History
Following the annihilation of their galaxy by the Asgardian fire demon Surtur, who destroyed it to forge the Twilight Sword (also called the "Sword of Doom"), the surviving Korbinites determined they needed a powerful guardian. Their Sheo-'re, or scientific minds, developed the biomechanical construct Alpha Ray, though the being's unstable mind soon proved too dangerous. Alpha Ray was subdued and sealed inside the first Meta-Orb for containment.
Realizing a guardian needed a soul as well as strength, the Korbinite researchers subjected thousands of candidates to intense trials. Only one survived — Bill — who was transformed into a cybernetic warrior named Beta Ray Bill. Years later, Galactus (known to them as Ashta) attacked New Korbin. With Beta Ray Bill off-world, the Korbinite priests proposed reactivating Alpha Ray. Though their military leadership warned against it due to Alpha Ray’s volatility, they gave in after Galactus decimated their fleet.
Beta Ray Bill soon returned, but the Korbinite clergy, resentful that many had begun to revere him, tampered with Alpha Ray’s programming to pit him against Bill. As Bill moved to confront Galactus, Alpha Ray ambushed him, ignoring any attempts at reasoning. Though Alpha Ray quickly overheated, he stalled Bill long enough for Galactus to strike. Both were hit, disabling Alpha Ray. Bill rose again to challenge Galactus but was swiftly defeated, and Galactus proceeded to consume the remaining Korbinite forces.[1]
Stardust later sought out the remnants of the Korbinite fleet under Galactus' orders, aiming to eradicate them as a warning to others. While doing so, Stardust found the dormant Alpha Ray and brought him before Galactus to destroy. Galactus, however, stayed Stardust's hand, recognizing Alpha Ray as a foe of Beta Ray Bill — who had dared to attack him and damage his armor.[2]
Galactus revived Alpha Ray and tasked him with locating Stardust and Beta Ray Bill.[3] At that time, Stardust had opened a black hole to trap Beta Ray Bill. Instead, the rift unleashed Asteroth, a cosmic demon. Alpha Ray aided in forcing Asteroth back into the black hole, but in the process, both he and Stardust were drawn in as well. Asteroth later used the Meta-Orb to break free, while Stardust eventually escaped due to her energy-based form. Alpha Ray, however, was presumed lost.[4]
Despite this, Alpha Ray later reappeared alive during the gathering of Galactus' heralds in Asgard, where they explained to All-Father Thor the origins of the Black Winter and how it led to Galactus' fall.[5]Attributes
Powers
- Cybernetic Enhancements: Alpha Ray was a bio-mechanical creature, though he apparently was lobotomized or otherwise treated so that he only followed orders. He could speak, but he couldn't be swayed from his programming by speech.[1]
- Superhuman Strength: Alpha Ray was superhumanly strong (Class 50-100).[1]
- Superhuman Durability: He was tough enough to go toe-to-toe with Beta Ray Bill, though Bill was not fighting with his full effort, and even then Alpha Ray began to overheat and would presumably be much less likely to breakdown.[1]
- Self Sustenance: He could survive in a vacuum.[1]
- Flight: He could fly at great speed (presumably sub-light speed).[1]
Weaknesses
- Mental Instability: Alpha Ray mind was damaged by the procedures that granted him his powers and left him highly unstable.[1]