Mari Jiwe McCabe, known as Vixen, first appeared in Action Comics #521 (July 1981), created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner. Originally conceived in 1978 for a solo series that was cancelled during the DC Implosion (with the story later printed in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade), she debuted as an orphaned Zambesi native who inherited the Tantu Totem, a mystical artifact created by the trickster god Anansi. The totem allows her to channel the abilities of any animal that has ever existed by tapping into the morphogenetic field ("the Red"), granting powers such as flight, super strength, enhanced senses, or claws. After her parents were killed (mother by poachers, father by her corrupt uncle Maksai), Mari fled to America, became a successful fashion model in New York City, reclaimed the totem, and adopted the Vixen identity to fight crime and protect innocents.

Vixen quickly joined superhero teams, most notably the Justice League Detroit in the 1980s, followed by stints with Justice League International, the Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad, and Ultramarine Corps. Her powers temporarily evolved to include elemental forces or broader connections to "the Red" (as explored in Animal Man ties), and she faced personal crises like identity struggles, romantic entanglements (including with Bronze Tiger and Green Lantern John Stewart), and battles against threats like Amazo or her uncle. Post-*New 52* (2011), she was part of Justice League International, while Rebirth (2016) refined her origin, emphasizing her escape with the totem as a child.

In recent years, Vixen has starred in miniseries such as Vixen: Return of the Lion (2008) and G. Willow Wilson's acclaimed Vixen (2022 onward), exploring her African heritage, family legacy, and role as nature's guardian. As of late 2025, she features in team stories and events, including ties to Black History Month anthologies and potential revivals with groups like the Power Company, maintaining her status as a versatile, animal-powered heroine and one of DC's prominent African superheroes.