Editing Doctor Spectrum

{{Redirect|Joe Ledger|the series of bio-terrorism thriller books written by Jonathan Maberry|Joe Ledger Series}}
{{Infobox comics character
| image = IronMan-63.jpg
| caption = The Kinji Obatu incarnation of Doctor Spectrum as depicted in ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' #63 (October 1973).<br> Art by [[Gil Kane]].
| character_name = Doctor Spectrum
| real_name =Kinji Obatu<br>Billy Roberts<br>Joseph Ledger 
| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut = Villain: <br>''[[Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #69 (November 1969)<br>Hero: <br>''The Avengers'' #85 (February 1971)
| creators = [[Roy Thomas]] (writer)<br>[[John Buscema]] (artist)
| alliances = [[Squadron Sinister]]<br/>[[Squadron Supreme]] (Earth-712)<br/>[[Squadron Supreme (Supreme Power)|Squadron Supreme]] (Earth-31916)
| species = [[Human]]
| aliases = 
| powers = Via Power Prism:<br>Flight<br>Energy projection and manipulation<br>Ability to survive in space<br>Intangibility
}}
{{MarvelUSide|Kinji Obatu|[[Earth-616]]|Billy Roberts|Earth-616|Alice Nugent|Earth-616|Joseph Ledger|[[Earth-712]]|Joseph Ledger|[[Earth-31916]]}}

'''Doctor Spectrum''' is the name of several fictional characters appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. There have been five versions of the character to date—three supervillains from the mainstream Marvel Universe belonging to the team [[Squadron Sinister]] ([[Earth-616]]) and two heroes from different alternate universes. The two heroes each belong to a version of the team Squadron Supreme, the [[Squadron Supreme]] of [[Earth-712]] and the [[Squadron Supreme (Supreme Power)|Squadron Supreme]] of [[Earth-31916]] respectively). Spectrum is a [[pastiche]] of DC's [[Green Lantern]].<ref name="JLcompanion">Interview with Roy Thomas and Jerry Bails in ''The Justice League Companion'' (2003) pp. 72–73</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
<!-- Character biographies need splitting of into a "Fictional character biography" section-->

===Squadron Sinister===
The first version of the character, '''Kinji Obatu''', appears in ''[[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]]'' #69 (Oct. 1969), and is created by [[Roy Thomas]] and [[Sal Buscema]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=112}}</ref> The story arc introduced the [[supervillain]] team the [[Squadron Sinister]], whose four members were loosely based on heroes in [[DC Comics]]' [[Justice League of America]], with Doctor Spectrum based on [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]].<ref name="JLcompanion"/>

The [[Grandmaster (Marvel Comics)|Grandmaster]] assembled the Squadron Sinister to battle [[Kang the Conqueror]]. Spectrum is defeated when [[Iron Man]] deduces that Spectrum's Power Prism (a [[Sentience|sentient]] entity called Krimonn) is vulnerable to [[ultra-violet light]]. The Avengers eventually defeat the Squadron and are abandoned by the Grandmaster.<ref>''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #69–71 (October–December 1969)</ref> Spectrum reappears in the title ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' and after a series of battles is defeated when Iron Man crushes the Power Prism. A powerless Obatu is arrested and deported back to his native [[Uganda]].<ref name="autogenerated1973">''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' #63–66 (October 1973–February 1974)</ref> During a subsequent battle with the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]], [[Black Panther (character)|Black Panther]], and [[Brother Voodoo]], Obatu accidentally falls to his death.<ref>''[[Marvel Two-in-One]]'' #41 (July 1978)</ref>

Unknown to Iron Man, the Power Prism reforms and is found by a [[sanitation worker]]. They bring it to [[Evangelism|evangelist]] Billy Roberts, who becomes the second Doctor Spectrum.<ref name="The Avengers Annual #8 1978">''The Avengers'' Annual #8 (December 1978)</ref>

The Squadron reappear in the title ''[[The Defenders (comic book)|Defenders]]'', reunited by the alien [[Nebulon (comics)|Nebulon]]. The villains receive greater power in exchange for the planet Earth, and create a giant laser cannon in the [[Arctic]] to melt the [[polar ice caps]], covering Earth in water. The superhero team the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]] prevent the scheme and defeat the Squadron and Nebulon, with [[Doctor Strange]] defeating Spectrum.<ref>''[[The Defenders (comic book)|The Defenders]]'' #13–14 (May–July 1974)</ref> After this defeat Spectrum and his two remaining teammates are teleported off world by Nebulon, returning with an energy-draining weapon. The Squadron Sinister plan to threaten the Earth again but are defeated once again by the Defenders and [[Hank Pym|Yellowjacket]].<ref>''Giant-Size Defenders'' #4 (April 1975)</ref>

The Power Prism is kept by Yellowjacket, who modifies it and give sit to his wife [[Wasp (character)|Janet van Dyne]] as a gift. Krimonn, the entity within the Power Prism, possesses Janet and transforms her into a version of Doctor Spectrum, who battles several Avengers but is then defeated by the Vision's use of the Prism's weakness to [[ultraviolet radiation]]. The prism itself bonds to the Wasp in an attempt to save itself, but is eventually removed by Billy Roberts after he is located by the Avengers. Roberts becomes Spectrum once more, although on this occasion the Power Prism is in control and seeks to bond with [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. The Power Prism succeeds in taking Thor as a host, infecting [[Mjolnir (comics)|Mjolnir]] to use as a focal point to control him and defeat the other Avengers, but fails to take into account that to wield Mjolnir, Thor must be "worthy". No longer worthy to wield the hammer due to being tainted by the gem, Thor drops Mjolnir and reverts to his mortal alter-ego [[Donald Blake (comics)|Donald Blake]], which results in the Power Prism losing control and becoming inert.<ref name="The Avengers Annual #8 1978"/>

The Grandmaster later reforms the Squadron Sinister, bringing in Hank Pym's former lab assistant Alice Nugent to be the new Doctor Spectrum. Courtesy of a phenomenon known as the "Wellspring of Power"—an interdimensional source of superhuman abilities—the Grandmaster increases the Squadron Sinister's powers and they battle the New Thunderbolts. Thunderbolts leader [[Helmut Zemo]] defeats the Grandmaster, and in the ensuing chaos, the Squadron escapes.<ref>''[[New Thunderbolts]]'' #15–16 (January–February 2006)</ref><ref>''Thunderbolts'' #102–108 (July 2006–January 2007)</ref>

===Squadron Supreme===<!-- This section is linked from [[America Redeemers]] -->
Roy Thomas and penciller [[John Buscema]] created an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternate-universe]] team of heroes called the [[Squadron Supreme]], who debut in ''The Avengers'' #85 (February 1971). After an initial skirmish with four Avengers, the teams unite to stop a common threat.<ref>''The Avengers'' #86 (March 1971)</ref> The characters (including Doctor Spectrum) are identical in name and appearance to the Squadron Sinister.

The character features with the Squadron Supreme in a self-titled 12-issue [[miniseries]] (Sept. 1985–Aug. 1986) by writer [[Mark Gruenwald]].<ref>''[[Squadron Supreme]]'' #1–12 (September 1985–August 1986)</ref> Gruenwald revealed each member's origin, with '''Joseph Ledger''' being a former astronaut who saves a [[Skrull]] in space. The Skrull, called the [[Skrullian Skymaster]], rewards Ledger with the Power Prism. The series also explains why the Squadrons Sinister and Supreme are similar: the Grandmaster created the Squadron Sinister and based them on the Squadron Supreme of [[Earth-712]].<ref>''Squadron Supreme'' #8 (May 1986)</ref> Gruenwald, Ryan, and [[inker]] [[Al Williamson]] created a [[graphic-novel]] sequel in which the Squadron Supreme were stranded in [[Earth-616]].<ref>''Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe'' (1989)</ref> Doctor Spectrum and teammates encounter the hero [[Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)|Quasar]], and relocate to the government facility [[Features of the Marvel Universe#Project Pegasus|Project Pegasus]]. After another encounter with the Overmind and a visit to the [[Stranger (Marvel Comics)|Stranger]],<ref>''[[Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)|Quasar]]'' #13–16 (August–November 1990)</ref> the group attempts to return to their universe,<ref>''Quasar'' #19 (February 1991)</ref> and battles the entity Deathurge.<ref>''Quasar'' #25 (August 1991)</ref>

The entire Squadron Supreme appear in a two-part story with the Avengers that returns them to their home universe, where they disband for a time.<ref>''Avengers/Squadron Supreme'' Annual (September 1998)</ref><ref>''Squadron Supreme: New World Order'' (September 1998)</ref> Doctor Spectrum rejoins his teammates to aid the [[interdimensional hypothesis|interdimensional]] team the [[Exiles (Marvel Comics)|Exiles]].<ref>''[[Exiles (comic book)|Exiles]]'' (vol. 2) #77-78 (April–May 2006)</ref>

===Supreme Power===
{{see also|Squadron Supreme (Supreme Power)}}
[[Image:Dr.Spectrum-2.jpg|right|thumb|Joseph Ledger / Doctor Spectrum of Earth-31916 as depicted in ''Doctor Spectrum'' #2 (November 2004). Art by John Dell.]]
The [[Marvel MAX]] imprint showcases the adventures of the Earth-31916 version of the Squadron Supreme. The title ''[[Supreme Power]]'' relates how Joseph Ledger, a soldier in the [[United States Army]], accidentally bonds with a crystal found in the vessel that brought [[Hyperion (comics)|Hyperion]] to Earth.<ref>''Supreme Power'' #1–6 (October 2003–March 2004)</ref> The story continues in the limited series ''Doctor Spectrum'', written by Sara Barnes and art by John Dell and [[Travel Foreman]], with the experience placing Ledger in a coma, and after reliving his life in his mind for the benefit of the apparently sentient crystal, the character awakens and adopts the codename of Doctor Spectrum.<ref>''Doctor Spectrum'' #1–6 (October 2004–March 2005)</ref> Operating in a military-style uniform as opposed to a prismatic costume, Spectrum encounters and battles Hyperion, forming a truce with him to hunt down super-powered serial killer [[Redstone (comics)|Michael Redstone]]. Spectrum also begins a tentative romance with fellow superhuman [[Amphibian (comics)|Amphibian]].<ref>''Supreme Power'' #7–18 (April 2004–October 2005)</ref> Both join the US-backed [[Squadron Supreme (Supreme Power)|Squadron Supreme]] in the 2006 title of the same name.<ref>''Squadron Supreme'' (vol. 2) #1 (May 2006)</ref> Joseph is later killed during a battle with a version of the [[Squadron Sinister]].<ref name="Squadron Sinister #1">''Squadron Sinister'' #1 (August 2015)</ref>

===Squadron Supreme of America===
A variation of the Joseph Ledger version of Doctor Spectrum appears as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America.<ref>''The Avengers'' (vol. 8) #10 (January 2019)</ref> This version is a [[simulacrum]] created by [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]] and programmed by the Power Elite. As a civilian, he works as a colonel in the United States Air Force.<ref name="Avengers #18">''The Avengers'' (vol. 8) #18 (June 2019)</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
All versions of Doctor Spectrum derive their abilities from an alien gem called the Power Prism. The original prism, used by the Kinji Obatu and Billy Roberts incarnations of Spectrum, is a sentient being called Krimonn. Krimonn was originally a [[Skrull]] who was transformed into a living prism as punishment after a failed attempt to overthrow the Skrull emperor.<ref name="autogenerated1973"/> When the Grandmaster requires champions to battle the Avengers, he retrieves the prism and grants Krimonn several energy-based powers that can be used in conjunction with a host.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} Kinji Obatu is the first to coin the term "Power Prism", and discovers that although trapped in prism form, Krimonn remains aggressive and asserts his will via [[telepathy]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} Krimonn's mind is "muted" by Nebulon when the Power Prism is given to Billy Roberts, although Krimonn reasserts itself during the quest to find and bond with the character Thor.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} When the plan fails and the gem is shattered, Krimonn's consciousness apparently dissipated.

Krimonn could bestow on a host the ability to project and manipulate light energy in various colors;{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} create light energy constructs of various shapes, sizes and colors;{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} flight; protection from the rigors of space and the ability to become intangible.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} The Power Prism is vulnerable to ultra-violet light.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

The Earth-712 Doctor Spectrum gains his power the Skrullian Power Prism given to him by the Skrullian Skymaster.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} When the Power Prism later exploded and fragments of it were embedded in Spectrum, his skin, hair, and costume were bleached chalk-white.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} The Earth-712 Power Prism possesses the same abilities as the Earth-616 version.

The Earth-31916 Power Prism is a sentient power source removed from the spacecraft that brought Hyperion to Earth.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Other versions==
===Secret Wars (2015)===
An alternate universe variant of Kinji Ubatu / Doctor Spectrum from Earth-21195 appears in ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' as a resident of [[Battleworld]]. This version is Japanese.<ref name="Squadron Sinister #1"/>

===Great Society (Earth-4290001)/Squadron Supreme (Earth-616)===
An alternate, female version of Doctor Spectrum appears as a member of the Great Society, a team of [[Justice League]] analogues from Earth-4290001.<ref>''[[New Avengers]]'' (vol. 3) #16–21 (May - September 2014)</ref> After the [[Illuminati (comics)|Illuminati]] destroy their Earth to stop the Incursion, she is marooned on Earth-616 and joins its version of the [[Squadron Supreme#Earth-616 version|Squadron Supreme]].

==In other media==
The Billy Roberts incarnation of Doctor Spectrum appears in ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'', voiced by [[Phil LaMarr]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Dr. Spectrum Voice - ''Avengers Assemble'' (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Avengers-Assemble/Dr-Spectrum/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> This version is an alien and a member of the [[Squadron Supreme]] who was forced to destroy his home planet by the other Squadron members and was subsequently controlled by the Power Prism. After the Avengers free him, Roberts joins a [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] space program to find a new planet to reside on while the Prism forms a separate body and reunites with the Squadron.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Doctor_Spectrum_%28Earth-712%29 Joseph Ledger (Earth-712)] at the Marvel Comics wiki
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060716034007/https://www.marvel.com/universe/Doctor_Spectrum_(Earth-712) Doctor Spectrum (Earth-712)] at the Marvel Comics website
* [http://worldsofjms.com/supreme/index.htm#spectrum Worlds of JMS link to the '''Doctor Spectrum: Full Spectrum''' page]

{{Squadron Supreme}}
[[Category:Characters created by John Buscema]]
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