Manitou (DC Comics): Difference between revisions

 

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|A [[ferret]]-like [[totem]] that can move at high speeds, acting as a animal compaion.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kelly |first1=Joe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSuoGQAACAAJ |title=Justice League Elite |last2=Nguyen |first2=Tom |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1556-9 |language=en}}</ref>

|A [[ferret]]-like [[totem]] that can move at high speeds, acting as a animal compaion.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kelly |first1=Joe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSuoGQAACAAJ |title=Justice League Elite |last2=Nguyen |first2=Tom |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1556-9 |language=en}}</ref>

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== Cultural impact ==

With both characters recognized as one of DC’s prominent Native American superheroes,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrate Our Heritage with These Twenty Native American Heroes |url=https://www.dc.com/blog/2023/11/23/celebrate-our-heritage-with-these-twenty-native-american-heroes |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=DC |language=en-us}}</ref> the characters have been examined in context of representation of Native American characters in fictional settings; Michael A. Sheyahshe, an expert in Native American studies whom spoke on misrepresentation of First Nations people, critiqued Manitou Raven’s character due to his portrayal as a pre-Columbian Indigenous figure, his design blending elements from different Native cultures inaccurately, his use of “Inukchuk” to use his powers, and outdated gender attitudes contributing to a stereotypical depiction and creating a “shell identity” that lacked authenticity while continuing a “Dead Indian” trope, where Native culture is frozen in the past, erasing the reality of living Indigenous peoples today while falsely suggesting authenticity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Issue 6: Cree, Canadian and American: Negotiating Sovereignties with Jeff Lemire’s Equinox and “Justic League Canada” |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/luminary/issue6/issue6article2.htm |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk}}</ref>

== In other media ==

== In other media ==

Comics character

The Manitou is the codename and title of two Native American superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. With the original version of the character was created by by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke and debuted in JLA #66 (July 2002), the second version debuted later in JLA #75 (January, 2003).^[1] Both versions are husband and wife and are considered significant Native American heroes from DC Comics, inspired by Apache Chief.^[2]

Manitou Raven (or simply Raven) is a mystic master from the ancestral people who would become the Apache and whom inherited his role.^[3] Joined by his wife, he was a member of the League of Ancients, a coalition of super-powered champion, until an encounter with the 21 Century’s Justice League, wherein he move into the future to join the Justice League and their black-ops counterpart, the Justice League Elite, as a sorcerous expert. Killed later, his mantle and power was then inherited by his wife.^[4]

Manitou Dawn (or simply Dawn) is her husband’s successor in the role. A rebellious woman who challenged traditional norms of her people, the pair fell in love despite a turbulent start and often assists him as the pair settle in the future.^[5][6] After his death, Dawn inherits his mantle and abilities.^[4]

Thus far, the Manitou Raven version has only appeared as a playable character in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.

Within the DC Universe, the Manitou role is a legacy hero originally passed down in Raven’s family.^[3] By 1000BCE, the role had passed down to Raven, homo magi whom were ancestors to the future Apache people. Raven had first met his future wife, Dawn, in a turbulent time when she exiled from her clan due ot her free-spirited personality. Although she had killed his dog, sold his horses, and burned down his home, he came to both forgive and fall in the love with Dawn.^[7] The rulers of Atlantis, Rama Khan and Gamemnae, recruits them to become founding members of the League of Ancients.^[8]

Unbeknownst to Raven, Gamemnae manipulates him into battling the Justice League in a bid to take over the world. After helping the League defeat her, Raven joins the group, replacing Jason Blood as a magic specialist, and is transported to the present day.^[3] Vera Black recruits Raven and Dawn into Justice League Elite, a black ops team. A hardliner in his work, his neglect for his wife cumulates to her having an affair with Green Arrow, a fact he mystically learns and blamkes himself for the ordeal. Despite this, Raven sacrifices himself to save Green Arrow and returns as a spirit, forgiving Dawn despite her grief and continued guilt of the affair before granting her his mantle and power, defying traditional norms of the Manitou, and urging her to accept her destiny as such while employing the form of a raven to act as her spiritual guide.^[9][10]

Originating from homo magi clan and one of the ancestors of the future Apache, she was known to be more free-spirit woman who defied traditional norms in her clan as a teenager. When she was intended to be paired with her tribe’s chief, who intended to rape her, she killed him and was exiled. Stumbling into his home, she had killed his dog, sold his horses, and had a turblent relationship with his initially that led to her burning down his home. Despite this, the pair fell in love.^[7] As a wife and sorceress, she often assisted him as he became a founding member of the League of Ancients.^[4]

After Raven and Dawn help the Justice League thwart Gamemnae‘s plans of world domination, they agree to join the group in the present day, becoming their primary mystic consultants following the resignation of Jason Blood.^[3] While she navigates the different cultural norms, advancement of technonogy, and learning the English language, she befriends several members of the League such as Firestorm. When Raven is recruited into the Justice League Elite, he become more neglectful of his attention to her, resulting in a rift formulating from his superhero work and cumulates into her having an affair with Green Arrow despite initialyl resisting his advances, which he magically discovers. Holding no animosity despite the affair and blaming himself, he sacrifices his life to save Green Arrow and his spirit imparts his mantle and power to Dawn, whom is grieving and doubts being worthy of his forgiveness. As the new Manitou, she assists the Elite in concluding their final case and plays a crucial role in uncovering the team’s traitor, Menagerie.^[9][10]

Dawn has since taken a semi-active role in the Justice League; She was present for Aquaman‘s ceremony that disbanded the JLA. There, she met Black Canary, who pieced togather Dawn’s former affair with Green Arrow and critiques him for taking advantage of her due to her being younger.^[11] During Infinite Crisis, Dawn was a key player in stopping the Key, who had developed powerful telepathy.^[11][12] In Reign of Doomsday, Dawn works with Zatanna to find Supergirl after Doomsday kidnaps her.^[13]

In “DC Rebirth“, the initiative reintroduces Manitou Dawn with an updated backstory as a philanthropist whose magic is derived from Hecate‘s power, making her among the her “witchmarked”.^[14] Hecate compels Dawn to attack Nanda Parbat and Rama Kushna before Zatanna and John Constantine free her.^[14]

As a shaman, Manitou Raven possesses extensive supernatural abilities primarily influenced by Native American shamanism. His skill set encompasses a broad range of powers, including traversing the astral plane through rituals, manipulating time, and necromancy.^[1] In addition to his mystic powers, Raven possesses a profound knowledge of the occult, drawing from both his own culture and outside sources.^[15]

Dawn is also a proficient shaman, having numerous supernatural powers and possesses in-depth knowledge of Native American shamanism.^[16] Upon assuming the role of Manitou, her powers expanded, and she also inherited her husband’s magical abilities; Her repertoire of powers includes scrying, empathy, and energy manipulation.^[17] Her magical powers are also enhanced significantly as a bearer of the Hecate’s witchmark, granting her godlike potential.^[14]

Both versions are “sorcerers”, utilizing enchanted objects to amplify their abilities and safeguard themselves from the risks associated with magic:^[18][19]

Name	Description
Mystical hatchet	A magical hatchet that can only harm evildoers; Raven once inherited it from his father before Dawn was given the weapon.[1][20][3]
Mystical dreamcatcher	Created by Raven’s mother, the dreamcatcher can see the past and present, housing secrets and historical knowledge.[3]
Mystical headdress	A magical headdress that grants the knowledge of past Manitou title holders.[3]
Raven’s medicine stick	A medicine stick that is a manifestation of Raven’s spirit and power that is nigh-indestructible.[3] Dawn later uses the weapon.
Po-Pokta	A ferret-like totem that can move at high speeds, acting as a animal compaion.[21]

With both characters recognized as one of DC’s prominent Native American superheroes,^[22] the characters have been examined in context of representation of Native American characters in fictional settings; Michael A. Sheyahshe, an expert in Native American studies whom spoke on misrepresentation of First Nations people, critiqued Manitou Raven’s character due to his portrayal as a pre-Columbian Indigenous figure, his design blending elements from different Native cultures inaccurately, his use of “Inukchuk” to use his powers, and outdated gender attitudes contributing to a stereotypical depiction and creating a “shell identity” that lacked authenticity while continuing a “Dead Indian” trope, where Native culture is frozen in the past, erasing the reality of living Indigenous peoples today while falsely suggesting authenticity.^[23]

Manitou Raven appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[24]