Meet the gay superhero getting his own DC Comics’ Arrow spinoff
A new spinoff to DC Comics’ Arrow will follow an out gay superhero with some pretty cool powers.
Freedom Fighters: The Ray will debut on The CW’s digital channel next year, according to Digital Spy.
It follows a gay news reporter-turned-superhero The Ray, through various animated episodes.
The Ray is described by CW Seed as: “Raymond ‘Ray’ Terrill was a reporter who discovered a group of government scientists working on a secret project to turn light into a weapon of mass destruction. But before he could report on his findings, the project head exposed Ray to a ‘genetic light bomb’.
“The bomb failed to kill him and instead gifted Ray with light-based powers. With these abilities, Ray realized he could go beyond reporting on injustice – he could take action to help stop it.
“Calling himself The Ray, he was recruited by Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters to fight violence and oppression wherever it exists.”
It is believed that The Ray will eventually cross over into the Arrow series.
“Without question [it will happen],” said CW President mark Pedowitz.
“That is the way we are intending to build these things out.”
The Ray first appeared in 1940 in DC Comics, and has been a member of the Justice League and the Forgotten Heroes.
Arrow star Colton Haynes earlier this week opened up about being told that his father killed himself after hearing that he had come out as gay.
Haynes’ fellow Arrow star John Barrowman last year said it was time for an openly gay superhero to get their own TV show.
The actor – who has a role as antihero Malcolm Merlyn in CW’s superhero drama – called for a gay hero to get a slice of the genre in some form.
When asked by the Advocate whether audiences would be ready for a gay hero, Barrowman said: “Personally, I don’t care if they are, or not. It’s time we had one.”
