Doctor Light (Arthur Light)
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Doctor Light is the name of two characters appearing in media published by DC Comics: supervillain Arthur Light and superhero Jacob Finlay.[1]
Light's stint as Doctor Light is concurrent with that of a superheroine using the same name and a nearly identical costume, Kimiyo Hoshi.[2] In 2009, Doctor Light was ranked as IGN's 84th-greatest comic book villain of all time.[3]
He made his live-adaptation debut in one episode of the series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, played by David Bowe. He also appeared in the second season of the DC Universe series Titans, played by Michael Mosley.
Publication history
Doctor Light first appeared in Justice League of America #12 and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.[4]
During the 1980s Doctor Light was transitioned from a serious menace to a comedic villain, a transformation which culminated in the DC Comics Bonus Book appearing in The Flash (vol. 2) #12 (May 1988).[5]
Fictional character biography
Origin
Criminal physicist Doctor Arthur Light captures the League with light rays after first drawing them in by capturing
Through the Silver and Bronze Ages, Doctor Light is a minor but persistent foe for a number of heroes.[7] He fights the Justice League's former sidekicks, the Teen Titans.
In Justice League of America #136, he is one of
He then founds the supervillain team the Fearsome Five, but they are also defeated by the Titans, and Light is violently expelled from the Five by his teammates.[9] Each criminal caper leads to Light's defeat, but these defeats were used later as the basis of his humiliation that culminated in the Identity Crisis storyline.
Dr. Light was once defeated by Little Boy Blue and his Blue Boys—a group of non-superpowered children.[10][11]
Suicide Squad
Driven by self-doubt and guilt, thanks in part to Finlay's ghostly presence, he volunteers for the
During his time with the Squad, Light demonstrates a simple desire to be liked by the other members. He sees his chance when a mysterious pie-armed attacker is on the loose but after faking a hit nobody actually believes Light has been pied.
Finally, Finlay's ghost convinces Light to attempt a heroic turn during a mission where multiple members of the team, some unwillingly, have traveled to
He later becomes trapped in a Green Lantern power battery which would eventually come under the possession of Kyle Rayner, and as a consequence is temporarily transformed into living light. He later joins a short-lived incarnation of the Injustice Gang, in which he assists Lex Luthor in building holographic duplicates of the JLA.
Identity Crisis onwards
The 2004 miniseries Identity Crisis retroactively reveals that Doctor Light had raped Sue Dibny, wife of the superhero Elongated Man, on the JLA Satellite.[1] Later issues reveal that he was a serial rapist. The Justice League resolve to alter his mind with Zatanna's magic so that he will no longer pose a threat. In the process, they accidentally give him a partial lobotomy, thus explaining how he fell from a plausible foe of the Justice League to a punching bag for the Teen Titans or Little Boy Blue. He later recovers his memories and intellect when witnessing a fight between the League members responsible for his mind-wipe and Deathstroke, and vowed revenge against the Justice League.[1]
Doctor Light captures Green Arrow, using him as bait so he could get revenge on the Teen Titans. The entire Teen Titans roster, former and current, responds to the call, but he brutally defeats them. After a mass battle against the Titans wears him down, Cyborg uses a device to drain the light out of the area, rendering Light powerless. Batman and Batgirl appear to take him to prison, but reveal themselves to be Deathstroke and Ravager in disguise, and offer Light a place in the new Secret Society of Super Villains. Doctor Light, hungry for vengeance and power, readily accepts.[12]
As a member of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains, he aids Merlyn and Deathstroke in defeating Green Arrow in Star City. Doctor Light then attacks and absorbs a great deal of power from Kimiyo Hoshi.[13] He later participates in the Battle of Metropolis in Infinite Crisis #7, where he is defeated by the combined efforts of the Ray, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, and Kimiyo.[14]
In the Justice League of America Wedding Special, Light is a member of the
After returning to Earth, in DC Universe #0, Doctor Light is a member of
In
During the "
The New 52
In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Arthur Light is a scientist working with A.R.G.U.S. and the Justice League of America. As he is studying a communicator used by the Secret Society of Super Villains, he receives a "nasty call" and is engulfed in an explosion of light leaving his body glowing on the floor.[23] Director Amanda Waller finds him transformed.[24]
During the "
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Doctor Light's body unleashes energy that destroys Washington, D.C.'s A.R.G.U.S. headquarters and exposes the A.R.G.U.S. Agents to it. Etta Candy is approached by an energy manifestation of Dr. Light.[28] Doctor Light appears in Los Angeles and is found by the Crimson Men.[29] The Crimson Men take Dr. Light to their secret location, and promise to make him human again in exchange for information on Steve Trevor. Dr. Light heads to Steve Trevor's location and states he must kill him for him to live.[30] Killer Frost faces off against Doctor Light. Doctor Light hurls her into Steve's ice-block, freeing him. While Killer Frost holds Light back, Steve sneaks up behind him and wraps the Lasso of Truth around him. Compelled by its power, Doctor Light explains that he died and woke up confused. He was told what to do and where Steve would be. The Crimson Men had told him the truth that Arthur Light is dead. Horrified by his own self-realization, Doctor Light disappears in a blast of light energy.[31]
Doctor Light later resurfaces, now sporting his classic appearance. He states that his human body is still dead, and that he now merely exists as a construct of living light energy. It is also implied that he used to be a villain prior to his brief stint as a member of the Justice League, indicating his backstory has been retconned to some degree. Having been cut off from his wife and daughters, Arthur has fled to the country of Chetland where he is given asylum in exchange for his services. After a conversation with Deathstroke, Arthur contemplates the possibility of returning to a life of villainy.[32]
Powers and abilities
Doctor Light can control light for a variety of purposes. He can bend the light around him to become invisible, generate blasts of energy, create force fields, and fly. By mentally repulsing photons, Light can create areas of complete darkness. Teen Titans #23 implied that Light could "power up" by draining the ambient light in the area.
The limits of his powers are unclear, but he seems to be able to wrest control of anything that emits light.[1] Such things have included Green Lantern constructs, Superboy's heat vision, and magic lightning from Wonder Girl's lasso. He is also able to take the "internal" light away from light powered characters, the heroic Doctor Light and the Ray, leaving them temporarily powerless. He also has the ability to create holographic images. Despite his frequent defeats, he is quite powerful.
Originally, Doctor Light derives his powers from his suit, but over time he internalizes this ability, and could use his powers without having to use his costume.
Arthur Light is mentally brilliant, a genius in the field of physics. However, his mind-wipe by the Justice League reduces his intelligence substantially, along with his skills for creative use of his powers. Light's recovery of his memories seems to have brought his intellect back with them and also his paraphilia.[1] As a result, he becomes a much deadlier opponent.
Other versions
All-American Comics
A character named Doctor Light appears in All-American #82 (February 1947). This version is an enemy of Doctor Mid-Nite.
JLA/Avengers
In
Tiny Titans
Doctor Light appears in Tiny Titans. This version was the science teacher of Sidekick City Elementary School.
Tangent Comics
In the 1997
DC: The New Frontier
Doctor Light has a cameo appearance in DC: The New Frontier (Earth-21). He is seen during the famous speech by John F. Kennedy.
Nightwing: The New Order
Doctor Light was a superhuman living in Gotham City in the year 2040 when having active superpowers was banned. After being reportedly off of his power-dampening medicine for too long, Light was hunted down by Dick Grayson's Crusaders and arrested.
In other media
Television
- An original incarnation of Doctor Light named Dr. Harry Leit appears in the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman episode "The Eyes Have It", portrayed by David Bowe. He is a scientist who stole an ultraviolet light beam and used it to blind Superman.
- Doctor Light appears in Teen Titans (2003), voiced by Rodger Bumpass. This version is an incompetent yet formidable enemy of the eponymous team, who see him as a nuisance and easily defeat him across most of his appearances.
- Doctor Light appears in Teen Titans Go! (2013), voiced again by Rodger Bumpass.
- Dr. Arthur Light appears in the San Quentin State Prison.[34] Four years later, Light escapes from prison and joins forces with Deathstroketo defeat the Titans, only to mistakenly believe their plan went awry and leave to fulfill it himself, leading to Deathstroke killing him.
Film
- Doctor Light makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Justice League: The New Frontier.
- Doctor Light makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Superman vs. The Elite.
- Doctor Light makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
Video games
- Doctor Light appears as an unlockable character in Teen Titans's (2006) "Master of Games" mode.
- Doctor Light appears as a non-player character in DC Universe Online via the "Sons of Trigon" DLC.
- Doctor Light appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Rodger Bumpass.
Miscellaneous
- A Justice League Adventures, and DC Comics Presents: Wonder Woman Adventures #1.
- The Teen Titans (2003) incarnation of Doctor Light appears in Teen Titans Go! (2004). Following a minor appearance in issue #30, he founds the Fearsome Five in issue #43, only to be scared into surrendering by Raven amidst an attack on Titans Tower.
References
- ^ OCLC 213309017.
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ "Doctor Light is number 84". IGN. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
In a tale written by Gardner Fox, with art by Mike Sekowsky, Doctor Light's first [adventure] was almost the JLA's last.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (April 2014). "New Talent and Bonus Babies". Back Issue! (#71): 73.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ISBN 978-1605490458.
- ^ Justice League of America #136. DC Comics.
- OCLC 213309017
- ^ Broderick, George, Jr. (w), Purcell, Gordon (p), Dzon, Timothy (i). "Light at the End of the Tunnel" The Flash, no. 12 (May 1988).
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #21-23. DC Comics.
- ^ Green Arrow (vol. 3) #54. DC Comics.
- ^ Infinite Crisis #7. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #15 (December 2007). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #27 (November 2008). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #28 (December 2008). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #30 (February 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Blackest Night #1 (July 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Blackest Night #3 (September 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #39 (November 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #40 (December 2009). DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 3) #4, DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League of America (vol. 3) #5. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League (vol. 2) #22 (July 2013). DC Comics.
- ^ Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #11. DC Comics.
- ^ Justice League (vol. 2) #23. DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #1. DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #3. DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #5. DC Comics.
- ^ Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #6. DC Comics.
- ^ Deathstroke (vol. 4) #22. DC Comics.
- ^ "'Ozark' Star Michael Mosley Reportedly Playing Dr. Light on 'Titans' Season 2". fullcirclecinema. August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Easter Eggs You Missed In Titans Season 2". 16 September 2019.
External links
- Doctor Light at Comic Vine
- Golden Age Doctor Light biography