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365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Ray

Several heroes have operated under the mantle of The Ray.  The first was a newspaper reporter named Langford ‘Happy’ Terill.  While investigating a story, Terril was exposed to a mutagenic light bomb by an unscrupulous scientist.  The event resulted in his gaining the ability of photokinesis (the ability to absorb massive amounts of light and redirect it in a controlled fashion).  With this ability he was able to fly at incredible speeds, project destructive bolts of energy and create light-based illusions and constructs.  

Calling himself ‘The Ray,’ Terill embarked on a career as a costumed superhero.  During the Second World War, The Ray joined the ranks of The All-Star Squadron and later battled the Axis Forces as a part of Uncle Sam’s Freedom Fighters.   Years later, Terill’s son Raymond became the new Ray, having inherited the same photokinetic powers possessed by his father.  As the new Ray, he acted as a member of The Justice League as well as the teen hero squad Young Justice.  He later joined a new iteration of the Freedom Fighters and was among the only survivors after the team was ambushed by the Secret Society of Super Villains.  Raymond would go on to play a pivotal role in the Infinite Crisis and Darkest Night events.  

Stan Silver became the third Ray after receiving photo-kinetic abilities from exposure to a mysterious type of high altitude radiation.  This version of The Ray acted as a member of the new Freedom Fighters until it was revealed that he was actually a mole working for the shadowy organization known as S.H.A.D.E..  When this version of The Ray tried to betray The Freedom Fighters he was intercepted and defeated by the Raymond Terill version of the hero.  Finally, Lucian Gates became the fourth Ray after gaining similar abilities following an explosion of an experimental solar energy project.  

In the DC Rebirth continuity, Raymond Terill is the only Ray.  Younger than before, Ray operated as a hero in Oregon before being recruited into Batman’s new iteration of the Justice League.    

Actor Russell Tovey portrayed a live-action version of Raymond Terill in the television series Legends of Tomorrow.  Tovey additionally voiced the hero in animated projects.  

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Steel / Natasha Irons

Natasha ‘Nat’ Irons is the niece of John Henry Irons, the superhero known as Steel. Nat shares the same genius and mechanical aptitude as her uncle and was recognized early on as a true progeny excelling in the fields of computer programing, engineering and cybernetics.  Although she did not have much interest in pursuing a formal education and was instead drawn to hands-on applications as well as interests in classical dance and medicine.  

Nat’s father had been a low-level mobster who gradually matriculated to a crime boss.  Home life became increasingly violent and Nat jumped at the opportunity to move to Metropolis and work as an assistant and apprentice for her uncle at his IronWorks Facility.  As clever as she is, it did not take long before Nat surmised her uncle’;s secret identity as the heroic Steel and she helped him further refine his armor.  

Some time later, after Steel had been captured by a super villain called Apocalypse, Nat donned an armor that she designed for herself and she added Superman in rescuing her uncle. Nat loved being a superhero and there was going to be no dissuading her from following in her uncle’s footsteps.   

While recovering from an injury, John helped his niece improve upon her armor and she acted as the new Steel. Her updated armor augments her strength to super-human levels, with rockets boots allowing for flight; and is additionally equipped with technomorphing abilities. 

Natasha’s story took an odd turn later on whereupon she got involved with Lex Luthor’s ‘Everyman Project.’ In the post ReBirth continuity, however, Natasha has gone back to using the armor and has been a member of The Teen Titans. In both the former and later continuities, Nat maintains an on-again/off-again romance with the fellow heroine Traci 13.  

Later, when her uncle’s girlfriend, Lana Lane, develops superpowers, Nat assists her in learning how to wield these new powers.  Lana becomes Superwoman and she and Nat become a crimefighting team.  Nat also rejoins an iteration of the Titans and additionally acts as a member of the Supermen of America.  

Did mean Bette went from being her cousin to Kate's cousin but whatever.

Very cool.

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Batwoman

There have been a pair of heroines who have operated as The Batwoman.  The first Batwoman appeared in the Silver Age and was a socialite named Katherine Kane.  She took on the guise of Batwoman for fun and to attract the attention of Batman.  She would go on to have a number of adventures alongside Batman and Robin yet was written out of history following the Crisis on Multiple Earths event.   

The second Batwoman is Katherine Rebecca "Kate" Kane.  Kate and her twin sister Elizabeth were raised by her parents both of whom were high-ranking officers in the United States Army.  A group of criminals kidnapped Kate, her sister and mother in the hopes of trading their lives for military secrets.  

Kate’s father attempted a rescue and tragically Kate’s mother was killed in the ensuing violence.  It also appeared as though her sister was additionally killed (although years later it would be revealed that her sister had survived the ordeal).

A deeply traumatized Kate turned to honing her skills as a combatant and strategist so that she may never feel victimized again.  She ended up enrolled in a prestigious military school and proved an exceptional cadet.  She entered into a brief romantic affair with her roommate which was against the school’s honor code.  She was offered the option to remain with the academy but only were she to deny being a lesbian.  Doing so went against Kate’s own sense of honor and integrity and she refused, resulting in her being expelled.  

Although it likely ruined a potentially successful career int he armed services, Kate’s father lauded her for standing by her values.  Kate then went to college in Gotham City and began to lose focus, descending into a life of partying and one-night stands.  One night, Kate was attacked by a would-be mugger.  With the skills she had developed over the years, Kate had little difficulty taking her attacker down.  At that moment, The Batman arrived not realizing that the young woman did not require his assistance.  It proved a fateful encounter and Kate was fascinated by the power and intimidation the symbol of the bat had become in Gotham.  

She decided to create a bat-themed costume of her own and outfitted herself with all manner of specialized weapons both created on her own and bought through the black market.  Kate’s father, perhaps still feeling guilty over the death of Kate’s mother and apparent death of her sister, reluctantly assisted Kate, using his lifetime of skills and contacts to help set his daughter up as a costumed hero.  

Dubbing herself ‘Batwoman’ Kate proved a highly effective crimefighter, quickly becoming a bane to the city’s criminal underworld.  An early nemesis for Batwoman was the mysterious Religion of Crime, a criminal syndicate run by an individual known only as Alice.  After numerous battles, Kate discovered that Alice is actually her twin sister Elizabeth who had been abducted by these villains years ago and indoctrinated into their belief system.   

Batwoman has continued to battle tirelessly to take down the Religion of Crime whilst desperately trying to devise some means of saving her psychological damaged sister.   

Kate has had a longstanding romance with police sergeant Maggie Sawyer.  At one point the two almost got married, yet the nuptials were called off.  In her ongoing adventures, Batwoman has become a member of Batman Inc., The Birds of Prey and The Justice League.  

Actresses Ruby Rose, Wallis Day and Javicia Leslie have each portrayed live action versions of Batwoman.  A number of different versions of Batwoman have featured in animated projects.  Herein the heroine has been voiced by actresses Yvonne Strahovski, Stephanie Beatriz, Tara Strong, Vanessa Marshall, Kyra Sedgwick, Kelly Rippa and Elisa Gabrielli.  

Good riddance I say, Maybe now Jon can get a less creep partner if we're content to keep Teen Jon around. Least The Tomorrowman stuff has been some of the better "Post-Bendis" Jon stuff.

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Superboy / Jonathan Kent

Jonathan Samuel ‘Jon’ Kent is the son of Superman (Clark Kent) and Lois Lane.  His birth was facilitated by the machinations of Brainiac during The Convergence story-arc.  In this tale, Brainiac had gained access to the ‘Vanishing Point,’ allowing him to view the various histories of the Multiverse.  Brainiac then collected various cities and inhabitants from different timelines, trapping them in domes on a planet outside of time and space.  Versions of both Lois and Clark were among those collected and deposited in a domed Gotham City.  Removed from Earth’s yellow sun, Clark’s powers as Superman quickly abated.  

The two were trapped in this city for many months and during this time, Lois became pregnant and gave birth to their child.  They name their son Jonathan Samuel after both of their fathers.  

Following the Convergence Event, the Kent family arrived at the beginning of the New 52 era. Superman and his family lived in secrecy for many years, moving to California and adopting new identities.  Lois became a celebrated, anonymous author, while Clark continued his superhero duties quietly and behind the scenes.  Young Jon grew up with a relatively normal life unaware of his nor his parents’ real identities.  In his early adolescence, Jon developed superpowers similar to those of his father.  

In the DC Rebirth continuity, the Post-Crisis Superman has been re-conceptualized as the main Superman, along with his wife, Lois and their son Jon.  The family resided on a farm in Hamilton County.  Jon’s powers continue to emerge and he joins his father on an adventure that pits the two against The Eradicator.  

Now going by the name ‘Superboy,’ Jon enters into a partnership with Robin (Damian Wayne).  At first, these two ‘Super Sons’ did not get along very well; with Damian seeing Jon as naive and undeserving of his great powers and Jon seeing Damian as rude and egotistical.  Throughout their adventures together, however, the two would become great friends, fostering an alliance very similar to that maintained by their fathers.  

Later, Jon’s grandfather Jor-El visited the Kent family and offered to take Jon on a trip to better educate him about the known universe.  His parents were reluctant to let him go, but ultimately allowed it.  It proved a fateful decision in that Jon ended up trapped in a black hole and marooned on Earth 3 were he had to contend with Ultraman and the Crime Syndicate.  He was eventually able to escape and return to Earth Prime.  Due to the time dilation of Jon’s encounter with the black hole, however, what was a years-long journey for him had only been a couple of weeks for his parents; and Lois and Clark were shocked to be reunited by their now older, teenage son.  

Jon would go on to have adventures alongside the Legion of Superheroes, the Secret Six and The Justice League.  He took on the moniker of ‘Superman’ although most continued to refer to him as Superboy.  Following the DC K.O. event, Jon began operating under the new codename of ‘Tomorrow Man.’  Jon’s boyfriend is Jay Nakamura, a young journalist who runs the ‘Truth’ online news site.  

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Pied Piper

Hartley Rathaway was born into a wealthy family.  Early in his toddlerhood, Hartley’s parents discovered that he was deaf.  They spared no expense in their efforts to help their son hear, including experimental treatments.  They financed and ultimately developed highly sophisticated hearing implants that were designed by the cybernetic progeny William Magnus.  These implants proved successful and young Hartley was able to hear.

Later in his adolescence, Hartley discovered that the implants not only allowed for normal hearing but could also be enhanced so that he could hear all manner of sounds, frequencies outside of the range of human hearing.  

He became a master of sound and experimented with sonic vibrations that could affect the thoughts, moods and actions of those around him. He devised specialized melodies that could effectively hypnotize others and other vibrations that could break apart solid matter.  

Now a young man, Hartley found himself quite bored and he decided to try his hand at being a super villain, seeing as a fun lark.  He crafted up a costume along with a specialized flute and dubbed himself ‘The Pied Piper.’  This flute could hypnotize people and, at its highest frequency, deliver a sonic blast that could break through concrete.  With this flute, The Piper set about a crime spree in Keystone City and it was not long before he ran afoul of the city’s speedster protectors, The Flash (Barry Allen).

Following a number of defeats at the hands of The Flash, The Pied Piper threw in with team of supervillains known as the Rogues (composed of The Flash’s most persistent of foes).  Hartley continued to operate as the Pied Piper simply for the sport of it, because it was fun.  This changed in the wake of the Crisis on Multiple Earths event wherein the Flash valiantly sacrificed his life.  Hartley was moved by the hero’s selfless action and he decided to reform and discontinue his villainous ways. 

Hartley rededicated himself to prosocial causes and, when Wally Wets took up the mantle as the new Flash, Hartley became an alley to him as well as a friend to Wally and his girlfriend Linda Park.  Around this time, Hartley also came out as gay (this was one of the first main characters in a DC comic book to be openly queer).  

Following further misadventures, Hartley completely retired from his role as the Pied Piper and ultimately became the conductor of the Central City Philharmonic Orchestra.  Although he continued to have ties with The Flash and has been in a longterm relationship with David Singh, the director of the crime lab at the Central City Police Department.    

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Human Bomb

There have been three heroes who have operated under the moniker of The Human Bomb.  The first was Roy Lincoln, a scientist who worked alongside his father toward developing a special explosive compound which they called ’formula 27-QRX.’  The two worked on the explosive in the United States in the months prior to the country’s entry into the Second World War.  Spies working for the Axis Forces attempted to steal the formula, hoping it could prove a powerful weapon for the Third Reich.  These spies broke into the Lincoln’s lab and shot and killed the elder scientist.  

In a desperate effort to keep 27-QRX from being stolen, Lincoln took the only existing sample and drank it.  Amazingly, this resulted in his now possessing the ability to make anything explode by simply touching it.  He used these powers to save himself from the spies and decided to honor his father’s memory by becoming a super hero, hence becoming ‘The Human Bomb.’

Although vastly powerful, Lincoln’s new abilities came at a great cost and he would spend the rest of his life isolated from human contact.  His touching any substance would cause it to explode; only an experimental fibro-wax proved an effective insulant.  Hence, to ensure the safety of those around him, Lincoln lived inside of a specialized suite composed of fibro-wax.  He could remove his gloves to unleash his powers, but was otherwise forever trapped within his suit.  It made for a solitary existence that Lincoln endured with a quite stoicism.

Following many adventures, The Human Bomb would go on to serve in the All-Star Squadron as well as Uncle Sam’s Freedom Fighters.  After the Allied Forces won the war, Lincoln and the rest of the Freedom Fighter’s traveled to Earth X (a parallel world where the Axis Powers had won the war) so to continue the fight against the villainy of nazism. 

The Freedom Fighters ultimately prevailed on Earth X and the heroes finally returned to Earth Prime.  Sadly, Lincoln and his comrades perished in battle soon there after, falling victim to a brutal attack by the new Secret Society of Super Villains in the early stages of the Infinite Crisis event. 

Doctor Andy Franklin became the second Human Bomb after he was caught in the explosion created by the villain known as Chemo was dropped onto the Gotham City borough, Blüdhaven.  His body was experimented upon by agents of the shadowing organization SHADE.  They found that Franklin had absorbed mysterious properties that caused his body to secrete a highly explosive compound.  He was placed in a specialized containment suit to prevent unintentional detonations and was soon thereafter recruited by Uncle Sam and his new Freedom Fighters.  

Acting as the new Human Bomb, Franklin joined this contemporary iteration of The Freedom Fighters in their ongoing confrontations with SHADE. Franklin’s explosive properties are much more extreme than those possessed by the original Human Bomb.  

The third hero to possess these powers is young Gloria James.  Gloria is the daughter of a chemist who had worked alongside Roy Lincoln in the past.  After her father was killed by criminals, Gloria attempted to recreate the 27-QRX formula so to gain powers similar to those possessed by The human Bomb.  She succeeded top an extent, obtaining a slightly less powerful iteration of these abilities.  

Gloria had a hard time learning to use this power and Roy Lincoln came to her aid, providing her a specialized suit similar to his own as well as guidance in learning to master her new abilities.  Gloria would go on to name herself ‘Cherry Bomb’ and acted as the Human Bomb’s teen sidekick for a number of adventures.  

As was the case with many young sidekicks, Gloria was abducted by the Time Masters and ostensively erased from continuity.  She and the other sidekicks were eventually rescued by Stargirl and then returned to the present era by Hourman.  

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

The Wizard

William Asmodeus Zard had been a petty thief and gangster who traveled to a remote region of Tibet ins search of some means of enhancing his craft.  He met a mysterious lama who tutored Zard in the mystical arts of illusion, hypnosis and astral projection.  Zard proved a very apt pupil and he soon mastered the ability to cast powerful and convincing illusions.  

Returning to the States, Zard renamed himself ‘The Wizard’ and set about an effort to announce himself as the supreme criminal kingpin by destroying the much-renown Justice Society.  The heroes were initially caught off guard by the Wizard’s illusions and the villain’s scheme almost succeeded.   He was undone by failing to realize his powers would not work on the blind hero Dr. Mid-Nite.  

The Wizard would later return, helping to form the first iteration of the Injustice Society, a confederacy of villains pooling their efforts to take down the Justice Society.  The two teams battled on many occasions with the heroes always triumphing.  

The Wizard would later obtain the magical items known as the Wand of Glastonbury as well as the Key to the Ghost Zone, which significantly augmented his powers.  He embarked on schemes on both Earth I and Earth II, battling both the Justice Society as well as the Justice League.  

Later, The Wizard formed a new team of villains called Injustice Unlimited and battled the young heroes of Infinity Inc.  The heroes again prevailed and The Wizard was seemingly killed in the ensuing battle.

It was later reveled that The Wizard had survived and return under the guise of a demonic threat known as Legacy.  Once more he form the Injustice Society to do battle against both the JSA and JLA.  And once ore The Wizard seemed to perish, this time in confrontation against The Specter.  The villain was later shown as inexplicably revived some time later, joining the ranks of yet another iteration of the Society.