View source for Air Wave

{{short description|Fictional superhero in the DC Comics universe}}
{{about|the DC Comics characters||Airwave (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image = Airwave1.jpg
|image_size = 200
|caption = Larry Jordan as Air Wave.
|real_name = - Lawrence "Larry" Jordan<br />- Helen Jordan<br />- Harold Lawrence "Hal" Jordan
|publisher = [[DC Comics]]
|debut = '''(Larry)'''<br> ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #60 (February 1942)<br>'''(Helen)'''<br> ''[[DC Comics Presents]]'' #40 (December 1981)<br>'''(Hal)'''<br> (as Air Wave)<br> ''Green Lantern'' (vol. 2) #100 (January 1978)<br> (as Maser)<br> ''Firestorm, the Nuclear Man'' #88 (August 1989)
|creators = '''(Larry)'''<br> [[Murray Boltinoff]] or<br> [[Mort Weisinger]]<br>[[Harris Levey]] a.k.a. Lee Harris<ref name=toonopedia /><br>'''(Helen)'''<br> [[Bob Rozakis]]<br>[[Alex Saviuk]]<br>'''(Hal)'''<br> [[Dennis O'Neil]]<br>Alex Saviuk
|alliances = '''(Larry)'''<br> [[All-Star Squadron]]<br>
<br>'''(Hal)'''<br> Captains of Industry<br/>[[Suicide Squad]]<br/>[[Justice League]]
|aliases = '''(Hal)'''<br> Maser
|supports =
|powers = [[#Powers and abilities|See below]]
}}
'''Air Wave''' is the name of three [[superheroes]] appearing in [[American comic books]] published by [[DC Comics]]. The first two were active in the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]] (albeit the second Air Wave had only one appearance). The third appears in comics in the 21st century.

==Publication history==
The original Air Wave (Larry Jordan) debuted during the period fans and historians call the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]]. His first appearance was in ''Detective Comics'' #60 (December 1942) by artist [[Harris Levey]], who signed his work under the [[pen name]] "[[Harris Levey|Lee Harris]]", and a writer tentatively identified as either [[Mort Weisinger]]<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/2017/#26703 ''Detective Comics'' #60] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> or [[Murray Boltinoff]].<ref name=toonopedia>[http://www.toonopedia.com/airwave1.htm Air Wave (1942)] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240525192337/https://www.webcitation.org/66C0Ms8Mx?url=http://toonopedia.com/airwave1.htm Archived] from the original on March 15, 2012]</ref> [[Harris Levey]] (aka Lee Harris) drew the character's seven- to eight-page adventures from ''Detective Comics'' #60 (February 1942) to at least #74 (April 1943), and then following [[World War II]] in ''Detective Comics'' #114-137 (August 1946 - July 1948). In September 1942, Levey (aka Lee Harris) left the series to join the US Army Airforce (UAAF) as a Photographer for the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Photo Unit, turning the artwork over to his friend [[George Roussos]] for the 1943-46 issues.<ref>{{cite news | author = Gruenwald, Mark | author-link = Mark Gruenwald | date = April 1983 | title = George Roussos | work = [[Comics Interview]] | issue = #2 | pages = 45–51 | publisher = [[Fictioneer Books]]}}</ref> Levey returned to DC and resumed illustrating the Air Wave (July 1946, #113) and left DC and his Air Wave drawing duties in 1948 to pursue a career in advertising.

==Fictional character biographies==
===Larry Jordan===
'''Lawrence''' "'''Larry'''" '''Jordan''' is a [[law clerk]] and intern who battles crime using radio-based technology.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Roy |title=The All-Star Companion: Vol 2 |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905375 |page=75}}</ref> He is accompanied by the parrot Static, who occasionally aids him in battle.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=148}}</ref>

Larry later retires and is killed by escaped convict Joe Parsons, with his wife Helen temporarily becoming Air Wave to capture him.<ref name="dc-ency">{{Citation|last = Beatty|first = Scott|author-link = Scott Beatty|contribution = Air Wave I|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia|pages = 9|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|place = London|year = 2008|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Wells |first=John |date=May 2013 |title=Flashback: Whatever Happened to...? |journal=[[Back Issue!]] |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issue=#64 |pages=51–61}}</ref>

In ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]'', Air Wave is among the superheroes who [[Batman]] resurrects using a [[Black Lantern]] ring.<ref>''Dark Nights: Death Metal'' #5. DC Comics.</ref>

===Harold Jordan===
[[File:Airwave2.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Air Wave legacy|Art by [[Dick Giordano]] and Alex Saviuk.]]
Harold Jordan is Larry Jordan's son and successor, who possesses innate powers. Furthermore, he is a cousin of [[Green Lantern]] [[Hal Jordan]], with whom he shares his name.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=No Static At All: Air Wave in the Bronze Age |journal=Back Issue |date=August 2018 |publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issue=#106 |pages=26–31}}</ref><ref name="dc-ency2">{{Citation|last = Jimenez|first = Phil|author-link = Phil Jimenez|contribution = Air Wave II|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia|pages = 9|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|place = London|year = 2008|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref><ref>''Green Lantern'' (vol. 2) #100. DC Comics.</ref>

After Doctor Moon genetically modifies him, Air Wave briefly becomes '''Maser''' and joins the Captains of Industry.<ref>{{multiref2|''[[Firestorm (character)|Firestorm]]'' #88. DC Comics.|''JSA'' #11-12. DC Comics.|''JSA: [[Our Worlds at War]]'' #1. DC Comics.
}}</ref>

Air Wave is later killed in ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' and temporarily resurrected as a Black Lantern in ''[[Blackest Night]]''.

In ''[[DC Rebirth]]'', Air Wave is permanently resurrected and joins the [[Justice League]].<ref>{{multiref2|''Infinite Crisis'' #4. DC Comics.|''Blackest Night'' #6 (December 2009). DC Comics.|''Blackest Night'' #7 (February 2010). DC Comics.|''Green Lantern Annual'' #1. DC Comics.|''Stargirl: The Lost Children'' #2 - #6. DC Comics.|{{Cite web |last=Salmon |first=Will |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Is Green Arrow really a traitor? What happens to Amanda Waller? And which hero makes a surprise return? All your ''Absolute Power'' #4 questions answered |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/absolute-power-4-spoiler-reactive/ |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}}|{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Eric |date=November 27, 2024 |title=''Justice League Unlimited'' #1 review |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/11/27/justice-league-unlimited-1-review/ |access-date=December 3, 2024 |language=en-us}}
}}</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
All three incarnations of Air Wave wield helmets that enable them to manipulate radio signals and transform into energy. The Larry Jordan incarnation travels via collapsible skates, whereas the Helen Jordan and Harold Jordan incarnations can fly.<ref name=":0">''The Green Lantern'' Annual #1 (2019)</ref>

==Enemies==
His enemies were mostly Nazis and criminals, but he also fought some sound-based supervillains:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=7}}</ref>

* Dr. Silence
* Parrot
* Talker

==In other media==
The Larry and Harold Jordan incarnations of Air Wave appear as character summons in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* "[https://books.google.com/books?id=6_RjDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22air+wave%22+detective&pg=PA26 No Static at All: Air Wave in the Bronze Age]" by John Wells, ''Back Issue'' #106, TwoMorrows Publishing (Aug 2018), pg 26-29

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://toonopedia.com/airwave2.htm Air Wave (1978)] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240525192418/https://www.webcitation.org/66C0RKsX6?url=http://toonopedia.com/airwave2.htm Archived] from the original on March 15, 2012.
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=airwave Info from DCUGuide.com]
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id= 2707|name= Air Wave}}

{{All-Star Squadron}}
{{GoldenAge}}

[[Category:Characters created by Dennis O'Neil]]
[[Category:Characters created by Mort Weisinger]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1942]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1978]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1981]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:DC Comics American superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics LGBTQ superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics male superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with elemental transmutation abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional gay men]]
[[Category:Golden Age superheroes]]