- Biography
- Threat Assessment
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Biography[]
(Submitted by e-V)
Dora Leigh: 1987 - 2006[]
Dorcas was born in Coventry, England, five days before the intrinsic bombings which came to be known as the Manhattaning. Dora's father had owned several failing factories but the Manhattaning gave him an opportunity to petition the government to pay for the costs to reconfigure his factories to manufacture various components required in rebuilding efforts. Dora's father would later be knighted for his service.
Peregrine Leigh would become acquainted with several prominent figures in the rising Norsefire movement. He became a staunch supporter of the party, though he was mostly an apolitical businessman only finding the Norsefires to be good for his business. Dora's mother, Amelda Ashburnum-Leigh had no particular reason to go against her husband, so she blindly went with Peregrine in supporting the Norsefire; and the two raised their daughter, enrolling her in Norsefire Youth Programmes. At age twelve, she would be featured in a televised election advertisement promoting the Norsefire agenda. Her face would also be used in several Norsefire posters.
Through most of her childhood, Dora was raised in the Alderman's Green area of Longford and was educated at the Grangehurst Primary School, before being sent to Abbey College in Malvern, where she obtained four As at A-level. Always considered to be a highly intelligent child, Dora shocked her parents by deciding to not further pursue her academics, instead deciding to go to London to go into entertainment to capitalize on the popularity of her campaign advertisement appearances.
Dora Leigh: 2006 - 2010[]
While engaged in an internship at the British Television Network, Dora began to realize how much her personal beliefs competed against Norsefire politics. Slowly, Dora began to realize that her family had misplaced their trust in Adam Sutler. The experience put her off and in an effort to decide the truth of Norsefire, she quit her job and became an independent journalist and blogger.
While conducting some research into some of the "relocated" dissidents who spoke out against Norsefire, Dora found herself harassed by Fingermen. First, she had veiled threats and sabotaged equipment. When she continued to look into the matter, she was directly threatened and arrested on false charges which she was able to avoid only on account of her father's influence. Though her father begged her to stop, Dora did not. Finally, her efforts paid off when she found a mass grave and was able to identify several of the corpses as dissidents featured in her report.
Fearing the wrath of the Norsefire regime, Dora left London and returned home. She considered what to do with the information she obtained for several months, but ultimately decided her silence could be viewed as condoning the actions of the Norsefire Party. Dora knew the risks all too well but decided to follow her heart.
Within hours of updating her blog, Dora was once-again arrested. Handcuffed and placed in the back of the Fingermen's armored transporter, Dora was never meant to make it to her arraignment. Three Fingermen beat her relentlessly in an attempt to get her password, so they could take down her blog, but Dora did not waiver.
With her jaw broken by a sadistic Fingerman, Dora was not able to provide the password — not that she would have if she could. Frustrated, one of the Fingermen decided that Dora could still be of use before they disposed of her. Dora fought as best she could, but with her hands restrained and her jaw broken, she was mostly defenseless as the cruel enforcers of Norsefire policy tore her clothes from her and attempted to have their way with her.
Neither Dora nor her attackers had any way of knowing that Dora had a trick up her sleeve — or rather, her genes. Dora had a latent meta-gene which activated amidst the assault. Dora's bloodied hair began to grow at an alarming rate, reinforced with extra tensile strength and resiliency, and becoming prehensile. In a state of panic and fighting for her life, Dora did not understand what happened next.
Whatever happened, it ended with the transport overturned, the driver and three other Fingermen dead inside, and a half-naked and bloody woman with ankle-length golden hair limping down the streets of Coventry — a modern-day Lady Godiva.
Following this ordeal, Dora was outed as a Metahuman and fled to Ireland.[1]
(Submitted by Oracle)
Dora Leigh: 2010 - 2011[]
Dora spent the first few months of her exile to Ireland cutting and concealing her hair. However, when Ireland passed its genetic condition protection laws, Dora felt safe to come out as a metahuman, though she did not advertise her genetic code or anything so dramatic. Instead, she allowed her hair to grow out and slowly began training to make use of her newly acquired superpower.
Godiva: 2011 - 2012[]
As Dora became more confident in the use of her powers, she began to realize that she could do some good. Creating a simple white and black costume, Dora adopted the name Godiva and began to patrol the streets of Dublin. She quickly gained the admiration of the Irish people after the Norsefire attempted to have her extradited and as a result, Dora Leigh became a frequent guest on Irish television.
Godiva: 2012 - 2013[]
An outspoken critic of Norsefire, Dora also became a political activist. Her blog continued to publish information on the Norsefire's crimes, but it also became a platform for bringing awareness on a number of other human rights violations.
Godiva: 2013 - 2014[]
Dora's rise to prominence led to her being recruited by Mink and Marten. France's foxy twins brought Godiva in on an investigation of a brutal serial killer that the twins suspected belonged to the French superhero community. Godiva's outsider perspective helped solidify both her working and professional relationship with the d'Aramis sisters, leading to many team-ups.
Godiva: 2014 - 2015[]
Godiva was on a short-list of potential Justice League nominees for 2014, but the Reach Invasion sidetracked those plans. Instead, Godiva worked with many other heroes to aid the efforts of the covert 'Team' to overthrow the Reach. The most prominent of these 'Global Guardians,' Godiva only cemented her chances of joining the Justice League. It was only a matter of time before she got the call.
Christmas Day, 2014, Dora got some tragic news. Norsefire had arrested her family for 'un-English' activity due to their refusing to denounce Dora's comments abroad. By New Year's, the Leigh family were executed for treason. In response to this, Godiva made her first confirmed return to England where she caused a disturbance that nearly resulted in the capture of Adam Sutler.
Wounded in her one-woman attack on the Norsefire government, Dora had to lie low in France during her recovery, staying at the home of the d'Aramis twins. It was here that Black Canary found her and made her an offer.
Godiva: 2015 - Present[]
Godiva was nominated to join the Justice League by Black Canary, but her appointment was seen as controversial. Many members of the Justice League thought Godiva's hatred for Norsefire might lead to the politicization of the League. She was even personally warned by Amanda Waller that she would be in trouble if she made any politically charged statements in costume.
So for the next year, Dora avoided making public appearances in costume while she continued to speak at the United Nations as Dora Leigh and was a recurring guest on many political talk shows. When she was seen on television in costume, it was news coverage of her crimefighting or her occasional appearance at public events while she was in a short-lived relationship with Booster Gold.
With the advent of the revolutionary known as 'V', Dora Leigh was contacted to appear on an episode of The Scene. She showed up for the broadcast in costume and made a bolt declaration that she was going back to England to put an end to the Norsefire once and for all. When asked if the Justice League or ARGUS would allow that, Godiva declared they couldn't stop her. And she was right.[2]
(Submitted by Four-Eyes)
Supplemental Report[]
The legend of Lady Godiva may have come from the pagan history of the English town of Coventry (originally called Cofa's Tree) and its tradition of having a May Queen fertility ritual, in which a young woman would walk naked through the market, ending her trek through town at the namesake tree of the settlement. It may be possible that Dora's metahuman powers were sparked by intrinsic energy tied to whatever ancient spirits once fulfilled this fertility pact.
Threat Assessment[]
Resources[]
- Psionic Metahuman Physiology: Dora's genetic code contains the "meta-gene." Commonly, the meta-gene activates during an event of considerable stress or trauma, altering the person's genetic code as a survival mechanism, often resulting in permanent superpowers.
- Augmented Hair: Dora's hair is much stronger than normal human hair. The tensile strength of a single hair can sustain a weight of approximately 300 lbs, making it stronger than a heavy-duty fishing line. Her hair is also considerably elastic, being able to "grow" on average to lengths of up to thirty feet at her usual length. When she has activated her hair, it stretches to three times its usual length.
- Trichokinesis: Dora can control the movement of her hair as if each fiber were thin appendages growing from her head. A psionic field permeates her altered hair-cells, causing mutual attraction across gaps between strands. These relatively small forces operate in conjunction to develop larger forces. Through concentration, Dora can psionically move her hair in any manner imaginable.
- Trichokinetic Finesse: Dora can also perform delicate manipulations with her hair such as lock picking or threading a needle, and such complex acts of coordination as typing on a keyboard or shuffling a deck of cards. Although she has no nerve endings in her hair, she can still "feel" sensations on all parts of her hair by a form of mental feedback from her psionic field.
- Trichokinetic Strength: Dora can bind persons to objects with her hair as if it were rope or use it to lift objects which weigh more than she could lift with her arms. Her hair's strength is estimated to be roughly equivalent to Class IV Enhanced Strength. It is worth noting that neither Dora's scalp, skull, nor neck support the weight of any object that she lifts. Rather, it is held aloft by the psionic field.
- Trichokinetic Weaponry: Dora can snap the length of it through the air like a bullwhip (the tip of which moves faster than the speed of sound, causing that distinct 'sonic boom' snap), or rotate it in a fan-like manner. She has also shown the ability to wrap her hands in her hair to deal punches that are bolstered with her psionic strength while also protecting her hands from injury.
- Journalism: Dora is a skilled investigative reporter despite lacking any professional training.
- Interviewing: Dora is a naturally charismatic individual who has a talent for getting useful information out of people.
- Research: Dora has a head for finding and connecting various bits of information found in records and archival data to construct investigative leads.
- Martial Arts: Since becoming a crimefighter, Dora has trained with the likes of Black Canary, Wonder Woman, Mink and Marten, and Maxima. She has her own distinct style of fighting, mostly utilizing her hair to grapple, restrain, or inconvenience her enemies; however, outside of her missions, she prefers to hone her more conventional martial arts techniques, so she does not need to always rely on her powers.
Weaknesses[]
- Migraines: Like many psionic metahumans, Dora suffers from migraines. When experiencing a potent migraine, Dora's hair often acts erratically and becomes tied within itself. She refers to these as "bad hair days." Similarly, when waking up from a bad sleep, Dora's hair is often tied in knots she calls "bed head."
Analytics []
- Physicality: 3 — Trained / Exceptional
- Occult: 5 — Master / Remarkable
- Weaponry: 5 — Master / Remarkable
- Expertise: 4 — Expert / Enhanced
- Range: 4 — Expert / Enhanced
- Strategy: 3 — Trained / Exceptional
- TOTAL: 60
- RANKING: Moderate Threat
Trivia and Notes[]
Trivia[]
General[]
- Vivian and Constance d'Aramis are her best friends. Lucien Gates and Penny Black are her friends.
- Though Godiva originally debuted in her crimefighter persona sporting a domino mask, she gradually transitioned away from this accessory. The mask was originally meant to conceal her identity, but the Norsefire outed her early into her costumed career. It was a poorly conceived attempt to have her extradited to England for prosecution, and it backfired, with the Irish citizenry embracing her more knowing that the Norsefire hated her. Later on, after joining the Justice League, Godiva began to return to sporting the mask on occasion after Batman had integrated several state-of-the-art investigative technologies into the mask's lenses.
Expanded Personal Details[]
- Blood Type: B-
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Spiritual Paradigm: Supernal
- Religion: Christian
- Denomination: Anglican (Non-Practicing)
- Ancestry: English
Personal Preferences[]
- Alcoholic Drink: Gin & Tonic
- Dessert: Peach Melba
- Color: White
- Scent: Juniper
- Author: Charlotte Brontë
- Television: The G. Gordon Godfrey Show
- Film: "Action Doctor"
- Music: Top 40
- Song: "Hey Jude"
- Band: The Beatles
Notes[]
- The month and day number of her birth is a nod to her first comic book appearance: Super Friends #7 in October 1977.
- Her costume is a nod to her appearance in Justice League International Vol. 3. In the comics, she doesn't use the mask.
- The use of the name Global Guardians is a nod to her belonging to the team in the comics.
Links and References[]