Shades Alvarez was born and raised in Harlem, New York City. He joined a gang called the Rivals, along with his friends Carl Lucas (who would later become Luke Cage), Willis Stryker (who would later become Diamondback), and Comanche. The Rivals were involved in petty crimes, gang wars, and working for a crime lord named Sonny Caputo. Shades and Comanche were eventually arrested and sent to Seagate Prison, where they were tortured by a sadistic guard named Albert Rackham. They escaped from prison and sought revenge on Rackham, but were opposed by Luke Cage, who had gained superpowers and become a hero for hire.

Shades and Comanche became mercenaries and hired guns, often working for various villains and criminal organizations. They also upgraded their weapons: Shades acquired a visor that could shoot powerful energy blasts, while Comanche got a bow and trick arrows. They fought against Luke Cage and Iron Fist several times, as well as other heroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and the Marvel Knights. They also had a brief stint as members of the Thunderbolts, a team of reformed villains.

Shades had a romantic relationship with a woman named Reina Alvarez, with whom he had a son named Victor Alvarez. However, he was not aware of his son’s existence until much later. Victor grew up in Hell’s Kitchen, where he witnessed a building explosion caused by Bullseye that killed 107 people, including his father. Victor survived the blast and gained the ability to absorb chi (life force) from his surroundings and use it to enhance his strength, durability, speed, and agility. He also inherited fragments of his father’s visor, which he could use to fire energy blasts. He adopted the name Power Man and became a superhero, joining teams like the Champions, the Avengers Academy, and the Mighty Avengers.

Shades has appeared in other media besides comics. He was featured in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Clancy Brown. He also appeared in the live-action Netflix series Luke Cage, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrayed by Theo Rossi. In this version, he is a loyal enforcer for crime boss Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, but later betrays him and allies with Mariah Dillard, Stokes’ cousin and corrupt politician. He develops a romantic relationship with Dillard and becomes her advisor and lover. He also has a rivalry with Diamondback, who is revealed to be Luke Cage’s half-brother.