The Ray: DCnU Done Awesome

[auggie18]

Okay, I've got a favorite book from the DCnU and it's the new Ray. Granted, it's a mini, but still. He's a goofy, well meaning dude who gets smacked in the face by cosmic rays and becomes a superhero. His folks and friends know about his powers, as well as his girlfriend.




The book is aware of the conventions of the superhero genre and pokes light fun while managing to not alienate hardcore comic fans. It embraces the inherent weirdness of superhero stories and just kinda rolls with it.




Personally, I hate a lot of set-up for a hero getting his powers. It feels like too many stories nowadays are origin stories and it's nice that they don't spend a lot of time on the 'why' of his powers. Instead, there's a lot more focus on characters, which I think makes for a better story.



Also, he's naked a lot. Because this book is awesome.




I love his girlfriend. She takes the whole thing very well, but is insistent that he should probably spend less time fooling around with his new found super powers and more time making sure he isn't going to randomly explode or start giving people cancer.
 

You should pick up this book. Fun hero, great art, strong supporting cast, wicked villain, and over all, an awesome book. Definitely my favorite out of the DCnU. Reeeeeally hoping he doesn't get Ryan Choi'd. (I don't think the old Ray has that many fans, but I thought that about the Atom and look how that turned out.)

Comments

[sindra]

I approved of these shenanigans.

[protogarrett]

All of this I approve of. Off to buy naked hot Korean guy with glowy powers comic now.

[protogarrett]

I think I just described the comic Naked Justice, too, in that sentence.

[biod]

NAKED JUSTICE!

[protogarrett]

I am actually shocked and horrified that that's never been posted. But then again, it's porn in comics form.

Mods? Is that allowed? Now I just want to know.

[salinea]

Sure, it's allowed. Just use a nsfw tag for nudity and/or sex (or anything applicable), and an 18+ age restriction filter on the post. And if it contains sexual violence or other stuff of that sort, you'll also need trigger warnings and tags; but generally speaking you're good.

[shadowpsykie]

i can see sexy korean naked guy? :DDD

[cainofdreaming]

It's been so long since last time that porn weeks have been forgotten blocked from the memory? Oy, 'tis a pitiful state of affairs.

[causticlad]

It's got a bit of a Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle feel to it. Since that series was cancelled and NEVER REVIVED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER *glare* I may have to buy The Ray instead.

[eaglet_auditore]

I know, right? I ended up imagining more Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle adventures on my own to make up for that loss. Too bad I can't draw.

[eyz]

That can be arranged -> http://theeyzmaster.deviantart.com/art/BetweenPanels-Jaime-Reyes-290148160
And I can't write that well personally~

[eaglet_auditore]

I will save this as my happy place and remember to undust my da in order to properly fave you. (Or was it friend?)

Your da is a gold mine. *_*

[eyz]

Well, thankies! Thanks a lot :P
I still find I need a lot of practice. >__

[aeka]

"And now he's a walking glow stick who can't wear pants."

Icon says all.

Seattle gal here. I'd be on the Puget Sound every single day if naked men emerged from there on a regular basis. And Seattle being Seattle, that wouldn't be unlikely.

[stolisomancer]

He's just lucky he showed up on one of the few clear, sunny days.

[aeka]

Must have been summer in Washington then.

[flash_fan]

Don't you guys actually have superheroes patrolling your streets? Seems awesome.

[silicondream]

Yeah, I find it slightly implausible that people from Seattle would be like "Nudist? You must be from out of town!"

[darkknightjrk]

Yeah, as soon as this comes out in trade, I'm getting it. :D

[kd_the_movie]

Im a bit confused...I thought the Justice League Heroes were the first generation of supers ever, so unless the previous Ray debuted and retired within like 2-5 years, how was there a previous one?

Unless this book takes place on Earth -2....

[eaglet_auditore]

Got hold of the first two issues a couple of days ago. Two issues and already I like the characters enough to actually be afraid for their safety. 'Tis how I like reading comics. Off to get the two others soon!

[md84]

So his powers destroy normal clothing. Too bad for him he doesn't live in the Marvel universe. They've got these nifty things called "unstable molecules" that are all the rage for superheroes.

What is the official DCU explanation for how most superheroes don't shred their spandex outfits during their superheroics?

[jcbaggee]

Superman's is either made of Kryptonian cloth that is also invulnerable, or he projects a small aura around his body that protects objects close to his skin.

Flash's uniform is somewhat written off as a tougher material designed to withstand and maintain Friction. It does tend to tear, but it takes a lot.

The GL's wear costumes made of their own energy, so they're basically hard light.

I think...pretty much everyone else has costumes that tear.

[md84]

Don't forget Wonder Woman, who has the excuse that her outfit is divine armor forged by Hephaestus himself.

[deepspaceartist]

Also, sometimes the Flash's costume is either protected by the speed force, or in Wally's case, made from the speed force the same way GL costumes are made from GL energy.

Which leads to the hilarious conclusion I once read that the Flash wears pants made of GOES FAST.

[lieut_kettch]

So... a cease and desist order? Does this mean at least one of the previous incarnations of The Ray still exist?

[qalchemist]

It seems so.

The whole 'ballooner accident' thing he talks about at the beginning is the old 40s-era Ray's background!

[junkurosu]

I love this mini series and I love Lucien's parents. I love how Lucien defeats the bad guy. I just love everything about this mini-series.

[joeyconqueso]

Looks like a fun book, which is something I've missed. Am I getting a Blue Beetle vibe ?

[rainspirit]

Oh god, are we going to have to switch the Solstice death pool over to this guy?

[endis_ni]

Nope, because he's going to be fine and really popular and stay cheerful and well-supported.

Why yes, I am clutching a piece of jewelry too hard, how did you know?

[rainspirit]

And no bad writers will ever get a hold of him!

[icon_uk]

It was a fun series I feel slightly guilty for not promoting harder on s_d, and the fact he's a hot naked guy is only on reason for enjoying it.

I don't think we've seen the last of Lucien though...

[betaraybetty]

... good art?
GOOD ART!
Yaaaaay! :D

It's nice to see a light little story that's easy to get into, especially for those of us who have a hard time keeping up with the behemoth plotlines that connect eeeeverything these days.

[flidgetjerome]

I bought the entire series because I do appreciate it when they try to do something different and while I don't think the writing was that great I'd love to see more of pretty every character. I was really uncomfortable with how he ended up dealing with the final villain, though.

[lorriek]

This made my face all smiley. I must get it.

[greenmask]

Ahhh, good to see some of this after it's been talked up in a bunch of threads!

I am not sold on the colouring (not warm enough & too shiny for my tastes) but eveything else is just a delight, huh?

As a great badfic writer once said, I just wanna see nude boys.

[aeka]

For me the one thing that doesn't sell me on the colouring is the fact that Seattle isn't typically that bright and sunny except for on the few months of summer it has, and that's if it's not actually raining. :P

[star_of_airdrie]

This is what I love about s_d... finding out about things like this! Off to my internet and ergo not so local comic book shop!!!

[lascoden]

This was a pretty good miniseries. Better then quite a few of the regular 52 series. Really want to see him in a team setting. Think it would be interesting to see how his somewhat unorthodox style would mix with superheroes with more traditional approaches. Maybe JLU. Is there currently an American hero on the team, now that Batman is gone?

[eyz]

I like it, much better than most of what the New 52 is currently offering.

He kind of seems like a mix of the ol' good hearted Jaime Reyes with a bit of Ryan Choi inexperience and some Kyle Rayner spirit in it.

(side note: He's Korean? I didn't even notice that! Looks as caucasian as Kyle Rayner to be honest..)