Moonchild

As with Mark’s other personas, it is likely that Moonchild is based on hazy memories of someone Mark met in his past. Perhaps a Korean exchange student during his college days given her youth.

Moonchild’s first public appearance was during the swarm invasion, when Mark assisted Dr. Tachyon in hunting down some hidden swarm and Takisian agents. It was during this encounter that Moonchild defeated Durg At’morakh and he subsequently transferred his loyalties to her (and by extension, Mark).

During Mark’s adventures with the Vietnamese rebels it was Moonchild who became ad hoc leader of the rebellion. She then allowed Mark to take the post of president when the rebels overturned the Vietnamese government. It was during this time that she discovered that she was not truly Korean and the true nature of Mark’s alter ego became clearer.

The Ganesha accident

After the coup, Việt Nam was visited by an Indian ace known as Ganesha. He had the power to cast illusions and to reshape reality to a limited extent. Ganesha appeared to friendly upon their first meeting, sharing similar philosophies of peace. But this turned out to be a sham.

Ganesha attempted to rape Mark’s daughter Sprout and Moonchild intervened. She flew into combat with a jump kick against Ganesha, who wore the illusory form of an anthropomorphic elephant.

But the actual Ganesha was a frail man who could not withstand the force of Moonchild’s attack nearly as well as the elephantine form he presented. His neck was snapped and he was killed instantly.

Violating her pacifist principles in such a way, even by accident, drove Moonchild into a hysteria that led to a permanent catatonic state. Every subsequent attempt on Mark’s part to change into Moonchild has put him in a coma for an hour.

Description

Moonchild is an attractive young Asian woman with a petite, lithe build. She moves with superhuman grace and speed, but carries herself in a reserved, quiet manner. She wears a skintight costume with leather gloves and soft leather boots, all in black; a black and white Tao (yin-yang) symbol is emblazoned upon the chest.

The same Tao pattern is duplicated with her cowl, with the negative space exposing her face serving as the white half of the symbol. The black curve of the cowl covers an identically shaped portwine-stain birthmark on her face.

Personality

Moonchild is a shy, humble young woman. She will only assert herself when she is fighting in the name of justice, in which case she is formidable in her resolve.

She is an innocent in many ways and the confusion she felt during her relationship with Eric the Dreamer during the Vietnamese rebellion led to rash actions that almost killed her.

Despite her impressive combat ability, Isis Moon is a pacifist. She will not kill or even seriously hurt another person under any circumstances.

She went into hysterics when she accidentally tore the arm off of a disguised swarmling (recovering when Dr. Tachyon quickly explained that it was a mindless alien drone). And when she inadvertently killed Ganesha she has a similar breakdown which quickly became a permanent state of catatonia.

Quotes

“Do not fear. I will protect you.”

“I must never use my arts to permanently harm a thinking being.”

(After kicking Durg through a wall): “Oh, dear. I hope I didn’t hurt him.”

DC Universe History

See the Captain Trips write-up for Moonchild’s DC History in conjunction with Mark Meadows.

With Mark living in Opal City, Moonchild and the Shade might have some history. The complementary nature of their powers would make them a very formidable duo, and their strong philosophic differences would lead to some interesting interaction.

For a DCU history incorporating Moonchild as an independant entity, Isis Moon could be a protégée of Richard Dragon’s. She was found abandoned as a child and has been training to be the heir to Dragon’s traditions. Her parentage is unknown and her shadow powers may be inherited.

If so, one or both of her parents may be from the same dimension as Nightshade. It is debatable as to whether Moonchild’s physical prowess and martial abilities are related to her bond with shadows or are the result of natural talent and intensive training. It is possible that she is a distant ancestor of the LSH’s Karate Kid, and may be from an Amazonian bloodline.

More possibilities

Moonchild might be a student of Lady Shiva’s instead, if your campaign uses the Lady Shiva of the O’Neill The Question series, with Moonchild taking a different path in her later years.

Alternatively, she would have been challenged by the version of Lady Shiva appearing in the Batman titles. In this case, being beaten by a pacifist would dismay Shiva, and a rematch would be inevitable.

Moonchild may have become acquainted with Barbara Gordon during Barbara’s “physical therapy” sessions with Richard Dragon, and might assist the Birds of Prey on occasion. It might be worthwhile to change her name to Raven in such an event, particularly since the hippie reference is not as relevant if Moonchild is not “attached” to Mark Meadows.

By Kansas Jim and Roy Cowan.

Source of Character: Wild Cards series (novels, comics), character created by Victor Milan.