HI-LITE

Real Name: Rockwell Davis

Identity/Class: Human technology user

Occupation: Minor criminal

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Absorbing Man (Carl Creel), Freeman Bonding, Inc. (Jazinda/Jazinda Kl'rt-spawn, She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, others), his mother

Enemies: Jazinda, She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) (though he didn't really have any particular animosity towards them)

Known Relatives: Carl Creel (Absorbing Man, cousin), Mary MacPherran Creel (Titania, cousin-in-law), unidentified parents

Aliases: Prisoner 32675688, "Rocky"

Base of Operations: Brooklyn, New York, USA;
    formerly Bloomington, Minnesota, USA; New York City, New York, USA

First Appearance: She-Hulk II#22 (December, 2007)

Powers/Abilities: Hi-Lite has no inherent superhuman powers but he wears a suit of armor equipped with night-vision goggles and laser-based weaponry that allows him to project lasers and manipulate light beams.

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(She-Hulk II#22 (fb) - BTS) - Growing up idolizing his criminal cousin Carl Creel, whom he felt was more like a brother due to him periodically sending his family money and Creel's promise to Davis' father that he would always look after him, Rockwell "Rocky" Davis nonetheless never really had the stomach for the criminal life. Despite that, Carl Creel used Davis' name during his boxing career as a shout out to his cousin. Despite Davis' heart not really being in the criminal life, it was later believed that Davis stole a suit of light-manipulating armor. He then used the armor to become the criminal Hi-Lite and it was believed that he was soon hired by an international buyer to steal a jewel-encrusted goblet that some considered the basis for the mythos of the Holy Grail.

(She-Hulk II#22 (fb)) - On June 3, the 25-year-old Hi-Lite used his light-manipulating armor to bend the security lasers around himself and break into the New York Museum of Antiquities in an effort to steal the jewel-encrusted goblet on display there. After using his laser projectors to cut into the glass case displaying the goblet, Hi-Lite, who was using his night-vision goggles at the time, was temporarily blinded when a security guard turned on the lights and ordered him to freeze. Firing blindly, Hi-Lite grazed the security guard's right arm with a laser beam and the stress of the situation caused the guard to suffer a heart attack. At first thinking the guard was faking, Hi-Lite removed his night-vision goggles but he soon realized the guard was not faking and the guilt-stricken Hi-Lite dropped the goblet and rushed over to help the security guard. Hi-Lite immediately began administering CPR to the guard, ultimately saving his life as the police arrived on the scene. He was quickly taken into custody by police and set up for a $100,000 bail. Davis' mother paid $10,000 of the bail and Freeman Bonding, a subsidiary of the Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg and Book superhuman law offices, put up the remaining $90,000 to get Hi-Lite released. However, following his release, Hi-Lite missed appearing at his subsequent court date, leaving Freeman Bonding with 180 days to locate Davis and leading to them sending their recent bond agent Jennifer Walters, alias the She-Hulk, to find Hi-Lite.

(She-Hulk II#22) - Jennifer Walters tracked Rocky Davis down to a small home in Minnesota and traveled there with her partner, the alien Skrull Jazinda, to apprehend Davis. Posing as Jennifer Walters, Jazinda knocked on Davis' door but when she received no response, she used the unlocked door to let herself in and confront Davis, who was eating breakfast. Recognizing that "Walters" was from Freeman Bonding, Davis asked how "Walters" found him and when he learned his mother had informed "Walters" of his location, Davis expressed slight exasperation that his mother had "ratted him out." When "Walters" reminded Davis that his mother had mortgaged her home to gather his bail money, Davis admitted that she shouldn't have had to do that and he asked if he could put some pants on before being taken in. "Walters" suggested he could wear a pair of sweatpants she had in her vehicle before she manacled him and when he questioned being manacled, "Walters" learned that the situation was the first time Davis had ever had to be taken into custody. When Davis admitted he was somewhat relieved due to the stress of having to watch his back 24/7, "Walters" asked why he had run from court in the first place, to which Davis replied that he couldn't deal with jail.

    Davis' cat soon began hissing at "Walters" and when "Walters" pointed her gun at the car, Davis begged for the cat to be spared. Before "Walters" could act on Davis' pleas, the Absorbing Man appeared behind her and broke her neck, horrifying Davis. Feeling like killing "Walters" wasn't necessary, Davis was nonetheless told to go get some pants, as he and Creel would need to leave the house quickly before any of "Walters"' superhuman allies arrived on the scene. Davis was ushered upstairs to get ready while Creel went outside to locate a vehicle for them to escape in. Creel ultimately ended up battling the real Jennifer Walters in her She-Hulk form when he considered stealing Walters' camper and, watching from the house, Davis began to feel like the situation had gotten way out of control and commented to himself that he needed to do something. Jazinda, still in Jennifer Walters' broken-necked form, soon confronted Davis at the window and pointed a gun at him, suggesting he had already done enough.

(She-Hulk II#23) - Still impersonating Jennifer Walters, Jazinda led a very confused Rocky Davis outside at gunpoint and presented police with the warrant for Davis, announcing that Davis was in her custody and her plans to take him back to New York for trial. Leading Davis into the camper used by her and the real Walters, Jazinda was questioned as to what exactly she was by Davis and when Jazinda claimed she was a human like him, Davis expressed disbelief as she popped her broken neck back into place. Jazinda then assured him that all he needed to know was that she was his bail enforcement officer and that they would track down her partner. Davis asked how Jazinda planned to locate her partner and Jazinda replied that her partner tended to leave a trail. Tracking the damage from the real Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk)'s battle with the Absorbing Man to the nearby Mall of America, Jazinda aided in defeating both the Absorbing Man and his wife Titania and later that evening, Rocky Davis was sound asleep in the back of the Freeman Bonding camper as Jazinda and She-Hulk traveled back to New York.

(She-Hulk II#24) - She-Hulk arrived in Brooklyn, New York and was told to bring Rocky Davis around back. Dropping Davis off, Jazinda (still impersonating Jennifer Walters) suggested he not take Absorbing Man up on any offers to break him out of custody and when Davis questioned why, "Walters" replied that she would then have to pick up Davis all over again due to a new bounty. Smiling, Davis commented that if it meant he'd get to see "Walters" again, it would be totally worth it. He then told a surprised Jazinda "Later." as he was led into the police station. Returning to the Freeman Bonding camper, Jazinda what Davis' comment was all about, to which She-Hulk replied that it appeared Davis had a crush on "Jennifer Walters."

(She-Hulk II#27 - BTS) - Feeling like Jazinda was keeping secrets, She-Hulk demanded the truth from Jazinda and when Jazinda asked for She-Hulk not to start that argument again, She-Hulk reminded her of how Rocky Davis had swore Jazinda was dead, prompting Jazinda to claim Davis had no inkling of her Skrull anatomy.

Comments: Created by Peter David, Shawn Moll and Victor Olazaba.

    Hi-Lite's official height and weight were seen in his mugshot image in She-Hulk II#22. That issue also confirmed his age, eye color and hair color. Great job on the details, Peter David!

    Ya know, I could see Hi-Lite ultimately deciding to use his tech for good instead of evil. I mean, he's not inherently evil, just perhaps a bit misguided. Maybe he could be one of the Thunderbolts or if Heroes for Hire ever comes back around, he'd be a perfect fit for them!

This profile was finished on 07/23/2025, but saved for the late Peter David's birthday!

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Hi-Lite should be distinguished from:

• other "Hi-Lite" characters, groups, items, races or events
  

Appearances:
She-Hulk II#22 (December, 2007) - Peter David (writer), Shawn Moll (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)
She-Hulk II#23 (January, 2008) - Peter David (writer), Shawn Moll (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)
She-Hulk II#24 (February, 2008) - Peter David (writer), Shawn Moll (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)
She-Hulk II#27 (May, 2008) - Peter David (writer), Val Semeiks (pencils), Dave Meikis (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)

First posted: 09/23/2025
Last updated: 07/23/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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