Silver Banshee, real name Siobhan McDougal, debuted in Action Comics #595 (December 1987), created by John Byrne. She hails from an ancient Gaelic clan on an island between Ireland and Scotland, where the firstborn traditionally undergoes a mystical ritual to inherit leadership and the powers of the Banshee. As the eldest child following her father's death, Siobhan attempted the ritual against her uncle's wishes, only for her brother to interrupt it, banishing her to a netherworld. An entity known as the Crone then empowered her as the Silver Banshee, granting supernatural abilities in exchange for retrieving a family occult book, while compelling her to seek vengeance on her relatives.
Possessing a devastating sonic scream—the death wail—that can drain life force and kill those whose true names she knows, Silver Banshee also demonstrates superhuman strength, durability, speed, flight, teleportation, fear projection, and spirit possession. Her early adventures centered on searching Metropolis for the occult book, leading to repeated clashes with Superman, whom she challenged through lethal cries and illusions. Over time, she allied with demonic entities like Blaze, joined villainous organizations such as the Secret Society of Super-Villains, and participated in major conflicts including the Battle of Metropolis, with her curse occasionally resolved or altered through interventions involving artifacts or supernatural forces.
In the 2011 New 52 continuity reboot and subsequent Prime Earth era, the character was reintroduced as Siobhan Smythe, first appearing in Supergirl volume 6 #7 (May 2012). This younger version, an Irish immigrant escaping a troubled family, inherits a familial Banshee curse tied to her father, the Black Banshee. She forms a friendship with Supergirl, battles to control her transformations, and ultimately defeats her father with assistance, gaining greater mastery over her powers, which include enhanced sound manipulation and omnilingualism. In recent developments during the Dawn of DC initiative, Siobhan has largely reformed, entering a romantic relationship with Jimmy Olsen while navigating occasional relapses or external manipulations.