Talisman (Alpha Flight)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Talisman
magical
abilities

Talisman (Elizabeth Twoyoungmen) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

She first appeared as Elizabeth Twoyoungmen in Alpha Flight #5 (December 1983). The character was created by John Byrne.

Fictional character biography

Elizabeth Twoyoungmen was born in

Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Michael Twoyoungmen (who would later be the superhero Shaman of the Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight) and his wife Kathryn. Elizabeth became estranged from her father at the age of four after the death of her mother following an illness. Michael, a physician, had promised Elizabeth he would save Kathryn, and his failure led Elizabeth to be bitter and resentful toward him.[1]

As a college archaeology student, Elizabeth was excavating the site of the original Fort Calgary when she discovered a skull. When she touched it, an apparition appeared that only she could see.[2] Frightened, she sought out her father, whom she recognized as Shaman despite a spell he had cast to prevent himself from being so recognized. Together they investigated the skull, determining that it was the source of ancient anger or ancient evil.[3]

Meanwhile, a young woman named Emily Stang was tending to her great-grandfather, Lucas Stang, when she was attacked by a mystical force manifesting itself through scrambled eggs (eggs being both a symbol of new life and a symbol of potential life unfulfilled). Shaman and Elizabeth traveled to the site of the manifestation, and Shaman seemingly defeated it. However, the force again manifested itself, this time through Lucas, and possessed Emily. As the possessed Emily attacked Elizabeth, Shaman identified it as Ranaq the Devourer, one of the

Great Beasts of the North. Under Ranaq's barrage, Elizabeth found herself growing stronger until she was able instinctively to turn the force of Ranaq's attack back against it. Shaman launched an attack on Ranaq as well, and together they drove the beast out of Emily, saving her life. Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth reached into Shaman's mystical medicine pouch at his bidding and withdrew a coronet (later identified as the "Coronet of Enchantment"). Placing it on her brow, she was transformed into Talisman, with the power to manipulate vast magical energies and command the spirits of nature to do her will. She then became a member of Alpha Flight.[4] She was horrified to later learn that she was unable to remove the coronet without enduring unbearable, agonizing pain.[5]

Alongside Alpha Flight, she later fought the rest of the Great Beasts.

Pestilence, the malevolent entity attacked Alpha Flight and tore the coronet from Talisman's brow, thus restoring Elizabeth's humanity. However, in the continuing battle, Shaman donned the coronet, claiming the name and powers of Talisman, and forced Pestilence to flee.[8]

Several months later, Elizabeth was sent a dream by Snowbird about the

Northstar.[13] Talisman's spirit traveled back in time to learn about her incarnation as Nahita of the Tribe of the Moon, and her first defeat of Llan.[14] She defeated Llan with the aid of Doctor Strange and Alpha and Gamma Flights.[15] Some time later, Elizabeth was attacked and injured by the second Omega Flight, and she was forced to release the Ska'r. She directed Gamma Flight in defeating the Ska'r, and she joined the new Beta Flight.[16]

Omega Flight

In the aftermath of the

Surtur demon allies, Elizabeth hesitates when confronted by a Tanaraq-possessed Sasquatch, but she is saved by Guardian's timely arrival.[volume & issue needed] Finally seeing that he was truly remorseful for the indirect role he played in the destruction of Alpha Flight and his outright refusal to kill Sasquatch when he was possessed, Elizabeth finally forgives Pointer.[volume & issue needed] During the series, Talisman is shown wearing Shaman's medicine bag, which she likely inherited after her father's death at the hands of the Collective.[19]

She re-appeared in She-Hulk (vol. 2) #16 (2007) when she tried to bypass a S.H.I.E.L.D. unit, as she had a cure that could end an attacking Wendigo's rampage. However due to security delays, and before Talisman could do anything, the She-Hulk and Wolverine had already defeated him.[20]

Some time later, Elizabeth and her longtime teammate and mentor,

Puck, became lovers.[21]

Powers and abilities

Talisman possesses vast supernatural powers as a result of her descent from forty generations of Sarcee shamans, and was once described as "a mortal channel through which the gods can fight", as well as "a director of forces, not a combatant". Her father, Shaman, has stated that her powers when properly developed would rival even that of the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange. Primary among her powers is the ability to command the Spirits of the Land to do her bidding, meaning she is literally part of the Spirit World itself. While Shaman could only implore the Spirits for help, Talisman can command them outright. She has the ability to tap into mystical forces and to manipulate them for a variety of effects, including levitation, astral projection, exorcism, matter manipulation, the ability to see prophetic visions, telepathy, teleportation over vast distances, opening inter-dimensional portals, animating the undead, generating wind blasts and lightning, summoning air spirits, calling forth spirit animals, creating magical shields of light, and generating blasts of magical energy. She also has the ability to perceive various mystical phenomena. She possesses considerable knowledge of the mystic arts of the Sarcee.

Most of Talisman's powers stem from the ancient Coronet of Enchantment, which she wears on her forehead. However, even without the Coronet, she has shown to possess the ability to absorb and redirect magical energy used against her, but the Coronet greatly amplifies her powers. Talisman cannot remove the Coronet without it causing her severe mental pain (and it took a great effort from others to remove it). However, if someone else wears it, returning the Coronet to the true owner would spare them the pain. When out of costume, Talisman can use an illusion to hide the presence of the Coronet. Talisman stated in Omega Flight #5 that she "no longer has the blessings she once had", making her level of power unclear.

Following the death of her father, Talisman possesses also Shaman's medicine bag,[volume & issue needed] which contains a pocket dimension known as the Void. She can summon all manner of mystical objects and potions from the bag.

Other characters named Talisman

Nahita / Talisman was a previous wearer of the Coronet of Enchantment and a member of the Tribe of the Moon.[22]

After Elizabeth Twoyoungmen was initially corrupted by her power, Shaman temporarily seized the Coronet of Enchantment, assuming the name and powers of Talisman.[volume & issue needed]

In the mini-series Contest of Champions, where the Grandmaster and Death use the heroes of earth for a contest, a character named Talisman was from Australia, a member of an Aboriginal tribe, who used a mystic "bullroarer" to create various mystical effects, such as disorientate opponents.[23]

Notes and references

  1. ^ Alpha Flight #5
  2. ^ Alpha Flight #14
  3. ^ Alpha Flight #18
  4. ^ Alpha Flight #18–19
  5. ^ Alpha Flight #20
  6. ^ Alpha Flight #24
  7. ^ Alpha Flight #26–28
  8. ^ Alpha Flight #35, 37–38
  9. ^ Alpha Flight #67–70
  10. ^ Alpha Flight #71–72
  11. ^ Alpha Flight #74–75
  12. ^ Alpha Flight #76
  13. ^ Alpha Flight #81–82
  14. ^ Alpha Flight #83
  15. ^ Alpha Flight #85–86
  16. ^ Alpha Flight #110, 112
  17. ^ Omega Flight #1–5 (April–Aug. 2007)
  18. ^ Cronin, Brian (July 29, 2010). "A Year of Cool Comics – Day 210". Comic Book Resources CSBG Archive. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  19. ^ Omega Flight #5
  20. ^ Oeming, Michael Avon (January 3, 2007). "Michael Avon Oeming Talks Omega Flight, Red Sonja & More". comicnewsi.com (Interview). Interviewed by Joel Ylvisaker. Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  21. ^ Amazing X-Men #9 (2014)
  22. ^ Tribe of the Moon at marvunapp.com
  23. ^ "Talisman (Contest of Champions, Dr. Strange ally)".

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talisman_(Alpha_Flight)&oldid=1165153119"