DC Revolt: The Black Canary

In ancient Africa, there was a legend that the warrior Tantu asked Anansi the Spider to create a totem that would give the wearer all of the powers of the animal kingdom, if they would use the power to protect the innocent. Anansi didn't want the full power to be given to one man so she created three totems. One for the fowl of the sky, the Ndege, one for the animals of the forrest, the Arsaelen, and one for the creatures of the deep, the Raenya. Tantu took the totems and became Africa's first legendary hero. The totems drove him mad when wore in unison. Tantu split the three totems. Today the Raenya is possessed by Ocean Master. The Arsaelean is in the possession of Buddy Baker. The Ndege was later passed down to Tantu's descendants until it reached the McCabes.

Growing up in a small African village in the fictional nation of Zambesi, M'Changa province, Mari Jiwe McCabe hears the legend of the "Ndege" from her mother. Sometime later, Mari's mother is killed by poachers and she is raised by her father Reverend Richard Jiwe, the village priest. Reverend Jiwe himself is killed by his half-brother (Mari's uncle) General Maksai. Maksai wants the Tantu Totem, which Jiwe had possessed.


Mari moves to America, where she establishes an identity as Mari McCabe and gets a job as a model in New York City. She uses her newfound wealth to travel the world. On a trip back to Africa, she comes across her uncle and takes back the Tantu Totem, using its power to become the costumed superhero The Black Canary.

Mari can assume the abilities of any bird as long as she wears the totem.