Despero
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Despero is the name of a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe.
He is easily distinguished by his muscular body, pink skin, fin on his head, pointed ears, lavender eyes (and a third eye on his forehead), and sharp teeth.
Despero made his first appearance in Justice League of America #1 from the 1960s. In these early appearances, he appeared of normal build. His current bulked-up look is a result of having bathed in the Flame of Py'tar, a power-giving flame from his native planet Kalanor, which he enslaved and conquered with his psychic abilities. In his first appearance the Justice League liberated the planet from his rule, and he has sworn vengeance ever since.
Making his debut with the release of Justice League of America #1 (1961), Despero has the distinction of being the Justice League’s first adversary, and has gone through virtually as many transformations as the League itself. Initially conceived as a physically weak, mind-controlling tyrant with a perchance for playing chess for the fates of his enemies, he was later redesigned to be a physical powerhouse fueled by his burning, all-consuming hatred of the Justice League.
He is most well-known for his classic battle with Justice League International. He is also known for brutally murdering the parents of Justice League member Gypsy. His most classic look is wearing a United Nations flag like a cape.
At one point his mind was transferred with that of the Justice League robot L-Ron. Although he was seemingly killed when L-Ron's body was destroyed by a duck hunter, he was later shown to be battling for control of his original body. L-Ron succeeded in casting him out, at which point he existed as a "free floating evil essence", able to possess innocent people.
During JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice he had joined forces with Johnny Sorrow in a plan to destroy the League and the Justice Society. He possessed President Lex Luthor, but was cast out of the President by Johnny Sorrow's own gae.
Years later, in the wake of Identity Crisis, the JLA was attacked by a reformed Secret Society of Super-Villains that once again knew the heroes' alter-egos. The Martian Manhunter discovered Despero was responsible for the restoration of the Society's memory. After he was defeated, Despero was taken by Hal Jordan into Oa's custody.
Powers and abilities
Despero is a powerful villain. The Flame of Py'tar gave Despero physical strength and durability that surpasses beings like Superman and Captain Marvel. Also very intelligent, he is skilled as both a warrior and tyrant. His hypnotic third eye is directly connected to his brain, giving him telepathic powers that surpass (as seen in JLA #119) those of the Martian Manhunter. It is also capable of projecting realistic illusions and entrancing virtually any sentient being. It can also project beams of telekinetic energy enabling the teleportation of matter anywhere in the universe.In his current form, Despero can possess any living being, granting the victim the strength and telepathic abilities of his own body.
In his first appearance, Despero used a teleportation machine which resembled a chess set. It used pieces shaped like the Leaguers to move them to different locations. The machine was subsequently shown to be in the possession of the Weapon Master.
Appearances in other media
- Despero has appeared in the 2000s Justice League cartoon, voiced by Keith David.
In addition to the cosmetic changes made to the character, Despero’s station was also retooled, as the creative team sought to differentiate him from the League’s other mind-controlling villains (the Key, Kanjar Ro) and world conquerors (Darkseid, Mongul). By reimagining him as a [false] religious leader, this version of Despero stands as a unique figure in the Justice Leagues Rogues Gallery but, at the same time, draws influences from similar DC villains such as Kobra and Brother Blood. This change also contributes to the character by bringing new meaning to the third eye on his forehead, as many Eastern religions and esoteric faiths believe the third eye (also known as the ajna center, brow chakra, or mind center) to be an energy center of the body; one that is an avenue to inner wisdom. Associated with the color indigo (another reason for the shift in Despero’s skin tone?) and whose main function includes intuition and ESP (extra-sensory perception), this is one of seven chakras located on the human body; each one a center of energy and a step towards personal enlightenment (for more information, see here and here).
(Also, the Py’tar—the instrument responsible for Despero’s physical transformation in the comics—takes on esoteric connotations here, as it is conceived as the planet’s life force. This concept has roots in a theory called the Gaia Philosophy [or, in purely scientific terms, the Gaia Hypothesis], which postulates that the Earth is a living entity; this theory has roots in many religions and has been embraced by spiritualists and environmentalists in recent decades. Taking this theory to its logical ends, one could assume that, as a living, sentient organism; it would have life energies, or a soul, as well. For more information, see here.)
Of course, all spiritual and New Age undertones had to take a back seat to the primary force that drives this character: his hatred. Although a constant facet of the character since his revision in 1986, Hearts and Minds is the first attempt by anyone to give an explanation for his rage; the revelation that he was feared and hated because he was a mutant is an elegant one, and is certainly valid, considering it is a recurring theme in Marvel Comics’ X-Men titles. In addition, his raw hatred sets him apart from the Justice League’s other dictatorial figures as, unlike Darkseid (who makes them suffer but is ultimately indifferent to them as people) and Mongul (who shows them general contempt, but couldn’t care either way about them), Despero genuinely hates his subjects, as they were responsible for his suffering as a boy. In this context, Despero is portrayed as more of a sadist than the aforementioned villains—he wants them to suffer, often in the cruelest ways possible. For example, when Despero received word that his conversion forces failed to “convert” the resistance movement, he could have easily just killed the lieutenant who led the failed campaign, as Darkseid would have done. However, Despero chose to make his soldier suffer, and ordered him to march into the desert, without food or supplies, for a period of “cleansing” that, as we later learn, would have no end, as he would not be recalled by his master (Despero’s next words to his vizier: “Tell Lieutenant Franzi’s forces that he will not be back.”). By sending him to his death with a false hope of forgiveness suspended before him, Despero is revealed to possess a level of brutality on par with the lord of Apokolips himself.
All things considered, Despero stands as a tragic figure in the League’s Rogues Gallery—much in the tradition of similar characters such as Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, or Kalibak—for, had circumstances been different, Despero could have indeed been a great hero and an inspiration for his people—even Despero himself recognizes this, seconds before he was claimed by the Py’tar. However, due to the frailties of his “human” emotions—emotions such as hatred, fear, sorrow, paranoia, and vengeance—what could have been love for his people curdled into blinding, intense hated of them and all others. In the end, Despero’s quest to subjugate the galaxies was a futile attempt to make others suffer and to ensure that he would not be hurt again.
- Despero has also appeared in the Justice League Task Force video game for the SNES and Sega Genesis consoles.
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