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Doctor Light (Arthur Light)
Encyclopedia
Doctor Arthur Light is a fiction
al supervillain
appearing in comic book
s published by DC Comics
. He is the third individual to have adopted the persona of Doctor Light, after a Golden Age
foe of Doctor Mid-Nite
and Arthur's associate Jacob Finlay. Light, a long-time enemy of the Teen Titans and the Justice League
, has been portrayed both as a serious menace and as a company in-joke for incompetent supervillains. His stint as Doctor Light is concurrent with that of a superheroine using the same name, Kimiyo Hoshi
. In 2009, Doctor Light was ranked as IGN
's 84th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
Doctor Light was a criminal physicist named Dr. Arthur Light, who first appeared in Justice League of America #12, where he succeeded in capturing the League with light rays after first drawing them in by capturing Aquaman
, then sending the League to different planets based on their weaknesses. He sent Superman
to a red sun world, and Aquaman to a waterless one using faster light that opened wormholes. He then ordered Snapper Carr
to write this down, before imprisoning him in a light field. He had not realised Superman and Batman
had impersonated each other after Batman had been concerned about how easily the villain had overcome the other members, allowing Superman to escape the world he was sent to and rescue the other members. However, Light nearly succeeded in taking over the world after fooling the League with three duplicates of himself that were apparently committing robberies of light-associated objects, though they were actually placing devices around the world. Green Lantern
realized this trick and faked his death to track Doctor Light, finally stopping him before he pulled the lever that would have set off the light impulses making him take over the world. A retcon
introduced in Secret Origins
#37 revealed that this character was actually the second Dr. Light. According to the retcon, his predecessor was his partner at S.T.A.R. Labs
, a scientist named Jacob Finlay. Finlay created a technologically advanced suit to control light as a minor superhero, but was accidentally killed by Arthur Light near the beginning of his heroic career (though Finlay's death may have been caused by hiding his costume in a computer console, causing it to malfunction). Light took the suit and the "Doctor Light" codename, using them for selfish, criminal ends. He has been periodically haunted by Finlay's ghost through the years, but could use the light generated by the suit to drive off this spirit.
Through the Silver and Bronze Ages, Doctor Light was a minor but persistent foe for a number of heroes. He first fought the Justice League and, after he failed to defeat that group, fought their former sidekicks, the Teen Titans. In JLA #136, he was one of King Kull
's agents with which the Beast-Man hoped to wipe out humanity on all three Earths, helping in the attack on Earth-S by creating perputual light and darkness on each side of the Earth, and teaming up with the Shade
. He was turned to stone by King Kull's satellites, but restored when they were destroyed. He was also notably beaten by a solo Hal Jordan
not long after his defeat by the JLA. He then founded the supervillain team the Fearsome Five
, but they were also defeated by the Titans, and Light was violently expelled from the Five by his teammates. Each criminal caper led to Light's defeat (as villains always went down to defeat in the Silver and Bronze Ages), but these defeats were used later as the basis of his humiliation that culminated in the events of the "Identity Crisis" storyline and its aftereffects.
Perhaps Dr. Light's most ignominious defeat was by Little Boy Blue and his Blue Boys — a group of non-superpowered children.
Driven by self-doubt and guilt, thanks in part to Finlay's ghostly presence, he volunteers for the Suicide Squad
, a group of incarcerated supervillains who perform dangerous missions for the US government in exchange for clemency. On a mission against the patriotism-themed super-team called the "Force of July
", he encounters Sparkler
, the Force's youngest member. The presence of a superpowered child reminds him of past defeats and he lashes out, killing Sparkler with a blast through the chest.
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 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 Apokolips
. Light is swiftly shot dead by Parademon
s. Light was thus sent to Hell
, where he was physically reunited with Finlay. Under the watch of a lesser demon and its annoying assistant, both men were released from Hell in turns and returned to life. Both would only soon die again: Arthur Light suffocates while still inside his grave, while the desiccated Finlay claws his way out of his own grave but was killed by a family of religious vigilantes. Arthur Light was again returned to life, and barely survives a great fall that his demonic tormentors may have intended to be fatal. Arthur also finds time to possess the body of the female Doctor Light
, Kimiyo Hoshi. With the aide of her teacher, Kimiyo is able to reject Arthur's presence.
Dr. Light, freed of his ex-partner's hauntings, attempts to rejoin the Suicide Squad, but his appeal was summarily rejected by Amanda Waller
.
He later becomes trapped in the Green Lantern
's power battery, and as a consequence was temporarily transformed into living light. He later joined a short-lived incarnation of the Injustice Gang
, in which he assisted Lex Luthor
in building holographic duplicates of the JLA.
The controversial 2004 miniseries Identity Crisis retroactively revealed that Doctor Light had, at some point in the past, chased and raped Sue Dibny
, the dead wife of the superhero Elongated Man
, on the JLA Satellite. Later issues revealed that he was a serial rapist with Light bragging that Dibny was not his first victim. After taking a vote (which was not unanimous; the voting members were Hawkman
, Zatanna
, and the Atom for the mindwipe, and Green Lantern
, Green Arrow
, and Black Canary
against, with Flash casting the decisive vote after the recent death of his wife), the Justice League resolved to alter his mind through the use of Zatanna's magic so that Light would no longer pose a threat to their loved ones. In the process, they accidentally gave 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 recovered his memories and intellect when witnessing a fight between the League members responsible for his mind-wipe — Kyle Rayner
and Wally West
replacing Hal Jordan and Barry Allen, respectively — and Deathstroke
, and vowed revenge against the Justice League.
When Dr. Light was next seen, he had captured 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 successfully and brutally defeats them all. Ultimately, after a mass battle against the Titans wears him down, Cyborg
is able to gain the upper-hand by using a device to drain the light out of the area, rendering Light powerless. Batman
and Batgirl
appeared to take him to prison, but revealed themselves to him to be Deathstroke and Ravager
in disguise, and offered Light a place in the new Secret Society of Super Villains
, a villainous organization headed by Lex Luthor
. Dr. Light, hungry for vengeance and power, readily accepted.
As a Society member, he aided Merlyn
and Deathstroke in defeating Green Arrow in Star City
. Doctor Light then attacked and absorbed a great deal of power from the female hero Doctor Light
, later referring to his treatment of her as raping her. However, Kimiyo Hoshi eventually regained the powers he drained from her.
He later participated in the Battle of Metropolis
in Infinite Crisis
#7, where he was defeated by the combined efforts of the Ray
, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter
, and Kimiyo.
. During a battle with the Justice League, fellow Injustice Leaguer Cheetah
betrayed him and slashed him in the back because of her hatred of rapists. Shortly after, the entire Injustice League was captured and deported to an alien world by the Suicide Squad
; Doctor Light was consequently one of the villains featured in Salvation Run
.
After returning to Earth, in DC Universe #0, Doctor Light was a member of Libra
's Secret Society of Super Villains. In Final Crisis
#1, he and Mirror Master
were sent by Libra to recover Metron
's chair. They are briefly challenged by Empress
, Sparx
, and Más y Menos
, but defeated them fairly easily by combining Light's beams with Mirror Master's mirrors. Light also aided in the murder of the Martian Manhunter
, assisting the Human Flame
and Libra.
Later, in Final Crisis: Revelations
#1, the Spectre
delivered final judgment on Doctor Light (who is discovered in the middle of a mock superhero rape orgy with various women dressed as Teen Titans), and burned him to death by turning him into a candle, using his head as the wick. The Spectre, in his characteristically ironic fashion, chose this punishment because of Light's abuse of his ability to manipulate light.
The Milestone Comics group known as the Shadow Cabinet attempt to steal the remains of Light, still in the form of a candle. This is revealed in the next issue to be a false premise; Superman and Icon
set this scenario up to familiarize the Shadow Cabinet with the JLA. The candle is, however, used by Hardware
to restore to Kimiyo Hoshi the remaining powers Arthur stole from her.
. Doctor Light's corpse was revived as a Black Lantern
during the event. He was later seen devouring the remains of Gehenna's corpse, and attacking Kimiyo Hoshi. The two battle, with Arthur gaining the upper hand by employing psychology to make Kimiyo doubt herself. However, just as he is on the verge of victory, he makes the fatal mistake of threatening Kimiyo's children, enraging her to the point where she produces a light strong enough to completely incinerate Arthur and his ring.
The limits of his powers are unclear, but he seemed to be able to wrest control of anything that emits light. Such things have included Green Lantern
constructs, Superboy
's heat vision, and magic lightning from Wonder Girl's lasso. He was also able to take the "internal" light away from the light powered characters, the heroic Doctor Light
and the Ray
, leaving them temporarily powerless. He also had the ability to create holographic images
. Despite his frequent defeats, he is quite powerful.
Originally, Doctor Light derived his powers from his suit, but over time he internalized this ability, and could use his powers without having to use his costume.
Arthur Light was mentally brilliant, a genius in the field of physics. However, his mindwipe
by the Justice League reduced his intelligence substantially, and he lost his skill for creative use of his powers. Light's recent recovery of his memories seems to have brought his intellect back with them and also his paraphilia
. As a result, he became a much deadlier opponent, capable of fighting a huge team of Teen Titans to a narrow defeat and facing off against multiple superheroes at once.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
appearing in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. He is the third individual to have adopted the persona of Doctor Light, after a Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
foe of Doctor Mid-Nite
Doctor Mid-Nite
Doctor Mid-Nite is a fictional superhero physician in DC Comics. The figure has been represented in the comics by three different individuals, Charles McNider, Beth Chapel and Pieter Anton Cross. Dr. Mid-Nite was originally created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeier...
and Arthur's associate Jacob Finlay. Light, a long-time enemy of the Teen Titans and the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
, has been portrayed both as a serious menace and as a company in-joke for incompetent supervillains. His stint as Doctor Light is concurrent with that of a superheroine using the same name, Kimiyo Hoshi
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
. In 2009, Doctor Light was ranked as IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's 84th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
Origin
The first Silver AgeSilver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
Doctor Light was a criminal physicist named Dr. Arthur Light, who first appeared in Justice League of America #12, where he succeeded in capturing the League with light rays after first drawing them in by capturing Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, then sending the League to different planets based on their weaknesses. He sent Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
to a red sun world, and Aquaman to a waterless one using faster light that opened wormholes. He then ordered Snapper Carr
Snapper Carr
Lucas "Snapper" Carr is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, most famous as a supporting character to the superhero team the Justice League of America . He has often been referred to as the team's mascot...
to write this down, before imprisoning him in a light field. He had not realised Superman and Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
had impersonated each other after Batman had been concerned about how easily the villain had overcome the other members, allowing Superman to escape the world he was sent to and rescue the other members. However, Light nearly succeeded in taking over the world after fooling the League with three duplicates of himself that were apparently committing robberies of light-associated objects, though they were actually placing devices around the world. Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
realized this trick and faked his death to track Doctor Light, finally stopping him before he pulled the lever that would have set off the light impulses making him take over the world. A retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
introduced in Secret Origins
Secret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of three American comic book series published by DC Comics.The title began in 1961 and for one issue, all reprints. The title Secret Origins of Super Heroes went onto a second series, also reprints, which ran for seven issues from 1973-1974...
#37 revealed that this character was actually the second Dr. Light. According to the retcon, his predecessor was his partner at S.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs, is a fictional research facility, and comic book organization appearing in titles published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Superman vol. 1 #246 , and was created by Cary Bates and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
, a scientist named Jacob Finlay. Finlay created a technologically advanced suit to control light as a minor superhero, but was accidentally killed by Arthur Light near the beginning of his heroic career (though Finlay's death may have been caused by hiding his costume in a computer console, causing it to malfunction). Light took the suit and the "Doctor Light" codename, using them for selfish, criminal ends. He has been periodically haunted by Finlay's ghost through the years, but could use the light generated by the suit to drive off this spirit.
Through the Silver and Bronze Ages, Doctor Light was a minor but persistent foe for a number of heroes. He first fought the Justice League and, after he failed to defeat that group, fought their former sidekicks, the Teen Titans. In JLA #136, he was one of King Kull
King Kull (DC Comics)
King Kull is a comic book supervillain originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics and appearing as a foe of Captain Marvel. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist C. C. Beck, Kull's first appearance was in Captain Marvel Adventures #125...
's agents with which the Beast-Man hoped to wipe out humanity on all three Earths, helping in the attack on Earth-S by creating perputual light and darkness on each side of the Earth, and teaming up with the Shade
Shade (comics)
The Shade is a comic book character developed in the 1940's for National Comics. Debuting as a villain, the Shade was best known for fighting against two generations of superheroes, most notably the Golden Age and Silver Age versions of the Flash...
. He was turned to stone by King Kull's satellites, but restored when they were destroyed. He was also notably beaten by a solo Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
not long after his defeat by the JLA. He then founded the supervillain team the Fearsome Five
Fearsome Five
The Fearsome Five is a fictional group of comic book supervillains from DC Comics. They were created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman, and first appeared in The New Teen Titans #3 , going on to become recurring adversaries for that superhero group...
, but they were also defeated by the Titans, and Light was violently expelled from the Five by his teammates. Each criminal caper led to Light's defeat (as villains always went down to defeat in the Silver and Bronze Ages), but these defeats were used later as the basis of his humiliation that culminated in the events of the "Identity Crisis" storyline and its aftereffects.
Perhaps Dr. Light's most ignominious defeat was by Little Boy Blue and his Blue Boys — a group of non-superpowered children.
Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
, a group of incarcerated supervillains who perform dangerous missions for the US government in exchange for clemency. On a mission against the patriotism-themed super-team called the "Force of July
Force of July
The Force of July is a fictional DC Comics antagonistic superhero team introduced in 1984's Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1. They were created by Mike Barr and Jim Aparo.-Fictional history:...
", he encounters Sparkler
Sparkler (comics)
Sparkler is a fictional character in the DC Universe. He debuted in Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
, the Force's youngest member. The presence of a superpowered child reminds him of past defeats and he lashes out, killing Sparkler with a blast through the chest.
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 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 Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
. Light is swiftly shot dead by Parademon
Parademon
Parademons are a fictional group of aliens in the . They are monstrous shock troops of Apokolips used by Darkseid to maintain order of the planet. The original Parademons were created by Jack Kirby in The New Gods #1 .-Fictional history:...
s. Light was thus sent to Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, where he was physically reunited with Finlay. Under the watch of a lesser demon and its annoying assistant, both men were released from Hell in turns and returned to life. Both would only soon die again: Arthur Light suffocates while still inside his grave, while the desiccated Finlay claws his way out of his own grave but was killed by a family of religious vigilantes. Arthur Light was again returned to life, and barely survives a great fall that his demonic tormentors may have intended to be fatal. Arthur also finds time to possess the body of the female Doctor Light
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
, Kimiyo Hoshi. With the aide of her teacher, Kimiyo is able to reject Arthur's presence.
Dr. Light, freed of his ex-partner's hauntings, attempts to rejoin the Suicide Squad, but his appeal was summarily rejected by Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller
Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986, and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne...
.
He later becomes trapped in the Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
's power battery, and as a consequence was temporarily transformed into living light. He later joined a short-lived incarnation of the Injustice Gang
Injustice Gang
The Injustice Gang is a group of fictional supervillains in the DC Comics universe. They are antagonists of the Justice League.-First Formation:The original Injustice Gang's membership consisted of:...
, in which he assisted Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
in building holographic duplicates of the JLA.
Identity Crisis onwards
Sue Dibny
Susan "Sue" Dearbon Dibny is a fictional character from DC Comics associated with the Elongated Man. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in Flash vol. 1 #119...
, the dead wife of the superhero Elongated Man
Elongated Man
The Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was in The Flash vol. 1, #112...
, on the JLA Satellite. Later issues revealed that he was a serial rapist with Light bragging that Dibny was not his first victim. After taking a vote (which was not unanimous; the voting members were Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
, Zatanna
Zatanna
Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
, and the Atom for the mindwipe, and Green Lantern
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
, Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, and Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
against, with Flash casting the decisive vote after the recent death of his wife), the Justice League resolved to alter his mind through the use of Zatanna's magic so that Light would no longer pose a threat to their loved ones. In the process, they accidentally gave 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 recovered his memories and intellect when witnessing a fight between the League members responsible for his mind-wipe — Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
and Wally West
Wally West
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash....
replacing Hal Jordan and Barry Allen, respectively — and Deathstroke
Deathstroke
Deathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
, and vowed revenge against the Justice League.
When Dr. Light was next seen, he had captured 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 successfully and brutally defeats them all. Ultimately, after a mass battle against the Titans wears him down, Cyborg
Cyborg (comics)
Cyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in a special insert in DC Comics Presents #26...
is able to gain the upper-hand by using a device to drain the light out of the area, rendering Light powerless. Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
appeared to take him to prison, but revealed themselves to him to be Deathstroke and Ravager
Rose Wilson
Rose Wilson is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. She is a member of the Teen Titans and the illegitimate daughter of Deathstroke the Terminator.-Fictional character biography:...
in disguise, and offered Light a place in the new Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
, a villainous organization headed by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
. Dr. Light, hungry for vengeance and power, readily accepted.
As a Society member, he aided Merlyn
Merlyn (DC Comics)
Merlyn is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He is an archer created by writer Mike Friedrich, artist Dick Dillin, and inker Neal Adams as an archvillain of the hero Green Arrow, and he first appeared in Justice League of America #94 ....
and Deathstroke in defeating Green Arrow in Star City
Star City (comics)
Star City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, best known as the traditional home of the superheroes known by, or affiliated with, the shared alias of the Green Arrow...
. Doctor Light then attacked and absorbed a great deal of power from the female hero Doctor Light
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
, later referring to his treatment of her as raping her. However, Kimiyo Hoshi eventually regained the powers he drained from her.
He later participated in the Battle of Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
in Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#7, where he was defeated by the combined efforts of the Ray
Ray (Ray Terrill)
The Ray is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is the second character to use the codename The Ray. Ray Terrill first appeared in The Ray #1 , and was created by Jack C...
, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
, and Kimiyo.
One Year Later and Final Crisis
In the Justice League of America Wedding Special, Light was a member of the Injustice League UnlimitedInjustice League
The Injustice League is the name of two fictional teams of supervillains in the .-Original League :The original Injustice League was the brainchild of the interplanetary conqueror Agamemno. Bored of his dominion, he set out to conquer Earth and their champions, the Justice League...
. During a battle with the Justice League, fellow Injustice Leaguer Cheetah
Cheetah (comics)
The Cheetah is a fictional character, a super-villainess appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Popularly regarded as the archenemy of Wonder Woman, the Cheetah first appeared in 1943 in Wonder Woman #6 , written by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston...
betrayed him and slashed him in the back because of her hatred of rapists. Shortly after, the entire Injustice League was captured and deported to an alien world by the Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
; Doctor Light was consequently one of the villains featured in Salvation Run
Salvation Run
Salvation Run is a seven-issue 2007-2008 DC Comics limited series which was designed to tie in to the company's major event series Final Crisis in 2008.-Premise:The premise of the series, which is based on a pitch by George R. R...
.
After returning to Earth, in DC Universe #0, Doctor Light was a member of Libra
Libra (DC Comics)
Libra is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #111, published in June 1974, where he formed the first incarnation of the Injustice Gang...
's Secret Society of Super Villains. In Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
#1, he and Mirror Master
Mirror Master
Mirror Master is a fictional character and a supervillain in the DC Universe. He is a recurring foe of the Flash with considerable technical expertise and skills involving the use of mirrors. Four individuals have donned the guise of Mirror Master...
were sent by Libra to recover Metron
Metron (comics)
Metron is a character created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series in DC Comics. He was "based on Leonard Nimoy as Spock", and designed as a character who "would frequently change sides [between New Genesis and Apokolips]"...
's chair. They are briefly challenged by Empress
Empress (comics)
Empress is a fictional character, a superheroine in the DC Comics universe. She first appeared in Young Justice #16 .-Fictional character biography:...
, Sparx
Sparx (comics)
Sparx, is a fictional superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventures of Superman Annual #5, , and was created by Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett and Ed Hannigan.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Más y Menos
Más y Menos
Más y Menos are fictional superhero characters, around the age of 12, from the Teen Titans animated television series, affiliated with the Titans East team. They are among the few heroes on the series not to have originated in the comic book. Taken out of context, their names translate to "More"...
, but defeated them fairly easily by combining Light's beams with Mirror Master's mirrors. Light also aided in the murder of the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
, assisting the Human Flame
Human Flame
The Human Flame is a comic book character, a supervillain in DC Comics' main shared universe. He first appeared in Detective Comics #274 , and was created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa.-Publication history:...
and Libra.
Later, in Final Crisis: Revelations
Final Crisis: Revelations
Final Crisis: Revelations is a five-issue comic book limited series written by Greg Rucka, with art by Philip Tan, Jeff De Los Santos, and Jonathan Glapion.-Outline:...
#1, the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
delivered final judgment on Doctor Light (who is discovered in the middle of a mock superhero rape orgy with various women dressed as Teen Titans), and burned him to death by turning him into a candle, using his head as the wick. The Spectre, in his characteristically ironic fashion, chose this punishment because of Light's abuse of his ability to manipulate light.
The Milestone Comics group known as the Shadow Cabinet attempt to steal the remains of Light, still in the form of a candle. This is revealed in the next issue to be a false premise; Superman and Icon
Icon (comics)
Icon is a fictional superhero, a comic book character published by DC Comics. An original character from DC's Milestone Comics imprint, he first appeared in Icon #1 , and was created by Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan...
set this scenario up to familiarize the Shadow Cabinet with the JLA. The candle is, however, used by Hardware
Hardware (comics)
Hardware is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. An original character from DC's Milestone Comics imprint, he first appeared in Hardware #1 , and was created by Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan...
to restore to Kimiyo Hoshi the remaining powers Arthur stole from her.
Blackest Night
During the Blackest Night event, Doctor Light is identified as one of the deceased entombed below the Hall of JusticeHall of Justice (comics)
The Hall of Justice is the fictional headquarters of the Super Friends, in the eponymous animated series. It has subsequently been incorporated into the DC Comics main shared universe, the DC Universe as the new headquarters of the Justice League....
. Doctor Light's corpse was revived as a Black Lantern
Black Lantern Corps
The Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization of revenants appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.-Publication history:...
during the event. He was later seen devouring the remains of Gehenna's corpse, and attacking Kimiyo Hoshi. The two battle, with Arthur gaining the upper hand by employing psychology to make Kimiyo doubt herself. However, just as he is on the verge of victory, he makes the fatal mistake of threatening Kimiyo's children, enraging her to the point where she produces a light strong enough to completely incinerate Arthur and his ring.
Powers and abilities
Dr. Light was a light manipulator, with the ability to control light for a variety of purposes. He could bend the light around him to become invisible, generate blasts of energy, create force fields, and fly. By mentally repulsing photons, Light could 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 seemed to be able to wrest control of anything that emits light. Such things have included Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
constructs, Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
's heat vision, and magic lightning from Wonder Girl's lasso. He was also able to take the "internal" light away from the light powered characters, the heroic Doctor Light
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
and the Ray
Ray (Ray Terrill)
The Ray is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is the second character to use the codename The Ray. Ray Terrill first appeared in The Ray #1 , and was created by Jack C...
, leaving them temporarily powerless. He also had the ability to create holographic images
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
. Despite his frequent defeats, he is quite powerful.
Originally, Doctor Light derived his powers from his suit, but over time he internalized this ability, and could use his powers without having to use his costume.
Arthur Light was mentally brilliant, a genius in the field of physics. However, his mindwipe
Mindwipe
For the Transformers character, see Mindwipe .Mindwipe is a technique used in some science fiction scenarios, where the subject's memories and personality are erased and replaced by new memories and personality more useful to those who are carrying out the mindwiping, or to their area's...
by the Justice League reduced his intelligence substantially, and he lost his skill for creative use of his powers. Light's recent recovery of his memories seems to have brought his intellect back with them and also his paraphilia
Paraphilia
Paraphilia is a biomedical term used to describe sexual arousal to objects, situations, or individuals that are not part of normative stimulation and that may cause distress or serious problems for the paraphiliac or persons associated with him or her...
. As a result, he became a much deadlier opponent, capable of fighting a huge team of Teen Titans to a narrow defeat and facing off against multiple superheroes at once.
Television
- Dr. Light appeared in an episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanLois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books...
played by David BoweDavid BoweDavid Bowe is an often seen but rarely recognized character actor in American movies and television. His best known role is that of "Weird Al" Yankovic's sidekick, Bob, in 1989's UHF...
. He was a scientist named Arthur Leit who had stolen an ultraviolet light beam that blinded Superman.
- Dr. Light is a fairly minor villain in the Teen TitansTeen Titans (TV series)Teen Titans is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics characters of the same name. The show was created by Glen Murakami, developed by David Slack, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered on Cartoon Network on July 19, 2003, and the final episode "Things Change"...
animated series voiced by Rodger BumpassRodger BumpassRodger Albert Bumpass is an American character actor and voice actor, who is noted for his long-running-roles as Squidward Tentacles on the hit series SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Chief from Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?. He also voiced Professor Membrane on Invader Zim...
. His character mostly draws from the less-competent version in the comics, though he does prove to be a formidable opponent. His powers are derived from his suit. Light is generally portrayed as more of a nuisance than a real threat, though he has his moments, and his frequent short appearances and easily defeats are something of a running gagRunning gagA running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
. Dr. Light first appears in the season one episode "Nevermore", where he proves to be a fairly dangerous opponent. He wears a simple, form-fitting suit which can fire energy blasts and create shields. Though he succeeds in defeating four of the five Titans, he angers RavenRaven (comics)Raven is a fictional superheroine who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a special insert in DC Comics Presents #26 , and was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez...
while attacking her. In her rage, she loses control of her powers, grows to several times her normal size, and drags him into the darkness within her cloak. When she comes to her senses and releases him, his suit is destroyed and he is clearly traumatized. He has a brief cameo appearance in "Wavelength". His second major appearance is in "Birthmark". His suit is larger and more powerful, adding a light whip to his arsenal; he appears on an oil rig which he plans to steal the energy from, but was stopped by the Teen Titans who pointed out that they could see him on the rig from the living room of their tower. He again manages to fight off every Titan save for Raven, who mimics her appearance in their first battle and sardonically asks him "Remember Me?". Dr. Light immediately becomes fearful and surrenders, saying with wide eyes "I'd like to go to jail now, please." In the fifth season Dr. Light is one of the few villains that does not join the Brotherhood of Evil. In "Kole", he tries to harness the power of the Aurora Borealis with a special crystal, only to fail when the Titans intervene and destroy it. Both he and the Titans fall through the ice into an underground prehistoric land. There, he kidnaps KoleKoleKole Duval is a girlKole Weathers is a fictional superheroine in the DC Universe. She is a former member of the Teen Titans.-Fictional character biography:...
to replace his broken crystal, which makes him virtually unstoppable. Gnarrk removes Kole from the machine, allowing Kole to defeat Dr. Light by focusing Starfire's starbolts into a powerful laser. He is absent for the battle in "Calling All Titans", having opted to rob a bank while the heroes and villains were occupied. All thirty Titans, having dispatched the Brotherhood, ready themselves to take him down, to which Raven remarks, "He's totally gonna freak this time."
Video games
- Doctor Light is a playable character in the multiplayer battle mode in the Teen TitansTeen Titans (console game)The second Teen Titans video game based on the Teen Titans animated series made for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. It also features the five main Titans from the animated series. The bosses include Plasmus, Mumbo, Jinx, Gizmo, Mammoth, Cinderblock, Overload, Ternion, and Slade.-Story:The...
video game.
Miscellaneous
- Doctor Light appeared in the comic book tie-in Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! is a comic book series that was published by DC Comics. It is based on the 2003 animated TV series Teen Titans which is itself loosely based on the team that starred in the popular 1980s comic The New Teen Titans. The series was written by J...
in issue #30, wherein he tried to steal Cyborg'sCyborg (comics)Cyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in a special insert in DC Comics Presents #26...
battery to power his new lightsuit.
External links
- Golden Age Doctor Light biography
- Doctor Light in Teen Titans – Ties into Infinite Crisis