DOCTOR SPECTRUM
Real Name: Martha Gomes
Identity/Class: Human empowered by item
Occupation: None; former factory worker
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Firestar (Angelica Jones), Justice (Vance Astrovik), Purple Man (Zebediah Killgrave)
Enemies: Thunderbolts (Atlas/Erik Josten, Blizzard/Donald Gill, Joystick/Janice Yanizeski, Photon/Genis-Vell, Radioactive Man/Chen Lu, Songbird/Melissa Gold, Speed Demon/James Sanders)
Known Relatives: Marcus (ex-husband)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Commission on Superhuman Activities Headquarter in Washington, D.C.;
formerly Des Moines, Iowa
First Appearance: New Thunderbolts#12 (September, 2005)
Powers/Abilities: Using the handheld Power Prism Doctor Spectrum could retract light and convert it into physical forms or concussive energy for various effects. The prism bonded with its host and could not be used by someone it was not bonded with, nor could it use its energy manipulating powers without a human mind guiding it. The prism could fire concussive bolts or create solid constructs and could generate energy other than light such as electricity or heat. Doctor Spectrum could fly at supersonic speeds and was presumably protected from most forms of injury. She could track objects or individuals by following energy wavelengths, even creating "surveillance spheres" to track several targets at once. Doctor Spectrum could switch from street clothes to costume instantly. She was surrounded by an aura of multi-hued energy when using the Power Prism's power. The Power Prism could telepathically communicate with its host and corrupted them.
She graduated high school.
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Blonde
History:
(New Thunderbolts#15 (fb) - BTS) - Martha Gomes was a divorced factory worker from Des Moines.
(New Thunderbolts#13 (fb) - BTS) - One morning Martha woke up with the Power Prism stuck on her palm. She made a costume, figured out how to use her new super-powers and set out to rob a bank.
(New Thunderbolts#12) - Doctor Spectrum fell under the influence of the Purple Man and fought the Thunderbolts alongside Firestar and Justice to keep them away from their master at Fortress Killgrave. Purple Man sent more pawns and the Thunderbolts were teleported to safety by Photon (Genis-Vell).
(New Thunderbolts#13) - The Thunderbolts fought Doctor Spectrum, who held her own against the whole team. She got interested to learn more about the Power Prism from the Thunderbolts' Speed Demon when he revealed that he knew more about it. Mere seconds later the Power Prism shut down and Doctor Spectrum fell from the sky. Atlas caught the screaming woman. She was soon arrested by the authorities.
(New Thunderbolts#15 (fb) - BTS) - Martha fell unconscious after the Power Prism shut down and it was removed from her palm.
(New Thunderbolts#15) - The unconscious Martha Gomes was transferred to Washington, D.C. to the headquarters of the Commission of Superhuman Activities. They were looking for answers about the Power Prism, which Gomes couldn't give because she remained unconscious. They called in Dr. Alice Nugent to help them.
Comments: Created by Fabian Nicieza, Tom Grummett & Gary Erskine.
The Power Prism obviously influenced Martha Gomes to create a costume similar to those worn by previous Doctor Spectrums. It was only later revealed that the Power Prism Gomes used was created by the Grandmaster.
New Thunderbolts#15 claimed that Gomes lost consciousness after the Power Prism shut down during the battle, but she was clearly screaming when she fell and was still on her feet when she was arrested. I assume removing the Power Prism rendered her unconscious.
Doctor Spectrum received a handbook profile in Defenders: Strange Heroes (February, 2012). The profile revealed the first name of her ex-husband and her physical stats.
Profile by Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Doctor Spectrum (Martha Gomes) has no known connection to:
And should be distinguished from:
images (without ads)
New Thunderbolts#13, p1-2, pan3 (main)
New Thunderbolts#15, p1, pan2 (unconscious form)
Appearances:
New Thunderbolts#12-13 (November-December, 2005) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Tom Grummett (pencils), Gary Erskine (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
New Thunderbolts#15 (January, 2006) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Rick Leonardi (pencils), Cam Smith (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
First Posted: 10/09/2022
Last updated: 10/09/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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