Who's Who: Dr. Regulus

Doctor Regulus
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Dr. Zaxton Regulus

Super-Power(s): Heat and light generation
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Legion Log
Dr. Zaxton Regulus worked for Derek Morgna as one of his top scientists. However, he spent much of his time working on a private project to produce sun-energy from radioactive gold. One day, Dirk and another part-time worker interrupted his experiment. The other boy was killed, but Dirk and Regulus were only slightly injured. Dirk's father fired Regulus, who swore revenge. He then tried to kill Dirk by locking him in his father's atomic reactor. Instead of dying, however, Dirk became Sun Boy. Meanwhile, Regulus perfected his sun-energy process and went after the Legion as the first step of a plan to dominate the universe.

Regulus is a scientific genius; unfortunately, he is also a megalomaniac. He has expert knowledge of robotics, mechanics, engineering, solar power, and some experience in biology and epidermiology. Instead of trying to improve the greater good, however, all of his experiments and inventions are used to try to destroy Sun Boy and, by extension, the Legion. For example, he has created an artificial sun, the Arion Star, to power his suit and all of his machinery. He later unleashed a "shrinking disease" on a portion of the United Planets, trying to fester distrust between the member planets and Imsk (whose inhabitants shrink naturally).

During the so-called Five-Year Gap, the crisis known as Black Dawn occurs: Dr. Regulus' attempt to destroy Earth's sun results in tragedy when his detonator is triggered prematurely, exposing Timber Wolf to the severe dose of radiation that transforms him, over time, into the creature known as Furball. Wildfire is thought destroyed when he explodes inside the star to prevent its collapse.

After the Reboot, Dr. Regulus again blames Dirk Morgna for his dismissal, and attempts to kill him by injecting him with radioactive gold. This instead causes him to glow white hot, and forces him to wear a special suit to protect others from his powers. Dirk - who never becomes Sun Boy - spends all the energy helping the Legion battle Regulus, melting the villain's suit on his body and blinding him in the end, eventually returning to normal. Dr. Regulus would return to plague the team and be responsible for the death of Leviathan.

After the Threeboot, Dr. Regulus does not appear to exist.

After Infinite Crisis, Dr. Regulus' original history has presumably been restored. We know he served as a member of Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains during the Final Crisis.

Defining Villainous Moment: 

Adventure Comics (v1) #348
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5
and Showcase Presents the LSH Vol. 2)

Dr. Regulus makes his debut, almost killing several Legionnaires

Other Important Dr. Regulus Stories:

Superboy/Legion #191
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 10
and Showcase Presents LSH Vol. 4)

Dr. Regulus returns to challenge Sun Boy and the Legion

Superboy/Legion #232
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 13)

Dr. Regulus terrorizes the UP with the Shrinking Disease

Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #286

 (reprinted in The Great Darkness Hard-Cover Collection)

Dr. Regulus attempts to destroy the Legion by overpowering 
the nuclear power plant on RJ Brande's home asteroid

Legion of Super-Heroes v3 #15

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Using energy beings as allies, Dr. Regulus once again tries to murder Sun Boy

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #52

Dr Regulus almost destroys the sun in this flashback to Black Dawn

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #72

The Reboot's Dr. Regulus is born

Legionnaires #29

Dr. Regulus tries to kill Dirk Morgna, but is defeated and blinded by
the boy's temporary powers

Legionnaires #39 and Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #83

Dr. Regulus returns and kills Leviathan

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2

Dr. Regulus is roped into Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains