LIGHTMAGE

Real Name: Kyle Jacobs

Aliases: None

Identity: Known only to his arch enemy, Eve Horizon

Occupation: Research scientist

Citizenship: USA

Place of Birth: Ulysses, Kansas

Known Relatives: None

Group Affiliation: None at the moment.

Education: Masters in Particle Physics

Catch Phrase: I'm about to light up your world!

Height: 6'

Weight: 200

Eyes: Blue-grey

Hair: Brown

History:

     Kyle Jacobs was a research scientist working on a high level military project to develop a photosynthetic polymer to be used in military applications. Development of the polymer required high levels of artificially created neutron radiation. In a lab experiment there was a power surge, and he was hit by a brief but intense blast of neutron radiation focused through a sheet of the experimental polymer. During a period of observation and testing at the military hospital, it was discovered that molecules of the polymer had been fused onto his DNA.

     While on medical leave, he realized that he felt stronger in direct light, and weaker in low light levels. Through a period of private experimentation, he discovered that he could absorb and manipulate light. Among the abilities he discovered was the ability to manipulate photons into shapes such as weapons, shields, and enclosures. He found he could shoot destructive photon blasts, blinding strobe pulses, and even focus light to the precision and cutting power of a laser.  Knowing how the military would react if they knew he had those abilities, Kyle kept his findings to himself.

     One particularly sunny day, on a hunch, he drove out to an isolated spot in the desert. There he discovered that if he surrounded himself in a sphere of photons, he could fly. During these flights, his appearance was as a streaking ball of light. However, during one of his practice sessions, he showed up on the radar of a nearby Air Force base. Interceptors were scrambled, forcing him to test the limits of his flight abilities. After successfully eluding the jets, he contacted the base commander and explained that he had been testing an above-top-secret project. The commander told him in no uncertain terms to conduct his experiments somewhere else.

     Ironically, the same power surge that created Lightmage, also created his arch-enemy, Eve Horizon, formerly known as Eve Wilson.  Eve Wilson was also a research scientist working at the same facility on a project related to the one Kyle was working on. Her project involved using artificially created gravity to bend light, possibly leading toward an invisibility shield, or enhanced camoflage/stealth technology.

     During the power surge, she was bathed in a cross section of three intense gravimetric fields. After her recovery, she discovered that she could create gravity fields herself, up to and including the ability to create a tiny singularity between her hands if they were held precisely 18.2 inches apart.  She could use these gravity fields to either attract or repel.

     Her enmity toward Kyle stemmed from his rejection of her advances. Even though he was already married, she took his rejection as a personal affront. Her experience in the dense gravity fields also affected her mind, intensifying the negative feelings toward Kyle to the point of becoming an intense hatred. When she discovered that Kyle had gained light-manipulating powers, she took on the name Eve Horizon, short for event horizon, the theoretical boundary around a black hole inside which light cannot escape. 

     Kyle became aware of her new identity, and her extreme hostility toward him, when she used her powers to destroy his home, thinking he was inside.  Unfortunately, the only ones in the house at the time of her attack were his wife and newborn son, both of whom were killed.  He arrived home just after her brutal attack.  Realizing she had missed her intended target, Eve unleashed her powers in a direct attack on Kyle.  Even through his grief and fury, he realized that if they battled where they were, the entire neighborhood could be destroyed.  Fortunately, it was a sunny day, and he used his power of flight to escape the scene without any further loss of life.

     Haunted by the image of his home in flames, his wife and son inside, he became Lightmage, using his powers in the hopes that no one else need suffer as he did.  As Lightmage, he has vowed to battle evil wherever he finds it, awaiting the day when he can avenge his wife and son.

Powers / Equipment:

Can control and manipulate photons. 

• He can intensify it to blind villains or use it as a laser when needed.  He can also shoot photon pulses.
• Can harness photons to give himself the power of flight up to the speed of light.  During flight he is surrounded by photons which gives him the appearance of a ball of light streaking across the sky and protects him from the friction of high speed atmospheric travel. Unfortunately, to his private embarrassment, this has also resulted in a number of UFO reports across the country.
• His physical strength is enhanced by the amount of light around him, making him naturally more effective during the day or in a well-lit facility.
• Can create weapons or other objects made of light when needed, but he can only maintain these constructs as long as there is a source of light upon which to draw.

Weaknesses:

• He must have some source of light, no matter how small for his powers to work.  The greater the light, the more effective his powers.
• Due to the amount of energy required, his powers of flight are limited.  He can only maintain stable flight in full sunlight.
• Absolute darkness takes away his powers and can kill him if left in total darkness long enough. He carries magnesium flares for just such a possibility.
• Any exposure to neutron radiation renders him powerless as well.

Creator (Real Life) Info:

David Walker.  Programmer/analyst by day, aspiring writer by night, dad & hubby 24/7, AutoCAD draftsman and jack-of-all trades as the need arises. Lived in Las Vegas for six years working in a casino by day, and playing keyboards in a rock band at night (the hair was somewhat longer back then, lol), before moving back to my home town in southwest Missouri.

Character Rights:

The creator of this character retains all rights to the character's name, image, likeness, costume design, and background story.

As a newer member of Skiffytown, I would feel presumptuous offering this character as a potential element in someone else's writing.  However, although I retain all rights to this character (as noted above), consider this blanket permission to use this character in any stories written by Skiffytown members and published on the WWTBASH forum, should any member of Skiffytown feel Lightmage would be an appropriate character in one of their works of fiction.  (That would be really cool.  :-)   )