Rainbow Raider
| Rainbow Raider | |
|---|---|
 The Shade and Rainbow Raider from Flash #299, art by Carmine Infantino. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Flash vol. 1 #286 (June 1980) |
| Created by | Cary Bates (writer) Don Heck (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Roy G. Bivolo |
| Team affiliations | Rogues Black Lantern Corps |
| Abilities | Special goggles allow projection of hard-light rainbows for travel or attack. Can alter people's emotions by coating them in certain colors. |
Rainbow Raider (Roy G. Bivolo) is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. His real name is a pun based on the acronym "ROYGBIV" (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, pronounced roy-gee-bihv), a mnemonic for the colors of a rainbow.
He first appeared in The Flash vol. 1 #286 June 1980, and was created by Cary Bates and Don Heck. He was a minor, though recurring, enemy of the Flash and other heroes.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
As a child, Roy G. Bivolo always dreamed of a career as an artist, a lofty goal considering he was completely colorblind. He would often paint what he thought were beautiful pieces of art, only to be told that it was made up of clashing colors. His father, an optometrist and genius in optical technology, swore he would find a cure for his son's disorder. Due to failing health, he was unable to complete his product, but instead created a sophisticated pair of goggles that would allow Roy to create beams of solid rainbow-colored light. On his death-bed, his father presents him with this gift, and it wasn't long before Roy found a sinister use for it.
Turning to crime because the world didn't appreciate his art, Roy, now the Rainbow Raider, went on a crime spree focused mostly on art galleries, saying that if he couldn't appreciate the great works of art in them (due to his disability), no one else would. During this time he often clashes with the Flash, and sparks a rivalry that would last several years. Some years later he would fight Booster Gold as well.
He later becomes a minor enemy of the JLA, and is part of the riot in the super-hero prison of Belle Reve inJLA #34. Though he attacks Kyle Rayner, he is quickly defeated by a single punch from Zauriel. He is also featured in JLA-80 Page Giant #1, discussing other villains with Sonar II.
Roy is slain by the villainess Blacksmith when she impaled him with his latest work of art. More recently, in Blackest Night #3, he is temporarily reanimated as a zombie within the Black Lantern Corps. Also, since his death, a team of color-themed supervillains have dubbed themselves the Rainbow Raiders in his honor.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Rainbow Raider's powers are derived entirely from the special goggles he wears, which allow him to project solid beams of rainbow-colored light he can either use offensively or as a slide for travel. In addition, he can coat people in certain colors of light to induce emotions (coating someone in blue light, for instance, would make them sad).
[edit] Other versions
- The Raider becomes the mind-addled slave of a crimelord in the Armageddon 2001 crossover. [1]
- Dr. Quin (a villain from the Dial H for Hero series) appears in "House of Mystery" #167 as a different version of Rainbow Raider. This version could change his costume into different colors of the rainbow. Depending on which he chose, he would gain a different superpower.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Flash Annual #4 (1991)
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