Ultra-Humanite
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The Ultra-Humanite is a fictional supervillain appearing in stories published by DC Comics. The Ultra-Humanite first appeared in Action Comics #13 in 1939 and is generally considered to be the first super villain.
Powers
The Ultra-Humanite, a mad scientist, had as his main power the ability to transfer his brain into any body. Various bodies occupied over the years included: Dolores Winters, an actress; the Golden Age superhero the Americommando; a giant insect; a tyrannosaurus rex; a mutated albino gorilla (his most well-known form); Justice Society of America member Johnny Thunder; and a glass dome. Some of these events happened only in alternate timelines, however. In an Elseworlds tale, Superman and Batman: Generations, the Ultra-Humanite had transferred his mind into Lex Luthor, highlighting the similarities between the two villains.History
The Ultra-Humanite was the first supervillain ever faced by Superman, and is usually considered as the first supervillain in American superhero comics. He was designed to be the polar opposite of Superman: while Superman was a hero with superhuman strength, Ultra-Humanite was a criminal mastermind who had a crippled body but a highly advanced intellect. Over the years, Ultra-Humanite role was expanded into Justice Society storylines.
After the 1985-1986 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, the previous appearances of the Ultra-Humanite were re-told for the sake of continuity (a technique known as retconning) to show him having fought other heroes.
The first three issues of Legends of the DC Universe feature the post-Crisis Superman, early in his career, battling a scientist who has sworn revenge on Luthor and gained the ability to transfer his "life essence" (called "Under-Light") as the U.L.T.R.A. Humanite. The canonity of this story is unclear.
The Ultra-Humanite was killed by the third Crimson Avenger in the "Stealing Thunder" comic storyline as revenge for the death of the first Crimson Avenger, who was killed in an explosion triggered by the Ultra-Humanite.
Other media
The Ultra-Humanite appears in his gorilla body form in three episodes of the Justice League animated series voiced by Ian Buchanan. In this version, he is depicted as a cultured intellectual criminal with a deep love for classical music. This appreciation of music becomes a major component of the Ultra-Humanite's character when Batman persuades the Ultra-Humanite to turn over Lex Luthor to the authorities in return for a large donation to public broadcasting.
The Ultra-Humanite's origin in the animated series is questionable since this world did not include an explicit JSA for him to fight, but a passing reference while talking to the Flash during the Christmas episode suggests he once had a more normal appearance.
External links
- [A biography about the Ultra-Humanite]
- [Supermanica: Ultra-Humanite] Supermanica entry on the Pre-Crisis Ultra-Humanite
- [Gay League Profile]
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