Origin
Born and raised on a farm outside of Central City, the young Mick Rory grew increasingly obsessed with fire. As a child, he set fire to his house, and was unable to tear himself away from watching the flames. Due to his failure to get help, his family burnt to death. Later, he trapped a schoolmate and his family in their house and burned them to death after the boy had jokingly locked him in a meat locker. He ran away from home, and was never able to resist his pyromaniacal urges for long. As an adult, he was inspired by the Rogues to channel his pyromaniac urges into villainy.
Creation
Heat Wave was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino. He made his first appearance in The Flash #140.
Character Evolution
Silver Age
Heat Wave was introduced during the Silver Age, but little description of his origins or past were given. In his initial and subsequent appearances he had no superhuman powers or abilities. He wielded a gun-sized flamethrower and wore an asbestos suit that was lined with fuel for his gun.
Modern Age
The Modern Age introduced his presumed current backstory. This Age also heavily emphasized his pyromania. During this Age he briefly reformed; initially represented as his own choice, it was retconned to being due to the Top.
New 52
Following the New 52 reboot, Heat Wave gained metahuman abilities.
Major Story Arcs
The Flash
Heat Wave battles repeatedly with the Flash, often while working with the Rogues. He has a difficult relationship with Captain Cold, and the pair often clash. He ultimately reforms and becomes a fire investigator and hero.
Underworld Unleashed
Heat Wave and four other Rogues are approached by Abra Kadabra, who offers them the opportunity to become real villains. He is double-crossed and killed to facilitate Neron’s arrival on Earth. His soul is consigned to Hell. While his body is sent back to Earth as a powerful, soulless killing machine. He is returned to his body after Neron is defeated
Rogue War
During the Rogue War, Heat Wave is recruited by James Jesse to be part of the The Project, a team of former Rogues designed to destroy the villainous Rogues. He joins in the assault on the Rogue headquarters, which degenerates into an all-out war on the streets. He fights Captain Cold before being released from his brainwashing by the Top. He immediately rejoins the Rogues.
Full Throttle
Heat Wave and the other Rogues are recruited by Inertia in a plan that he claims will enable to freeze time and loot the frozen world. However, it becomes clear that he has duped them when the device instead steals Bart Allen’s powers. When Allen attempts to recover his powers, Heat Wave is one of the Rogues who fire on him, killing him.
Salvation Run
Heat Wave and the Rogues are the first villains transported to the prison planet Salvation. When other villains begin arriving a few weeks later he joins Team Lex. He assists in the capture and containment of the Martian Manhunter, though he worries over the repercussions. He ultimately escapes the planet through Lex Luthor’s teleporter.
Final Crisis
He and his team refuse to join up with Libra’s Secret Society. Libra sends a team of knockoff Rogues after them, and he burns his counterpart to death. On Captain Cold’s instruction he also killed Cold’s father, who had been taken hostage. During the subsequent battle with Inertia he melts Inertia’s boots, and joins his team in killing the speedster.
Blackest Night
Heat Wave joins the Rogues in travelling to Iron Heights, which is under assault by the recently risen dead Rogues. He fights Rainbow Raider.
Gorilla Warfare
Strongly at odds with Captain Cold following the accident which gave him his powers but left him horribly burned, Heat Wave agrees to fight alongside the Rogues during Gorilla Grodd’s invasion of Central City.
Forever Evil
Heat Wave and the Rogues are invited to join the Crime Syndicate’s Secret Society, however he and the team refuse upon being returned to Central City and witnessing the devastation there. He joins the team in attempting to protect Glider, and ends up trapped with them in Gotham after fleeing from Deathstorm and Power Ring. He fights the Man-Bat Commandos with Mirror Master, and later fights Mr Freeze and Clayface. When the team is attacked by Black Mask and the False Face Society, he jumps into the crowd and creates a massive burst of flame, allowing the rest of the Rogues to escape. He went missing in the aftermath, and was believed dead for some time.
Alternate Versions
JLA/Avengers
Heat Wave is enthralled by Krona alongside several other villains.
Justice League Unlimited
Heat Wave appears in an issue of this comic book series based on the animated series
Renegades
Heatstroke is a heroic cop version of Heat Wave from the 25th century.
Flashpoint
In the alternate Flashpoint timeline, Heat Wave tries to become part of the Firestorm Matrix, but is defeated by Cyborg. In his attempt to escape prison he betrays Eel O’Brian, who later seeks revenge.
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Heat Wave is playing darts in the villain bar The World’s End when he is confronted by members of the League who are searching for Mirror Master. Later, he appears alongside the Rogues as an escaped prisoner who agrees to side with Batman against Superman and the Regime. He is killed by Bizarro.
Earth-3
On Earth-3, Rory is a police officer who is assigned to capture Jonathan Allen and Rhonda Pineda. He and Leonard Snart, his partner, are captured by the villains, and Rory beats Snart to death when the villains promise that they will spare his family if he does. They kill him afterwards.
The Flash: Season Zero
The version of Heat Wave introduced on the Flash television series appears in this comic book adaptation.
Powers and Abilities
Heat Wave is pyrokinetic, capable of generating intensely hot blasts of fire from an opening in his chest, and manipulating flames. He also has in-depth knowledge of fire and pyrotechnics.
Character Profile
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 179 lbs
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Bald
- Citizenship: American
- Marital Status: Single
- Occupation: Professional Criminal
- Base of Operations: Central City
Other Media
Film
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Heat Wave appears alongside several other Rogues. Initially attacking the Flash, they are betrayed by Professor Zoom, who affixes irremovable bombs to the team. He is saved by Superman. He does not speak in his appearance.
Television
Justice League Unlimited
Heat Wave appears in several episodes as a member of Gorilla Grodd‘s Secret Society, making his first appearance in “To Another Shore.” He is voiced by Lex Lang.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Heat Wave appears alongside two other Rogues in the episode “Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!” He is voiced by Steve Blum.
The Flash
Heat Wave appears as a former partner of Cold’s, and the first member of the slowly-forming Rogues. He makes his first appearance in “Revenge of the Rogues.” He is portrayed by Dominic Purcell.
Legends of Tomorrow
Heat Wave appears as one of the protagonists of this spinoff of The Flash, making his first appearance in “Pilot, Part 1.” He is one of the individuals enlisted by Rip Hunter to stop Vandal Savage. Dominic Purcell reprises the role.
Video Games
Batman
Heat Wave appears as an antagonist on two levels of this NES game.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame
Heat Wave appears as an antagonist in this game, based on the television series of the same name. Steve Blum reprises the role.
Scribblenauts Unmasked: a DC Comics Adventure
Heat Wave appears in this game. He does not speak in his appearance.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Heat Wave is a playable character in this game. He is voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.
DC Universe Online
In the hero campaign, Heat Wave appears alongside several of the Rogues as a boss in Stryker’s Island Penitentiary Alert. He also appears as part of the Central City Bounties portion of the Lightning Strikes downloadable content. In the villain campaign, he appears in the Hall of Doom as a tech dealer. He is voiced by David Jennison.