Creation
Lady Memory is a character created by DC Comics who first appeared in Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #318 in December 1984. She was created by Paul Levitz and Terry Shoemaker.
Pre-Zero Hour History
Shadow Lass of the Legion of Superheroes is concerned by the fact that she has not heard from her young cousin Grev in some time. Grev had taken time off the Legion Academy and returned to they’re home world of Talok VIII and all communication has ended. Shadow Lass than convinces her lover Mon-El to venture off to her home planet of Talok VIII and find out his whereabouts. The two notify Dream Girl who is the acting leader of the Legion so they can go on this personal mission.
They arrive to find a faction of the Hill People attacking the capital Lydea City on her planet led by Lady Memory, a woman who wants to revert Talok VIII’s society to the old ways in which her ancestors were the masters, and there were human sacrifices. Lady Memory was groomed from birth to be a Priestess of Maakas, the living receptacle of the centuries of history and memories of the Hill People of Talok VIII.
Mon-El and Shadow Lass are able to stop the army and are soon met by Lady Memory and the Atomic Axe wielding Persuader, whom she has paid as a mercenary to assist her in her conquest. They have captured Grev and assume to have the pair of Legionnaires at a standstill.
However the pair of Legionnaires stand up to the army of Lady Memory and Mon-El quickly makes short work of the Hill People rebels. It appears to the Legionnaires that all has come to an end when Lady Memory touches him, and floods Mon-El with all of his memories he has suppressed from his centuries in the Phantom Zone. Lady Memory is able to use her psionic powers to stop Mon-El from saving Grev as the pain she induces in Mon-El make him fly off planet in a crazed fit.
Since Shadow Lass and Mon-El have not reported back in to the Legion, Dream Girl decides to dispatch Timber Wolf, Star Boy, and Colossal Boy to check up on the two. On their ships screen they see Shadow Lass on her knees about to get executed by the Persuader. The three Legionaires also find the insane Mon-El flying near by in Talok VIII’s orbit. Star Boy than uses his density increasing powers to capture Mon-El and bring him into the Legion cruiser. Although Saturn Girl isn’t able to help him so far away on Earth, she does telepathically send them instructions that could help Mon-El.
Lady Memory decides she wants to kill Shadow Lass personally, and commands the Persuader to cut her bonds. However Shadow Lass takes on Lady Memory in a duel and as Shadow Lass gets the upper hand Lady Memory uses her powers on her, overwhelmed by her own memories Shadow Lass creates her shadows and retreats into its darkness. Lady Memory mocks her for being a coward insisting that her own memories will defeat her. Shadow Lass overcomes her memory induced powers and comes out of the darkness with a quick jab, and completely knocks Lady Memory unconscious.
The Persuader sees the tide is turning and begins to swing his Atomic Ax at Grev but Mon-El flies in stops him in mid swing. The Persuader and the remaining rebels are no match against the newly introduced Legionnaires, the return of Mon-El, the defeat of their mistress Lady Memory, and the rest of the fighting forces of Talok VIII.
After the United Planets disbanded the Legion of Superheroes Talok VIII was one of the planets with close ties to the Legion because of Shadow Lass and Shadow Kid. Grev gave up his role as Shadow Kid and became the champion of his home world. At some time later to unite their two people, the City People and the Hill People, Grev and Lady Memory were wed.
The two were in the capital city of Lydea discussing the possible alliance of the Hill People to the Khunds. Grev was arguing with Lady Memory about her lack of involvement with the Hill People and the concerns about the Khunds conquering Talok VIII. Lady Memory teases Grev that she did so for her “wifely duties” and tells him he should come to bed.
Than Shadow Lass and Valor (Mon-El) appear to discuss with them in their hopes to convince them to join their efforts to reestablish the Legion. With their help they stop the advancement of the Khunds allowing Talok VIII to remain a free world.
However this version of Lady Memory (Pre-Zero Hour) is no longer considered part of canon continuity. All history and corresponding appearances of Lady Memory (Pre-Zero Hour) were erased from continuity following the events of DC Comics during the limited series published in 1994 called Zero Hour: Crisis in Time.
Appearance
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 116 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black
Skin: Pale Green (Unlike other Talokians Lady Memory’s skin is not pale blue)
Powers and Abilities
Lady Memory has the psionic mnemonic ability to painfully unleash powerful memories on a subject. The specifics of her powers are not clear, and it is speculated that they are mystical in origin. However they do seem to have traumatic results on a subject even causing them to feel pain and go mad if overwhelmed.
She also is a good strategist and military leader. Lady Memory appears to have had some training in combat and carries a ritualistic dagger which she had wielded in combat.
Lady Memory is also a learned scholar in the ancient religions and history of Talok VIII and its numerous cultures of her home world. She has specific training in the Hill People’s worship and ancient rituals of Makass Gods.
Talokite Physiology: As a non-terrestrial being, a Talokite’s body chemistry is different from that of a normal human, providing them with different physical attributes, such as the ability to exist in the vacuum of space longer than a normal human.