Created by Anansi The Spider, the Tantu Totem gives its wearer all of the powers of the animal kingdom as long as they use the power to protect the innocent. Mari Jiwe McCabe first heard about the totem from her late mother. It came up again in her life again when her uncle General Maksai killed her father for it and total control of the (fictional) African nation of Zambesi. Mari was then adopted by the wealthy American couple the McCabes and raised in the affluent suburbs of Detroit. She grew up to be a famous model and eventually running and designing her own highly successful fashion line. While in Zambesi for the launch of her latest designs, she takes the totem back from her uncle and uses it to become the costumed crime fighter Vixen. Aiding her in her fight against evil are her boyfriend Ben Turner as well as her superpowered friends Vibe, Steel, and Gypsy.
