MAYHEM

 

MAYHEM

Real Name: Brigid O'Reilly

First Appearance: Cloak & Dagger (Vol. 1) #1, October 1983 (as Brigid O'Reilly); Cloak & Dagger (Vol. 2) #5, March 1986 (as Mayhem)

Powers: Mayhem is a former police detective named Brigid O'Reilly, who died of exposure to a toxic vapor concocted by Simon Marshall, the same chemist who created the mutagenic drug which accidentally gave Cloak and Dagger their powers. As she lay dying, O'Reilly was consumed into Cloak's darkness and exposed to Dagger's living light, a combination of effects which apparently worked with the vapor in her system to reanimate her as a superhuman being. Mayhem biologically produces the venomous gas from her body and exudes it through her pores. She can manipulate the vapor at will, thickening it into clouds that blind her opponents and mask her movements. The gas protects her from harm, dispersing energy assaults it connects with and stopping projectiles from reaching her. Mayhem can also merge with the mist she creates, transmutating herself into a gaseous state in order to become insubstantial, flow through tight cracks and crevices, etc. She can levitate and fly as well, possibly through transforming herself partially into gas in order to become lighter than air.

Offensively speaking, the venomous gas acts as a truth serum, compelling anyone who inhales a certain quantity of it to speak the truth exclusively and reflexively. It also acts as a paralytic agent if absorbed into the bloodstream through open wounds, immobilizing her prey. Mayhem keeps her fingernails razor sharp, like talons, so that she can oxidize her victims' blood whenever necessary.