Okay, so the other day I was thinking, “I wanna read all the ‘The Ray’ comics.” Sounds crazy, right? But I was determined. I started my quest by digging up info on this character, Lucien Gates, who becomes this glowing superhero. Apparently, a mysterious energy beam turns him into a “human ray of light.” How cool is that?
I found out there’s a 1992 mini-series, The Ray Vol. 1, with just six issues. It’s all about this new Ray, Lucien Gates. I figured that’s a good place to start, so I tracked it down. Reading those first six issues was a blast. I got hooked on the story and the whole concept of this guy turning into a light being.
- Started with The Ray Vol. 1 #1-6 (1992)
Then I discovered there’s a 1994 series, also called The Ray. I learned it’s the “long-awaited return” of the character. I thought, “Alright, let’s see what this is all about.” I went to DC UNIVERSE INFINITE, which is apparently the place to read DC Comics online. I started reading issue #1, and man, it got me even more invested in The Ray’s story.
- Moved on to The Ray (1994-) #1-?
I kept digging and found a bunch of other appearances and mentions of The Ray in different comics. There’s something called “Serra Angel on the World of Magic: The Gathering” from 1996, and even a more recent one, “Renaissance 006 – The Ourbrs” from this year! I added those to my list, thinking it would be cool to see how the character has evolved over time.
- Added other appearances to the list:
- Serra Angel on the World of Magic: The Gathering (1996)
- Renaissance 006 – The Ourbrs (2024)
I also stumbled upon a website that lets you read comics online for free. It has a massive collection, and I found even more Ray comics there. I was like a kid in a candy store! I bookmarked the site and started making a list of all the Ray-related issues I could find.
While browsing, I noticed some discussions about the best way to read Western comics. Apparently, you read them from left to right, panel by panel, in a Z-shape. Who knew? I guess I’ve been doing it right all along! Someone mentioned there are around 56,000 DC comics in total. That’s insane! They said you’d need to read 800 a year for 70 years to catch up. Sounds impossible, but I’m focusing on The Ray for now.
So, I continued my reading marathon, and I found out that the 1994 series leads into an ongoing series. There’s even a collected edition called The Ray: In A Blaze Of Power, which includes the first six issues. I made a note to check that out later.
- Learned about the ongoing series and The Ray: In A Blaze Of Power (#1-6)
I also discovered some “Top Rated Lists” for The Ray, and people seem to really love the character. There are collections, pull lists, and even a list of series that people “ABSOLUTELY LOVE” that include The Ray. It’s awesome to see so much appreciation for this character.
My Current Progress
Right now, I’m still working my way through the 1994 series, and I’m having a great time. It’s been a fun journey so far, and I’m excited to see where it takes me. I’m just taking it one issue at a time, enjoying the ride, and seeing where this ray of light leads me. Maybe I won’t read all 56,000 DC comics, but I’m definitely going to read all of The Ray!
- Currently reading The Ray (1994-)
- Planning to explore more of The Ray’s appearances in other comics
- Having a blast with this reading project!
It is really a long journey, and I will keep going!