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Living Laser

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The Living Laser
The Living Laser (right) battles Iron Man on the cover of Iron Man #211 (Oct. 1986).
Art by Alex Saviuk.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAvengers #34 (Nov. 1966)
Created byStan Lee
Art Simek
Don Heck
In-story information
Alter egoArthur Parks
Team affiliationsLethal Legion
Legion Accursed
Mandarin's Minions
AbilitiesGenius level intellect
Light manipulation

The Living Laser is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers #34 (Nov. 1966) and was created by Stan Lee, Artie Simek[citation needed] and Don Heck.

Publication history

The Living Laser debuted in The Avengers #34 (Nov. 1966) as Arthur Parks, a scientist who created wrist-mounted laser units and a costume (writer Mike Conroy stated "Arthur Parks was a scientist sufficiently proficient to design laser projectors small enough to wear on his wrists, quite the achievement in 1966.")[1]

Following his appearance in the following issue, the Living Laser resurfaced in Avengers King-Size Special #1 (Sept. 1967). After an appearance in Captain America #105 (Sept. 1968), the character was part of the first version of the Lethal Legion in Avengers #78-79 (July-Aug. 1970). After an encounter with Kree hero Mar-Vell in Captain Marvel #35 (Nov. 1974), the Laser reappeared in an extended storyline in Avengers #151 (Sept. 1976); #153 (Nov. 1976) & Avengers Annual #6 (1976).

After appearing as part of a pseudo Lethal Legion in Avengers #164-166 (Nov. 1977 - Jan. 1978), the character returned in Iron Man #152-153 (Nov.-Dec. 1981) and Iron Man #211 (Oct. 1986). The Laser featured in the Acts of Vengeance storyline in Quasar #6 (Jan. 1990) and reappeared in a new photon form in Iron Man #259-263 (Aug.-Dec. 1990) before returning in Quasar #30 (Jan. 1992) and Iron Man #289 (Feb. 1993).

Further appearances included the limited series Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's 11 #1-5 (Sept. 2007 - Jan. 2008) and New Avengers #35 (Oct. 2007). The character returned during the limited series Secret Invasion #1-8 (June 2008 - Jan. 2009), and made sporadic appearances in New Avengers.

Fictional character biography

As the "Living Laser", Parks becomes a mercenary and professional criminal. He develops an infatuation with the heroine the Wasp, and after kidnapping her is forced to battle the superhero team the Avengers. He captured Hawkeye and Captain America by placing them in a ring of lasers before leaving, but they were able to contact another member who helped them escape. The Living Laser met the Avengers again when he tried to conquer a small South American country, who defeat and incarcerate the villain.[2]

The Laser, after breaking out of prison by creating a laser using parts teleported to him, reappears as part of a team formed by master villain the Mandarin after being teleported to his base, in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Avengers and conquer the world and attacked Africa to try taking diamonds, but was defeated by Thor and Hawkeye despite the robot Ultimo being transported there from a volcano.[3] and as part of "Batroc's Brigade" (consisting of the Laser; the Swordsman and Batroc the Leaper) in a battle against Captain America.[4] The Laser reappears as part of the first version of the Lethal Legion gathered by the Grim Reaper in a failed revenge attack on the Avengers[5] and has an encounter with Kree hero Mar-Vell.[6]

The Laser eventually acquires the artifact the Serpent Crown, and while controlling the living weapon Nuklo and a battalion of the US Army attempts to conquer the world, but is defeated by the Avengers.[7] He is then employed - along with fellow villains Power Man and Whirlwind - by Count Nefaria, who temporarily amplifies their abilities and sends them against the Avengers as the second Lethal Legion. The effect, however, is temporary and their combined abilities are drained by Nefaria (who in "powered" mode battles the Avengers until defeated by the Vision).[8]

Discovering that the amplification caused a build-up of energy in his body that is reaching a critical - and potentially fatal - level, the Laser seeks the aid of East German scientists, who offer to help by draining off the excess energy and using it to power a network of weapons satellites. The plan, however, is stopped by Iron Man and in battle with the hero, the Laser's energy levels build to critical mass. Although the Laser begs for help, Iron Man has no choice but to hurl the character into the atmosphere where he detonates and apparently dies.[9] Eventually revived, the Laser battles Iron Man once again;[10] and during the Acts of Vengeance storyline battles the hero Quasar.[11]

The Laser reappears in a new photon form, posing as the deceased Titanium Man while taunting Iron Man. The villain is eventually defeated and banished to an alternate universe.[12] The villain eventually escapes,[13] and obtains a position at Stark Industries. James Rhodes (a Stark employee and friend), however, is forced to trap the out of control Laser in a wide-beam communication chamber, which disperses him across the Andromeda Galaxy.[14]

The Laser returns as an employee of the Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) villain MODOK,[15] and later as a member of a criminal army formed by the villain the Hood.[16] The villain sides with the heroes during the Secret Invasion storyline in a pitched battle with the alien Skrulls,[17] and has a number of encounters with various teams of Avengers.[18]

Mandarin and Zeke Stane recruit Living Laser to join up with other Iron Man villains in a plot to defeat Iron Man. Upon receiving upgrades, Living Laser managed to break Tony Stark's repulsor arc causing him to go into cardiac arrest.[19]

Powers and abilities

A gifted research scientist with expertise in laser technology and a Ph.D in physics, Arthur Parks begins his criminal career using wrist-mounted laser projection units, and later implants miniature laser diodes into his skin which absorb energy. With the diode implants, Parks is capable of energy projection, light refraction for invisibility and illusion generation.

Parks's material body is eventually replaced by photons due to an overloading of the diode implants. By increasing the density of the photons comprising his form, Parks can achieve "solidity"; project photons as energy beams and create three-dimensional holographic images. The character also possesses limited telepathic abilities and can travel at light speed.

Other versions

What If?

The alternate universe title What If features a story which the character reforms works at Stark Industries, with three different outcomes being presented.[20]

In other media

Television

  • Living Laser appears in the Iron Man TV series voiced by Robert Hays. He is shown as a servant to the Mandarin alongside MODOK, Hypnotia, Dreadknight, Blacklash, Grey Gargoyle, Blizzard, and Justin Hammer.
  • Living Laser appears in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Meltdown" voiced by Louis Chirillo. This version is portrayed as more of a tragic villain. Arthur Parks is a Maggia grunt who stole and became fascinated with an experimental vest during a raid on Stark International and ended up becoming Living Laser. Not only was he mistreated by some Maggia soldiers, he was also considered a disappointment by his mother. When he stole the experimental vest and attacked the city Iron Man had a hard time fighting him. Upon managing to match his weapons' energy frequency with Living Laser's body, Iron Man managed to disintegrate Living Laser. In the episode "Fun with Lasers," he somehow ended up in a laser satellite owned by S.H.I.E.L.D. and discovered its power. Upon taking the operators on the satellite hostage, Living Laser demanded Iron Man to come to him despite the objections from Nick Fury. Iron Man managed to trap Living Laser in the satellite's laser-powered technological grid until he was taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and placed in a special cell. In the episode "Technovore," Tony Stark discovered that Living Laser is dying and argues with Nick Fury about it. In the episode "Designed Only for Chaos," Living Laser's form is apparently falling apart. However Tony Stark volunteered to help cure the Laser. But then, the Ghost springs the Living Laser from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier against Laser's will so that A.I.M. can use him to help activate MODOK's harness. A.I.M. stole much of his power while activating MODOK. Iron Man invaded A.I.M. headquarters, but failed to stop MODOK's mobility harness from being activated. After usurping the role of being the leader of A.I.M. from the A.I.M Scientist-Supreme, MODOK attacked Iron Man. Soon, he was able to deduce that Iron Man was actually Tony Stark, much to the Laser's surprise. He then realizes that Iron Man actually wanted to help him, and joined the battle. After a rough fight, Living Laser used up the last of his power to critically damage MODOK, wiping MODOK's memory of Iron Man being Tony Stark. He then disappeared once again, this time permanently, knowing he actually did something good that day. In the episode "Look into the Light," Mr. Fix is ordered by Justin Hammer to reassemble Living Laser who unknowingly splits into a Light Half and a Dark Half. The Light Half ends up coming to Iron Man when the Dark Half plans to destroy the Earth. Both halves of Living Laser end up captured by Mr. Fix who plans to wipe their memories. When both of them reach critical condition, Iron Man and War Machine end up freeing them as the Dark Half of Living Laser attacks them. Iron Man tells the Light Half Living Laser to be ready to energize the harness that they plan to put on the Dark Half of Living Laser. Both sides of Living Laser end up fighting each other. Iron Man manages to strap the harness onto the Dark Half of Living Laser as the Light Half activates the harness. This ends up making Living Laser whole and ends up going to lay low for a while.
  • Living Laser appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "The Breakout" Pt. 1, voiced by Nolan North. He is shown as an inmate at the Vault when a mass breakout occurs. He burned through the door to the room of the inmates' confiscated gear and then joined with other Iron Man villains, Crimson Dynamo, Blizzard, and the female Whiplash to kill their nemesis for good, but they were stopped with help from Hawkeye. He returns in the episode "This Hostage Earth" where he joins Zemo's Masters of Evil and ends up fighting Iron Man. He is defeated when Iron Man uses his armor to absorb the Living Laser's energy form and release him into outer space.
  • The Ultimate version of Living Laser is set to appear in the upcoming Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Keith Szarabajka.

Video games

References

  1. ^ Conroy, Mike. 500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.
  2. ^ Avengers #34-35 (Nov.- Dec. 1966)
  3. ^ Avengers King-Size Special #1 (Sept. 1967)
  4. ^ Captain America #105 (Sept. 1968)
  5. ^ Avengers #78-79 (July-Aug. 1970)
  6. ^ Captain Marvel #35 (Nov. 1974)
  7. ^ Avengers #151 (Sept. 1976); #153 (Nov. 1976) & The Avengers Annual #6 (1976)
  8. ^ Avengers #164-166 (Nov. 1977 - Jan. 1978)
  9. ^ Iron Man #152-153 (Nov.-Dec. 1981)
  10. ^ Iron Man #211 (Oct. 1986)
  11. ^ Quasar #6 (Jan. 1990)
  12. ^ Iron Man #259 - 263 (Aug. - Dec. 1990)
  13. ^ Quasar #30 (Jan. 1992)
  14. ^ Iron Man #289 (Feb. 1993)
  15. ^ Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's 11 #1-5 (Sept. 2007 - Jan. 2008)
  16. ^ New Avengers #35 (Oct. 2007)
  17. ^ Secret Invasion #1-8 (June 2008 - Jan. 2009)
  18. ^ New Avengers #46 (Dec. 2008); #50 (April 2009); Avengers: The Initiative #25 & 27 (Aug. & Oct.); #61 (March 2010) & #63 (May 2010)
  19. ^ Invincible Iron Man #513
  20. ^ What If? #63 (July 1994)
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