Everyone (mostly) knows the story of one of DC's more obscure heroes, the Ray. Originally a Quality Comics superhero from the 1940's, he was revived by new owners DC in the 1970's as a member of the Freedom Fighters, a team made up of other Quality characters. In 1992, a new Ray was introduced in the six-issue miniseries "The Ray: In a Blaze of Power", by writer Jack C. Harris, artist (and relative newcomer) Joe Quesada, and inker Art Nichols, with some input from editors Christopher Priest and Jim Owsley.
The mini introduced Ray Terrill, the son of the original, Langford "Happy" Terrill. "From a very young age, Raymond Terrill is told by his supposed father that exposure to direct sunlight will kill him. Privately tutored in his window-darkened home, he is dubbed "Night Boy" by the media. At the age of eighteen, Ray learns the truth about his heritage while at the deathbed of his father, "Happy" Terrill. The dying man admits that he was the Golden Age Ray, and that exposure to sunlight will activate Raymond's own light-based super powers. As a child he would have been unable to control such power, and thus had to be kept in darkness.
At the funeral for "Happy" Terrill, Ray meets his cousin, Hank, who urges him to become a super-hero like his father. When he refuses, "Happy" shows up very much alive, in his classic Ray costume and looking far younger than he should, to meet his son. He tells Raymond that he was in fact raised by his uncle, Thomas Terrill, and that he must use his newfound powers to save the Earth from a powerful cosmic light-entity. Raymond eventually decides to take up the mantle of "The Ray," defeats the evil Dr. Polaris, and succeeds in dissuading the light entity from its destructive purpose."
I just read the mini yesterday, and thought it would make a great animated film to help introduce others to one of the more obscure DC characters. With that, the film would be as follows:
-DVD cover art by (in a rare return to DC) Joe Quesada.
-Voice direction by Andrea Romano.
-Art/animation style by Phil Bourassa.
-Screenplay by Jack C. Harris, Greg Wiseman, and Paul Dini.
-Direction by Lauren Montgomery.
And now, our voice cast for this picture:
Bret Harrison as the voice of The Ray/Ray Terrill
I became a bit of a Harrison fan after seeing the first season of "Breaking In" (which I am glad is off the air because its second season STUNK), and also because Harrison would've been my choice to voice Blue Devil on Justice League Unlimited (based on his role on "Reaper!").
Ed Begley Jr. as the voice of The Ray/Langford "Happy" Terrill
I picked Begley as he's had some DC animation experience, voicing the characters Charlie Collins (in "Joker's Favor") and Germs (in "Feat of Clay") on Batman: The Animated Series, and Dr. Peter Corso in the Batman Beyond episode "April Moon". I thought he'd be the right choice to play a veteran superhero, and as I was planning this fancast, he came to mind for the original Ray. Plus, it would fit in with his being an alternative energy activist...
Janet Montgomery as the voice of Jennifer Jurden
Jennifer is Ray's childhood friend, who is coerced into keeping him in the dark about his life, but eventually helps him embrace his destiny.
Montgomery, being a cast member of "Human Target's" second season (and therefore a DC Comics-based production), is what made me think she'd be fine for this character--it'd also be a change of pace for her in terms of what kind of role she's been playing.
Danny Masterson as the voice of Hank Terrill
Hank is Ray's cousin, and looks and almost sounds like James Dean, spewing lingo as a means of cluing Ray in to the ways of the world.
I though Masterson would be good for this character, as his character on That 70's Show (Hyde) was similar to the way Hank's portrayed--although updated for a 70's sensibility.
Michael Emerson as the voice of Doctor Polaris
Since Emerson is going to get his feet wet in the DC pool (voicing the Joker in the Dark Knight Returns movies), I thought he would be good for voicing the split-personality answer to Marvel's Magneto.
Additional voices
-Tom Kenny (doing a Tony Curtis impression) as Nick Billings, a reporter eager to get the story on Ray's life.
-Townsend Coleman as Nathaniel Brett, the Terrill family's lawyer.
-Corey Burton as Caldwell the Candle Man, a mystic who alerts Happy and Ray to the Light Entity's presence.
-Muriel Wilson as Sister Rosemary, one of Ray's private tutors. (Think the voice of Muriel from Courage the Cowardly Dog.)
And that's a wrap! For taking the time to look at this--ladies and gentlemen, KATRINA AND THE WAVES: