Roy Raymond (character)
Roy Raymond is a fictional DC Comics character who hosts the investigative TV show Impossible... But True!, a program that debunks strange claims and hoaxes. The show is similar to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. Raymond first appeared in Detective Comics #153 (1949), with art by Ruben Moreira, and is known for his brilliant, analytical mind. His assistant on the show is Karen Duncan.
In 1997, DC introduced his grandson, Roy Raymond Jr., who was later renamed Roy Raymond III in the DC Rebirth era. The family line continues in stories that mix detective work with television life and crossovers with other heroes. Raymond has appeared in stories with Aquaman and Superman; at one point he is brainwashed by a villain but is rescued and resumes his TV career.
A notable Swamp Thing arc by Rick Veitch portrays Raymond as a greedy media mogul who tries to use Swamp Thing for his career. After a dangerous limo ride with The Wild Thing, his face is damaged and he reforms to become a more honest journalist.
In DC Rebirth, Roy Raymond III remains the host of Impossible... But True!, and his work is said to have influenced Batman’s detective style. Other versions feature Roy Raymond Jr. as a character who appears in The Flash and Robin, and even as Owlman after joining the Outsiders. He has also shown up in Tangent Comics and Darwyn Cooke’s The New Frontier, where he’s depicted as a Hollywood star who is blacklisted during McCarthy-era investigations.
Across versions, Roy Raymond is portrayed as an expert investigator. Some storylines give him psychic abilities, while others emphasize his combat skills and gadgetry. The character has changed with DC’s reboots, but his core role as a determined truth-seeker remains central.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:08 (CET).