Who's Who: LSV Radiation Roy

Radiation Roy
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Roy Travich

Super-Power(s): Radioactive blasts
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Villain

Legion Log
Radiation Roy first appeared as a Legion applicant. According to his own story, he spent a large part of his inheritance on experiments to give himself super-powers in order to join the Legion. While he did eventually gain the ability to emit paralyzing radiation, he was not able to control it so was rejected.

Several years later, Radiation Roy reappeared as a member of the Legion of Super-Villains. He had mastered his emanations enough to warrant the training that they were offering. However, after the Legion learned of the existence of the LSV Academy, they quickly shut it down.

Radiation Roy returned as a member of the Legion of Super-Villains when they tried to embarrass the Legion by murdering a famous diplomat placed under its protection. That effort also failed.

At the beginning of the so-called "War of the Legions" Radiation Roy, now boasting a shaved head, was tasked with kidnapping Light Lass from her retired life on Winath. He successfully took the former Legionnaire by surprise, and may well have killed her but for his orders from Lighting Lord not to harm her.

During the remaining "War" Radiation Roy fought bravely up until the end, when he saw the writing on the wall and believed that the LSV would be defeated. Rather than face the Legion one last time, Roy and several others attempted to escape. He was captured by the Legion at that time and sent to the prison planet Takron-Galtos.

During the Crisis, when a wave of anti-matter threatened to destroy Takron-Galtos, Radiation Roy was one of the convicts shown attempted to escape. He was captured again by the Legion and successfully moved to the new prison planet, Labyrinth.

According to the Who's Who entry reprinted above, Radiation Roy came upon his radiation powers naturally. As to which story is true, Roy is no longer talking.

In the Reboot... Radiation Roy does not strictly exist, but his equivalent is Radion, a young hero who joins Leland McCauley's Workforce, but is badly hurt in the line of duty fighting Mordru. McCauley rejects the now disfigured boy. He was later seen to have healed from his injuries during the Blight epidemic.

In the Threeboot, Radiation Roy is an angry teenager who lashes out at Science Police officers with gamma radiation (someone in the crowd yells out "Roy, No!") who is quickly stopped by Cosmic Boy and Supergirl.

After Infinite Crisis, Radiation Roy's original history has presumably been more or less restored. Wearing red containment armor, he would later join Earth-Man's xenophobic Justice League of Earth, Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villain, and Saturn Queen's Legion of Super-Villains.

Important Radiation Roy stories:

Adventure Comics #320
(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 4
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 2)

 

Radiation Roy applies to the Legion

Adventure Comics #372

(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8

and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 4)

Radiation Roy has aligned with the Legion of Super-Villains

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #208
(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 11
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 5)

Radiation Roy is part of the modern LSV

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #1
(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye TPB)

Radiation Roy succeeds in kidnapping Light Lass

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #2
(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye TPB)

Radiation Roy tries to kill Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad'

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #5
(reprinted in The Legion: An Eye For An Eye TPB)

Radiation Roy is captured by the Legion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #18

Radiation Roy is one of the convicts trying to escape Takron-Galtos

Legionnaires #43

In the Reboot, Roy is replaced by the hero Radion

Legionnaires #49-51

Radion is horribly disfigured by Mordru

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #123

By the time Radion catches the Blight, his wounds have healed

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #22

In the Threeboot, Roy is an alien teenager who causes a ruckus

Action Comics (v1) #859-863

After the Retroboot, Radiation Roy has a spiffy new armor and joins Justice League Earth

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2

Radiation Roy is a member of Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains

Legion of Super-Heroes (v6) #15

Radiation Roy is a member of Saturn Queen's Legion of Super-Villains