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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 apseudo 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). The 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 inThe New Avengers.
As the "Living Laser", Arthur Parks becomes amercenary and 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 capturedHawkeye andCaptain 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 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 theMandarin after 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 byThor and Hawkeye despite the robotUltimo being transported there from a volcano.[6] As part of "Batroc's Brigade" (consisting of the Laser; theSwordsman andBatroc the Leaper) he participated in a battle against Captain America.[7][8] The Laser reappears as part of the first version of theLethal Legion gathered by theGrim Reaper in a failed revenge plot against the Avengers.[9] There is an encounter betweenKree heroMar-Vell and an android version of the Laser.[10]
The Laser eventually acquires theartifact theSerpent Crown, and while controlling the living weaponNuklo and abattalion of theUS Army attempts to conquer the world, but is defeated by the Avengers.[11] 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 (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 German scientists, 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 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 theatmosphere where hedetonates and 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 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 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 ofMODOK,[19] and later as a member of the criminal army formed by the villain theHood.[20] The villain sides with the heroes during "Secret Invasion" in a pitched battle with theSkrulls,[21] and has a number of encounters with the Avengers.[22]
Mandarin andZeke Stane recruit Living Laser, among other villains, in a plot to defeat Iron Man. Upon receiving upgrades, Living Laser breaks Tony Stark's repulsor arc, causing him to go into cardiac arrest.[23]
In "Secret Empire", Living Laser is recruited byHelmut Zemo to 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 version ofBucky Barnes who never lost his arm.[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]
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.[31]
In theHeroes Reborn universe, 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 suit was forced to destroy his containment armor causing his laser form to dissipate, killing him.[32]
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