Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)

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Doctor Light
Notable aliasesKimiyo Hoshi
Dr.Light
Dr.Kimiyo
Abilities
  • Light transformation (light form/mimicry)
  • Flight
  • Photokinesis
  • Hard light constructs
  • Force field generation

Doctor Light is a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.[1] Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the villain of the same name.[2] She has, however, crossed paths with the villainous Doctor Light on several occasions.

Doctor Light appeared in the sixth season of the television series The Flash, portrayed by Emmie Nagata.

Publication history

Doctor Light first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.[3]

Fictional character biography

Kimiyo Tazu Hoshi, a brilliant but overly-driven scientist,[4] was the supervising astronomer at an observatory in Japan, overseeing a group of astronomers charting the unnatural effects of the Crisis on Infinite Earths. She is also a medical doctor, as shown in Justice League Annual #3 (1989) and Justice League America #55 (October 1991).

As the Crisis continued, Hoshi's fascination with the phenomenon grew into an obsession while the men grew concerned for their safety. Disgusted by their mounting fear, Hoshi arrogantly insulted them and ordered an evacuation, leaving her to study the Crisis alone through her telescope.

Meanwhile, the

Monitor, a being linked with all positive matter, senses his enemy, the Anti-Monitor
, absorbing yet another positive-matter Earth with his antimatter cloud. To tip the scales for the heroes of the positive universe, the Monitor activates one last warrior.

He sends a devastating beam of energy from the star

set out to destroy the machine. Since Doctor Light can't speak to them in English, she resorts to blasting them away from the machine. Superman is the first to communicate with her, given his knowledge of most of Earth's languages.

Once the Earth's heroes and villains are brought aboard the Monitor's satellite, the Japanese-speaking

Katana
takes over as Kimiyo's translator.

Doctor Light, granted the ability to understand English, accompanies several heroes to the anti-matter universe to confront the Anti-Monitor. She and Superman soon discover the machines that the villain has deployed to destroy the remaining Earths. The Anti-Monitor ambushes the Man of Steel; Doctor Light defends Superman as best she can. Supergirl arrives, and sacrifices her life, allowing Doctor Light to carry the unconscious Superman to safety.

Seeing Supergirl's sacrifice makes Doctor Light realize how selfish she has been, and she resolves to change.

When Harbinger summons her to fight in the final battle, Doctor Light is ready. As the other heroes barrage the Anti-Monitor, she absorbs the energy of a gigantic star that he is using as a power source. Scoring the first fall of the Anti-Monitor during that battle, she blasts a gaping hole through him.

In the post-Crisis continuity, Supergirl was written out of existence, so it is explained that Doctor Light was inspired by the other heroes.

She is potentially one of the most powerful superheroes in the DC Universe, but she has not tapped into the heightened levels of power she used during the Crisis (although few remember those events, Doctor Light is one of the few who do, seeing as how she once mentioned in Showcase '96 #9 (October 1996) that she's faced "Anti-Matter Gods").

Doctor Light has joined the

Rising Sun
. His romantic endeavours win out and the two enter into a relationship

Infinite Crisis and after

Doctor Light's second costume, artist Phil Jimenez.

In Green Arrow (vol. 3) #54 (November 2005), following his recovery from the mind-wipe he suffered at the hands of the Justice League, Arthur Light, the villainous male Doctor Light attacked Doctor Hoshi and drained her of her powers.

It appeared that her de-powerment was temporary; in Infinite Crisis #5 (February 2006) she used her powers to aid in the evacuation of Tokyo, Japan. In that same issue she was warned by Bart Allen, in the costume of the Silver Age Flash, of the escape of an enraged Superboy-Prime. She was later seen in Infinite Crisis #7 (April 2006) battling the evil Doctor Light.

A flashback in

The Ray
, heroes possessing solar-based powers, took part in an unsuccessful attempt to re-activate Superman's powers.

One Year Later and 52

An article discussing the destruction of Star City (and, by extension, Kimiyo's loss of power) appeared at the 52 website, which is designed to complement the weekly comic series. The article places a date on the city's destruction, which was depicted in the final 2 Pre-OYL Green Arrow arcs, specifying that the event took place on May 15. Problematically, this dating places the story after the events depicted in Infinite Crisis.

Given this dating, Kimiyo's loss of power took place during the events of 52 - Week 2 which, given Kimiyo and Green Arrow's appearances at the end of 52 - Week 1, would appear to make sense, although it in turn makes nonsense of information contained in Green Arrow vol. 3, #54, where it is revealed that Kimiyo has not used her powers for two years.

The story arc also concludes with Green Arrow experiencing a strange multiplying effect that places the story during Infinite Crisis, not two weeks after the event's conclusion (several other characters in the DCU experienced this effect in the issue of their titles that immediately preceded the OYL jump).

Kimiyo Hoshi appeared in costume in 52 Week 35, alongside various other heroes. All are assisting the injured victims of Lex Luthor, who had caused a rain of 'supermen' by deactivating their powers. She is also shown in 52 Week 50, in the climactic battle of World War III.

Dr. Light appears in World War III: United We Stand, the fourth issue of the World War III mini-series that coincided with 52 Week 50. She is one of the first wave of heroes who confront (and are taken down by) Black Adam. He grasps her neck with such force that she instantly blacks out; he throws her aside.

Geoff Johns has revealed on his message board that he was working on storylines involving Doctor Light.[5]

Birds of Prey
(issue #100), but she was not selected to take part in the first mission. She does, however, appear in Birds of Prey #113 (January 2008), assisting Oracle by scanning the electromagnetic spectrum for any evidence that might lead her to the parties responsible for an influx of hi-tech weaponry being smuggled into Metropolis. She is unable to locate any such evidence.

Doctor Light is only occasionally active in the superhero community because she is a single mother with two children: Imako, her daughter, and Yasu, her son.[1] Gail Simone confirmed in a chat on comicbloc.com that Kimiyo's children have not been retconned out of existence by the recent changes to DC continuity (that resulted from the transformation of the Post Crisis Earth into "New Earth" during Infinite Crisis).

Doctor Light works in S.T.A.R. Labs and has an interior monologue about the erratic fluctuations in her powers that lead to her retirement from being a superhero. Upon returning home from work, she is ambushed by the Dakota-based super-team the

Spectre) to restore Kimiyo's powers, allowing her to quickly defeat a powered-up Shadow Thief and his master, a restored and more powerful Starbreaker.[8]

Kimiyo has been confirmed to be a member of the newest incarnation of the Justice League. In the

Vibe, before passing out.[10]

In the aftermath of the ordeal, Vixen tells Kimiyo that she is taking a leave of absence from the team to recover from her injuries. With

War of the Supermen, where she and the rest of the JLA attempt to repel General Zod's invasion forces.[12]

After just three issues together, the new JLA team loses most of its members, with Kimiyo temporarily leaving the team to be with her children.[13] Back in Metropolis, Kimiyo helps Supergirl rescue her friend Lana Lang after her body is possessed by the Insect Queen.[14] A short time later, Kimiyo and Gangbuster investigate an object that crashes into a Metropolis park and leaves a massive crystallized crater in its center. While searching the crater, the two heroes discover a Bizarro-like creature that resembles Supergirl. Before Kimiyo can call for help, the creature lashes out and attacks her.[15] The Bizarro Supergirl takes Kimiyo and her associates hostage, but is ultimately defeated in battle by the real Supergirl. It is revealed that the Bizarro Supergirl is a refugee from the cube-shaped Bizarro World, and was sent to Earth by her cousin after their planet was attacked by a being known as the Godship. Kimiyo attempts to take the Bizarro Supergirl to S.T.A.R. Labs, only to be knocked unconscious by Supergirl, who then absconds with her doppelganger and her ship, hoping to stop the Godship and save Bizarro World.[16]

Despite resigning from active duty, Doctor Light appears as one of the numerous heroes assembled at

Deadshot.[19]

DC Rebirth

Kimiyo appears in the Rebirth storyline Heroes in Crisis and is among many superheroes that are interviewed in the Sanctuary, a therapeutic facility to help heroes deal with the emotional costs of their pursuits. Kimiyo is revealed to be Arthur Light's ex-wife, as previously mentioned in the Trinity War storyline, and mother of their three children Tommy, Emma and Sakura.

Powers and abilities

Exposure to energy from the star Vega granted Doctor Light photokinesis: control over all forms of light sources, without relying on equipment. She can absorb all forms of illumination as energy, which allowed her to survive Starbreaker's attack, as well as absorb the energy of the sun to attack the Anti-Monitor. She can project energy, allowing her to shoot destructive laser beams and other blasts of destructive energy, blind her opponents with blinding flashes of light (capable of dispersing Shadow Thief's shadow constructs), and create protective barriers. She can focus photons into "hard light" (a fictional form of energy which acts like a solid object). She can refract lightwaves to create holographic images. She can turn into light, rendering her invisible to the naked eye. Her abilities also allow her to disperse radiation and holographic illusions, scan and "see" the

Daxamites. Her light abilities appear to have granted her enhanced durability, as she has survived attacks that have knocked out Power Girl
and other enhanced metahumans. She can also teleport, from Earth to the Watchtower.

Outside of her light-based abilities, she is also a brilliant scientific mind; in early appearances, she considered herself a scientist foremost and superhero second. She is a prominent astronomer, the world's foremost authority on light technology. She even ran S.T.A.R. Labs for a time. On several occasions, she has also displayed knowledge of medicine. Conversations with Batman have also revealed knowledge of Asian martial arts, if not the ability to use it effectively in combat.

Her primary weakness is that she requires a light source to fuel her powers, and being placed in an area of absolute darkness severely weakens her abilities; she can, however, store energy for such occasions. Her other weakness is that she's afraid of the dark. On occasions when she has been surrounded by unnatural darkness, Kimiyo has been able to use logic to overcome her fear and win the day.

Other versions

JLA/The 99

Doctor Light appears as a major character and member of the Justice League in the JLA/The 99 limited series, which takes place in an alternate continuity where the characters of the DC Universe and Teshkeel Comics coexist on the same world. Along with Vixen, Doctor Light is touted as an example of the racial and cultural diversity that the League encompasses.[20]

Flashpoint

In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Kimiyo Hoshi is a member of the H.I.V.E. council. She voted against using nuclear weapons to end the war in Western Europe between Aquaman and Wonder Woman.[21]

DC Bombshells

In an alternate history version of World War II, Kimiyo Hoshi is the chief scientist for Amanda Waller's Bombshells project. She acts as one of Kate Kane's handlers.[22] In addition, she has powers similar to her mainstream counterparts and is in a romantic relationship with Big Barda.[23]

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Doctor Light appears in DC Universe Online.

Miscellaneous

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 213309017
    .
  2. .
  3. .
  4. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
  5. ^ "The Comic Bloc Forums - View Single Post - Question for Mr. Johns about Giffen/DeMatties Era JL Characters". Comicbloc.com. 2006-08-11. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  6. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #27 (November 2008)
  7. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #28 (December 2008)
  8. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #30 (February 2009)
  9. ^ "Blog@Newsarama » Blog Archive » Hey, it's time to dissect the Justice League roster again!". Blog.newsarama.com. 2009-09-17. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  10. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #40 (December 2009)
  11. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #41 (January 2010)
  12. ^ War of the Supermen #4
  13. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #43
  14. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #50
  15. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #53
  16. ^ Supergirl (vol. 5) #54-55
  17. ^ Starman/Congorilla #1
  18. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #56
  19. ^ Secret Six (vol. 3) #36
  20. ^ JLA/The 99 #1
  21. ^ Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint #1 (June 2011)
  22. ^ DC Comics Bombshells #8
  23. ^ DC Comics Bombshells #31-32
  24. ^ a b "Doctor Light Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 17, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  25. ^ ""The Flash" Season 2 Enlists Female Doctor Light". Comicbookresources.com. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  26. ^ "The Flash's Malese Jow on Dr. Light, Working with Team Flash and Linda's "Iconic Relationship" with Wally West".
  27. ^ "New Australian "Flash" Promo Illuminates Dr. Light's Identity". Comicbookresources.com. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  28. ^ "New Justice League Action Characters Officially Revealed". Comicbook.com. June 6, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  29. ^ Harvey, James (2023-12-05). ""Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One" Release Date". The World's Finest. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  30. ^ Teen Titans Go! #48

External links