Living Laser

Superherobox|

caption=Iron Man battles the Living Laser on the cover of "Iron Man" #211 (Oct. 1986). Art by Alex Saviuk.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=The Living Laser
real_name=Arthur Parks
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Avengers" #34 (Nov. 1966)
creators=Stan Lee
Art Simek
Don Heck
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=Mandarin's Minions Batroc's Brigade Lethal Legion
aliases=The Laser
powers=Genius level intellect
Light manipulation|

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

Fictional character biography

Arthur Parks was a relatively successful laser research scientist until spurned by a woman. Deciding he needed power to achieve his aims, Parks creates wrist-mounted laser units, a costume and uses the alias "Living Laser" as a mercenary and professional criminal. He then develops an infatuation with the Wasp, and after kidnapping her is forced to battle the superhero team the Avengers while aiding Costa Verde guerillas. After being defeated by the Avengers, the Laser is sent to prison. ["Avengers" #34-35 (Nov-Dec 1966)] Although freed by master villain the Mandarin to fight the Avengers alongside other supervillains as part of his attempt at world conquest, the Laser is defeated once again. ["Avengers" King-Size Special #1 (Sep. 1967)] The Laser, together with team-mate the Swordsman, join Batroc the Leaper as part of the first "Batroc's Brigade" in a bid to kill Captain America. They are, however, defeated, ["Captain America" #105 (Sep. 1968)] and the Laser later joins the first Lethal Legion in a failed revenge attack on the Avengers. ["Avengers" #78-79 (Jul. - Aug. 1970)] The Laser later battles the Kree hero Mar-Vell, but after yet another defeat disappears into obscurity for some time. ["Captain Marvel" #35 (Nov. 1974)] The Living Laser eventually learns of the Serpent Crown and acquires it from the ruins of the Brand Corporation. He attempts to use the crown along with the living weapon Nuklo to conquer the world, but is defeated by the Avengers. [" Avengers" #151 (Sep. 1976), #153 (Nov. 1976) and "Avengers" Annual #6 (1976) ]

Several years later Count Nefaria employs the Laser and temporarily amplifies his abilities — together with those of team-mates Power Man and Whirlwind — before sending them against the Avengers as the second Lethal Legion. The effect, however, is temporary and their combined abilities are drained by Nefaria, who is subsequently defeated by the Avengers. ["Avengers" #164 - 166 (Nov. 1977 - Jan. 1978)] The Laser then discovers that the laser diodes implanted in his skin have become unstable, with the power build-up in his body reaching critical - and potentially fatal - levels. 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. This plan, however, is foiled by Iron Man, (at the base the Laser is located in to rescue a civilian), who battles the Laser and forces his energy levels to build to critical mass. The Laser begs for help, but with no time remaining Iron Man is forced to hurl him into the atmosphere where the Laser detonates and apparently dies. ["Iron Man" #152 - 153 (Nov. - Dec. 1981)]

Several months later, Tony Stark, Iron Man's alter ego, repairs a faulty satellite that collected a pattern of energy. Upon repair the energy is released and reforms into the Laser, who is now composed entirely of sentient light. The Laser panics when he discovers his new condition, and although Iron Man tries to assist him, he is forced to battle and capture the Laser. Iron Man's colleague Henry Pym attempts to find a cure for the Laser's condition. ["Iron Man" #211 (Oct. 1986)] The Laser subsequently escapes, and briefly battles the cosmic hero Quasar The Laser flees to the Blue Area of the Moon, and enters the Watcher's trans-dimensional portal. ["Quasar" #6 (Jan. 1990)] The Laser later returns, and on hearing a rumor that Iron Man was dead posed as the villain the Titanium Man to draw the hero out. The ruse works, and after two grueling battles Iron Man finally defeats the Laser by using his own powers against him. ["Iron Man" #259 - 263 (Aug. - Dec. 1990)] The Laser enters into the Earth-105709 universe, but is disoriented when meeting his counterpart. He returns to the mainstream Earth, but accidentally creates divergent counterparts of himself in several alternate realities while in transit. ["Quasar" #30 1992)]

Upon reintegrating his energy form, the Laser seeks revenge but encounters Jim Rhodes, who offers him a position at Stark Industries and a chance of reforming. The Laser accepts, but when he begins to show signs of being unstable is projected via satellite by Rhodes into space. ["Iron Man" #289 (Feb. 1993)] He then becomes trapped inside a "smart laser" weapon as dormant energy, and is taken into Stark's custody. The Laser then undergoes psychotherapy with a doctor who revives and tries to reform him. This proves disastrous when the Laser kills the doctor while escaping, and kills another innocent during Iron Man's battle with the villain Spymaster. He is then absorbed by Iron Man's armor and trapped in a long-term containment unit. ["Iron Man: The Inevitable" #1 - 6 (2006)]

Living Laser then joins a group of supervillains formed by MODOK, and is sent to obtain a device known as the Hypernova, a source of unlimited energy. Believing the device could restore his human form, the Laser uses it, but discovers it is a fake (MODOK swapped the device). The device transforms him into a benign form of energy. ["MODOK's 11" #5 (Jul. 2007)]

Living Laser later reforms and is hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act. He is later defeated by Doctor Strange while battling the New Avengers. ["New Avengers" #35 (Oct. 2007)]

Powers and abilities

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

Parks's material body was later replaced by photons due to an overloading of the Living Laser's diode implants. By increasing the density of the photons comprising his form, Parks can achieve "solidity"; project photons as energy beams and project three-dimensional holographic images. He also possesses limited telepathic abilities in his photon form and can communicate with others. As Parks no longer exists in a material form, his coherent light form can be disrupted by opposing energy frequencies. In photon form, Parks can also travel at light speed.

Other versions

An alternate universe version of the Laser remains on Earth and works at Stark Industries. ["What If?" #63 (July 1994)]

Other media

Television

* The Living Laser appears in the 1994 "Iron Man" animated series, voiced by Robert Hays.

Video games

* The Living Laser appears in the 1991 "Captain America and the Avengers" video game.

References

External links

* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/l/livinglaser.htm Living Laser at MarvelDirectory.com]
*http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/livinglaserparks.htm