 | |
| Lai Lan | |
| Aliases: | Screech |
| Continuity: | Vamps |
| Notability: | Main character |
| Type: | Biker |
| Gender: | Female |
| Race: | Vampire |
| Associations: | Vamps |
| Status: | Undead |
| First: | Vamps #1 |
Lai Lan, aka Screech, is a fictional vampire and a central character in the Vamps family of comic book titles published by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint. She first appeared in Vamps #1 in August, 1994.
Biography[]
Screech was the nickname given to a Chinese female vampire. She was one of five such young women transformed into a creature of the night by a vampire biker named David. David maintained a practice wherein none of his brood were allowed to eat until his own bloodlust had been sated first. As such, his "vamps" shared the degrading duty of finding fresh victims for him. They were forced to satisfy their own needs from their master's cast off leftovers.
In 1994, Screech and her blood-sisters decided to fight back. After watching their master reeling blood-drunk after a feeding in North Carolina, the five vamps pounced upon him, tying his limbs to the back of their motorcycles, thus tearing him to pieces. The group then used the discarded motorcycles of their human victims and traveled west towards Texas.
Under the guidance of their new de facto leader Howler, the Vamps decided to make connections within the biker community. Screech didn't appreciate the need for keeping a low profile and attempted to feed off a biker at the back of a bar. Fortunately for the biker, the other Vamps pulled her off before she had the chance to finish him off.
After a change of clothes and a fresh motorcycle, Screech drove out into the middle of the desert where she came upon a Native American in the midst of a vision quest. Shedding her clothing, she lured the man to break his faith circle and embrace her. At which point, the other Vamps came up from under the ground and consumed his blood.
Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Vampirism: In addition to the various mental and physical benefits that vampires are heir to, they also possess the ability to turn others into vampires as well. Each new vampire is traditionally subservient to the one who "turned" them, but some strong-willed vampires have been known to rebel against their masters.
- Enhanced senses: Vampires have improved several times higher than those of any human being of course these skills can vary depending on each person they will have some other stronger senses of his companions always given the dedication and training that each set to improve ways. Among the main ways that vampires have improved we find the following:
- Immortality: So long as vampires continue to consume blood, they will not age beyond the physical state they were in when they first became a vampire.
- Invulnerability: Vampires are invulnerable to most forms of injury (certain exceptions apply). Bullets, blades and blunt objects do little to no damage to a vampire's body.
- Regeneration: In addition to being virtually indestructible, whatever damage a vampire does in fact suffer can be healed through the consumption of human blood.
- Superhuman strength: A vampire's strength level is several times that of a normal human being and they are considered superhuman.
- Superhuman stamina: So long as they continue to consume human blood, a vampire can function tirelessly without rest or relaxation. However, a vampire's stamina wanes the closer it is to sunrise.
- Psychokinesis: Most vampires possess some form of psychokinesis. Some are clairvoyant, others can communicate telepathically, some possess mind control. Particularly powerful vampires can control the minds of several people at once.
- Hypnosis: Vampires possess the ability to hypnotize or mesmerize human targets. This may become difficult against opponents with an extremely high will power. It often doesn't work against other supernatural creatures. In some cases, vampire mesmerism may be referred to as "glamouring".
- Transformation: Vampires often possess the ability to transform into a variety of creatures or effects such as bats, wolves, rats or even mist. While their physical attributes may fluctuate during such states, a vampire's mental acuity is the same as that when they are in their human shape. A vampire who transforms into an animal may also benefit from that particular animal's attributes including razor-sharp claws, fangs or the ability to fly.
- Metamorphosis: Only vampires with a more advanced powers Control demonstrate the ability of altering either its appearance to imitate other people or in such cases selective transformation for creating claws to increase the lethal capability of its attacks in extreme cases and only vampires with a capacity of very advanced monitoring capabilities such change would show how elements, elasticity and other capabilities which vary depending on their ability, imagination and control, because as you know some vampires are stronger than others.
- Claws: Vampires can often turn their fingernails into sharpened claws, which are extremely durable and sharp. They are ideal for rending and tearing through flesh, though they are not as effective as the claws possessed by a werewolf.
- Fangs: A vampire's most often-used weapon are her fangs. They are enlarged sharpened canine teeth, which are often retractable so as to allow a vampire the ability to pose as a normal human. The primary purpose of fangs is for feeding, which they use to puncture the jugular vein of a victim in order to get to their blood.
Weaknesses[]
- Screech suffers from all of the same vulnerabilities common to most vampires. She requires the consumption of human blood to survive. Without it, her body cannot function and will quickly deteriorate. On the converse, a surplus of blood will also cause an averse reaction. Commonly referred to as being "blood drunk", a vampire who feeds on too much blood will will descend into a state of vampiric frenzy, causing them to lash out, acting on nothing but pure, primal instinct.
- Screech cannot survive in direct sunlight, and prolonged exposure to sunlight will cause her physical body to quickly disintegrate.
- Articles of faith, and those who with strong belief in their faith can repel a vampire.
- Vampires cannot cross holy ground, or make physical contact with religious artifacts (again, the severity of this caveat is dependent upon the strength of faith of those who wield such items). A vampire's vulnerability against spiritual symbols encompasses all faiths, including those of various cultures such as Native American tribal lore.
- Screech's corporeal form no longer casts a reflection. The only time she can see her reflection is when she stares into the eyes of a potential victim right before feeding.
Skills[]
- Driving: Screech possessed proficient driving skills, in particular, Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
- Seduction: As a vampire, Screech had an unearthly allure which, combined with other vampiric abilities, enabled her to easily seduce members of the opposite sex.
Equipment[]
- Motorcycle: Like all of the members of the Vamps, Screech rides a motorcycle.
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Lai Lan was created by writer Elaine Lee and artist William Simpson.
- "Screech" redirects to this page.
Appearances[]
- Vamps: Hollywood & Vein #1
- Vamps: Hollywood & Vein #2
- Vamps: Hollywood & Vein #3
- Vamps: Hollywood & Vein #4
- Vamps: Hollywood & Vein #5
- Vamps: Hollywood & Vein #6