Ray I

RAY I

Real Name: Langford "Happy" Terrill

Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Newspaper reporter

Group Affiliation: All-Star Squadron, Freedom Fighters

Known Relatives: Nadine (ex-wife), Joshua Terrill (son), Rachael Terrill (wife, deceased), Raymond C. Terrill (son), Thomas H. Terrill (brother, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York

First Appearance: Smash Comics #14 (September, 1940)

Powers: Ray could absorb light, heat and electricity from outside sources, or discharge these forms of energy from his body. Ray could project energy at varying levels, from simple beams of light to destructive laser blasts. In the presence of light Ray could fly at tremendous speeds.

History: In 1940 a secret government agency named RONOL (Research on the Nature of Light) tricked “Happy” Terrill was covering the ascent of Professor Styne’s “strato-balloon” into the upper atmosphere. “Happy” accompanied Styne in its passenger cabin while RONOL released a light bomb that manifested as a strange and powerful electrical storm. “Happy” was bombarded with large amounts of electric energy, but survived, gaining amazing powers and taking the costumed identity of the Ray.

During WWII Ray served with the All-Star Squadron, and at the wars’ end he joined the Freedom Fighters.

(JSA #42) - <April, 1944> Time traveling Black Barax attacked Washington to draw out Ray and the Freedom Fighters, and tried to abduct the Human Bomb to use his explosive power to fuel his damaged time-cube. The Freedom Fighters drove Barax back to his own time with the help of Mr. Terrific and time traveling heroes Hawkgirl II and Mr. Terrific II. The grateful Freedom Fighters had Human Bomb power Barax’ abandoned time-cube so the future heroes could return to their own time.

He later had a son who was born with mutant powers mirroring his own. In his own heavy-handed way he guided his son in becoming Ray II.

Comments: Created by Lou Fine & Will Eisner

In pre-Crisis continuity Ray I lived on Earth 2. In this continuity, after his service in the All-Star Squadron he joined the Freedom Fighters and traveled to Earth-X, a world without superheroes where the Third Reich was in power and WWII raged for over 30 years. The war finally came to an end through the combined efforts of the Freedom Fighters, Justice League and Justice Society.

Ray was originally published by Quality Comics, which DC obtained the rights to in 1956.

Ray received a profile in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #19. Ray received a profile in Who's Who 'Update '87 #1 under the All-Star Squadron entry. He received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #8 under the Freedom Fighters entry.

Ray’s cowl was seen on display in the JSA Museum in JLA / JSA: Virtue and Vice. JSA #47 showed a photo of Ray hanging in the JSA Museum.

Ray had a cameo in Spectre III #38.

In Bizarro Comics #1 Mr. Mxyzptlk beamed information about all of Earth’s superheroes into Bizarro-Superman’s mind, hoping to teach him how to be a proper hero. Afterwards Bizarro had images of various heroes, including Ray, wandering through his head.