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| The Living Laser | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers #34 (Nov. 1966)[1] |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Don Heck (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Arthur Parks |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Lethal Legion Legion Accursed Mandarin's Minions |
| Abilities |
Miniature laser diode implants grant:
|
TheLiving Laser (Arthur Parks) is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created byStan Lee andDon Heck, the character made his first appearance inThe Avengers #34 (November 1966).[2] He would become a recurring enemy ofIron Man and 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 Legion and 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 intophoton form, making him an actual living laser.
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 Conroy notes, "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 Legion inThe Avengers #78–79 (July–Aug. 1970). TheKree heroMar-Vell encountered an android version of the Living Laser inCaptain Marvel #35 (Nov. 1974). The real Laser reappeared in an extended storyline in The Avengers #151 (Sept. 1976); #153 (Nov. 1976) &The Avengers Annual #6 (1976).
After appearing as part of a second version of the Lethal Legion inThe Avengers #164–166 (Nov. 1977–Jan. 1978), the character returned inIron Man #152–153 (Nov.–Dec. 1981) andIron Man #211 (Oct. 1986). Living Laser featured in theActs of Vengeance storyline inQuasar #6 (Jan. 1990) and reappeared in a newphoton form 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) andNew Avengers #35 (Oct. 2007). The character returned during the limited seriesSecret Invasion #1–8 (June 2008–Jan. 2009), and made sporadic appearances inNew Avengers.
As the "Living Laser", Arthur Parks becomes amercenary and professional criminal. He develops an infatuation with the heroineWasp, and after he kidnaps her, he is forced to battle the superhero team theAvengers. He capturesHawkeye andCaptain America by placing them in a ring of lasers, but they were able to contact another member who helped them escape. The Living Laser encounters the Avengers again when he tried to conquer a small South American country, but is thwarted and incarcerated.[5]
Living Laser, after breaking out of prison, reappears as part of a team formed by theMandarin in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Avengers.[6] As part of "Batroc's Brigade" (consisting of Living Laser,Swordsman, andBatroc the Leaper) he participated in a battle against Captain America.[7][8] Living Laser reappears as part of the first version of theLethal Legion gathered by theGrim Reaper in a failed revenge plot against the Avengers.[9]
Living Laser acquires theSerpent Crown, and while controlling the living weaponNuklo and abattalion of theUS Army attempts to conquer the world, but is defeated by the Avengers.[10][11][12] He is then employed, along with fellow villainsPower Man andWhirlwind, 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.[13]
Discovering that the amplification caused a build-up of energy in his body that is reaching a critical, and potentially fatal, level, Living Laser seeks the aid ofEast German scientists, who offer to drain the excess energy and use it to power a network of weaponssatellites. The plan, however, is stopped byIron Man and in battle with the hero, Living Laser's energy levels build to critical mass. Although Living Laser begs for help, Iron Man has no choice but to hurl him into the atmosphere, where he detonates and apparently dies.[14] Eventually revived, Living Laser battles Iron Man once again.[15]
Living Laser reappears in a newphoton form, posing as the deceasedTitanium Man while 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 operating as Iron Man while Stark is apparently dead—tricks Living Laser by offering him a position at the company before trapping him in a communication chamber, which disperses him across theAndromeda Galaxy.[18]
In "Secret Empire", Living Laser is recruited byHelmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil.[19] Living Laser, Batroc the Leaper, and Whirlwind attack a haggard, bearded man who identifies himself as Steve Rogers. He is assisted by people that appear to be Sam Wilson and a version ofBucky Barnes who never lost his arm.[20]
In the prelude to the "Sins Rising" storyline, Count Nefaria forms a new incarnation of the Lethal Legion with Living Laser,Grey Gargoyle, and Whirlwind in a plot to target the Catalyst.[21] At Empire State University,Curt Connors reveals the Catalyst to the crowd when the Lethal Legion attacks. AsSpider-Man battles the Lethal Legion, Sin-Eater attacks them and steals the villains' powers and sins with his gun. The Lethal Legion are sent toRavencroft, where they act as model inmates; it is implied that their sins being stolen affected their behavior.[22] Following Sin-Eater's death, the Lethal Legion's members regain their sins.[23]
During the "Sinister War" storyline,Kindred resurrects Sin-Eater again. A demonic centipede emerges from Kindred's body and possesses Living Laser, making him a member of the Sinful Six.[24]
A gifted research scientist with expertise inlaser technology and aPh.D. in physics, Arthur Parks began his criminal career using wrist-mounted laser projection units, and later implants miniature laserdiodes into his skin which absorb energy. With the diode implants, Parks is capable of energy projection,light refraction forinvisibility andillusion generation.
Parks's material body is eventually replaced by photons due to an overloading of the diode implants. By increasing thedensity of the photons comprising his form, Parks can achieve "solidity", project photons as energy beams, and createthree-dimensionalholographic images. The character also possesses limited telepathic abilities and cantravel at light speed.
Thealternate universe titleWhat If features a story which the character reforms and works at Stark Industries, with three different outcomes being presented.[25]
An alternate universe version of Arthur Parks appears in "Heroes Reborn". This version is a businessman who was the head of Parks Fiberoptics until he lost his company to Tony Stark. Parks, now broken and desperate, uses his technology to attack Stark. Stark learns why Parks is attacking him and tries to convince him to stop his attack. Parks refuses to stand down, forcing Stark to kill him.[26]
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