Living Laser Villain
Real Name: Arthur Parks.
Occupation: Professional criminal, former medical laser technician.
Identity: Secret; as the Laser, his identity was known to the authorities.
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with a criminal record, legally deceased.
Other Aliases: The Laser.
Place of Birth: New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Marital Status: Single.
Known Relatives: None.
Group Affiliation: Former freelance employee of AIM and the Nefaria family of the Maggia; occasional member of the Lethal Legion.
Base of Operations: Mobile.
First Post-Reboot Appearance: (as the Laser) ASTONISHING ANT-MAN ANNUAL #1; (as the Living Laser) INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1.
History: Arthur Parks was a medical laser technician who felt underappreciated at his job, adapting medical lasers to wrist-mounted laser weaponry powered off batteries on his belt. For several years he operated as a costumed criminal calling himself the Laser, until a confrontation with the since-retired electrical hero called Arc-Weld resulted in accidental intensive damage to his wrists, nearly crippling his hands. Turning to AIM, he had his wrists rebuilt with state of the art bionics, integrating the laser technology into his hands. In addition, his entire body was covered with microscopic photovoltaic receptor diodes to absorb solar energy to power the lasers.
With this new power, the Laser returned to action, often doing jobs for the Nefaria family of the Maggia as well as pulling jobs on his own. Recently he was hired by who he assumed to be Count Nefaria's lieutenant and daughter, Madame Masque, as one of her operatives in an attack on the Silvermane family. During this altercation, which involved Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Iron Fist, and Spider-Woman, the Laser was believed killed when Nefaria's private space station exploded with him on it.
This was not the end of Arthur Parks, though. Somehow, the radiation from the station's experimental power core combined with the photovoltaic diodes in his skin to convert him into a being of pure light, a "living hologram" as Iron Man called him. Reappearing on Earth and calling himself the Living Laser, he attacked the heroes and the Maggia alike, discovering that "Madame Masque" was in fact Silvermane's granddaughter, Sable, in disguise. (Despite this, Sable managed to maintain her deception among the Maggia present.) Realizing that Sable was not the one responsible for what he'd become, he fled.
Since then, the Living Laser joined the Lethal Legion, a collection of costumed criminals gathered by Ant-Man's scientific rival, Dr. Elias Starr, and stayed with the Legion when it was reorganized by the Crimson Cowl. As a member of the Legion, he faced off against the Avengers, and was seemingly dispersed by Dr. Bruce Banner, the alter ego of the Hulk. Despite this, as a being of pure energy, it is possible the Living Laser will return to again plague the heroes of Earth.
Age: 34.
Height: Inapplicable, previous human form was 5' 11".
Weight: Inapplicable, previous human form was 185 lbs.
Eyes: White, formerly brown.
Hair: None, formerly brown.
Uniform: None.
Strength Level: Currently inapplicable; in human form Arthur Parks previously possessed the normal human strength of a man his age, height, and build who engaged in moderate exercise.
Known Superhuman Powers: The Living Laser exists as a being composed of photons, the wave-particles that compose the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to visible light to cosmic radiation. As a being of energy, he is immune to all diseases, toxins, and similar hazards; he does not need to eat or breathe. By varying the frequency of his photons, he can appear visible either as a solid color or his normal human form, turn invisible, and pass through all but the densest materials with ease. Because he is a being of pure light particles, he can travel at the speed of light, though he prefers to travel at slower speeds. It is believed he no longer ages, though this has yet to be conformed. Naturally intangible, he cannot be harmed by physical attacks, nor is he normally able to interact with solid matter. (How he generates sound in order to speak with others is unknown.)
Because of his nature, the Living Laser is able to listen in on and broadcast over a wide range of radio waves, including television channels and many military frequencies. He is aware of everything around him; he has said that being a being of pure energy is like having eyes in the back of his head, if he still technically had eyes (or a head). He is also able to create lasers in a wide range of frequencies, from microwave "heat beam" masers to x- and gamma ray lasers, with pinpoint accuracy. In addition, he can use his energy to create realistic holograms.
Although he can move at the speed of light at will, he normally moves at a slower speed when interacting with others. His current clocked speed is roughly 500 mph (approximately 805 km/h); presumably he stays this slow in order to process his surroundings as he moves.
It is not known whether he still ages or is now immortal. In addition, it's unclear whether he can form a new body now that his has been dispersed, though it is very likely.
1,669 points
| ST: 0 [-100] | HP: 11 [22] | Speed: 6.50 [0] |
| DX: 12 [40] | Will: 11 [0] | Air Move: 15/240 [4] |
| IQ: 11 [20] | Per: 11 [0] | Space Move: 15/240 [4] |
| HT: 14 [40] | FP: 14 [0] | SM: 0 |
| Dmg: 1d-6/1d-5 | BL: 0 lbs. | |
| Dodge: 10 | Parry: 11 | DR: 0 |
Languages: English (Native) (Native Language) [0].
Cultural Familiarities: Western (Native) [0].
Advantages: 360° Vision [25]; Affliction (Blinding Flash) 5 (HT-4; Affects Substantial, +40%; Area Effect: 2 yd radius, +50%; Disadvantage (Blindness), +50%; Emanation, -20%; Persistent, +40%; Elemental: Light, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [25]; Affliction (Electrolaser) 5 (HT-4; Accurate +2, +10%; Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (2), +50%; Damage Modifier: Surge, +20%; Environmental, -5%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×5, +20%; Link, +10%; Rapid Fire: RoF 3, +50%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Electricity, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [30]; Burning Attack (Blue-Green Laser) 6d (Accurate +9, +45%; Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (2), +50%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×50, +50%; Rapid Fire: RoF 5, +70%; Underwater, +20%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Light, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [23]; Burning Attack (Electrolaser) 1d-2 (Affects Substantial, +40%; Accurate +2, +10%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×5, +20%; Link, +10%; Rapid Fire: RoF 3, +50%; Elemental: Light, -10%) [5]; Burning Attack (Gamma-Ray Laser) 6d (Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (10), +200%; Damage Modifier: Radiation, +100%; Damage Modifier: Surge, +20%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×5, +20%; Rapid Fire: RoF 10, +100%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Radiation, -10%) [174]; Burning Attack (Laser Beam) 6d (Accurate +9, +45%; Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (2), +50%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×20, +40%; Rapid Fire: RoF 10, +100%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Light, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [23]; Burning Attack (Microwave Heat Beam) 6d (Accurate +3, +15%; Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (0.5), -30%; Increased 1/2D Range ×5, +10%; Increased Range ×5, +20%; Rapid Fire: RoF 3, +50%; Underwater, +20%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Heat/Fire, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [14]; Burning Attack (Rainbow Laser) 6d (Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (3), +100%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×50, +50%; Rapid Fire: RoF 10, +100%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Light, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [24]; Burning Attack (X-Ray Laser) 6d (Affects Substantial, +40%; Armor Divisor (5), +150%; Damage Modifier: Radiation, +100%; Damage Modifier: Surge, +20%; Rapid Fire: RoF 10, +100%; Reduced Range ×1/2, -10%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Radiation, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [30]; Chameleon 10 (Controllable, +20%; Alternative Ability (to Elastic Skin & Invisibility), ×1/5) [12]; Crushing Attack (Pulse Laser) 6d (Accurate +9, +45%; Affects Substantial, +40%; Damage Modifier: Explosive (Damage / 3×yards), +50%; Increased 1/2D Range ×2, +5%; Increased Range ×50, +50%; Rapid Fire: RoF 10, +100%; Variable, +5%; Elemental: Light, -10%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [24]; Detect Electromagnetic Fields [24]; Doesn't Breathe [20]; Doesn't Eat or Drink [10]; Elastic Skin (Alternative Ability (to Chameleon & Invisibility), ×1/5) [4]; Enhanced Move (Air) 4 (Air Move 240/480 mph; Cosmic: Complete Maneuverability, +50%; Cosmic: Instantaneous Acceleration, +50%; Alternative Ability (to Warp), ×1/5) [32]; Enhanced Move (Space) 4 (Space Move 240/480 mph; Cosmic: Complete Maneuverability, +50%; Cosmic: Instantaneous Acceleration, +50%; Alternative Ability (to Warp), ×1/5) [32]; Enhanced Time Sense [45]; Fatigue Attack (Maser) 6d (Affects Substantial, +40%; Cone (3 yd radius), +80%; Damage Modifier: Heat Hazard, +20%; Increased 1/2D Range ×5, +10%; Increased Range ×2, +10%; Selectivity (Cone), +10%; Variable, +5%; Alternative Attack, ×1/5) [33]; Flight (Cosmic: Complete Maneuverability, +50%; Space Flight, +50%) [80]; Hyperspectral Vision (Extended High-Band, +30%; Extended Low-Band, +30%) [40]; Illusion (Area Effect: 8 yd Radius, +100%; Independence, +40%; Visual Only, -30%; Elemental: Light, -10%) [50]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Injury Tolerance (Diffuse; No Eyes; No Head; No Neck) [117]; Insubstantiality (Always On, -50%) [40]; Invisibility (Electromagnetic Spectrum) (Affects Machines, +50%; Switchable, +10%) [64]; Ladar (Extended Arc: 360°, +125%; Increased Range: Line-of-Sight, +30%; Pressure Support 3 [15]; Protected Hearing [5]; Protected Vision [5]; Radar (Extended Arc: 360°, +125%; Increased Range: Line-of-Sight, +0%; Multi-Mode, +50%; Targeting, +20%) [59]; T-Ray Vision (Extended Arc: 360°, +125%; Increased Range: Line-of-Sight, +30%) [64]; Telecommunications (Infrared Comms) (Burst: 100×, +60%; Secure, +20%; Video, +40%) [22]; Telecommunications (Laser Comms) (Burst: 100×, +60%; Secure, +20%; Video, +40%) [33]; Telecommunications (Radio) (Burst: 100×, +60%; Increased Range ×10, +30%; Secure, +20%; Short Wave, +50%; Video, +40%) [30]; Telescopic Vision 3 [15]; Unkillable 3 [150]; Vacuum Support [5]; Warp (Blind, +50%; Blink, +25%; Gyroscopic, +10%; Hyperjump (Light-Speed), -50%; No Strain, +25%; Reliable +10, +50%) [210].
Perks: Illumination [1].
Disadvantages: Laziness [-10]; No Legs (Aerial) [0]; No Manipulators [-50]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [-5]; Numb [-20]; Overconfidence (9) [-7]; Social Stigma (Criminal Record) [-5]; Social Stigma (Legally Deceased) [-10]; Wealth (Dead Broke) [-25].
Quirks: Affected by Magnetism [-1]; Bitter [-1]; Fast-Talker [-1]; Flirtatious [-1].
Skills: Aerobatics (H) DX+0 [4] – 12; Armoury/TL8 (Small Arms) (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Artist (Illusion) (H) IQ+0 [4] – 11; Beam Weapons/TL8 (Wrist Gun) (E) DX+2 [4] – 14; Boating/TL8 (Motorboat) (A) DX+0 [2] – 12; Boxing (A) DX+2 [8] – 14; Computer Operation/TL8 (E) IQ+1 [2] – 12; Detect Lies (H) Per+0 [4] – 11; Driving/TL8 (Motorcycle) (A) DX+0 [2] – 12; Electrician/TL8 (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Electronics Operation/TL8 (Medical) (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Electronics Repair/TL8 (Medical) (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Engineer/TL8 (Small Arms) (H) IQ+0 [4] – 11; Innate Attack (Beam) (E) DX+2 [4] – 14; Innate Attack (Gaze) (E) DX+2 [4] – 14; Lip Reading (A) Per+0 [2] – 11; Mathematics/TL8 (H) IQ+0 [4] – 11; Observation (A) Per+1 [4] – 12; Running (A) HT+0 [2] – 14; Savoir-Faire (Mafia) (E) IQ+1 [2] – 12; Search (A) Per+1 [4] – 12; Shadowing (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Stealth (A) DX+2 [8] – 14; Streetwise (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Wrestling (A) DX+2 [8] – 14.
Starting Spending Money: $0.
Role-Playing Notes:
As the Laser, Parks was a stubborn, lazy person who looked for the easy way out. As the Living Laser, he is reveling in his powers, but in the back of his mind he's lonely, especially after he realized he couldn't touch anyone.
| BOXING | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL | Weapon | Damage | Reach | Parry | Cost | Weight | ST | Notes |
| – | Boxing Punch | 1d-5 cr | C | 11 | – | – | 0 | |
| – | Blinding Flash | HT-4 aff | 2 | n/a | – | – | – | [1] |
| DX | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL | Weapon | Damage | Reach | Parry | Cost | Weight | ST | Notes |
| – | Kick | 1d-6 cr | C, 1 | n/a | – | – | 0 | |
| – | Bite | 1d-7 cr | C | n/a | – | – | 0 | |
| INNATE ATTACK (BEAM) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL | Weapon | Damage | Acc | Range | RoF | Shots | ST | Bulk | Rcl | Notes |
| – | Blue-Green Laser | 6d (2) burn | 12 | 1,000/5,000 | 5 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | Electrolaser | 1d-2 burn | 5 | 100/500 | 3 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | linked | HT-4 aff sur | 5 | 100/500 | 3 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | Gamma-Ray Laser | 6d (10) burn rad sur | 3 | 100/500 | 10 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | Laser Beam | 6d (2) burn | 12 | 400/2,000 | 10 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | Maser | 6d fat heat haz (3 yds) | 3 | 100/200 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | [2] |
| – | Microwave Heat Beam | 6d (0.5) burn | 6 | 250/500 | 3 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | Pulse Laser | 6d cr ex | 12 | 1,000/5,000 | 10 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | Rainbow Laser | 6d (2) burn | 3 | 1,000/5,000 | 10 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| – | X-Ray Laser | 6d (2) burn | 3 | 5/50 | 10 | – | – | – | 1 | [3] |
Notes:
[1] Area effect centered on him; effects persist for at least 10 seconds.
[2] Cone attack.
[3] In space, distance is in miles, not yards.
Design Notes:
1. The selection of several traits – Injury Tolerance (No Head, No Neck) and No Manipulators – despite the Living Laser possessing arms, legs, a head, and neck are to help match the effects of him not being able to interact with the material world when he manifests as a "living hologram", not to indicate that he's an amorphous blob lacking extremities as some looking at the sheet might assume. His arms, legs, head, and neck don't have any mechanical effects.