Solis (New Earth)

Solis, better known as Lightray, is one of the New Gods of New Genesis.

History

Early Life

As a boy he established a close friendship with fellow New God Orion, who comforted Solis after the death of his older brother. One day Orion and Solis discovered a large hole on the surface of New Genesis which turned out to be an outpost of soldiers from the planet Apokolips. These soldiers had been transformed by an energy bomb into beings composed entirely of solar energy. They bombarded Solis with energy blasts, but Orion was able to fight them off with the aid of his mentor Metron. Solis lay in a coma for a month, but upon recovering realized that he had somehow gained solar energy powers. Solis mastered these abilities and renamed himself Lightray. Lightray has remained a close ally of Orion in the battle against Apokolips. Lightray's peaceful nature is a natural foil for Orion's sudden fits of rage.

Cosmic Odyssey

 Main article: Cosmic Odyssey

Six months after alerting Superman to an Apokoliptian incursion and aiding him in the fight, Lightray greeted an assembly of Earth's heroes to New Genesis regarding a threat to the universe, along with Highfather, Orion and Darkseid. Metron had unwittingly unleashed four Aspects of the Anti-Life Entity which would destroy all existence if they did not work together to stop it.^[1] Lightray was partnered with Starfire—who privately considered him to be conceited—to hunt down the Aspect on Rann. The Aspect had infected the Rannians with madness, but they found an ally in Adam Strange who led them to an industrial factory outside of Ranagar where they discovered a huge doomsday device. Strange was knocked unconscious when the separated to located the Aspect,^[2] and Lightray left his partner alone with Strange to track the Aspect with his electromagnetic vision. He followed the trail back to the stellar disruptor and found Starfire also knocked out by the Aspect which had possessed a shapeshifting creature from Rann. Lightray couldn't land a single blast on the slick ooze and was incapacitated as the timer on the bomb ticked down. He recovered just before the clock had run out to see Starfire in the grasp of the petroleum-based life form and made one last effort to save Rann, but Starfire was only playing possum, and ignited the creature with her flame before rescuing Lightray from the following explosion that also destroyed the doomsday bomb.^[3]

Lightray served one stint as a member of the Justice League. He joined the international branch along with Orion on the same night as a membership drive failed to find other new recruits.^[4] The difference between the two was illustrated in battle. While Lightray desired a minimum of fuss in battle by dispatching his foe, Crowbar, with a simple expenditure of energy to the man's face while, Orion preferred to destroy the pavement around Blackrock — and then was angered when his opponent surrendered instead of fighting to the death.^[5]

Lightray has demonstrated a knowledge of chess. Lightray's long hair caused him to be mistaken for a female by the old fashioned General Glory. They stayed with the team until just after the battle with General Glory's old foe the Evil Eye.^[6]

As Solis his idea of fun was protecting New Genesis from Apokolips, Darkseid, and his minions. He resided on New Genesis and was active in adventuring.

After a vicious battle between Orion and Darkseid at the heart of The Source, Orion killed his father.^[7] This act of patricide corrupted the Source and, by extension, all living beings in the universe. The light-hearted Solis was not the exception, as he became a ruthless warrior, usurping Highfather's throne and proclaiming himself the leader of New Genesis, even declaring war against the Primitives of New Genesis.^[8] Lightray returned to his usual self when Highfather and the resurrected Darkseid restored the Source.^[9]

Death of the New Gods

Lightray fell to Earth during a meteor shower, creating a crater in the streets of Metropolis. Gravely injured, he was found by Jimmy Olsen. He grabbed the young reporter, said the word "infinite", and after a large flash of light, apparently died.^[10] He was resurrected along with the other New Gods on the Fifth World.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• New God Physiology
  • Superhuman Stamina
  • Superhuman Speed: He can approach the speed of light; "maybe even faster" according to friend David Lincoln.^{[citation needed]} Yet, he was unable to keep up with the Anti-Life Aspect which Lightray exclaimed travelled faster than light.^[3]
  • Superhuman Reflexes
  • Accelerated Healing
  • Photokinesis: Lightray's photonic powers allowed him to manipulate light in many ways.^[3]
    • Energy Projection: Lightray could project solar energy; creating brilliant light and extraordinary levels of heat. Using his power to the utmost he can generate a miniature sun as he did to escape the Black Racer.^[11]
    • Spectrum Vision: Lightray had the ability to alter his vision to different ranges on the spectrum.^[3]
    • Illusion Casting^{[citation needed]}
    • Flight^[3]

Abilities

• Gadgetry: Once Lightray had altered an Apokoliptian robot to return to its base and explode.^[12]

Weaknesses

• Vulnerability to Radion: New Gods are vulnerable to a substance called Radion. It source is unknown and its effects are toxic only in sustained amounts or after explosive exposure. The average New God can be slain by an application of Radion from a Radion blaster or bomb. More advanced beings such as Mister Miracle, protected by their mother box, armor and sheer toughness, have been known to take two hits and survive. Radion, must be hard to come by, because if it was not, Darkseid would obviously equip more of his troops with it. Perhaps it requires the mysterious Element X to create it.
  

Paraphernalia

Equipment

• Mother Box

Notes

• Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.

Related

• 191 Appearances of Solis (New Earth)
• 32 Images featuring Solis (New Earth)
• 4 Quotations by or about Solis (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Solis (New Earth)

External Links

• Lightray at Wikipedia
• Lightray profile at Newsarama

Footnotes

Jack Kirby's Fourth World This character or group of characters are related to Jack Kirby's Fourth World, either the original concept and group of titles by Jack Kirby, or any of their subsequent adaptations by other creators. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Fourth World Characters category.

Justice League member This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Justice League of America members" category.