History Main / CastingAShadow

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Villainous}}'' has Penumbra, who is so all about the darkness that her hair is [[ElementalHairComposition literally a translucent wisp of shade]]. She wants to [[TheNightThatNeverEnds block out the sun]] so she can go out into the world without [[WeakenedByTheLight burning to a crisp]]. As it is, she has to use a parasol when she goes anywhere during the day.

* Creatures and members of the Darkness Civilization in ''WesternAnimation/KaijudoRiseOfTheDuelMasters'', like [[BigGood Master]] [[MiniatureSeniorCitizens Jaha]], [[DemBones Black Feather]] of the Shadow Abyss, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Queen Kalima]], [[FauxAffablyEvil Megaria]] the Collector, and [[SpoiledSweet Allie Underhill]]. Their Spell of Absolute is Absolute Darkness, which summons a cloud or field of darkness across the vacinity. Their resident AncientArtifact is the Cloak of Dark Illusion, which allows the wearer to control any creature from the Darkness Civilization, trap others inside a pocket dimension of inescapable darkness, and turn invisible. It can negatively influence the wearer if worn for too long and is the only artifact that is [[LivingMacguffin actually alive]].

* Vahdrak and other Chaos dragons in ''WesternAnimation/DotaDragonsBlood'' embody darkness. This [[https://twitter.com/ashmasterzero/status/1381797939014553600 actually]] correlates to the weak nuclear interaction.

* The [[MeaningfulName Lasombra]] clan of vampires in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' have the ability to control and create shadows as their signature power. When handled correctly, this makes them more disturbing than their initially more monstrous allies from clan [[BodyHorror Tzimisce]]. Usually, it just ends up being an excuse for the use of tentacles for naughty purposes.

** ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'' has this in the Death Arcana, and practioners are neither worse nor better than any other mage. The issue over how shadows are merely the absence of light is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by that explanation simply being part of the Lie, and that darkness is a metaphysical representation of death.

** Shadow Lass/Umbra, member of the ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}. She can cast dark-fields preventing all light from reaching an area from outside. These can either be complete, effectively rendering useless all light sources within the area, or hollow to allow the interior to be lit. She can also solidify these fields, to use as a more direct weapon. She has the power to create darkness 100 times darker than a moonless night. Her black shadows are impenetrable by light.

[[folder: Asian Animation]]

* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': Aloof AntiHero Fang's superpower is the ability to conjure creatures of shadow, usually animals, though he has used [[TendrilsOfDarkness Shadow Hands]] on occasion. WeakenedByTheLight is inverted [[LogicalWeakness since his shadows are weak in the absence of light]].

* Creatures and members of the Darkness Civilization in ''WesternAnimation/KaijudoRiseOfTheDuelMasters'', like [[BigGood Master]] [[MiniatureSeniorCitizens Jaha]], [[DemBones Black Feather]] of the Shadow Abyss, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Queen Kalima]], [[FauxAffablyEvil Megaria]] the Collector, and [[SpoiledSweet Allie Underhill]]. Their resident AncientArtifact is the Cloak of Dark Illusion, which allows the wearer to control any creature from the Darkness Civilization, trap others inside a pocket dimension of inescapable darkness, and turn invisible. It can negatively influence the wearer if worn for too long and is the only artifact that is [[LivingMacguffin actually alive]].

* Creatures and members of the Darkness Civilization in ''WesternAnimation/KaijudoRiseOfTheDuelMasters'', like [[BigGood Master]] [[MiniatureSeniorCitizens Jaha]], [[DemBones Black Feather]] of the Shadow Abyss, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Queen Kalima]], [[FauxAffablyEvil Megaria]] the Collector, and [[SpoiledSweet Allie Underhill]]. Their resident AncientArtifact is the Cloak of Dark Illusion.

* Creatures and members of the Darkness Civilization in ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaijudo}}'', like [[BigGood Master]] [[MiniatureSeniorCitizens Jaha]], [[DemBones Black Feather]] of the Shadow Abyss, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Queen Kalima]], [[FauxAffablyEvil Megaria]] the Collector, and [[SpoiledSweet Allie Underhill]]. Their resident AncientArtifact is the Cloak of Dark Illusion.

* Creatures and members of the Darkness Civilization in ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaijudo}}, like [[BigGood Master]] [[MiniatureSeniorCitizens Jaha]], [[DemBones Black Feather]] of the Shadow Abyss, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Queen Kalima]], [[FauxAffablyEvil Megaria]] the Collector, and [[SpoiledSweet Allie Underhill]]. Their resident AncientArtifact is the Cloak of Dark Illusion.

Shadow powers frequently act as the inverse of HardLight -- shadow-beings or creations of [[PureEnergy pure darkness]] will be able to affect the world as if they are solid objects. If a shadow being is the LivingShadow animated from an existing being, the victim probably CastsNoShadow unless it is returned. Some portrayals of elemental shadow or darkness paint it as a sort of [[LifeDrain life-devouring]] [[GreyGoo ectoplasmic goo]]. Also, beware of those who can [[ShadowPin root you to the spot just by shadow contact]] or summon TendrilsOfDarkness, because you're probably not getting away from them.

** Claire Nuñez orginally needed the , but learned how to use it without the aforementioned staff. She exists firmly in the DarkIsNotEvil camp, [[spoiler:though overuse of her power left her susceptible to corruption by Morgana for a while]].

** Morgana also counts, but she's definitely not a good person. [[spoiler:[[FaceHeelTurn Not anymore]], that is, [[HeelFaceTurn Though that changes later on.]]

* ''Fanfic/AncientSins'': After her true power is unlocked, Luna gains all kinds of new powers that relate to darkness. These include, but aren't limited to: summoning an army of ''LivingShadow''s, control of darkness, and the ability to travel through shadows.

Shadow powers frequently act as the inverse of HardLight -- shadow-beings or creations of [[PureEnergy pure darkness]] will be able to affect the world as if they are solid objects. If a shadow being is the LivingShadow animated from an existing being, the victim probably CastsNoShadow unless it is returned. Some portrayals of elemental shadow or darkness paint it as a sort of [[LifeDrain life-devouring]] [[GreyGoo ectoplasmic goo]]. Also, beware of those who can [[ShadowPin root you to the spot just by shadow contact]]. Extra creepy points for those who summon TendrilsOfDarkness.

Shadow powers frequently act as the inverse of HardLight -- shadow-beings or creations of [[PureEnergy pure darkness]] will be able to affect the world as if they are solid objects. If a shadow being is the LivingShadow animated from an existing being, the victim probably CastsNoShadow unless it is returned. Some portrayals of elemental shadow or darkness paint it as a sort of [[LifeDrain life-devouring]] [[GreyGoo ectoplasmic goo]]. Also, beware of those who can [[ShadowPin root you to the spot just by shadow contact]]. Extra creepy points for those who summon ShadowTendrils.

Shadow powers frequently act as the inverse of HardLight -- shadow-beings or creations of [[PureEnergy pure darkness]] will be able to affect the world as if they are solid objects. If a shadow being is the LivingShadow animated from an existing being, the victim probably CastsNoShadow unless it is returned. Some portrayals of elemental shadow or darkness paint it as a sort of [[LifeDrain life-devouring]] [[GreyGoo ectoplasmic goo]]. Also, beware of those who can [[ShadowPin root you to the spot just by shadow contact]].

* Erebus and his lover ([[AmbiguousSituation if not mother]]), Nyx, are the primordial deities of darkness and night respectively in Myth/ClassicalMythology.

Darkness is arguably the most unique element in existence (though it's also arguably the most abundant thing in existence) and thus one of the most eldritch forces of nature one can warp. This actually makes sense, given you're bending a PrimalFear that is literally nothing more than the absence of light. You could raise the question of [[ArtisticLicensePhysics how a character is even doing this]], but let's be real - [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality nobody cares]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Villainous}}'' has Penumbra, who is so all about the darkness that her [[ElementalHair hair]] is literally a translucent wisp of shade. She wants to [[TheNightThatNeverEnds block out the sun]] so she can go out into the world without [[WeakenedByTheLight burning to a crisp]]. As it is, she has to use a parasol when she goes anywhere during the day.