Shondra Kinsolving
Encyclopedia
Shondra Kinsolving is a fictional supporting character
in the DC Comics
universe. She was introduced during the "Knightfall" storyline in Batman
#486, (November 1992). She was created by Doug Moench
and Jim Aparo
.
Later in life, Shondra is a trained physiotherapist
who is treating Jack Drake
, father of Tim Drake
aka Robin, and neighbor of Bruce Wayne
. Drake had been paralyzed during a kidnapping a few months earlier. When Wayne finds himself dealing with chronic exhaustion, Kinsolving becomes his caregiver and helps to look after him after he is injured by supervillain Bane
. The two begin to develop a romantic attachment but before Bruce could fully commit to her she is kidnapped by her half brother Benedict Asp, who turns her abilities to evil uses.
Asp reveals Shondra's healing powers and, along with his own psychic powers, uses her to telekinetically kill an entire village. Bruce eventually defeats Benedict, but the events traumatize Shondra, causing her psyche to regress back into childhood, the last of her sanity being sacrificed to heal Bruce's broken back. Bruce puts her in an institution. Shondra later is put in the care of a foster family and begins to slowly recover from her ordeal.
Kinsolving was recently featured in the "Hush"
storyline, when Barbara Gordon
asks Alfred Pennyworth
if they should call Shondra to operate on Batman after he fractures his skull. When Alfred asserts that she is not well mentally, Barbara informs him that "she got better," and may thus have recovered. She appeared during Bruce Wayne's surgery, assisting Dr. Thomas Elliot
.
telekinetic with the ability to heal. Her powers can apparently be boosted (by other metahumans with psionic
abilities) high enough to kill.
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe. She was introduced during the "Knightfall" storyline in Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
#486, (November 1992). She was created by Doug Moench
Doug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
and Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo
James N. "Jim" Aparo was an American comic book artist best known for his 1960s and 1970s DC Comics work, including on the characters Batman, Aquaman and the Spectre....
.
Fictional character biography
Shondra Kinsolving was one of a pair of adopted children to a British family. Her adoptive brother, Benedict, found that Shondra had latent psychic powers and the two could combine their mental energies for enhanced effect, the two killing their abusive foster father (Her mother later speculating that her husband adopted a black child, despite his racism, in order to regularly beat something that he deemed evil). Although using her powers felt good, Shondra came to hate what she and her brother did, eventually fleeing from him.Later in life, Shondra is a trained physiotherapist
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
who is treating Jack Drake
Jack Drake
Jack Drake is a fictional character from DC Comics books, specifically the Batman titles. Jack is the father of Tim Drake, formerly the third Robin and the current Red Robin.-Initial history and family:...
, father of Tim Drake
Tim Drake
Timothy "Tim" Drake is a superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick. From 1989 to 2009, he was known as Robin in the Batman comics, becoming the third character to take up the identity...
aka Robin, and neighbor of Bruce Wayne
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. Drake had been paralyzed during a kidnapping a few months earlier. When Wayne finds himself dealing with chronic exhaustion, Kinsolving becomes his caregiver and helps to look after him after he is injured by supervillain Bane
Bane (comics)
Bane is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 , and was created by Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, and Graham Nolan. Bane has been one of Batman's more physically and intellectually powerful foes...
. The two begin to develop a romantic attachment but before Bruce could fully commit to her she is kidnapped by her half brother Benedict Asp, who turns her abilities to evil uses.
Asp reveals Shondra's healing powers and, along with his own psychic powers, uses her to telekinetically kill an entire village. Bruce eventually defeats Benedict, but the events traumatize Shondra, causing her psyche to regress back into childhood, the last of her sanity being sacrificed to heal Bruce's broken back. Bruce puts her in an institution. Shondra later is put in the care of a foster family and begins to slowly recover from her ordeal.
Kinsolving was recently featured in the "Hush"
Batman: Hush
Hush is a 2002-2003 comic book story arc that ran through the Batman monthly series. It was written by Jeph Loeb, penciled by Jim Lee, inked by Scott Williams and colored by Alex Sinclair. The story depicts a mysterious stalker called Hush, who seems intent on sabotaging Batman from afar, and it...
storyline, when Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino...
asks Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
if they should call Shondra to operate on Batman after he fractures his skull. When Alfred asserts that she is not well mentally, Barbara informs him that "she got better," and may thus have recovered. She appeared during Bruce Wayne's surgery, assisting Dr. Thomas Elliot
Hush (comics)
Hush is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as an enemy of Batman. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared in Batman #609 , as part of the 12-issue storyline, Batman: Hush...
.
Powers and abilities
Shondra is a low level metahumanMetahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
telekinetic with the ability to heal. Her powers can apparently be boosted (by other metahumans with psionic
Psionics
Psionics refers to the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena. Examples of this include telepathy, telekinesis, and other workings of the outside world through the psyche.-History and terminology:...
abilities) high enough to kill.