Lightmaster
(Edward Lansky)
Context
Lightmaster is a minor Spider-Man villain, who first appeared in 1976.
This entry is a very old one – I think it was part of converting stats from the 1986 TSR Marvel RPG . Which was training so my FASERIP knowledge could be used for DC Heroes RPG purposes. So it’s mostly technical notes, and only cover his 1976-1982 material.
Background
- Real Name: Dr. Edward Lansky.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: New York City.
- Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown
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Powers and Abilities
Lightmaster wears a close-fitting body suit. It includes gravity pump circuitry that attracts and simulates a field of constantly moving photons. Cybernetics interfacing with the pumps allow Lansky to control these particles.
By mixing the effects of his gravity pumps and photonic fields, he can :
- Fly. When doing so he appears to be a halo of light on top of a complex light spiral.
- Project concussive beams of force.
- Create solid, low-mass objects such as cages made of solid light (in DC Heroes RPG terms Force Manipulation, Snare).
Lightmaster isn’t particularly imaginative with his solid light. He’s no Green Lantern.
Other assets
The suit is also padded and very lightly armoured. Furthermore, it can absorb tremendous amounts of light and electrical energy.
Lansky is a master of optics and light technology, even though he’s unlikely to be able to produce further inventions on the scale of the Lightmaster suit.
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History
Lansky was the vice-chancellor of Empire State University. He concocted a criminal scheme in order to prevent budget cuts for higher education. Using the ESU labs, he built the Lightmaster suit. He then went on to hire Kraven (Sergei Kravinoff) and the Tarantula (Anton Rodriquez-with-a-q) to kidnap three officials.
The villains were opposed by Spider-Man (Peter Parker), who attempted to defeat Lightmaster by overloading his costume. However, the electricity interacted with he costume’s tech. That turned Lansky into a being of unstable, luminous energy.
Living light
In this state, Lightmaster began to plot revenge against Spider-Man. However he accidentally overloaded New York City’s power grid during the fight. The resulting blackout seemingly killed him, as he now needed to absorb light to exist.
Lansky was shunted to a “light dimension” (now, *this* is a classic comics twist 🙂 ). He attempted to escape twice through light-wielding sources (first Dazzler, then Quasar). During the second attempt, he regained his human body.
Lightmaster continued to work on his unique tech while in prison, between defeats at Spider-Man’s hands. He was released into custody of Genetech, whose researchers worked with him to make him more powerful (but also more unstable). But even then, he was defeated by Cloak and Dagger.
Personality
Lanksy is unstable. His most coherent personality trait is his blind hatred toward Spider-Man.
Seeing himself as some mastermind, he always hires minions (the Enforcers being a favorite of his). He also tends to concoct plans that sometimes only partially make sense. Due to his insanity, he occasionally does something completely irrational and/or stupid, such as hiding into an obvious place.
Description
The white costume was a later one.
DC Universe History
Pump his powers and planning abilities up a bit, give him a better ability to program solid light objects, and you have a minor Superman villain. He would be on the scale of the Toymaster. Of course, it would have begun with Lois investigating the disappearance of the three officials).
Lightmaster might learn how to produce some weak form of red sun radiation, giving him a small edge.
Lightmaster would also make a nice rival to Doctor Light. A stint in the Suicide Squad by both characters would have been interesting.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Lightmaster
| Dex: 03 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Psycho |
| Int: 07 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Criminal mastermind |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources: 006 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Gadgetry*: 07, Scientist*: 07
Advantages:
Scholar (Optics), Stroke of Genius (Lightmaster suit).
Connections:
Underworld (Low).
Drawbacks:
CIA (see Personality), SIH of Spider-Man, Public ID.
Equipment:
LIGHTMASTER COSTUME [/BODY/ 05, Energy absorption (light, electricity): 15, Energy blast: 08, Flash: 12, Flight: 07, Force manipulation: 05, Shade: 10, Snare: 08, Limitation: Force manipulation can only produce simple constructs].
The Lightmaster as an energy being
During that phase, Lightmaster internalized his suit’s powers. However, he also had a Fatal Vulnerability to being in darkness and had to constantly surround himself with bright lights. He had Self link (Energy blast) at 08.
Source of Character: Spider-Man comics (Marvel universe).
Helper(s): The Angel, Jackson.