The ever-changing character known as the Shade was originally created by Steve Ditko for DC Comics, where he starred in his eponymous series: Shade, the Changing Man. Only lasting eight issues, the series was cut short by the "DC Implosion" which saw twenty ongoing DC titles abruptly canceled, the ninth issue of the series was only ever seen in the Cancelled Comic Cavalcade. This title that saw the birth of the character was very superhero oriented and although it had little connection to the regular DC Universe within the story itself, the character was eventually established as part of the universe and even appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Shade went on to appear as a regular for a year and a half in the Suicide Squad series, but was never really taken any farther then that in the DCU. The majority of his other appearances at this stage of his development was in DC handbooks and the like.