Keeper of Infinite Earths - The Protectors
Created by Eric Doyle & Bob Justice
Shock
Wave
Alter Ego: Doyle Ericson
Occupation: Salesman
Known Relatives: Andra (Wife) and James Doyle Ericson (Son)
Group Affiliation: The Protectors
Status: Deceased
Background/History:
Doyle was a mutant born with the power to project bio-electrical force pulses.
Although they crackled and sparked with an electrically charged manifestation,
he fired solid force blasts in quick bursts. When his powers manifested in his
early teens, his parents were both fearful and angry that their only child was a
freak and sought to get rid of him by bringing his abilities to the attention of
Dr. Whyte, noted authority on mutation, who helped him gain control of his
powers. The Doctor considered recruiting the newly-dubbed Shock Wave for his
Mutant Force project, but the bio-electrical energy made Doyle difficult to
communicate with mentally and he feared that Doyle might not agree with his
eventual plans. Deciding to use his powers to battle evil, he saw Sound Wave and
Speed were forming a team of heroes and went to see them. He was accepted into
the fledging team of Protectors. His promising career was cut short, however,
when during the space faring battle with the TECian Empire, the cosmic entities
known as Lord Chaos and Master Order offered Shock Wave the immense power and
position of "Champion of Life". He accepted the responsibility, but
the power was too much for him to handle and his mind snapped. He called himself
"Solomon Wave" and vanquished the TEC, but became as great a threat to
the universe himself as TEC was. The assembled heroes had to rally together to
defeat their former ally who grew more powerful than his body could contain and
burned himself up. Order and Chaos passed the title of Champion to Mammoth, but
not the nearly limitless power that had broken Shock Wave. Sound Wave and the
Protectors made sure that Doyle’s wife and son were taken care of and, when
his son’s powers manifested, put him into the Junior Protectors. He took the
code-name Ripple intending to follow in his father’s footsteps and become one
of the Protectors himself.
Personality/Motivation:
Perhaps due to his parents negative reaction and to his own sense of
responsibility, Doyle was determined to master his abilities and prove that he
was not a freak or a monster. He was completely dedicated to the notion of being
a hero. It was in that spirit that he tragically accepted the awesome power from
Chaos and Order that would prove fatal.
Quote: "My power is a responsibility I don’t take lightly."