:Air Wave

{{short description|Fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe}}

{{Infobox comics character

|image = Airwave1.jpg

|image_size = 200

|caption = Larry Jordan as Air Wave.

|real_name = - Lawrence "Larry" Jordan
- Helen Jordan
- Harold Lawrence "Hal" Jordan

|debut = (Larry)
Detective Comics #60 (February 1942)
(Helen)
DC Comics Presents #40 (December 1981)
(Hal)
(as Air Wave)
Green Lantern (vol. 2) #100 (January 1978)
(as Maser)
Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #88 (August 1989)

|creators = (Larry)
Murray Boltinoff or
Mort Weisinger
Harris Levey a.k.a. Lee Harris
(Helen)
Bob Rozakis
Alex Saviuk
(Hal)
Dennis O'Neil
Alex Saviuk

|alliances = (Larry)
All-Star Squadron

(Hal)
Captains of Industry
Suicide Squad
Justice League

|aliases = (Hal)
Maser

|supports =

|powers = See below

}}

Air Wave is the name of three superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first two were active in the Golden Age of Comic Books (albeit the second Air Wave had only one appearance). The third appears in comics in the 21st century.

Publication history

The original Air Wave (Larry Jordan) debuted during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. His first appearance was in Detective Comics #60 (December 1942) by artist Harris Levey, who signed his work under the pen name "Lee Harris", and a writer tentatively identified as either Mort Weisinger[http://www.comics.org/issue/2017/#26703 Detective Comics #60] at the Grand Comics Database or Murray Boltinoff.[http://www.toonopedia.com/airwave1.htm Air Wave (1942)] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20240525192337/https://www.webcitation.org/66C0Ms8Mx?url=http://toonopedia.com/airwave1.htm Archived] from the original on March 15, 2012] Harris Levey (aka Lee Harris) drew the character's seven- to eight-page adventures from Detective Comics #60 (February 1942) to at least #74 (April 1943), and then following World War II in Detective Comics #114-137 (August 1946 - July 1948). In September 1942, Levey (aka Lee Harris) left the series to join the US Army Airforce (UAAF) as a Photographer for the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Photo Unit, turning the artwork over to his friend George Roussos for the 1943-46 issues.{{cite news | author = Gruenwald, Mark | author-link = Mark Gruenwald | date = April 1983 | title = George Roussos | work = Comics Interview | issue = #2 | pages = 45–51 | publisher = Fictioneer Books}} Levey returned to DC and resumed illustrating the Air Wave (July 1946, #113) and left DC and his Air Wave drawing duties in 1948 to pursue a career in advertising.

Fictional character biographies

=Larry Jordan=

Lawrence "Larry" Jordan is a law clerk and intern who battles crime using radio-based technology.{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Roy |title=The All-Star Companion: Vol 2 |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905375 |page=75}} He is accompanied by the parrot Static, who occasionally aids him in battle.{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=148}}

Larry later retires and is killed by escaped convict Joe Parsons, with his wife Helen temporarily becoming Air Wave to capture him.{{Citation|last = Beatty|first = Scott|author-link = Scott Beatty|contribution = Air Wave I|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia|pages = 9|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|place = London|year = 2008|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}{{cite journal |last=Wells |first=John |date=May 2013 |title=Flashback: Whatever Happened to...? |journal=Back Issue! |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=#64 |pages=51–61}}

In Dark Nights: Death Metal, Air Wave is among the superheroes who Batman resurrects using a Black Lantern ring.Dark Nights: Death Metal #5. DC Comics.

=Harold Jordan=

File:Airwave2.jpg and Alex Saviuk.]]

Harold Jordan is Larry Jordan's son and successor, who possesses innate powers. Furthermore, he is a cousin of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, with whom he shares his name.{{cite journal |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=No Static At All: Air Wave in the Bronze Age |journal=Back Issue |date=August 2018 |publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=#106 |pages=26–31}}{{Citation|last = Jimenez|first = Phil|author-link = Phil Jimenez|contribution = Air Wave II|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia|pages = 9|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|place = London|year = 2008|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}Green Lantern (vol. 2) #100. DC Comics.

After Doctor Moon genetically modifies him, Air Wave briefly becomes Maser and joins the Captains of Industry.{{multiref2|Firestorm #88. DC Comics.|JSA #11-12. DC Comics.|JSA: Our Worlds at War #1. DC Comics.

}}

Air Wave is later killed in Infinite Crisis and temporarily resurrected as a Black Lantern in Blackest Night.

In DC Rebirth, Air Wave is permanently resurrected and joins the Justice League.{{multiref2|Infinite Crisis #4. DC Comics.|Blackest Night #6 (December 2009). DC Comics.|Blackest Night #7 (February 2010). DC Comics.|Green Lantern Annual #1. DC Comics.|Stargirl: The Lost Children #2 - #6. DC Comics.|{{Cite web |last=Salmon |first=Will |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Is Green Arrow really a traitor? What happens to Amanda Waller? And which hero makes a surprise return? All your Absolute Power #4 questions answered |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/absolute-power-4-spoiler-reactive/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}}|{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Eric |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Justice League Unlimited #1 review |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/11/27/justice-league-unlimited-1-review/ |access-date=December 3, 2024 |language=en-us}}

}}

Powers and abilities

All three incarnations of Air Wave wield helmets that enable them to manipulate radio signals and transform into energy. The Larry Jordan incarnation travels via collapsible skates, whereas the Helen Jordan and Harold Jordan incarnations can fly.The Green Lantern Annual #1 (2019)

Enemies

His enemies were mostly Nazis and criminals, but he also fought some sound-based supervillains:{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=7}}

Dr. Silence
Parrot
Talker

In other media

The Larry and Harold Jordan incarnations of Air Wave appear as character summons in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}

References

External links

[http://toonopedia.com/airwave2.htm Air Wave (1978)] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20240525192418/https://www.webcitation.org/66C0RKsX6?url=http://toonopedia.com/airwave2.htm Archived] from the original on March 15, 2012.
[http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=airwave Info from DCUGuide.com]
{{comicbookdb|type=character|id= 2707|name= Air Wave}}

Category:Characters created by Dennis O'Neil

Category:Characters created by Mort Weisinger

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1942

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1978

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1981

Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds

Category:DC Comics American superheroes

Category:DC Comics LGBTQ superheroes

Category:DC Comics male superheroes

Category:DC Comics metahumans

Category:Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities

Category:Fictional characters with elemental transmutation abilities