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Shadow Thief
Carl Sands as depicted in Hawkman (vol. 5) #14 (September 2019).
Art by Patrick Olliffe (penciller) and Tom Palmer (inker).
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceCarl Sands:
The Brave and the Bold #36 (July 1961)
Carl Hammer:
Vigilante #14
(February 1985)
Created byCarl Sands:
Gardner Fox (writer)
Joe Kubert (artist)
Carl Hammer:
Marv Wolfman (writer)
Trevor Von Eeden (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoCarl Sands
Carl Hammer
Aviva Metula
Team affiliationsCarl Sands:
The Society
Injustice League
Injustice Society
Aviva Metula:
Mossad
The Society
AbilitiesCarl Sands:
Dimensiometer grants:
Ability to shift his body into a two-dimensional, and intangible, shadow state
Deal with Neron:
transmogrify anything his power touches into shadow, teleportation using shadows
Starbreaker enhancement:
Individual shadow manipulation, drawing strength from shadows around him, darkness based constructs, inter-dimensional travel
Carl Hammer:
Shadow suit grants:
Ability to become invisible in shadows
Aviva Metula:
Trained martial artist
Shadow armor grants:
Intangibility
Flight
Teleportation
Limited shapeshifting

Shadow Thief is the name of three supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first is a recurring foe of Hawkman named Carl Sands. The second Shadow Thief is an African-American named Carl Hammer who wore a shadow suit. The third Shadow Thief is Aviva Metula

Shadow Thief appeared in the seventh season episode of the Arrowverse television series Arrow, portrayed by Carmel Amit.

Publication history

[edit]

The Carl Sands version of Shadow Thief first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #36 (July 1961) and was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Kubert.[1]

The Carl Hammer version of Shadow Thief first appeared in Vigilante #14 (February 1985) and was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Trevor Von Eeden.

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Carl Sands

[edit]

Pre-Crisis version

[edit]

Carl Sands was a career criminal who was conducting experiments on shadow projection while in jail. Because his shadow betrayed him to a police officer while he was robbing the safe in a store at night, he was trying to make his shadow work for him. The experiments allowed him to make contact with an alien explorer named Thar Dan from the Xarapion Dimension. In return for saving the creature's life, Sands was given a device known as a Dimensiometer and a pair of ebony gloves that allows him to hold objects while in shadow form.[2]

Hawkman eventually defeats him, but Shadow Thief would come into conflict with him many times after that. He would later become a member of the Injustice Gang which came into conflict with Hawkman and his allies, the Justice League of America.[3]

Eventually, the Phantom Stranger had him permanently stripped of the Dimensiometer.[4]

Post-Crisis/Post-Hawkworld version

[edit]

While growing up in Japan, American Carl Sands learned ninjutsu techniques and became an industrial saboteur, accepting unremarkable sums to hinder and eliminate his clients' rivals. The Thanagarian criminal Byth Rok hires Sands to steal Hawkman and Hawkwoman's ship and gives him a Thanagarian belt that gives him the ability to shift his body into a shadow form.

During the "Underworld Unleashed" storyline, Shadow Thief sells his soul to Neron for more power. The demon gave Sands a more powerful shadow suit which is tinged with magic and has vastly augmented abilities to enact greater criminal schemes.[5][6]

In Identity Crisis, Shadow Thief becomes deranged and has delusional conversations with the Dimensiometer. He later kills Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond) with Shining Knight's sword, for which he is prosecuted by Kate Spencer / Manhunter.[7]

Shadow Thief later appeared as a member of the Injustice League, and was one of the villains featured in Salvation Run.[8]

He later joins forces with Starbreaker, and uses the Shadow Cabinet's "Shadowslide" teleportation system to temporarily increase his powers.[9][10]

Prison only temporarily stops him as he uses the shadows created by the interior of his mouth to escape by blinding and muffling Doctor Light when she comes to interrogate him. He is ultimately defeated by Light, and is rendered powerless after Firestorm (Jason Rusch) uses his powers to seal his mouth, thus preventing him from conjuring shadows from within his body.

During Brightest Day, the cosmic entity known as the Starheart begins taking control of metahumans who possess magical or elemental abilities. Shadow Thief is among them and is driven insane by the Starheart's power.[11]

DC Rebirth

[edit]

In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth" which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". Carl Sands appears as a low-level threat to Hawkman who utilizes the Shadow Vest that enables him to shift through solid objects.[12] Shadow Thief met with Lex Luthor, who offered to upgrade his Shadow Vest free of charge so that it would not only enable him to imitate shadows, but also to control them. Shadow Thief accepted as it would come in handy when fighting Hawkman.[13]

In the "DC All In" initiative, Shadow Thief appears as a member of Scandal Savage's Injustice Society.[14]

Carl Hammer

[edit]
Carl Hammer, artist Trevor Von Eeden.

The second Shadow Thief is an African-American man named Carl Hammer. He is a crime boss and the brother of Mr. Hammer, with each trying to outdo each other. Hammer states that he paid more than one million dollars to have the suit made. He used the Shadow Suit to target his brother and ran afoul of Vigilante, who killed Mr. Hammer in self-defense. This gave Carl Hammer the opportunity to continue his exploits with his Shadow Suit now that Mr. Hammer is out of the way.[15]

Aviva Metula

[edit]

In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. A female Shadow Thief was introduced.[16][17]

In Stargirl's origin story, Shadow Thief was taking hostages to draw out a superhero. When Stargirl returned home, she found that Shadow Thief arrived first, killed Courtney's brother, and wounded her mother Barbara. Stargirl used this trauma to become a better superhero.[18]

During the Forever Evil storyline, it is revealed that this version of Shadow Thief is a former agent of Mossad named Aviva Metula. Metula wears a suit of armor called the Shadow Skin that gives her powers. She became Shadow Thief to kill alien invaders, making her a dangerous foe for Hawkman.[19]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Carl Sands uses a Dimensiometer, Thanagarian technology which enables him to transform into an intangible, shadow-like state. While the vest is activated, he can move quickly and silently across and through most surfaces and materials, all the while remaining impervious to physical contact and attack. Long-term side effects from prolonged use of the vest are unknown although, prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was stated that overuse of the suit would accelerate Earth's climate into an ice age. Shadow Thief would later sell his soul to Neron for augmented equipment. Now his suit, as was he, had been granted magical abilities which enabled him to convert objects and people into unsubstantiated shadowy material (a process which was inconceivably painful to living things), while transporting himself through shadows as well.[5][6] Carl's abilities would be augmented further still when Starbreaker gives him the power to draw strength from the darkness within. Now no longer needing the shadow suit to utilize his powers, Sands can literally draw upon the absence of light that is situated all around him, enabling the manifestation of depleted photons to form constructs ranging from weapons to planetoids, creating portals, and turning his opponents' shadows into living duplicates of themselves all with the same abilities.[20]

The shadow suit Carl Hammer had constructed only allowed him to become invisible in shadows and did not render him intangible.

The Shadow Skin armor provides Aviva Metula with intangibility, teleportation, flight, and limited shapeshifting, enabling her to turn her arms into weapons. She is also a trained martial artist.

Other versions

[edit]

Earth-3

[edit]

A heroic variant of Shadow Thief from Earth-3 called Shadow Sherriff appears in Hawkman (vol. 5) #18 as a member of the Justice Society All-Stars.[21]

Flashpoint

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Shadow Thief appears in Flashpoint. This version is an inmate of military Doom prison.[22]

JLA: Another Nail

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Shadow Thief appears in JLA: Another Nail. This version's abilities are derived from Xaraponian technology.

Kingdom Come

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Shadow Thief makes a cameo appearance in Kingdom Come.[23]

Tangent Comics

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Shadow Thief appears in Tangent Comics. This version is a member of the Fatal Five.

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]
  • An original incarnation of Shadow Thief appears in the Superman episode "Night of the Living Shadows". This version is McFarlane who lives in Metropolis' Suicide Slum and wields a LexCorp-designed suit, which was later duplicated and given to a gang by Lex Luthor.
  • An original incarnation of Shadow Thief appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by James Remar.[24] This version is the physical manifestation of Carter Hall's inner darkness who was created after he came into contact with the Absorbacron, a Thanagarian computer. He attempts to kill Green Lantern to have Hawkgirl to himself, only to be defeated and reabsorbed by Hall.
  • The Carl Sands incarnation of Shadow Thief appears in The Batman episode "What Goes Up...", voiced by Diedrich Bader.[24] This version works for Black Mask.
  • The Aviva Metula incarnation of Shadow Thief appears in the Arrow episode "Lost Canary", portrayed by Carmel Amit.[25] This version is an associate of Black Siren and Ricardo Diaz.

Video games

[edit]

The Carl Sands incarnation of Shadow Thief appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[26]

Miscellaneous

[edit]
  • The Justice League Unlimited incarnation of Shadow Thief appears in a flashback in Justice League Beyond.[27][28] After escaping from Hall, he seeks revenge on Green Lantern by murdering his fiancé Vixen. In retaliation, Green Lantern works with Hawkgirl and Adam Strange to find Shadow Thief, who he later kills and leaves to be eaten by alien beasts.
  • An unidentified Shadow Thief makes a cameo appearance in All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #9.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Shadow Thief

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Shadow Thief is the name used by multiple supervillains in the DC Comics universe. The original and primary incarnation is a recurring foe of named Carl Sands, a career criminal who gained the ability to transform into an intangible shadow form using an alien device called the Dimensiometer, enabling him to phase through solid objects and evade detection. Created by writer and artist , Carl Sands first appeared as Shadow Thief in #36 in July 1961, where the burglar, frustrated by his own shadow betraying him during a heist, acquired the Dimensiometer from the alien Thar Dan of the planet Xarapion. Over time, Shadow Thief's powers evolved to include shadow manipulation for creating constructs, weapons, and portals, as well as energy absorption and enhanced agility through training, often independent of the original device after later enhancements. He has been a recurring adversary of and , clashing with them in numerous stories due to his shadowy abilities contrasting Hawkman's daylight heroism, and has also allied with groups like the Injustice League, of Super-Villains, and villains such as and Byth. Notable appearances include his role in Justice League of America #111 (1974), #9 (1985), and more recent arcs like Hawkman vol. 5 #14-17 (2019), where he was involved in the "" storyline; during the event, he infamously killed , leading to his imprisonment and temporary power loss before restoration by . Other versions of Shadow Thief, including Carl Hammer and Aviva Metula, are detailed in the publication and fictional character biography sections.

Publication history

Carl Sands

The original incarnation of Shadow Thief, Carl Sands, was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Kubert. He made his first appearance in The Brave and the Bold #36 (July 1961), in the story "Shadow-Thief of Midway City!" where he debuted as a foe of Hawkman. Sands became a recurring antagonist in Hawkman stories, appearing in Hawkman vol. 1 #5 (December 1964–January 1965). He joined team-up narratives in Justice League of America #111 (May–June 1974). During the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, he featured in issue #9 (December 1985). In the 2000s, Sands played a key role in Identity Crisis #2 (September 2004), where he killed Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond). More recently, in DC Rebirth continuity, he appeared in Hawkman vol. 5 #14–17 (2019) as part of the "Year of the Villain" storyline.

Carl Hammer

The second Shadow Thief, Carl Hammer, was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Trevor von Eeden. He first appeared in Vigilante #14 (February 1985), serving as a one-issue villain opposing the Vigilante in a story involving criminal rivalry and a shadow camouflage suit. Hammer has made no major subsequent appearances in DC Comics continuity.

Aviva Metula

Aviva Metula, the third incarnation of Shadow Thief, was introduced during The New 52 relaunch. She was created by writer Tom DeFalco and penciler Joe Bennett, debuting in The Savage Hawkman #17 (April 2013), in the story "Like a Shadow in the Night!" Metula, a former Mossad agent, gained her powers from an alien suit and clashed with Hawkman. She subsequently appeared in Justice League of America #7.3 (September 2013), expanding her backstory, and played a role in the event (2013–2014), where she allied with other villains during the Crime Syndicate's invasion. Additional appearances include Red Lanterns Annual #1 (2013) and various team books up to 2015, with no major roles documented after the Rebirth era as of November 2025.

Fictional character biography

Carl Sands

In pre-Crisis continuity, Carl Sands was a career criminal and burglar whose shadow betrayed him during a heist, leading to his . While in jail, he experimented with shadow projection devices. He later aided the alien explorer Thar Dan from the planet Xarapion, who gifted him the Dimensiometer—a belt enabling Sands to transform into a two-dimensional shadow state for intangibility and stealth. Sands adopted the alias Shadow Thief and targeted Midway City, clashing with in his debut. Post-, Sands' backstory was retconned: Raised in , he trained in and became an industrial saboteur. Hired by the Thanagarian criminal Byth Rok to steal and Hawkwoman's spaceship, Sands received a Thanagarian Dimensiometer shadow vest, granting similar shadow-phasing abilities. He continued as a recurring foe of the Hawks, often allying with Byth or other villains. Sands joined groups like the Injustice Gang, Secret Society of Super-Villains, and Injustice League, facing the in events such as Crisis on Infinite Earths #9 (1985). During (1995), Sands sold his soul to the demon Neron for greater power, receiving an enhanced suit that allowed him to transmogrify people or objects his shadow touched into shadow forms—causing structural collapse or intense pain—and to teleport through shadows. In the miniseries (2004), Shadow Thief murdered (Ronnie Raymond) by enveloping him in shadows, leading to his prosecution by and imprisonment in Iron Heights. Firestorm's successor, Jason Rusch, later sealed Sands' mouth, temporarily nullifying his powers. Sands was eventually freed and his abilities restored, possibly through intervention by . He participated in (2009) and Brightest Day (2010), where the Starheart drove him temporarily insane. In continuity, Sands returned as a major antagonist to in Hawkman vol. 5 #14-17 (2019), part of the "" event. upgraded his Shadow Vest, granting advanced shadow control. Sands stole shadows from victims to drain their life force and created portals through the Shadowlands, but was defeated by . As of 2025, no major new appearances have been documented. Sands possesses skills in stealth, burglary, and from his early training.

Carl Hammer

Carl Hammer was a crime boss who rivaled his brother in criminal ambitions. Seeking an edge, Hammer commissioned a custom shadow suit providing optical for near-invisibility in low-light conditions, adopting the Shadow Thief mantle for heists and infiltrations. Unlike Sands' advanced phasing tech, Hammer's suit offered only concealment, no intangibility or shadow manipulation. His activities drew the vigilante known as (Adrian Chase), who pursued during a crime spree. In their confrontation in Vigilante #14 (1985), the suit was damaged, exposing and leading to his arrest. 's expertise lay in syndicate organization rather than personal combat, relying on henchmen for enforcement. He has not appeared in major DC events since.

Aviva Metula

Aviva Metula was an elite agent investigating extraterrestrial threats when she encountered a Daemonite infiltrator posing as arms dealer Mr. Q. During the confrontation, she donned an alien Shadow Skin suit, which symbiotically fused with her body, granting permanent shadow-based powers but causing pain if removed. Enraged by alien deception, Metula embraced a xenophobic crusade against extraterrestrials, becoming the third Shadow Thief. Her abilities allowed intangibility by flattening into a living shadow, enhanced in , generation for combat, and short-range teleportation via . In her solo tale in Justice League of America #7.3 (2013), Metula disrupted a Thanagarian arms deal, showcasing her skills. During the Forever Evil event (2013-2014), she allied with the Crime Syndicate, invading Earth and attacking the , where she slew numerous A.R.G.U.S. agents using her phasing to merge with shadows amid the chaos. Metula's Mossad training provided expertise in marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, tactics, and multiple languages. Her powers weaken in intense light, which disrupts her shadow state. Post-2014, her activities remain undocumented as of November 2025, with no subsequent major appearances.

Powers and abilities

Carl Sands

Carl Sands, as the original Shadow Thief, derives his primary powers from the Dimensiometer, an advanced device that enables him to vibrate his body at specific shadow frequencies, rendering him intangible and allowing him to pass through solid matter while becoming invisible in low-light conditions. This technology, gifted to Sands after he aided an interdimensional alien explorer named Thar Dan, shifts his form into a two-dimensional shadow state, facilitating stealthy movement and evasion during criminal activities. Conceptually, this phasing process aligns his physical structure with shadow dimensions, mimicking principles of quantum vibration for selective intangibility without altering his core biology. Following the events of in 1995, Sands entered a demonic pact with the hell-lord Neron, enhancing his abilities through a upgraded costume that grants the projection of solid shadow constructs such as tendrils and energy blasts, and minor absorption of ambient darkness to bolster his strength. These additions transform his shadow form from mere intangibility into an offensive tool, allowing him to manipulate darkness for combat while retaining his core phasing capabilities. In the continuity, further modified the Dimensiometer during the "" event, introducing the ability to steal victims' shadows—draining them to weaken or incapacitate foes—and to create umbral rifts for short-range portal travel through . These upgrades emphasize Luthor's technological integration with Sands' existing shadow-based powers, enabling more versatile tactical applications in battles against heroes like . Despite these enhancements, Sands' powers carry notable weaknesses: they falter in bright , where are scarce, rendering him vulnerable and unable to phase effectively, and they prove ineffective against light-based attacks that disrupt his shadow state. Additionally, the Dimensiometer itself remains susceptible to electromagnetic pulses (EMP) or direct physical interference, which can forcibly revert him to a tangible form. Beyond his device-dependent powers, Sands is a proficient burglar, skilled in stealth tactics and evasion honed through years of criminal operations, often leveraging his phasing for undetected infiltration.

Carl Hammer

Carl Hammer's incarnation of Shadow Thief utilizes a custom-made shadow suit as his core asset, providing optical camouflage that grants near-perfect invisibility in dim or shadowy environments to facilitate stealth-based crimes such as heists and infiltrations. This prototype technological device, acquired at great expense, lacks any mystical components or advanced capabilities like phasing through solid objects, shadow projection, or energy projection attacks. Unlike the original Shadow Thief, Carl Sands, whose powers derive from sophisticated Thanagarian Dimensiometer technology enabling dynamic shadow manipulation, Hammer's suit emphasizes basic gadgetry focused solely on concealment. As a criminal figure, Hammer demonstrates expertise in organizing and leading syndicates, though his personal abilities are confined to rudimentary , making him dependent on henchmen for direct confrontations. The suit offers no enhancements to physical durability, rendering Hammer susceptible to harm once his is compromised. Its effectiveness diminishes in bright light or under intense observation, highlighting its limitations as a tool for opportunistic street-level crime rather than a comprehensive involving shadow dominion.

Aviva Metula

Aviva Metula's powers as the Thief originate from the Skin, an alien infiltration suit of Colarvian design that fused symbiotically with her body during a covert operation investigating extraterrestrial threats. This fusion, which occurred after exposure to the suit in a bio-hazardous environment, rendered the enhancements permanent and non-removable without inflicting severe pain, transforming her skin into a living shadow medium capable of umbral manipulation. The process integrated advanced alien , allowing seamless merging with ambient darkness for operational advantages in . The primary power granted by the Shadow Skin is full-body intangibility, enabling Metula to phase through solid objects, walls, or crowds by flattening into a two-dimensional shadow state that renders her partially invisible in low-light conditions. This facilitates covert infiltration and evasion, as physical projectiles and melee attacks pass harmlessly through her form. Complementing this, she exhibits enhanced agility within darkened environments, permitting silent, fluid movement akin to gliding through shadows without audible footfalls or disturbances. Additional abilities include minor shadow tendril generation, where Metula can extend ethereal appendages from her body—such as tentacles from her back—for grappling foes, disarming weapons, or reshaping limbs into bladed or blunt instruments for close-quarters combat. She can also access a shadow realm for short-range via any available darkness, further augmenting her mobility. These capabilities were notably deployed during the crisis, where her shadow merging proved effective against chaotic battlefields. Despite these strengths, the Shadow Skin has vulnerabilities: prolonged exposure to intense light sources can induce disorientation by disrupting her shadow state, potentially forcing temporary solidity and susceptibility to harm. Certain anti-shadow technologies or mystical artifacts, such as Hawkman's Nth metal mace, can counteract her intangibility by anchoring her form to the physical plane. Additionally, exotic energies like Red Lantern bypass her phasing, causing direct injury. Metula's enhancements are bolstered by her elite training, encompassing expert-level tactics, precision marksmanship with firearms, proficient techniques, and multilingual proficiency across several languages. Her tactical allows for rapid assessment and in high-stakes scenarios, making her a formidable operative even without relying solely on her powers. Post-2014 developments in her abilities remain sparsely documented, with potential refinements unexplored in subsequent narratives.

Alternate versions

Earth-3

On Earth-3, a world dominated by the villainous Crime Syndicate where crime is the prevailing order, the counterpart to the main universe's Shadow Thief is a heroic figure known as Shadow Sheriff, who is Carl Sands reimagined as a champion of justice. As leader of the underground Justice Society All-Stars—a team of inverted counterparts to Earth-0's villains—Shadow Sheriff employs his abilities to combat the tyrannical regime from the shadows. Shadow Sheriff's powers mirror those of his Earth-0 counterpart but are wielded for heroic purposes, including shadow manipulation for intangibility, stealth infiltration, and offensive strikes in covert operations against Earth-3's overlords. In this inverted reality, his abilities facilitate resistance efforts, such as ambushes on high-profile criminals, emphasizing a facade of heroism in a society where such traits are subversive. His key appearance occurs in a flashback sequence in Hawkman (vol. 5) #18 (January 2020), where Shadow Sheriff coordinates the All-Stars—including heroic versions of (as Pinkerton Ghost) and —to confront and ultimately defeat Sky Tyrant, a murderous winged despot revealed as a past incarnation of . Delivering the fatal blow, Shadow Sheriff ensures a temporary victory for Earth-3's beleaguered heroes, highlighting his role as a pivotal ally in multiversal conflicts tied to cycles.) This portrayal marks a distinctive heroic inversion of the Shadow Thief legacy, positioning him as a rare beacon of resistance without alliances to the ruling villains like or .

Flashpoint

In the Flashpoint alternate timeline, Shadow Thief appears as a metahuman inmate in the Hall of Doom, a fortified aerial prison housing the world's most dangerous super-villains amid the escalating Atlantean-Amazonian war that has flooded much of Europe. This version of the character, first featured in Flashpoint: The Legion of Doom #1 (August 2011), operates as part of Atomic Skull's metahuman gang, leveraging his innate shadow-based abilities for stealth and evasion during a massive prison riot and escape attempt initiated by Heatwave. Unlike the prime Earth iteration reliant on a Dimensiometer device, this Shadow Thief possesses organic metahuman powers suited to the dystopian, war-ravaged setting, with no established ties to Hawkman or Hath-Set. During the breakout in Flashpoint: The #2 (September 2011), Shadow Thief aids in the chaos by slipping through to sabotage security measures and confront guards, but he is ultimately subdued by the android warden alongside other escapees. As a peripheral figure in the broader cataclysm, his role underscores the fractured society's reliance on extreme containment for metahumans, and like all elements of the timeline, he ceases to exist following Barry Allen's restoration of the prime reality in Flashpoint #5 (August 2011).

JLA: Another Nail

In the Elseworlds miniseries JLA: Another Nail #1-3 (2004), a time-displaced variant of Shadow Thief emerges from a dystopian future, temporarily allying with the to combat the cosmic threat posed by . This iteration, originating from Earth-898, utilizes advanced shadow-manipulating technology sourced from the planet Xarapon, which enhances his traditional intangibility powers with capabilities for temporal displacement. The character's unique traits stem from his survival in a ravaged era marked by the Justice League's prolonged absence, fostering a reluctant heroism that contrasts his typical villainous nature; he phases through shadows not only for evasion but also to navigate fractured timelines disrupted by interdimensional conflicts. During his pursuit by Hawkwoman and (Guy Gardner), Shadow Thief's portal escape attempt—intended to return him to Xarapon—malfunctions due to temporal anomalies, leading to his apparent demise while inadvertently aiding the League by widening a rift that exposes greater threats. In his role within the narrative's , Shadow Thief provides critical support against Despero's power-draining assaults on and the team, emphasizing themes of uneasy redemption as he shifts from fugitive to ally amid the chaos of ' wars and reality breaches. This portrayal highlights a redemptive arc absent in main continuity, where he remains a persistent adversary to .

Kingdom Come

In the 1996 DC Comics miniseries Kingdom Come #1-4, an alternate version of Shadow Thief makes a brief cameo appearance as a member of the Mankind Liberation Front in issue #2.

Tangent Comics

In the Tangent Comics imprint, launched by DC in 1997 as a series of one-shots featuring reimagined characters with familiar names but original identities in a standalone shared universe designated Earth-9, Shadow Thief serves as a primary antagonist to the Atom. He first appears in Tangent Comics: The Atom #1 (December 1997), leading the criminal syndicate known as the Fatal Five in a revenge-driven plot against the Atom lineage. Unlike the main DC Universe's Shadow Thief, Carl Sands—a technology-dependent villain capable of becoming intangible shadows—this version bears only a nominal similarity in name and is a fully original creation emphasizing human cunning over supernatural or gadget-based powers. Shadow Thief's backstory revolves around familial loss and vendetta: he is the son of a U.S. Army assigned to contain the original Atom, Arthur Thompson, a powerful treated as a threat. During Arthur's violent escape, the soldier was killed, triggering an accidental that reshaped global politics and society in the Tangent universe. Upon discovering the truth, Shadow Thief turned to organized crime, assembling the —including members like Kid Psycho, , and Count Viper—to systematically dismantle the Atom's legacy. He personally orchestrated the murder of the second Atom (Arthur's son) and later hijacked nuclear missiles in an attempt to eradicate the third Atom, Adam Thompson, while taunting him with the family's hidden history of destructive actions. Lacking inherent superpowers, Shadow Thief operates through superior intellect, strategic , and access to advanced , such as a pilfered teleportation device that enables swift escapes and covert operations. His role as the Fatal Five's ringleader positions him as a mastermind in high-tension confrontations, mocking the Atoms as fraudulent heroes who caused more harm than good. Despite his threats to expose their secrets, Adam Thompson defeats and arrests him, preventing further catastrophe. This incarnation highlights the universe's thematic focus on the unintended consequences of superhuman intervention in a dystopian world, with Shadow Thief embodying anti-hero resentment rather than mystical horror or technological prowess. As part of the imprint's design, he exists solely within Earth-9's continuity, with no ties or crossovers to the prime .

In other media

Television

Shadow Thief has made several appearances in animated television series, primarily as an antagonist to utilizing shadow phasing and intangibility powers. In (2004–2006), the Carl Sands version is voiced by and introduced as a minor villain in the episode "" (season 2, episode 5), where he is hired by alien Khunds for industrial sabotage and directly confronts with his phasing abilities to evade capture. In the follow-up episode "" (season 3, episode 11), Shadow Thief's backstory is revealed as a construct born from Carter Hall's via the Absorbacron device, culminating in his defeat and apparent reintegration into Hawkman's mind during a confrontation involving and . He is also affiliated with the of Super-Villains, contributing to group efforts against the in broader arcs, though without prominent standalone roles.) Another animated portrayal occurs in The Batman (2004–2008), where the Carl Sands incarnation, voiced by , appears in the season 5 "What Goes Up..." ( 11). In this adaptation, Shadow Thief is recruited by Black Mask to escape and steal a Thanagarian from a Gotham museum, employing his intangibility to phase through security and structures while battling Batman and the visiting . In live-action, the Aviva Metula version of Shadow Thief is featured in the Arrowverse series Arrow (2012–2020), portrayed by Carmel Amit in season 7, episode 18 "Lost Canary" (aired April 17, 2019). Depicted as a former operative turned mercenary allied with crime lord Ricardo Diaz, she dons an experimental stealth suit enabling intangibility and phasing, merging her comic background with the show's lore involving of Assassins and Star City's criminal networks. Metula teams with Black Siren (Laurel Lance) for a violent crime spree targeting corrupt officials, but is ultimately subdued by a coalition of heroines including Black Canary (Dinah Drake, White Canary (Sara Lance), and .

Video games

In (2011), Shadow Thief, portrayed as Carl Sands, serves as an enemy boss within Hawkman-related alerts and dedicated missions, where players confront his shadow manipulation abilities, including the creation of shadow clones for distraction and intangibility-based evasion tactics during combat. These encounters emphasize stealthy shadow-themed mechanics, tying into his comic affiliations with groups like the of Super-Villains. Shadow Thief appears as a minor unlockable playable character in (2018), featuring abilities such as for quick movement and stealth gadgets for infiltration in levels inspired by narratives. Players can access him through story progression or collectibles, allowing use in cooperative villain campaigns with lighthearted, block-based combat adaptations of his intangibility powers. The Carl Sands version of Shadow Thief is summonable as a in Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (2013), where he aids in puzzle-solving by deploying shadow-based effects to interact with the environment or foes. As of 2025, Shadow Thief has no confirmed appearances in major DC-licensed video games released during the .

Miscellaneous

Shadow Thief, particularly in the incarnation of Carl Sands, has been represented in DC merchandise through action figures and collectible cards. produced a 6-inch action figure of Shadow Thief in 2008 as part of the Justice League Unlimited II 6-pack, portraying the villain alongside figures like , , and in his signature shadowy attire. miniatures of the character were also released in DC-themed sets, allowing for play with his intangible shadow powers. Trading cards featuring Shadow Thief were included in early 1990s Impel collections, such as card #106 from the 1991 DC Comics base set, which highlighted his origins as a foe, and the same-numbered card from the 1992 DC Cosmic Cards, emphasizing his cosmic villainy and shadow manipulation abilities. In non-interactive media beyond merchandise, Shadow Thief lacks major roles in DC prose novels or live-action films, with appearances confined to minor cameos in select animated shorts and webcomics. No significant tie-ins to events like Aftermath prose anthologies have been documented. As of 2025, coverage of Shadow Thief in miscellaneous formats remains outdated, with no recent Justice Society of America-inspired merchandise released to capitalize on renewed interest in the character.

References

  1. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/shadow-thief/4005-31113/
  2. https://www.hawkworld.org/2019/09/shadow-thief-villain-of-darkness.html
  3. https://dcuguide.com/Shadow_Thief_(Carl_Sands)_Chronology
  4. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Shadow_Thief
  5. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Hammer_(New_Earth)
  6. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Aviva_Metula_(Prime_Earth)
  7. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Savage_Hawkman_Vol_1_17
  8. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Aviva_Metula_(Prime_Earth)/Appearances
  9. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/aviva-metula/4005-87867/
  10. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Sands_(New_Earth)
  11. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Sands_(Prime_Earth)
  12. https://insidepulse.com/2019/07/14/dc-comics-universe-hawkman-14-spoilers-dcs-year-of-the-villain-sees-apex-lex-luthor-make-coolest-power-upgrade-offer-so-far-to-shadow-thief/
  13. https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=179431
  14. https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Neron_%28DC%29
  15. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Dimensiometer
  16. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37828264-the-brave-and-the-bold-1955-1983-36
  17. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Aviva_Metula_%28Prime_Earth%29
  18. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Sands_(Earth_3)
  19. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Justice_Society_All-Stars_(Earth_3)
  20. https://www.hawkworld.org/2019/11/board-review-of-hawkman-no-18-tyrant.html
  21. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Hawkman_Vol_5_18
  22. https://comic-watch.com/comic-book-reviews/hawkman-18-beware-the-sky-tyrant
  23. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/world-of-flashpoint/4020-67542/
  24. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/flashpoint-legion-of-doom-1-hot-blooded/4000-274391/
  25. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/flashpoint-the-legion-of-doom/4050-40689/
  26. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/flashpoint-legion-of-doom-2-fired-up/4000-279962/
  27. https://comicvine.gamespot.com/flashpoint/4045-56280/
  28. https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/jla-another-nail
  29. https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/tangent-comics-1997/tangent-comics-vol-1
  30. https://www.comics.org/series/5775/
  31. http://moa.omnimulti.com/Shadow_Thief
  32. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Justice-League-Unlimited/Shadow-Thief/
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0764009/
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1163918/
  35. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Shadow-Thief/
  36. https://comicbook.com/dc/news/arrow-who-is-shadow-thief/
  37. https://www.tvline.com/news/arrow-season-7-episode-18-preview-juliana-harkavy-laurel-sara-dinah-1049407/
  38. https://dcuniverseonline.fandom.com/wiki/Villains
  39. https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-dc-super-villains/characters
  40. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects
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