Yellow Peri
Superboy and the Yellow Peri, from The New Adventures of Superboy #34, art by Ross Andru.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	The New Adventures of Superboy #34 (October 1982)
Created by	Bob Rozakis (writer) Kurt Schaffenberger (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Loretta York
Species	Human
Abilities	Expertise in occultism

The Yellow Peri is a fictional character published by DC Comics, who is able to use magic thanks to a book of spells. The character first appeared in The New Adventures of Superboy #34 (October 1982), and was created by Bob Rozakis and Kurt Schaffenberger.

Fictional character biography

Loretta York became interested in magic as a young child. That interest drew her to a burned down bookstore as a teenager. Surprisingly, one book had survived the fire—a magic book containing all sorts of spells. Using this book, Loretta became the Yellow Peri, and used her new powers to help people. However, these gestures of help often backfired. She soon joined a traveling circus and eventually wound up in Smallville, where she encountered Superboy.^[1] During their encounter the Yellow Peri also had the assistance of a fifth-dimensional imp named Gazook, who only appears in The New Adventures of Superboy #34-35 (October – November 1982). This meeting ended with Superboy throwing the magic book into space. Loretta forgot she was ever the Yellow Peri.

Years later when she was an adult, the book returned from space and crashed into her home. She again became the Yellow Peri and again encountered Superboy, now known as Superman.^[2] As an adult she was married to a man named Alvin, who could only think of using his wife's powers for his own personal gain. Superman displayed his contempt for Alvin by using his super-cold-breath to freeze him into a lake.

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, she was no longer part of the DC continuity.^[3]

52

The Yellow Peri appears in the 52 maxi-series as one of Booster Gold's pallbearers alongside Mind-Grabber Kid, Blimp, the Beefeater, and Steve Ditko's Odd Man. She was not the first choice for this task, but Booster Gold's recent glory-hounding actions had left him very unpopular with much of the world.^[4]

Reign in Hell

The Yellow Peri later appeared in the Reign in Hell miniseries. She is seen in Hell after the realm of "Purgatory" invades. She is helping Doctor Occult find his former partner, Rose Psychic. Occult calls her a spirit guide, which implies that she is dead. He also refers to her as "expendable", a concept he does not follow as he rescues her from a demon party. Peri's legs from the knees down are taken by demons and eaten, but she is still able to speak and cast spells afterward. Doctor Occult carries her from that point, to where they find Rose, who now works for Blaze and Satanus.^[5]

Brightest Day

Her most recent appearance was a cameo in the JLA/JSA crossover featured in Brightest Day. Here, she is shown as one of the numerous metahumans under the mental control of the Starheart entity, and is forced into an aerial confrontation with Stargirl over the Grand Canyon. She has regained her legs.^[6]

Powers and abilities

Loretta York derives all her powers from a magic book she found. The Yellow Peri is able to read and use its spells by touching one hand on her forehead or the book itself.^[7]

In other media

Yellow Peri appears in the Superboy episode "Yellow Peri's Spell of Doom", portrayed by Elizabeth Keifer. This version is originally a waitress who is infatuated with Superboy and gained powers from a deal she made with the magical being Gazook. She comes into conflict with Superboy after she attempts to use her powers to make him fall in love with her, and attempts to kill the woman he did love, Lana Lang. Peri is eventually defeated by Superboy, and loses her powers after he destroys the doll housing Gazook's spirit.^{[citation needed]}