Alias

Shadow-Thief
Nick Name
|
Civilian ID
Carl Sands
Occupation

Criminal

Mercenary
Legal Status
Citizen of the United States with a criminal record.
Nation or Planet of Origin
Midway City
Group Affiliation

Injustice Gang of the World

Injustice League

Secret Society of Super-Villains
Base of Operations
Hyathis Corporation
Height
6' - Varies
Weight
175 lbs.
Eye Color
Black
Hair Color
Black
Skin Tone
Caucasian - Black when shadowed.
Known Powers
Dimensionally modified human with the ability to convert himself into a two-dimensional being akin to a shadow enabling him to control his density either partially or totally, becoming intangible enough to pass through solid objects.

Ability may be extended to controlling the shadows of other things and beings.
Accessories
Dimensionmeter: In the Silver-Age it was a device that facilitates travel to a dimension known as Xarapon while leaving one's shadow in the original dimension, where it can act in the owners stead.  Use of the device affects the magnetic lines of the Earth's axis.

The current Dimensionmeter is a belt-shaped Thanagarian device used for servicing the exterior of spacecraft while traveling in space.

Ebony Gloves: Gloves of an unknown property used by Sands's shadow to provide tangible properties to commit crimes.

Note: Devices were no longer needed by the silver-age Shadow-Thief due to extended travel to the Xarapon dimension.
Common Enemies

Hawkgirl I

Hawkman I

Hawkman IV

Hawkwoman III

Manhunter VI
Regularly Appearing

Brave and the Bold Vol. 1

Hawkman Vol. 1, 2 & 3

Hawkworld Vol. 2

Manhunter Vol. 3
First Appearance
Brave and the Bold Vol. 1 #36 (June - July, 1961)
Creator
Gardner Fox & Joe Kubert
Origin

Silver-Age

A common thief, Carl Sands was apprehended when a policeman saw the hidden criminal's shadow.  While in prison Sands constantly accused his shadow of mocking him, because it could leave his cell when he could not.

After serving his prison time, Sands vowed to use his shadow in ways he could only imagine.  Studying facts and legends concerning his two-dimensional companion he performed experiments on his findings, accidentally discovering a portal to the dimension known as Xarapon.

While exploring Xarapon he saved the life of a scientist named Thar Dan.  Grateful, the scientist rewarded Sands with a device to travel between Xarapon and Earth's dimension.  A side effect was his shadow did not follow, but was left behind totally under his control.

Utilizing his shadow to perform crimes, he came into constant conflict with the silver-age Hawkman and Hawkwoman.  After one battle he was trapped within Xarapon for several months altering him physically enabling him to control his ability to become a living shadow, known as the Shadow-Thief.

Post-Crisis

Carl Sands a master assassin and mercenary going by the name Shadow-Thief is provided with a Dimensionmeter as a weapon to fight against Thanagarian policemen Katar Hol (Hawkman IV) and Shayera Thal (Hawkwoman III), by their Thanagarian enemy Byth.