs to uphold the law. At least Judge Joyce and Dredd have that in common.
Kyle Rayner: He Is A Green Lantern, After All
Kyle Rayner is a fan-favorite Green Lantern in the DC Universe yet still seems to be overshadowed by the likes of fellow Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks in Green Lantern Volume 3 # 48 (1994), Rayner stepped in when Hal Jordan gave into his grief, turned villainous, and killed nearly the entire Green Lantern Corps. In the aftermath, one of the last surviving Guardians of the Green Lanterns finds Kyle and gifts him a power ring.
Though Kyle was raised in Hollywood, he was born to a Mexican American father and an Irish mother. Sadly, his dad was forced to flee in order to protect the family when Kyle was only three. As the only parent raising Kyle, his mom leaned into their Irish culture, going so far as to insist that Kyle learn parts of the Gaelic language. Blessed with an artist’s mind, Kyle creates incredibly imaginative constructs with his ring that stand out from that of other Green Lantern members. He has fabricated anything from a space pirate ship to a Godzilla-like monster, complete with fiery green breath. What’s more, Kyle Rayner and the other Lanterns needn’t worry about wearing green on Saint Patrick’s Day. Lucky for them, it’s part of their uniform.
Shamrock: “‘Tis Easy Being Green!” (( Mantlo, Bill. “Incredible Hulk #279.” Incredible Hulk Vol. 1. Marvel. Jan. 1983. )).
I feel like looking at Molly Fitzgerald’s picture and her superhero name, Shamrock, I don’t need to explain any more about why she is on this list. No, it’s not enough? In that case, try this on for size: her superhuman power is literally the luck of the Irish. Created by Bill Mantlo and John Romita Jr., she is a living vessel for the souls of innocent victims of war. Whenever Molly is in trouble, one of these poltergeists manifests itself as energy to increase the probability of situations playing out in Molly’s favor. Shamrock first appeared in Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 in 1981 but has since retired and fallen into relative obscurity within the Marvel Universe.
Unfortunately, Shamrock’s entire identity as both a superhero and a character is tied to the fact that she’s Irish. From her physical appearance to her family being mixed up in the Irish Republican Army, being Irish has defined Molly Fitzgerald more often than not in her comic book history. Given Marvel’s modern push toward more diversity and redefining certain characters in the MCU, let’s hope that the luck of the Irish brings us some version of Shamrock that isn’t so one-dimensional. The green costume with a shamrock emblem is a bit much, don’t you think?
The End Of The Rainbow
As another Saint Patrick’s Day comes and goes, don’t forget about these Irish heroes and their stories. Ironically, they are not lucky enough to garner heaps of attention like many other mainstream superheroes. Because of that, it is important to celebrate them the best we can on this Irish holiday. I suppose there’s some truth to the old adage, it’s not easy being green. So, here’s to you, you fantastic emerald-laden warriors of justice. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!