Raymond "Ray" Terrill (born March 1995-December 10, 2019; resurrected post Anti-Monitor Crisis)[1] is a former Tulsa Fair Housing employee who experienced something incomprehensible one night, met his doppelgänger from Earth-X who irradiated him with his powers, turning into pure light. From then on, Ray learned to control his newly acquired abilities, becoming the hero of Tulsa known by the nickname The Ray.
Over time, Ray found his way to Earth-X, where he joined the Freedom Fighters rebels fighting against the NaziNew Reich totalitarian regime. There he also met Leo Snart, with whom he fell in love and married.
What event led to Ray Terrill gaining his superpowers?
Ray Terrill, a man dedicated to fighting injustice, became a superhero when he met a dying doppelgänger from another Earth. This identical Ray Terrill transferred his photokinetic energy to him, transforming him into a meta-human with the same powers, thus creating 'THE RAY'.
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How did Ray Terrill become known as The Ray?
Ray Terrill received his codename, The Ray, following the transfer of photokinetic powers from his Earth-1 doppelgänger. This event turned him into a meta-human. He first used this codename in 'Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4'. As The Ray, he joined the Freedom Fighters on Earth-X, battling the Nazi regime and safeguarding the Rübeland Railway from weapon theft.
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Who is Ray Terrill's doppelgänger from Earth-X?
The doppelgänger of Ray Terrill from Earth-X is a superhero identical to him. As he was dying, the Earth-X Ray Terrill transferred his photokinetic energy to the Ray Terrill of our Earth, transforming him into the superhero, THE RAY.
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Does Ray Terrill die in the Arrow series?
In the Arrow series, Ray Terrill, known as Ray Palmer, survives despite facing perilous situations. He is threatened by the Arrow but is not killed. He also collaborates with Felicity to develop a cure during a mission against Ra's men. Ray's survival is consistent throughout the series.
Ray originated on Earth-1 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; USA, having an older brother named Michael who fought in the War Against Terror in Afghanistan, until he was killed on duty. The only child of the Terrills left, he still lived at home with them and kept his homosexuality a secret from his parents as he reached adulthood. Insisting on working at jobs that only helped the less fortunate, Ray worked alongside his friends Jenny Knight and John Trujillo at their company of Tulsa Fair Housing.
Gaining powers
The Ray dies and Raymond Terrill receives his powers.
Ray was meeting a client at his desk at an apartment company. The woman told about how her family was evicted from their own apartment - only them, because of being Muslim. Terrill promised to investigate, telling the woman not to pack yet, which made her much cheer. During recess, Ray prepared a speech for a conference in front of his friend John. The man was much nervous despite the fact that John told him to relax. After a moment, Jenny entered the room and told her friends to get ready. Before Terrill got the speech right, one of the entrepreneurs interrupted him and revealed that the company would close soon, with Donald firing Jenny, John, and Ray. The reason was property losses, which could lead to serious tax cuts. Therefore, it was only profitable to suspend operations. After the conference, Terrill and Trujillo went to a nearby bar to drown their sorrows in alcohol. John decided to change the subject after seeing one of the clients staring at his friend. The man was amazed that Ray still did not reveal his sexuality to his parents, but he still wanted Ray to have fun, ordering him to speak to the client watching him. But Ray wasn't ready to flirt for professional reasons, so he decided to head home. During the meal together, the parents started asking Ray about the girl he was working with, Jenny, without realizing that their son was gay. Wanting to quickly change the subject, Ray spoke about the collapse of the company he worked for. To everyone's surprise, this pleased Robert, who thought it was time for his son to take up serious work, such as similar to that of his brother. After the meal, Terrill went outside to talk to John on the phone. The conversation was interrupted by a gigantic breach that appeared on his lawn, and a mysterious individual emerged from it. Seeing his wounds, Terrill intended to help, but Terrill disagreed, showing a face identical to his. He handed him the core then turned into solar energy and irradiated Ray's cells, confusing the boy.[2]
Ray Terrill after getting his photokinetic suit.
After the last experiences, Ray went to John, to whom he told about everything - noting the existence of a double. John, however, did not believe his friend, considering his story to be invented and unsupported by evidence. When Terrill showed him the secret core, the man still didn't believe him, until the device was accidentally activated. The friends got scared and ran away from him, and finally a hologram of a robot's stature appeared. Red Torando's hologram quickly noticed that he was on Earth-1 and introduced the male to the theory of the multiverse, noting that he came from the alternate world of Earth-X. He told a story that distinguishes both worlds from each other, adding information about a group of fighters called Freedom Fighters, as well as their Nazi enemies in the New Reich. Terrill's task was to destroy the core that contained secret information that would not fall into enemy hands. Ray, however, did not intend to destroy the device, which resulted in a small argument between the friends, during which the boy unknowingly activated his abilities and put on a suit. It was then that John realized that when a double from another world exploded, he gave Terrill his abilities, which the men, after a short discussion, decided to test by inadvertently destroying John's furniture in his apartment; according to the latter, his powers acted like the Fourth of July.[3]
Ray practiced shooting light rays at geese, which he didn't do very well. John started joking that the friend would only be fit for fireworks displays for the holidays. After a short discussion, Terrill decided to practice flying again, discovering a new ability that he showed his friend right after landing. For he could manipulate light to such an extent that his body was invisible. Hours later, Ray and John returned to the bar, where Trujillo was finally going to convince his friend to meet the boy watching him. Terrill finally gave in and scared the boy away from the table with his abilities, giving himself the opportunity to talk to him alone. Ray spoke to him, learning his name and starting a long chat that led them both towards the park. Suddenly, the men heard a woman's scream, immediately running towards it and noticing the robbery. Terrill ordered a friend to escape while he would deal with the criminal as The Ray. As everything went smoothly and quickly, the hero took advantage of the situation and hung the thief on a street lamp, where he waited for the arrival of the Tulsa Police Department officers.[4]
Terrill family.
The next day, two criminals were robbing a bank when the alarm went off unexpectedly. The thieves did not care about him, as they knew perfectly well that the police would not arrive on time. Suddenly, The Ray appeared and forced the criminals to surrender. His confidence, however, failed, as he failed to see the third criminal who managed to shoot the hero in the shoulder. Thus, Ray found himself trapped, but he used his wits to force his enemies to shoot himself. As soon as he heard the police sirens, he immediately left the building and returned home, where he began treating the bullet wound in the bathroom. When Robert noticed the bloody bandages, the man, in order to impress his father, lied that he was playing basketball and injured himself slightly. The family conversation was interrupted by a call from Jacob, which Terrill went to answer outside. They both made an appointment when Ray was hit by a tranquilizer dart, causing him to weaken, eventually falling to the ground. He tried to open his eyes with the last of his strength, barely noticing the stature of the two people staring at him.[5]
At some point, Ray met and fell in love with Leo Snart, for which he was rounded up by Nazis and taken to a concentration camp, being given a power-dampening collar.[10]
Crisis on Earth-X
Ray after he returned to the base of operations of the Freedom Fighters.
While at the camp, Ray interacted with a number of heroes from Earth-1, their origins unbeknownst to him. When a Sturmbannführer came to do a check, the heroes and Ray were pulled out of the area to be executed. On their way, some of the Earth-1 heroes attempted to escape but were stopped by shocks from their power-dampening collar. They continued on, but before they could be shot, Leo intervened, breaking Ray's collar and allowing him to use his powers to let them escape. They returned to the base of operations of the Freedom Fighters in Star City, where Ray was brought up to speed on who they were and their abilities. He introduced them to General Winn Schott, who told them of their plans to blow up a temporal gateway (breach portal) to Earth-1. Alex Danvers attempted to argue, wishing to return home and help their friends, but Schott's mind was decided, a fact Ray tried to assure her. Ray and Leo left to their quarters, where the former questioned why the latter was so adamant about helping the heroes, eventually coming round to the idea. They suited up, before going to talk to General Winn Schott. After some arguing, he agreed to give them some time, but only an hour. They discussed a game plan, before heading for the Wellenreiter's hangar (the timeship had already left and flown away for Central City (Earth-1)) at the Nazi base.
The group was able to get in under the guise of transporting the Führer to the Schutzstaffel main facility. After some difficulties, the Ray and the Flash watched the perimeter of the Nazi base for Red Tornado. Deciding not to give them the full hour, General Winn Schott sent Red Tornado out to destroy the Nazi base, much to the distress of the two heroes. They caught up with Red Tornado, attempting to make him stop, but he was otherwise unaffected, sending them crashing to the ground.[10]
Suggesting they combine their powers at once, the Ray had the Flash send lightning at him, while shooting a beam of light energy, with the combination of energetic effects enveloping the robot and successfully defeating Red Tornado; and causing the robot to hit the ground and explode. Successfully opening a breach to Earth-1, The Ray flew through it, along with the other heroes, all landing in S.T.A.R. Labs (Earth-1).[11]
The heroes arrived at just the right time, the Ray and Firestorm flying in to help destroy Metallo. Sometime later, all of the combined heroes gathered aboard the Waverider, discussing their course of action, as Overgirl, who was about to go nuclear, was in Central City. They were then hailed by another timeship and the heroes watched on as the Green Arrow talked to his doppelgänger. The heroes soon after took to the streets, where the Ray flew around taking out Nazis. After the threat was eliminated, the Ray watched on as Steel caught Supergirl after falling from space above Earth (Earth-1). Following the ordeal, Ray decided to return home, albeit without Leo, who decided to hang around for a bit before returning to Earth-X.[11][12]
Meta-human physiology: Ray gained light-based powers from his dying doppelgänger and used them to stop crime in his hometown, honing his skills and becoming The Ray.[4]
Ray's powers are based on solar radiation that generates when he uses photokinesis and leaves a trail behind his movements, but quickly dissipates. Similar to Kryptonians, Ray can also absorb energy from the Sun. However, while Kryptonians are granted abilities native to their species, Ray was granted the power of photokinesis: the power to manipulate light.[4]
Photokinesis: Ray has the ability to manipulate light, due to absorbing energy from the Sun.[4]
Bioluminescence: Ray is able to make his entire body glow at will.
Invisibility/Molecular vibration: Ray is able to vibrate his body at such frequencies that it allows his photokinetic powers to make his body invisible and intangible, which can help to evade bullets, although he is not bulletproof.[4]
Light speed: Ray is capable of supersonic flight and is able to escape crime scenes without notice, he is also able to use his power to vibrate his molecules. This allows him to move at speeds comparable to The Flash.[11]
Light energy blasts: Ray is able to project bursts of light energy at his enemies, using them to cause explosions.[10][11]
Flight: Ray can fly unassisted through the air, reaching great speeds, able to keep up with Barry Allen's running speed.[10]
Enhanced durability: Ray was able to take several blows from an enraged Overgirl, a powerful Kryptonian, without showing signs of serious injuries.
Superhuman strength: Ray was able to trade blows with Overgirl and even defeat her despite her Kryptonian strength and durability.
Weaknesses
Power-dampening tech: When Ray was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, he was forced to wear a collar that dampened his powers.[10]
Equipment
The Ray suit: Ray uses photokinesis to create a "hard light" suit made out of solar energy. It's implied that the mechanic behind suit's creation is instinctive, as Ray ended up creating the same kind of suit as his doppelgänger without really trying.[4]
Unlike Mari who remembered Oliver, Barry, and Laurel, Ray acted like he didn't know Barry, Cisco, Oliver, and Curtis, when the Freedom Fighters: The Ray animated series was introduced, thus creating a disjoint in its continuity.
Ray Terrill had a doppelganger on Earth-X who died; He ended up taking his place.
He is also one of the few known openly gay superheroes in the franchise and the multiverse.
He also fell in loved, married and had a spouse who hailed from another Earth like he did.
Like other meta-humans such as Jay Garrick for example, he is one of the superheroes from the original multiverse who was killed and then remade in the new one, likely merging/replacing any pre-existing counterparts or simply occupying their place on Earth-Prime.
