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Magneto Was Right

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.  

ROUGE AND LEX ARE FUCKING