Who the Clix? Doctor Spectrum

Posted October 11th, 2021 by Joe Pangrazio


Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.

For the full Who The Clix? archive, click here. If you think these articles are worth more than $0, click here.

Appearances in Heroclix: Guardians of the Galaxy, Supernova
First Appearance: Avengers #69
Team Affiliations: Squadron Sinister, Squadron Supreme, Great Society
Powers: Flight, Energy projection and manipulation, Ability to survive in space, Intangibility
Created By: Roy Thomas and John Buscema


Artwork and character is copyright/trademark Marvel; used under Fair Use

Many villains and heroes have called themselves Doctor Spectrum. Here's a look at some of the better known ones.

The Villains:

Kenji Obatu belongs to the Squadron Sinister created by the Grandmaster to battle the champions of Kang the Conqueror – the Avengers. Dr. Spectrum is defeated when Iron Man uses ultra-violet light to render Kenji's Power Prism, a sentient entity called Krimmon, powerless. Though they lose the conflict and are abandoned by the Grandmaster, Kenji continues to try and battle Iron Man in order to gain a measure of revenge. Iron Man eventually crushes the Power Prism and robs Kenji of his powers. Kenji is deported to Uganda and later falls to his death in a battle with the Thing, Black Panther and Brother Voodoo.

Krimmon survives the Prism's destruction and reforms it before being delivered to evangelist Billy Roberts who then becomes the second Dr. Spectrum. Spectrum reunites with a reformed Squadron Sinister under the leadership of Nebulon. They are defeated by the Defenders multiple times, with the Avenger Yellowjacket helping in one defeat and keeping the Power Prism for himself.

Yellowjacket attemps to modify the Power Prism and gifts it to his wife Janet Van Dyne. The Prism mind controls Janet and transforms her into a female Dr. Spectrum. As Dr. Spectrum, Janet battles the Avengers before Vision again uses ultra-violet light to defeat the Power Prism. The Prism tries to bond itself to Janet but eventually lets go and rejoins Billy Roberts. The Prism takes control of Roberts, though, and tries to bond itself to Thor. It is temporarily successful but the possession makes Thor unworthy to wield Mjolnir and the mind controlled hero drops it, turning back into mortal Donald Blake. The Power Prism seems to be affected strangely by this transformation and becomes inert.

The Grandmaster reforms the Squadron Sinister once more and repowers the Power Prism, giving it to Alice Nugent. This new Squadron is ultimatley defeated by the New Thunderbolts.

A Japanese Kenji Obatu Dr. Spectrum appears on the Battleworld formed by Dr. Doom after the apparent destruction of the Multiverse.

The Heroes:

Joseph Ledger is an astronaut from Earth-712 that encounters and saves a Skrull in space. The Skrull, called the Skrullian Skymaster, gifts the Power Prism to Joseph who then becomes Dr. Spectrum. Spectrum joins with similarly heroic versions of Hyperion and Whizzer to form the Squadron Supreme.. He and the Squadron confront the Avengers, who mistake them for the Squadron Sinister, before joining with them to defeat a common foe. They also help the Avengers defeat the Serpent Cartel and preve the use of the Serpent Crown. They are also mind-controlled a few more times but ultimately always overcome and help their multi-dimensional allies win the day. After being stranded on Earth-616, the Squadron disband upon their return home. They reform once to aid the inter-dimensional team the Exiles.

On Earth-31916, Joseph Ledger is a soldier in the United States Army that encounters a crystal found in the ship that brings Hyperion to Earth. This places Ledger in a coma where he relives his entire life, so that the Power Prism can learn about humans and the Earth. When he awakens, he adopts the name Dr. Spectrum and fights Hyperion before the two set their differences aside to battle the super-powered serial killer, Michael Redstone. Dr. Spectrum meets and falls in love with the Amphibian before the two join the United States formed Squadron Supreme. The Squadron Supreme encounters the Squadron Sinister, with the Squadron Sinister Whizzer slicing Joseph's stomach open and killing him.

On Earth-4290001, Dr. Spectrum is again a woman and a member of the Great Society. She, alongside the Society, battles the Illuminati during an incursion before being defeated by Black Bolt. Ultimately, the Society's earth is destroyed.

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