Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky (New Earth)

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky
Mainstream Universe‎‎, 1950s-2011‎
Gallery
Real Name	Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky
Relatives	Red-Desert-And-Night-Wind (son, deceased), Thunder Arrow (grandson, deceased), Black Bison (John Ravenhair) (great-grandson)
Affiliation	Black Bison Cult
Base Of Operations	Queens, New York
Status
Alignment	Bad
Identity	Public Identity
Citizenship	American
Marital Status	Widowed
Occupation	Shaman
Characteristics
Gender	Male
Eyes	Brown
Hair	White
Origin
Universe	Earth-One · New Earth
Creators	Gerry Conway · Pat Broderick
First Appearance	Firestorm Vol 2 #1 (June, 1982)
Appearance of Death	Swamp Thing Vol 2 #85 (April, 1989)

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky was a shaman in the Black Bison Cult and a direct ancestor of the Firestorm villain Black Bison.

History

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky was a Native American shaman of an unspecified tribe. His father was an even more powerful mystic, and indoctrinated Bison into an inter-tribal clan known as the Black Bison Cult. Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky was a faithful member of the cult, and as such, inherited two mystical sigils of office – the sacred talisman and the shaman's coup-stick. By the close of the 19th century, the Black Bison Cult had dwindled in membership and broken apart. Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky lived in the burroughs of Manhattan where he raised his children.

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky's great grandson was born Black-Cloud-In-Morning, but as an adult he took the more anglicized name – John Ravenhair. Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky loathed the fact that his blood-descendent should shed his birth name. He became even more incensed when he discovered that John was dating a white woman named Vanessa Tremont. He tolerated John's modernized ways, but always attempted to indoctrinate him in the ancient traditions of his people.

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky discovered a democratic New York senator named Walter Reilly had donated several Bison Cult artifacts to the Museum of Natural Sciences. The old man was outraged. He boldly blamed Reilly for stealing his people's heritage. He gave his son, John, the Bison Cult's ancient talisman and made him promise to wear it at all times. Shortly thereafter, Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky walked to Central Park where he began conducting a cult ritual. Two muggers named Zero and Beanbag came upon him just as he had concluded the spell. Hoping to rob him of any possible riches he might possess, the two thugs bashed him across the back of the skull, killing him.

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky's spirit lived on however. He channeled his essence into the sacred talisman and took possession of his great-grandson, John. Through Ravenhair, Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky became the super-villain known as Black Bison. He terrorized the patrons at the New York Museum of Natural History and stormed off upon an animated white steed towards the home of Walter Reilly. He kidnapped Walter's daughter, Lorraine, and took her to the Storybook Land area of Central Park. The super-hero known as Firestorm arrived and battled through a cadre of animated statues. It was not Firestorm's vigilance however that eventually stopped Black Bison – but Vanessa Tremont. She arrived in the park and spoke directly to the soul of John Ravenhair. Ravenhair's spirit gained strength and successfully pushed his great-grandfather's evil spirit back into the talisman. With Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky's essence submerged, John regained control of his body.

Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky's corporeal remains were buried at the Fresh Meadows Cemetery in Queens, New York.

Powers and Abilities

Abilities

• Occultism: As shaman, he had the ability to manipulate magical energy and to channel a portion of his essence into mystical artifacts. He possessed all of the mystical knowledge and acumen of a shaman, which includes practice in the healing arts, dream interpretation and divination.
  

Paraphernalia

Equipment

• Black Bison's Talisman

Notes

• Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One 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 should be considered apocryphal.
• Although Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky made only one canonical appearance, all subsequent appearances of Black Bison may be regarded as a behind-the-scenes appearance of Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky.

Related

• 2 Appearances of Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky (New Earth)
• 2 Images featuring Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky (New Earth)
• Quotations by or about Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky (New Earth)

Footnotes

Firestorm Villain(s) This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of Firestorm and any of his supporting cast or members of the Firestorm Matrix. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Firestorm Villains category."