Dala was a vampire and ally of the Mad Monk.
History
Earth-Two
After Julie Madison and Batman traveled to Hungary, looking to capture the Monk, Batman attacked a chariot where he hoped to find the Monk, but instead he found Dala. Batman took her with him to Julie's apartment, thinking that she was one of the Monk's victims. However, Dala awoke in the middle of the night and bit Julie, which caused Batman to chase her and forced her to reveal the location of her master, the Monk. After giving the information, Dala returned to her master's castle, where they waited for Batman and she suggested the Monk to summon Julie to the place as well.
Their plan succeeded and both Batman and Julie were lured to the castle, where Batman was set into a trap and Julie was their next victim. However, during daylight, Batman escaped the trap, prepared silver bullets and killed both Dala and the Monk, freeing Julie from their grasp.[1]
Earth-One
Dala DuBois was the sister of Louis DuBois, a post-Civil War plantation owner from New Orleans. Dala and Louis were closer than siblings to the public eye, which caused the people to believe that they were lovers. One night, Dala noticed Louis walking to a dark ritual performed by his former slaves, who wanted revenge against him. Using black magic, they turned Louis into an undead being and when Dala tried to help him, she was transformed as well. Louis became known as "Monk" and together, they preyed on the innocent for years until they reached Gotham City looking for new victims.[2]
As part of their plan, Dala went undercover as a student at Gotham University where she met Dick Grayson.[3] She used her charms on him and a few days later, they started dating.[4] When Dick was deeply in love with her, Dala broke up with him, luring him to their hideout.[5][6] Dala and the Monk trapped Robin and during the ensuing confrontation, Dala bit the young man, turning him into her mindless minion.[7] Dala then used Robin to lure Batman into their lair and once the Dark Knight fell for their trap, the Monk bit him, transforming him into an undead.[8][9]
The Monk and Dala were finally confronted and defeated by Batman in his vampiric form,[10] after which the Monk's blood was used to create a cure for Batman and Robin. When they returned to normal, the Monk and Dala were taken by Father Green to the church of St. Jude, where they'd be helped with their eternal curse.[11]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Vampirism: In addition to the various mental and physical benefits that vampires are heir to, they also possess the ability to turn others into vampires as well. Each new vampire is traditionally subservient to the one who "turned" them, but some strong-willed vampires have been known to rebel against their masters.
- Enhanced Senses: A vampire's senses are enhanced far beyond those of a normal human being.
- Immortality: So long as vampires continue to consume blood, they will not age beyond the physical state they were in when they first became a vampire.
- Invulnerability: Vampires are invulnerable to most forms of injury (certain exceptions apply). Bullets, blades and blunt objects do little to no damage to a vampire's body.
- Regeneration: In addition to being virtually indestructible, whatever damage a vampire does in fact suffer can be healed through the consumption of human blood.
- Superhuman Strength: A vampire's strength level is several times that of a normal human being and they are considered superhuman.
- Superhuman Speed: A vampire's speed level is several times that of a normal human being and they are considered superhuman.
- Superhuman Stamina: So long as they continue to consume human blood, a vampire can function tirelessly without rest or relaxation. However, a vampire's stamina wanes the closer it is to sunrise.
- Psychokinesis: Most vampires possess some form of psychokinesis. Some are clairvoyant, others can communicate telepathically, some possess mind control. Particularly powerful vampires can control the minds of several people at once.
- Transformation: Vampires often possess the ability to transform into a variety of creatures or effects such as bats, wolves, rats or even mist. While their physical attributes may fluctuate during such states, a vampire's mental acuity is the same as that when they are in their human shape. A vampire who transforms into an animal may also benefit from that particular animal's attributes including razor-sharp claws, fangs or the ability to fly. Vampires also often demonstrate the ability to alter their appearance at will.
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-Two era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and no longer apply.
- Dala was re-imagined in the Earth-One continuity by Gerry Conway and Don Newton, expanding upon the first concept by Kane, Fox and Moldoff. However, this iteration of the character was ignored in the most recent recreation of the character by Matt Wagner, who used a different approach to expand upon the initial concept in the six-issue mini-series Batman and the Mad Monk.
Trivia
- If Dala is reflected in a mirror, or if she is photographed, her image appears blurred. This presumably also applies to her brother Louis.
Related
- 19 Appearances of Dala Vadim (New Earth)
- 5 Images featuring Dala Vadim (New Earth)
- 2 Quotations by or about Dala Vadim (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Dala Vadim (New Earth)
Footnotes
Batman Villain(s) |