History
Dr. Richard Conrad was one of the six founding members of the Union of Justice. He is a neonatal surgeon at Los Angeles' St. Thomas Presbyterian Hospital, and his family features pro minently in San Francisco politics.
Richard also has connections in the Hollywood entertainment scene, and he is a closeted homosexual who patronizes male prostitutes. One of Richard's friends is a well known actress, Katharine Hepburn, who believed that regardless of the lavender marriages in Hollywood during that time, Richard, by virtue of risking his life for others every day, should not have to hide his homosexuality.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was at the same time attempting to bring the Union under his control, discovered Richard's secret life and attempted to blackmail Richard, threatening to ruin his life if he does not reveal his teammates' secret identities.[1] After long deliberations with himself, Richard attempted suicide by slitting his wrists in a warm tub of water in order to save his teammates the disgrace of his sexuality. Richard was rescued by his teammate, Fitz when he dropped by for a visit and found him in the tub still alive.
While recuperating in the hospital, Richard stood up to Hoover's threats and decided to resign from the team in order to protect them from the vengeful federal director. However, Grace talked him into attending a meeting at Union headquarters, explaining that they all didn't care about his sexuality and that he was a part of their team. However, unknown to Richard the team had voted on whether to keep him on the team or not, with four votes in his favor and only Walter voting against him, he was allowed to remain.
After George secretly blackmails Hoover with evidence of Hoover's own homosexuality, Hoover drops the matter.[2]
Later, with Blue Bolt more comfortable with his homosexuality, begins to have torrid romances with many closeted gay men from that time period, many of whom are married. Among his conquests is the actor, Spencer Tracy.Attributes
Powers
- Superhuman Strength: Blue Bolt possesses vast levels of physical strength.[2]
- Superhuman Stamina
- Superhuman Durability: Blue Bolt possesses vast resistance to physical damage and can survive powerful impacts with no damage[1] but blades of conventional materials are still able to pierce his skin.[2]
- Flight: Blue Bolt has the power to fly at great speed.[1]
- Accelerated Healing: Blue Bolt was able to rapidly recover from his suicide attempt.[2]
Abilities
- Medicine: In his civilian identity Richard was a neonatal surgeon.[1]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Blue Bolt's Power Rod:A device of his own design that could manipulate energy and matter.[1]
- Energy Projection: The Rod can shoot powerful energy blasts.[1]
- Energy Construct Creation: The Rod is capable of creating solid energy constructs.
- Molecular Reconstruction: The Rod can transform Blue Bolt's clothes into his costume.[3]
- Force Field: The Rod can generate defensive force fields.[1]
Notes
See Also
- 13 appearance(s) of Richard Conrad (Jupiter's Legacy)
- 8 image(s) of Richard Conrad (Jupiter's Legacy)