Richard Swift (Earth-2: Post-Crisis)

"Don't you know there's a difference between bad and evil? I've been called wicked more than once. A law broken here, rule bent there, the odd life taken. But nobody that didn't deserve it."

- The Shade to Courtney Whitmore

Richard Swift is the immortal metahuman criminal known as The Shade and a former member of the Injustice Society of America.

Early Life
Richard Swift was born in 1808 in London to an unnamed man. As an adult, he operated as a petty conman and thief, eventually being hired by the Men of Tears to procure the Black Diamond in an attempt to summon Eclipso from the Shadowlands. After providing the cabal with a replica of the Black Diamond, they began the ritual using Swift as a sacrifice, but it soon became clear that the energy from the Shadowlands would require a vessel, and so Swift was imbued with this energy, granting him immorality and the power to control shadows. With these newfound abilities, Swift soon became known as the Shade.

The Shade
After gaining his powers, Swift abandoned his family, leaving the care of their ill father to his sister Emily, who eventually died of old age. Swift then became an antiques dealer, in furtherance of his investigation into the source of his abilities, and moved to Opal City in the United States of America. During his long lifetime, Swift became an associate of Captain X, Simon Culp, and Ted Knight.

Swift later joined the Injustice Society of America, though this did not stop him from eventually warning Sylvester Pemberton about the dangers that Eclipso posed.

On December 24, 2010, the Injustice Society lured their arch-enemies, the Justice Society of America, into a battle at an abandoned mansion. During the battle, the Shade saved Doctor Mid-Nite by dragging him away to Shadowlands, an event which was witnessed by Stripesy. He later betrayed Icicle and the Injustice Society.

Arrival in Blue Valley
In December 2020, Swift returned to ISA headquarters following the failure of Project: New America. He proclaimed that he warned Jordan that his plan was folly, before black smoke covered the portrait of the ISA.

Powers

 * Connection to the Shadowlands: When Swift's replica Black Diamond failed to contain the energy from the doorway to the Shadowlands, he became a vessel to the energy and gained exceptional powers.
 * Immortality: Swift has been alive since 1908, with the Shadowlands preventing his body from aging and protecting him from any mortal weapons. However, beings from the Shadowlands, including Eclipso, are able to severely injure Swift and affect his healing until the doorway to the Shadowlands is reopened.
 * Umbrakinesis: Swift is able to manipulate darkness to the extent he was able to conjure shadows. It was also later said that his powers are drawn from Shadowlands.
 * Dark Energy Absorption: Swift was able to absorb the darkness in Eclipso's illusions and restore the minds of those affected.
 * Portal Opening: Swift is capable of opening a doorway to the Shadowlands, appearing in the form of complete brightness to those present in the realm.
 * Regenerative Healing Factor: While the doorway to the Shadowlands, the Black Diamond, remains active, Swift is able to heal from injuries no matter how much, allowing him to survive for over 2 centuries.
 * Teleportation: Swift has the ability to be travel through shadows and teleport to locations with shadows instantly.

Weaknesses

 * Cosmic Staff: The Cosmic Staff was able to incapacitate Swift once.

Current Equipment

 * 67' Jaguar: Swift drives a 1967 Jaguar as a civilian.
 * Business Cards: Swift carries several business cards as an antiques dealer.
 * Shade Suit: Swift wears a protective suit whilst operating as the Shade.