Cloak and Dagger are a fictional superhero duo appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Ed Hannigan, they made their debut in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64 (cover-dated March 1982). The characters are Tyrone "Ty" Johnson and Tandy Bowen, two teenagers who run away from troubled homes and meet on the streets of New York City. They are kidnapped and subjected to an experimental synthetic drug, which triggers latent mutant abilities—Cloak gains the power to manipulate darkness, teleport, and experience the fears of others through the Darkforce Dimension, while Dagger can create, sculpt, and project living light that can heal or harm.
The duo initially struggles to control their powers and survive on the streets, but soon become vigilantes waging war on drug abuse, organized crime, and supernatural threats. They are often depicted as a platonic bond bound by shared trauma and dependency—Cloak needs Dagger’s light to stave off the darkness that threatens to consume him, and Dagger relies on Cloak for focus and purpose. Their early adventures frequently involve Spider-Man, and they later become allies of the X-Men and other superhero teams.
Over the decades, Cloak and Dagger have starred in multiple limited series, ongoing titles, and one-shots, evolving from street-level crusaders into mystical avengers. Their stories have addressed themes of homelessness, addiction, capitalism, and racial tension, making them one of Marvel’s most socially conscious creations. The characters remain iconic for their visual contrast and the emotional depth of their interdependence, and they have appeared in animated series, video games, and live-action adaptations.