Shade

Pre-Vertigo

Rac Shade lived on the other-dimensional world of Meta, where he was a top agent in the secret service. For some time, Meta had sent individuals to Earth to study it. Those who made the journey from the "Meta Zone" to the "Earth Zone" had also to pass through the dimension of the "Zero-Zone."

Shade became an expert in Earthly things and was assigned to train Mellu Loron as an agent for the secret service on Earth, and the two of them became lovers. Mellu was the daughter of Mira Loron, who was secretly Sude, the Supreme Decider, head of a criminal conspiracy to take over both Meta and Earth.

A Metan scientist named Doctor Miraclo invented the Miraclo Vest (or M-Vest) which possessed unusual powers. Sude learned of the vest and arranged for it to be stolen - during theft Doctor Miraclo was murdered. However, Shade recovered the vest, but fearing it would be stolen again, he took it to Earth and hid it in an apartment.

Shade was then assigned to investigate a plot to take over Meta. Taking orders from a superior who was secretly working for Sude, Shade was framed for causing an explosion that crippled Mellu's parents. The bomb had actually been planted by some of Sude's enemies.

Shade was sentenced to death fro attempted murder and treason. While languishing in his prison cell, he was accidentally catapulted into the Zero Zone, from which he escaped to Earth. There he retrieved the M-Vest and set out to clear his name. Meanwhile the vengeful Mellu was out to kill Shade.

Eventually, Mira Loron fell into a coma, ending her activities as Sude, but her underling, Doctor Z.Z. planned to conquer Earth himself. In the meantime, President Olon of Meta had become convinced that Shade was innocent. He told Shade that if he would stop the plans of Doctor Z.Z., then he would re-open his case and help to prove his innocence. However, until Shade was able to clear his name, Olon could not prevent Metan agents from trying to kill Shade as a wanted criminal. Shade and Mellu however, were recociled.