Manitou Dawn is a fictional

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

appearing in

American comic books An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

published by

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

. She would first debut in ''JLA'' #75 (January, 2003). The character is a recurring Native American superhero within the

DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the shared universe in which most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. In context, the term "DC Universe" usually refers to the main DC Continuity (fiction), continuity. It contains v ...

and the wife of

Manitou Raven Manitou Raven, also known as simply Raven or The Manitou, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke, he first appeared in '' JLA'' #66 (July 2002). The character is a r ...

. Similar to Raven, she hails from the tribe that serves as the ancestor to the

Apache The Apache ( ) are several Southern Athabaskan language-speaking peoples of the Southwestern United States, Southwest, the Southern Plains and Northern Mexico. They are linguistically related to the Navajo. They migrated from the Athabascan ho ...

people. Despite their initial encounter being marked by turbulence, the two characters developed a deep affection for one another and eventually married. Following her husband's departure from the League of Ancients to join the

Justice League The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived the ...

and

Justice League Elite ''Justice League Elite'' was a twelve-issue comic book limited series published monthly by DC Comics in 2004 and 2005. The title was created by writer Joe Kelly and penciller Doug Mahnke. The limited series is a spin-off from the JLA title. Th ...

, she would accompany him and provide assistance during ritualistic endeavors. After Raven's death, she is selected by his spirit to become the next Manitou, carrying on the legacy with her husband as her mentor and spiritual guide. Following

DC Rebirth DC Rebirth is a 2016 relaunch by the American comic book publisher DC Comics of its entire Line (comics), line of ongoing monthly superhero comic book titles. Using the end of The New 52 (2011–2016) initiative in May 2016 as its launching point ...

, the character is also revealed to have become a caretaker and is a member of the Sisterhood of the Sleight Hand, a mystic society dedicated to helping others safely practice magic.

Fictional character biography

Early life

Manitou Dawn is a ''Homo magi'' and ancestor of the Apache. She became known for being more free-spirited, fierce, and clever than other women in the tribe and was inclined to challenge others aggressively. As a teenager, she was taken by the tribe's chief, who intended to rape her. However, she escaped and was exiled, eventually meeting Manitou Raven.''JLA'' #75 (January 2003)

''JLA: Rules of Engagement''

After Raven and Dawn help the

thwart

Gamemnae Gamemnae is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was an enemy of the Justice League. Gamemnae first appeared in ''JLA'' #69 and was created by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. Gamemnae appeared in live-ac ...

's plans of world domination, they agree to join the group in the present day, becoming their primary mystic consultants following

Jason Blood Etrigan the Demon is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, Etrigan is a demon from Hell who, despite his violent tendencies, usually finds himself allied with the forces of good, mainly beca ...

's resignation. However, Raven's duties with the League eventually cause him and Dawn to grow apart.

''Justice League Elite''

Vera Black B'wana Beast Zviad Baazovi Baby Boom Baby Boom is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was among the children who were experimented on by Doctor Love while they were still in their mother's wom ...

recruits Raven and Dawn into

, a black ops team that combats extranormal threats. After Raven is killed in battle, Dawn takes on his magic before he eventually returns as a spirit and advisor to her. As the new Manitou, she assisted the Elite in concluding their final case and played a crucial role in uncovering the team's traitor,

Menagerie A menagerie is a collection of captive animals, frequently exotic, kept for display; or the place where such a collection is kept, a precursor to the modern zoo or zoological garden. The term was first used in 17th-century France, referring to ...

Infinite Crisis and beyond

Dawn has since taken a semi-active role in the Justice League. She was present for

Aquaman Aquaman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in ''More Fun Comics'' #73 (November 1941). Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles ...

's ceremony that disbanded the JLA. There she also met

Black Canary Black Canary is the name of two superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. As one of the earliest female superheroes in the DC Comics universe, the character has made numerous appearances in prominent team-up titles, ...

, who sensed Dawn's former affair with Green Arrow.''JLA'' #120 (December 2005) During ''

Infinite Crisis "Infinite Crisis" is a 2005–2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, ...

'', Dawn was a key player in stopping the Key, who had developed powerful telepathy. In ''

Reign of Doomsday "Reign of Doomsday" is a 2011 comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics that ran through the Superman family of books, '' The Outsiders'' and '' The Justice League of America''. The crossover involves Doomsday hunting down Steel, Supe ...

'', Dawn works with

Zatanna Zatanna Zatara (), known mononymously as Zatanna, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, and first appeared in ''Hawkman (comic book), Hawkman'' #4 (N ...

to find

Supergirl Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. Th ...

after

Doomsday Doomsday may refer to: * Eschatology, a time period described in the eschatological writings in Abrahamic religions and in doomsday scenarios of non-Abrahamic religions. * Global catastrophic risk, a hypothetical event explored in science and fict ...

kidnaps her.

DC Rebirth

" reintroduces Manitou Dawn with an updated backstory as a philanthropist whose magic is derived from

Hecate Hecate ( ; ) is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, or snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. She is variously associat ...

's power.''Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour'' (December 2018) Hecate compels Dawn to attack

Nanda Parbat Nanda Parbat () is a fictional city in the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in '' Strange Adventures'' #216 (February 1969), created by Neal Adams. It is named after the Himalayan peak Nanga Parbat, with the first name mixed with another H ...

and Rama Kushna before Zatanna and

John Constantine John Constantine (), also known as Hellblazer, is an antihero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. He was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben, and first appeared in ''Swamp Thing'' #37 (June 1985). I ...

free her.

Powers and abilities

In the

, Manitou Dawn is categorized as a "Sorcerer/Sorceress", a specific class of magic practitioners who utilize enchanted objects to amplify their magical abilities and safeguard themselves from the risks associated with magic. As a proficient shaman, Dawn possesses numerous supernatural powers and possesses in-depth knowledge of Native American shamanism. Upon assuming the role of Manitou, her powers expanded, and she also inherited her husband's magical abilities. Her repertoire of powers includes

scrying Scrying, also referred to as "seeing" or "peeping," is a practice rooted in divination and fortune-telling. It involves gazing into a medium, hoping to receive significant messages or visions that could offer personal guidance, prophecy, revel ...

empathy Empathy is generally described as the ability to take on another person's perspective, to understand, feel, and possibly share and respond to their experience. There are more (sometimes conflicting) definitions of empathy that include but are ...

, and energy manipulation.

Equipment and artifacts

As a sorceress, Dawn employs various artifacts which she inherited from Raven following his death. * Enchanted hatchet: A magical hatchet that can only harm evildoers. * Medicine stick: A manifestation of her spirit and power that is nigh-indestructible. *

Headdress Headgear, headwear, or headdress is any element of clothing which is worn on one's head, including hats, helmets, turbans and many other types. Headgear is worn for many purposes, including protection against the elements, decoration, or fo ...

: A mystical headdress that bestows the knowledge of past Manitou title holders.

References

{{Justice League characters Characters created by Joe Kelly Comics characters introduced in 2003 DC Comics characters who use magic DC Comics female superheroes Fictional Apache people Fictional empaths Fictional Native American people in comics Fictional philanthropists