HARRIDAN

Real Name: Svetlana Porfiry

Identity/Class: Human (source of powers unknown)

Occupation: Former employee of Professor Power's Secret Empire

Group Membership: Former member of Professor Power's Secret Empire

Affiliations: Former partner of Seraph and Cloud;
    former ally of Leviathan, Mad Dog, and the Mutant Force (Burner, Lifter, Shocker, Slither)

Enemies: The New Defenders (Angel, Beast, Iceman, Gargoyle, Moondragon, Valkyrie), the Vision and the Scarlet Witch

Known Relatives: None known

Aliases: None known

Base of Operations: Formerly Professor Power's Secret Empire base, Mt. Charteris, near Burton Canyon, Colorado

First Appearance: (New) Defenders I#123 (September, 1983)

Powers/Abilities: Harridan had the power to drain the life force of any mortal body she touched, making the body older and older until it died. It is unknown what she did with this energy. If she stopped draining this energy before the victim was killed, the energy returned to the victim and no damage was done. Harridan also wielded a Deathstaff, created by Secret Empire scientists, which emitted a powerful blast capable of knocking a human person out for hours.

((New) Defenders I#123) - Seraph, Cloud, and Harridan were sent to capture the Vision, so that the Secret Empire scientists could study him. They hid out in an old house in Leonia, New Jersey, waiting for the right time to strike. Cloud noted that the Vision and the Scarlet Witch had company, the Defenders (Beast, Gargoyle, and Iceman). Harridan stated that the Defenders had tangled with the Secret Empire before, and Number One would be glad to see them dead. Seraph and Harridan argued over their assignment, and Seraph telepathically calmed Harridan into submission. Later, Harridan, Seraph, and Cloud attacked the Vision and the Scarlet Witch in their home. Cloud struck Vision with a lightning bolt, but the Scarlet Witch hexed Cloud to the ground. Then Harridan hit the Gargoyle with a powerful blast from her Deathstaff. When Seraph demanded that the Vision surrender, Iceman froze the women in a block of ice, but Seraph pummeled them free. While the Scarlet Witch continued to battle Cloud, the Beast and Iceman leaped at Harridan, who began draining the life from them both, laughing as she did so. Seraph bested the Vision in battle, and told Harridan and Cloud to leave with her. Harridan refused, stating that she would only leave when the lives of the two mutants were drained completely. Seraph pulled Harridan off, and the Beast and Iceman reverted to their normal age. The Gargoyle attacked Seraph and Cloud, leaving them both unconscious. Harridan was shocked that the Gargoyle shook off the effects of her Deathstaff so fast. She grabbed Gargoyle and attempted to drain his energy, but since the Gargoyle's body is immortal, the psychic feedback moved to Harridan's own body, sending her flying through the wall, seemingly dead.

((New) Defenders I#124) - Seraph, Harridan and Cloud were taken into SHIELD custody in null-fields.  It is unknown how they later escaped to return to the Secret Empire.

((New) Defenders I#126 (BTS)) - The Defenders discovered that Nick Fury had no record of Seraph, Harriden, and Cloud's capture.

Comments: Created by J.M. DeMatteis, Don Perlin, and Kim DeMulder.