OBSIDIAN

Given Name: Todd James Rice
Code Name: Obsidian
Birthdate: July 20, 1966
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Twin Sister: Jennie-Lynn Hayden (aka Jade)
Natural Father: Alan Scott (aka Green Lantern I, Sentinel)
Natural Mother: Rose Forrest (aka The Thorn)

Adoptive Parents: James and Shirley Rice
Younger Brother: Jeremy Rice (by adoption)
Educational Background: Graduated High School class of '82 (G.P.A. 3.7).
Group Affiliation: Infinity Inc., Justice League of America.

First Appearance: All-Star Squadron #25 (September 1983)

Special Powers: Can merge his body with his own shadow, becoming either three dimensional shadow form or two-dimensional silhouette. In his shadow form, he experiences enhanced strength and vitality. As a shadow he can float weightlessly, almost fly. He can communicate telepathically with his sister, and shows his enemies their own dark side. Todd recently discovered that his powers emanate from another plane of reality known as the Shadowlands.

 

Todd was separated at birth from his twin, Jennie-Lynn Hayden (aka Jade), and was raised by an abusive, alcoholic foster-father. During Todd’s senior year of High School, his adopted father, James Rice, lost his job and started hitting the bottle very hard. When Shirley Rice, Todd’s adopted mother, couldn’t take anymore she packed her bag and Todd’s adopted brother, Jeremy, and left. Never to be heard from again.

Not long after these events, Todd discovered his shadow powers, and the fact that he had a twin sister he had never met! Soon Todd and Jennie-Lynn discovered their shared telepathic connection and they finally met. That Christmas Eve they made the final decision to make their debut as Jade and Obsidian by crashing an emergency meeting at JSA-HQ. (Infinity Inc. #1)

Todd served as a hero throughout Infinity Inc.’s existence. He also served briefly as a member of the Justice League. However, recently Todd had fallen prey to his bouts with depression and mental illness. Todd was tempted to use his shadow powers for revenge against both his adopted and natural fathers by his father’s old enemy Ian Karkull. Drunk with power Todd murdered Karkull, as he planned to plunge the world into the darkness of the Shadowlands. He was defeated in his attempts by his father, Alan Scott (aka Sentinel) and the new JSA. After his defeat Todd possessed James Rice, and retreated to the Shadowlands. (JSA #’s 7-9)

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