Rainbow Raider
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| Rainbow Raider | |
 The Shade and Rainbow Raider from Flash #299, art by Carmine Infantino. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Flash vol. 1 #286 (June 1980) |
| Created by | Cary Bates (writer) Don Heck (artist) |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Roy G. Bivolo |
| Team affiliations | Rogues |
| Abilities | Special goggles allow projection of hard-light rainbows for travel or attack. Can alter people's emotions by coating them in certain colors. |
Rainbow Raider is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in The Flash vol. 1 #286 June 1980, and was created by Cary Bates and Don Heck.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
As child, Roy G. Bivolo always dreamed of a career as an artist, a lofty goal considering he was completely colorblind. He would often paint what he thought were beautiful pieces of art, only to be told that it was made up of clashing colors. His father, an optometrist and genius in optical technology, swore he would find a cure for his son's disorder. Due to failing health, he was unable to complete his product, but instead created a sophisticated pair of goggles that would allow Roy to create beams of solid rainbow-colored light. On his death-bed, his father presented him with this gift, and it wasn't long before Roy found a sinister use for it.
Turning to crime because the world didn't appreciate his art, Roy, now the Rainbow Raider, went on a crime spree focused mostly on art galleries, saying that if he couldn't appreciate the great works of art in them (due to his disability), no one else would. During this time he often clashed with the Flash, and sparked a rivalry that would last several years. Some years later he would fight Booster Gold too.
He was part of the riot in Belle Reve in JLA #34 where he attacked Kyle Rayner. He was defeated in one punch by Zauriel.
Roy was later killed by the villainess Blacksmith when she impaled him with his latest work of art. Since his death, a team of color-themed supervillains calling themselves the Rainbow Raiders has appeared (including a floating head named Computron), naming themselves after the slain Raider.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Rainbow Raider's powers are derived entirely from the special goggles he wears, which allow him to project solid beams of rainbow-colored light he can either use offensively or as a slide for travel. In addition, he can coat people in certain colors of light to induce emotions (coating someone in blue light, for instance, would make them sad).
[edit] Notes
- His real name, Roy G. Bivolo, is built on the acronym "roygbiv" (roy-gee-bihv), a mnemonic for the colors of a rainbow.
