Devlin O'Ryan
Devlin O'Ryan, occasionally codenamed Reflex, is a fictional character in the DC Universe. He became a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century, during the "Five Years Later" era. Creator Tom Bierbaum said this about Devlin's origin: " My original sketch when I conceived of Devlin had him with a similar emblem with three stars in a row across the middle of the circle (inspired by the "belt of Orion" section of the constellation) and the early depictions of Devlin had the three stars, but it later was simplified to a single star, probably by Keith, maybe when he was doing quick thumbnail layouts for Jason Pearson."
| Devlin O'Ryan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #6 (April 1990) |
| Created by | Tom Bierbaum Mary Bierbaum |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Devlin O'Ryan |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Place of origin | Xanthu (30th century) |
| Team affiliations | Legion of Super-Heroes Daily Planet |
| Notable aliases | Reflex |
| Abilities | Ability to reflect virtually any physical or energy attack. |
Fictional character biography
Devlin O'Ryan is a native of the planet Xanthu. His mother was the Xanthu bureau chief of the Daily Planet, and Devlin decided to follow in her footsteps and become a journalist. Obtaining an internship with the Interstellar Press, he soon found himself working out of the Metropolis offices of the Daily Planet, alongside its star reporter Iris West Allen (the widow of Barry Allen, the 20th century superhero known as the Flash). Devlin and Iris were the first reporters to expose the Dominators' covert influence (and effective control) of Earth's government. His investigation led him to Winath as the Legion of Super-Heroes was being reformed by Reep Daggle (Chameleon Boy) and Rokk Krin (Cosmic Boy), and he decided to accompany them.
When the Earth's moon was destroyed by the Dominion's Triple Strike program,[1] detonating powerspheres all over Earth,[2] Devlin was bombarded with null radiation. This triggered his dormant Metagene, granted him the ability to reflect virtually any physical or energy attack. After the teenage Legionnaires of "Batch SW6" were discovered, he formed a budding romance with the young Shrinking Violet. However, Devlin joined the adult Legion, and when the two groups parted ways, so did the young couple.
Devlin was the primary journalist carrying the story when Earth was destroyed, in a disaster reminiscent of the destruction of Krypton over a millennium earlier.[3] Afterward, he remained with the Legion until he was de-aged into childhood by the time mistress Glorith.[4]
Post-Infinite Crisis
No one named Devlin O'Ryan appears in the Post-Zero Hour or "Threeboot" versions of the Legion. However, the events of the Infinite Crisis miniseries have restored a close analogue of the Pre-Crisis Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America, and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics. Devlin was seen briefly when multiple versions of the Legion battled Superboy-Prime, the Time Trapper and the Legion of Super-Villains.[5]
References
- Adventures of Superman #478 (May 1991)
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #19 (June 1991)
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #38 (Late December 1992)
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #53 (January 1994)
- Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 (September 2009)