Tara Tam

Tara Tam grew up with neglectful parents and developed unusual powers after unknowingly eating meat taken from a Skrull who had been hypnotized into believing that he was a duck. The alien flesh altered her DNA and gave her a condition known as Skrullovoria-Induced Skrullophobia. Members of the Skrull Kill Krew later revealed the source of her abilities and attempted to recruit her. Tara refused their offer and eventually left her family to seek a new life in New York City.

Tara hoped that living near so many heroes would lead her into adventure. When that failed to happen she opened a Brooklyn tattoo shop named Wishful Inking. She met Howard the Duck while both were being held by the police for minor offenses. Their chance encounter developed into a friendship after Howard visited her shop and accepted her help with his private investigations.

Tara helped Howard recover a stolen necklace for a client named Jonathan Richards. The case eventually revealed that Richards was the Skrull warrior Talos and that the necklace formed part of the Abundant Glove. When Talos used the completed glove against several heroes Tara transformed into Emperor Kl’rt and ordered him to surrender. Her deception distracted Talos long enough for Howard to seize the glove and end the threat. Tara remained Howard’s assistant and later accompanied him to Florida when he attempted to reach his home through the Nexus of All Realities.

Appearance: Tara Tam has warm medium brown skin and a slim youthful build with a narrow waist and long legs. Her brown eyes sit beneath dark arched brows. Her hair is a pale turquoise blue with soft waves that curve around her jaw and fall to her shoulders. A deep side part sends a broad section across her forehead. She has a gold nose ring.

She wears a red varsity jacket with golden yellow sleeves. The collar and cuffs have narrow red and gold stripes. A large gold letter T sits on the left side of the chest. Slanted pockets appear near the lower front with gold trim. Beneath the jacket she wears a fitted black crop top with a gold outlined cat face emblem across the chest. The short hem leaves her midriff uncovered.

Her pleated skirt has a green and navy plaid pattern with thin orange and pale blue lines crossing through the fabric. Black thigh high stockings cover most of her legs and end several inches below the skirt. Teal high top sneakers cover her feet with dark laces pale rubber soles and light gray toe caps

Personality: Tara is adventurous and independent. She abandoned an unhappy home life because she wanted experiences beyond those her parents allowed her to pursue. Her failure to find immediate excitement did not discourage her from establishing her own business and supporting herself. She is comfortable around unusual people and rarely allows strange circumstances to overwhelm her.

Howard is Tara’s closest friend and investigative partner. She enjoys his company despite his cynicism and frequent irritation. Tara challenges him when he becomes emotionally withdrawn and encourages him to trust the people who care about him. Howard values her loyalty and relies on her when his cases require abilities that he does not possess. Their friendship survives arguments and dangerous missions because both understand what it means to feel disconnected from ordinary society.

Tara has a strained relationship with her parents because of their neglect and their disapproval of her choices. She also admires Patsy Walker and once collected material about her public adventures. Tara later offered Patsy temporary work at Wishful Inking when she needed employment.

Tara can reshape her body through abilities comparable to those of a Skrull. She can copy another person’s appearance and alter her physical proportions while maintaining control over the transformation. Her imitation of Emperor Kl’rt was convincing enough to deceive Talos at close range. These transformations reproduce physical appearance but do not grant the unique superhuman powers possessed by the person she copies.

Tara is a professional tattoo artist who owns and operates Wishful Inking. Human Torch gave her a spare Fantastic Four uniform that adapts to her changing body and prevents her from losing ordinary clothing whenever she transforms. She does not carry a regular weapon and generally relies on deception and improvisation rather than direct combat.