In the mythology of ancient Africa, both man and beast spoke the same language. It was then that Ansari, the Spider, gave a great totem to the hero Tantu, who was brave and noble of heart. Tantu was to use the totem to protect mankind from the evils of the world.

When Tantu died, he passed the Totem, now known as the Tantu Totem to his son. The totem was passed along throughout the ages, until it came into the hands of Reverend Richard Jiwe, a descendent of Tantu. Jiwe used the Tantu Totem to protect Africa against evil until his wife was killed by poachers soon after the birth of their daughter Mari. Upset with her death, Jiwe retired. However, Jiwe's half-brother, Mustapha Maksai, learned of the Totem's existence and its power, and killed Jiwe to possess it. Though Jiwe died, Maksai did not get the Totem.

Jiwe's little daughter, Mari Jiwe, was now orphaned in the continent of Africa. Mari fled to America, where she changed her name to Mari Macabe. Mari began as a fashion model, and became world renowned. It was in these years that Mari made longtime friends such as agent Solomon Samuels and fashion photographer Willie Layton. Mari soon began to design her own outfits, and began a career in the business side of the industry. Eventually, she discovered the Tantu Totem, and decided to continue her heritage. She designed herself a costume and used the Tantu Totem to become the heroine known as the Vixen.

In Vixen's first recorded appearance, she attacked the warehouse of Mordecai Mule. Mule, an inporter/exporter, was secretly a poacher, which Vixen wanted to put out of business. However, her crime soon drew the attention of the Metropolis Marvel, Superman. Vixen, in the guise of Mari Macabe, joined Clark Kent (secretly Superman), Lana Lang, and Solomon Samuels to Africa, where she and Superman teamed up to put Mule out of business.

When Willie Layton's nephew, Kip, disappeared while playing the arcade game "Galaxy Starfighter," the Vixen asked Superman's help. Jimmy Olsen discovered 12 other similar disappearances, and further investigation brought Vixen and Superman into conflict with Admiral Cerebrus, who used the kids to augment his own psychic powers.

Later that year, Aquaman disbanded the original Justice League of America, and reformed a new one, with Martian Manhunter, Elongated Man, and Zatanna. At the UN Building, Vixen, sporting a new costume, approached the team and soon became their first recruit. Vixen and the League, with newer recruits Steel, Vibe, and Gypsy, moved to Detroit, where they established themselves on an old bunker located on Cameron Street. Vixen soon established herself as heroine, aiding the League in battling the Cadre and in rescuing elder League members Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.

The League's friend, Mother Windom, was kidnapped by Mustapha Maksai in return for the surrender of Vixen. Though the League decided not to succumb to the terrorism, Vixen left on her own and found Maksai's lair. Threatening to kill Windom, Maksai demanded the Totem, which he felt rightly belonged to him. Vixen surrendered the Totem, which turned the evil Maksai into an ox. Vixen rescued Mother Windom, and retrieved the Totem. Maksai, dazed, was knocked off the theatre stage of his lair and was impaled upon glass debris.

Vixen stayed with the League, tackling such villains as the android Amazo. She participated in the Crisis on Infinite Earths, aiding such heroes as the Atom, Blue Devil, Cyborg, Firehawk, Firestorm, John Stewart, and T.O. Morrow deal with the newly-transformed Red Tornado and holding off a confused Infinity Inc.

The League was soon evicted from the Bunker in Detroit, where they moved to the old Secret Sanctuary. Whilst there, Vixen and the League faced such varied threats as the alien "Junior" and a revamped Despero.

When Darkseid waged his war against Earth's "Legends," Martian Manhunter, then leader of the Justice League, disbanded the group due to an executive order by US President Ronald Reagan. League villain Professor Ivo took this chance to attack the League, killing Vibe and Steel. An enraged Vixen tracked Ivo down to his headquarters, where she was prepared to murder him in revenge. Ivo's robots attacked, and the Martian Manhunter came to the rescue. The two defeated Ivo's androids, and found Ivo had become insane.

With Martian Manhunter and Vixen the only two remaining Leaguers left, J'Onn wanted to rebuild the Justice League, but Vixen disagreed. Deciding that it was time to move on, the two heroes parted.

After that she joined the Suicide Squad, where she encountered the JLA on a mission to Russia. Vixen left the Suicide Squad and remains active in adventuring with The Ultramarines and in the fashion world. She also served on the Justice League Task Force (JLTF #7-8).