THE LAMPLIGHTER (Dr. Lee Carver)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Dr. Lee Carver
Occupation: Professional Criminal; former nuclear researcher
Space Sector: 2814
Marital Status: Unknown
Base of Operation: Evergreen City, Washington
Gender: Male
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Reddish-blond
First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol. 2 #60 (April 1968): "Spotlight on the Lamplighter!"
Creators: Gardner Fox and Gil Kane

HISTORY

Doctor Lee Carver was a nuclear researcher seeking a way of altering the molecular structure of matter. He invented a "molecularay" that could transform sand into diamonds. Unfortunately, some unknown fault in the ray prevented the change from being permanent. He continued to work on a way to stabilize the transmutation. Tragedy struck when his experiment blew up in his face. Carver lived, but he was blinded.

Though he could not see, Carver continued his research. There was very little he could do, as the work was very delicate. The researcher was accident prone in the laboratory. One day he smashed a few vials of chemicals, and was surprised to find his sight had returned. The combination of chemicals and the high frequency waves he was bombarding them with resulted in a new kind of light. The chemicals somehow affected his damaged optic nerves, permitting a more intense light to reach them, allowing the once blind man to see.

Carver brushed the chemicals on the glass of an old lantern. With the ultra light, the researcher could see but not well enough for the precision work neccesary in his advanced experiments. Carver resolved to find another way to reach his goals, even if the entire world had to suffer for it.

He built a cane with the lantern to give him sight and a prism to cause temporary changes in objects. With his weapon, Carver created a new identity as the Lamplighter, taken from a painting from colonial times.

Carver started his crime spree by robbing the Quickway Loan Company, giving his name as the Lamplighter. The next morning, claims adjustor Hal Jordan was sent to investigate the theft for the Evergreen Insurance Company. Jordan had an advantage, the might of Green Lantern's power ring was pitted against the Lamplighter.

The colonial villain struck again at the Elite Jewel Emporium. The molecularay prism froze the store's customers inside giant diamonds. Green Lantern had finally tracked down his quarry.

The Lamplighter escaped, changing into a tree. After half an hour, the tree changed back to Dr. Lee Carver. Green Lantern had commanded his power ring to find the Lamplighter, but could not find the villain in his alternate identity.

The Lamplighter chose a recovered sunken treasure ship as his next target. The old wooden ship carried gold bars and doubloons, and the Lamplighter intended to steal it all.

He was ready for Green Lantern's next appearance. The prism cane blasted at Green Lantern's right hand, destroying the power ring. A fist fight broke out between the two men, with Green Lantern as the victor.

The power ring had not been destroyed. The emerald gladiator knew the Lamplighter would attempt to nullify the ring, so he wore a false ring on his right hand and the real one invisibly on his left. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #60

Years later, the Lamplighter took part in a vacation resort featuring has-been supervillains. The villains "rob" the psuedo-Bank of Littleville causing excitement for paying tourists.

Another Green Lantern faced Lamplighter and the villains. His name was G'Nort. After learning the truth about Littleville, G'Nort left to check it out with the Justice League. The current employment status of the villains in Littleville has yet to be revealed.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of The Lamplighter in chronological order click here