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Living Laser

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The Living Laser
TheLiving Laser(right) battlesIron Manon the cover ofIron Man#211 (Oct. 1986).
Art byAlex Saviuk.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Avengers#34 (Nov. 1966)[1]
Created byStan Lee(writer)
Don Heck(artist)
In-story information
Alter egoArthur Parks
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsLethal Legion
Legion Accursed
Mandarin's Minions
Abilities
  • Gifted research scientist
  • Genius level intellect

Miniature laser diode implants grant:

  • Energy absorption and projection
  • Invisibility via light refraction
  • Illusion generation
  • Limited telepathy
  • Three-dimensional holographic image creation
  • Ability to achieve solidification and travel at light speeds

TheLiving Laser(Arthur Parks) is asupervillainappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.Created byStan LeeandDon Heck,the character made his first appearance inThe Avengers#34 (November 1966).[2]He would become a recurring enemy ofIron Manand plays a key role in the "Iron Man: The Inevitable" miniseries.

Arthur Parks started out as a scientist that invented small, wrist-mounted lasers and used them for criminal pursuits. At one point he was a member of theLethal Legionand at another point he was poised to take over the world due to his possession of theSerpent Crown,but is foiled by the Avengers. Finally it appeared that the Living Laser had exploded in space, but in reality his body was transformed intophotonform, making him an actual living laser.

Publication history

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The Living Laser debuted inThe Avengers#34 (Nov. 1966) as Arthur Parks, a scientist who created wrist-mounted laser units and a costume.[3]WriterMike Conroynotes, "Arthur Parks was a scientist sufficiently proficient to design laser projectors small enough to wear on his wrists, quite the achievement in 1966."[4]

Following his appearance in the following issue, the Living Laser resurfaced inAvengers King-Size Special#1 (Sept. 1967). After an appearance inCaptain America#105 (Sept. 1968), the character was part of the first version of theLethal LegioninThe Avengers#78–79 (July–Aug. 1970). TheKreeheroMar-Vellencountered an android version of the Living Laser inCaptain Marvel#35 (Nov. 1974). The real Laser reappeared in an extended storyline inThe Avengers#151 (Sept. 1976); #153 (Nov. 1976) &The AvengersAnnual #6 (1976).

After appearing as part of apseudoLethal Legion inThe Avengers#164–166 (Nov. 1977–Jan. 1978), the character returned inIron Man#152–153 (Nov.–Dec. 1981) andIron Man#211 (Oct. 1986). The Laser featured in theActs of Vengeancestoryline inQuasar#6 (Jan. 1990) and reappeared in a newphotonform inIron Man#259–263 (Aug.-Dec. 1990) before returning inQuasar#30 (Jan. 1992) andIron Man#289 (Feb. 1993).

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

Fictional character biography

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As the "Living Laser", Parks becomes amercenaryand professional criminal. He develops an infatuation with the heroine theWasp,and after he kidnaps her, he is forced to battle the superhero team theAvengers.He capturedHawkeyeandCaptain Americaby 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 defeated and incarcerated the villain.[5]

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 theMandarinafter being teleported to his base, in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Avengers and conquer the world, he attacked Africa to try stealing diamonds, but was defeated byThorand Hawkeye despite the robotUltimobeing transported there from a volcano.[6]As part of "Batroc's Brigade" (consisting of the Laser; theSwordsmanandBatroc the Leaper) he participated in a battle against Captain America.[7][8]The Laser reappears as part of the first version of theLethal Legiongathered by theGrim Reaperin a failed revenge plot against the Avengers.[9]There is an encounter betweenKreeheroMar-Velland an android version of the Laser.[10]

The Laser eventually acquires theartifacttheSerpent Crown,and while controlling the living weaponNukloand abattalionof theUS Armyattempts to conquer the world, but is defeated by the Avengers.[11]He is then employed, along with fellow villainsPower ManandWhirlwind,byCount 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 theVision).[12]

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 ofEast Germanscientists, who offer to help by draining off the excess energy and using it to power a network of weaponssatellites.The plan, however, is stopped byIron Manand 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 theatmospherewhere hedetonatesand apparently dies.[13]Eventually revived, the Laser battles Iron Man once again;[14]and during the "Acts of Vengeance"storyline battles the heroQuasar.[15]

The Laser reappears in a newphotonform, posing as the deceasedTitanium Manwhile taunting Iron Man. The villain is eventually defeated and banished to analternate universe.[16]He eventually escapes,[17]and mounts a new attack onStark Industries.James Rhodes—Stark's friend and employee, currently acting as CEO and the new 'Iron Man' while Tony is apparently dead—tricks the Laser by offering him a position at the company before trapping him in a wide-beam communication chamber which disperses him across theAndromeda Galaxy,although Rhodes wonders if he did the right thing and even the Laser privately wondered if he would legitimately accept Rhodes' offer to return to a research role or just take it to destroy the company from within.[18]

The Laser returns as an employee of theA.I.M.memberMODOK,[19]and later as a member of the criminal army formed by the villain theHood.[20]The villain sides with the heroes during theSecret Invasionstoryline in a pitched battle with theSkrulls,[21]and has a number of encounters with various teams of Avengers.[22]

MandarinandZeke Stanerecruit 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.[23]

During the "Opening Salvo" part of the "Secret Empire"storyline, Living Laser is recruited byBaron Helmut Zemoto join the Army of Evil.[24]Living Laser, Batroc the Leaper, and Whirlwind attack a haggard, bearded man in torn World War II army uniform who identifies himself as Steve Rogers. He is assisted by people that appear to be Sam Wilson and a Bucky Barnes with both his arms.[25]

During the "Search for Tony Stark" arc, Living Laser rejoined Hood's gang and assisted in the attack on Castle Doom.[26]

In the "Sins Rising" arc, the Living Laser joins Count Nefaria's incarnation of the Lethal Legion.[27][28][29]In "Sinister War",he joins the Sinful Six after being possessed by a demonic centipede that emerged from theSin-Eater's corpse.[30]

Powers and abilities

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A gifted research scientist with expertise inlasertechnology and aPh.D.in physics, Arthur Parks began his criminal career using wrist-mounted laser projection units, and later implants miniature laserdiodesinto his skin which absorb energy. With the diode implants, Parks is capable of energy projection,light refractionforinvisibilityandillusiongeneration.

Parks's material body is eventually replaced by photons due to an overloading of the diode implants. By increasing thedensityof the photons comprising his form, Parks can achieve "solidity", project photons as energy beams, and createthree-dimensionalholographicimages. The character also possesses limited telepathic abilities and cantravel at light speed.

Other versions

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What If?

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Thealternate universetitleWhat Iffeatures a story which the character reforms and works at Stark Industries, with three different outcomes being presented.[31]

Heroes Reborn

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In theHeroes Rebornuniverse, created byFranklin Richards,Arthur Parks was a successful businessman of Parks Fiberoptics, until he lost his company to Tony Stark. Parks, now broken and desperate, having left his wife Amy, used his own technology to transform himself and attack Stark in his own home. Stark learned why Parks was attacking him, and tried to atone for what he had done and convince Parks to stop his attack. Parks refused to stop so Stark in hisIron Man suitwas forced to destroy his containment armor causing his laser form to dissipate, killing him.[32]

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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  • The Living Laser appears inCaptain America and the Avengers.
  • The Living Laser appears as a Boss inIron Man 3: The Official Game,voiced byTom Wayland.[33]This version is a mutation created by A.I.M.,Aldrich Killian/ MODOK, andEzekiel Stane.The Living Laser fights Iron Man on two occasions, with the former succeeding in securingExtremisfor A.I.M. during their first encounter. Later on, the Living Laser assists MODOK in uploading his consciousness into the Stark Industries mainframe and leads Iron Man to China as a diversion so Stane can capturePepper Potts.After being defeated by Iron Man, the Living Laser vanishes.
  • The Living Laser appears as a Boss inMarvel Heroes,voiced byAndrew Kishino.[33]
  • The Living Laser appears inMarvel: Avengers Alliance 2.[34]
  • The Living Laser appears as a Boss inIron Man VR,voiced byLeonardo Nam.[33]This version is a former Stark Industries employee with a personal vendetta against Tony Stark. After dying under unknown circumstances, he is resurrected by the Ghost, who provides him with laser armor technology to help her carry out her own revenge against Stark. Calling himself the "Living Laser", he battles Iron Man several times before he is defeated and arrested during an attack on the S.H.I.E.L.D.Helicarrier.[35]

References

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  1. ^Misiroglu, Gina Renée; Eury, Michael (2006).The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood.Visible Ink Press.ISBN9780780809772.
  2. ^DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).The Marvel Encyclopedia.DK Publishing. p. 215.ISBN978-1-4654-7890-0.
  3. ^Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017).Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History.DK Publishing. p. 119.ISBN978-1465455505.
  4. ^Conroy, Mike(2004).500 Comicbook Villains.Collins & Brown.ISBN1-84340-205-X.
  5. ^The Avengers#34–35 (Nov.–Dec. 1966). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^Avengers King-Size Special#1 (Sept. 1967). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^Captain America#105 (Sept. 1968). Marvel Comics.
  8. ^Rovin, Jeff(1987).The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains.New York: Facts on File. p. 190.ISBN0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  9. ^The Avengers#78–79 (July–Aug. 1970). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^Captain Marvel#35 (Nov. 1974). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^Avengers#151 (Sept. 1976); #153 (Nov. 1976) &The AvengersAnnual #6 (1976). Marvel Comics.
  12. ^The Avengers#164–166 (Nov. 1977–Jan. 1978). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^Iron Man#152–153 (Nov.–Dec. 1981). Marvel Comics.
  14. ^Iron Man#211 (Oct. 1986). Marvel Comics.
  15. ^Quasar#6 (Jan. 1990). Marvel Comics.
  16. ^Iron Man#259–263 (Aug.–Dec. 1990). Marvel Comics.
  17. ^Quasar#30 (Jan. 1992). Marvel Comics.
  18. ^Iron Man#289 (Feb. 1993). Marvel Comics.
  19. ^Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's 11#1–5 (Sept. 2007–Jan. 2008). Marvel Comics.
  20. ^The New Avengers#35 (Oct. 2007). Marvel Comics.
  21. ^Secret Invasion#1–8 (June 2008–Jan. 2009). Marvel Comics.
  22. ^The New Avengers#46 (Dec. 2008); #50 (April 2009);Avengers: The Initiative#25 & 27 (Aug. & Oct.); #61 (March 2010) & #63 (May 2010). Marvel Comics.
  23. ^The Invincible Iron Man#513. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^Captain America: Steve Rogers#16. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^Secret Empire#4. Marvel Comics.
  26. ^The Invincible Iron Man#597. Marvel Comics.
  27. ^The Amazing Spider-Manvol. 5 #41. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^The Amazing Spider-Manvol. 5 #46. Marvel Comics.
  29. ^The Amazing Spider-Manvol. 5 #56. Marvel Comics.
  30. ^Sinister War#3. Marvel Comics.
  31. ^What If?vol. 2 #63 (July 1994). Marvel Comics.
  32. ^Iron Manvol. 2 #3. Marvel Comics.
  33. ^abcde"Living Laser Voices (Iron Man)".Behind The Voice Actors.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.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  34. ^"Living Laser | Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2".Archived fromthe originalon April 19, 2016.RetrievedApril 5,2016.
  35. ^"Iron Man Vr: Who is Living Laser?".ScreenRant.July 5, 2020.
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