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The Ultra-Humanite
The Ultra-Humanite in his white gorilla body as seen on a panel of Justice League of America #196 (November 1981).
Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAction Comics #13 (June 1939)
Created byJerry Siegel
Joe Shuster
In-story information
Alter egoGerard Shugel
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliationsInjustice League
Secret Society of Super Villains
Time Stealers
Notable aliasesDolores Winters
Johnny Thunder
Abilities

The Ultra-Humanite is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared as a recurring adversary of Superman, and was the first supervillain faced by him. Though his name is a near-synonym for Superman, he was designed to be the polar opposite of Superman; while Superman is a hero with superhuman strength, the Ultra-Humanite is a criminal mastermind who has a crippled body but a highly advanced intellect.[1] The Ultra-Humanite served as Superman's nemesis until the introduction of Superman's archnemesis, the mad scientist Lex Luthor.[2] The origins of the Ultra-Humanite are shrouded in mystery. Even he claims not to remember his true name or appearance and attributes his vast intellect and mental prowess to scientific experiments of an unknown nature.

In other media, the Ultra-Humanite has appeared in Justice League, voiced by Ian Buchanan, as well as the third and final season of The CW network television series Stargirl.

Publication history

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The Ultra-Humanite was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.[3] He first appeared in Action Comics #13 (June 1939), which was written by Siegel and drawn by Paul Cassidy (serving as a ghost artist for Shuster).[4]

Fictional character history

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Golden Age

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Ultra-Humanite's original body, art by Joe Shuster.

The Ultra-Humanite is described by Superman as a "mad scientist who seeks domination of the Earth",[5] is paralyzed from the waist down, and uses a wheelchair. Portrayed as nearly bald in Action Comics #13 and #19 and as completely bald in Action Comics #14 and 17, his real name is never given, because he has been known as the Ultra-Humanite or Ultra ever since "a scientific experiment resulted in [his] possessing the most agile and learned brain on Earth!"[6] Despite the many possibilities available to a man with such intelligence, he prefers to use his talents for crime.[7] Even after being transferred into other bodies, he is always recognizable by his "evil blazing eyes".[8]

Superman sets out to smash the Cab Protective League, an organization headed by a racketeer named Jackie Reynolds, which is attempting to seize control of the city's lucrative taxi trade.[7] Reynolds' union intimidates other cab drivers through violence and threats against passengers. Apprehended by police, who overheard him mention his crimes during an argument with Superman, Reynolds is sentenced to Sing Sing penitentiary. Reynolds escapes by using a cigarette to emit a poisonous gas that kills his guards. Taking an educated guess, Superman finds Reynolds in a cabin hideout, only to learn he has walked into a trap set by Reynolds' boss: the Ultra-Humanite. The trap deals electricity sufficient to kill 500 men, knocking Superman unconsciousness. Reynolds and the Ultra-Humanite attempt to kill him with a buzz saw, but Superman's tough skin breaks the saw into fragments. Reynolds is killed by one of the flying pieces. Ultra's henchmen set fire to the cabin, carry the Ultra-Humanite to a waiting aircraft, and leave Superman to perish. Superman regains consciousness and leaps into the aircraft's propeller, deliberately crashing the plane. He admits that he almost died in the fire, and is unable to find the Ultra-Humanite,[7] who escaped using a parachute.[9]

After scores of subway riders are injured in the collapse of a subway tunnel, Superman discovers that Star, Inc., the firm that built the tunnel, defrauded the city by using substandard materials. Superman pursues some of the employees, who lead him into a tank trap. The Ultra-Humanite freezes him inside a block of crystal. Superman breaks out but is unable to stop the Ultra-Humanite's plans.[9]

The Ultra-Humanite extorts five million dollars from a cruise line. Superman recovers the money, but Ultra uses a hologram of himself to conduct the business, leaving Superman no opportunity to capture him.[5]

The Ultra-Humanite reverse engineers a plague from the Middle Ages and releases it into the city, killing hundreds, in the hopes of exterminating the human race and replacing it with his own creations. A young scientist, Professor Henry Travers, concocts an antidote. Ultra kidnaps Travers, but he is rescued by Superman. Ultra's henchmen fire an electric gun and knock out Superman. Ultra tries hypnotizing him, but Superman fakes being controlled, and when he is taken to spread the plague with Ultra's airship, he destroys it. Superman returns to Ultra's stronghold. Ultra fires the electric gun at him, but Superman moves the Ultra-Humanite in front of the blast, killing him.[10]

Ultra's assistants revive him with adrenalin. However, his body is still dying, so Ultra has his henchmen kidnap actress Dolores Winters and transplant his brain into her body.[11] As Dolores, the Ultra-Humanite announces her retirement from acting, and throws a retirement party on her yacht, The Sea-Serpent. During the party, he moves the yacht out to sea, and holds the guests at gunpoint. Ultra announces via ship's radio that he is holding the celebrities captive for $5 million. He places helmets on the heads of the captives, wired to a control board where he can electrocute them. He receives the ransom money, but Superman throws a stalagmite into the switchboard, breaking the electrical connection. When "Dolores" threatens to disfigure the captives using a lighted torch, Superman recognizes him as Ultra. After Superman extinguishes the torch (using super-breath for the first time), Ultra dives into the water and escapes.[8]

The Ultra-Humanite reads that physicist Terry Curtis is developing an atomic weapon. As Dolores, he tries to steal Curtis's plans, then kidnaps him and tortures him into building a disintegrator. The Ultra-Humanite demands $2 million or he will destroy Metropolis. As a demonstration, he destroys the Wentworth Tower. Superman destroys the disintegrator and rides the Ultra-Humanite's plane to a glass-sheathed city inside an extinct volcano. He defeats the robot guards, but Curtis is held behind a photoelectric sensor, and Metropolis will be destroyed if the beam is broken. In exchange for Curtis's release, Superman steals the crown jewels from the Reynolds Building. In a double cross, the Ultra-Humanite sends diamond drills at Superman, but Superman breaks them. Curtis stops Ultra from pulling the lever that would destroy the city. Superman then disintegrates the photoelectric cell connections. When Superman leaps at him, the Ultra-Humanite dives to safety in the volcano's crater.[12]

The Ultra-Humanite made his last Superman appearance in Action Comics #21 (1940), and made no further comic book appearances for several decades. He was replaced as Superman's archvillan by Lex Luthor, who was introduced in Action Comics #23 (1940).

Silver Age and the Multiverse

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With the introduction of DC's multiverse system, the continuity of Golden Age Superman stories and the Ultra-Humanite were retroactively placed on Earth-Two, the Earth of DC's Golden Age characters. The Ultra-Humanite was reintroduced during the Silver Age as a recurring villain in the "Mr. and Mrs. Superman" feature in the Superman Family anthology comic. The feature consists of stories about the early years of the marriage between the Earth-Two Superman and Lois Lane. These stories feature a number of Golden Age Superman villains of which the Ultra-Humanite is the most prominent.

In the annual JLA/JSA teamup in Justice League of America #195-197 (1981), the Ultra-Humanite transfers his consciousness to an albino gorilla body and becomes a major super-villain on Earth-Two. In one instance, he recruited Brain Wave, Monocle, Rag Doll, Psycho-Pirate, Mist, and four villains from Earth-1 (Plant Master, Signalman, Cheetah, and Killer Frost) into a new Secret Society of Super Villains. Afterwards, the Ultra-Humanite regularly appears in DC Comics titles, opposing the All-Star Squadron in the 1940s, and the Justice Society of America and Infinity, Inc. in the decades since World War II.[13]

Post-Crisis

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After the 1985-86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman's history was rewritten in The Man of Steel miniseries, and the Earth-Two Superman was removed from continuity. The Ultra-Humanite was excluded from Superman's reboot, and his post-Crisis history remained tied to the 1940s and to the Justice Society of America and All-Star Squadron. Previous appearances of the Ultra-Humanite fighting Golden Age Superman in the 1940s in Action Comics #13-21 and in All-Star Squadron were re-told for the sake of continuity (a technique known as retconning) to show him having fought other 1940s heroes.[14]

The Ultra-Humanite's most ambitious scheme occurs in the 2002 "Stealing Thunder" story arc from JSA #32-37 where, having taken over the body of an aged Johnny Thunder, he deceives Jakeem Thunder into handing over his magical pen. With Thunderbolt's power, the Ultra-Humanite restores his body's youth, and then proceeds to take over the world. Under his rule, Earth is transformed into essentially a single mind, with nearly every metahuman becoming an extension of him. A few heroes manage to escape the control of the Ultra-Humanite: Jakeem Thunder, Captain Marvel, Hourman, the third Crimson Avenger, Power Girl, Sand, and the second Icicle. Wildcat and Hector Hall are also freed—Wildcat as an apparent side effect of his 'nine lives', and Hall so that he could summon the garb of Doctor Fate and thus provide the Ultra-Humanite with access to Nabu's power—but both are held captive by the Ultra-Humanite. After the reserve JSA are able to temporarily short out the Thunderbolt (thanks to advice from the time-displaced original Hourman), the Ultra-Humanite is seemingly killed by the Crimson Avenger (although the Icicle nearly beats her to it) as revenge for the death of the first Crimson Avenger, who died earlier in an explosion triggered by the Ultra-Humanite.[15]

One Year Later

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Main article: One Year Later (comics)

After the events of "Infinite Crisis", history was altered to bring Dolores Winters back to life via the reveal that her brain was placed in a new body after the Ultra-Humanite stole her body for his own use.[16]

The Ultra-Humanite's secret origin is revised, shedding more light on his past life as genius youth Gerard Shugel (a name derived from Superman creators Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel). He was born with both an intellect that surpassed the world's greatest minds and a degenerative disease that was slowly eating away at him. He used his intellect to find ways to keep the disease at bay, while trying to find a way to transplant his brain into a healthy body.[17]

Working with a reckless and young Satanna, a fellow college researcher, they worked together at their brain/transplant and animal hybridization technologies. Backlash from animal rights activists forced them to relocate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they were beset by rebel forces and the military. Satanna transplanted the brain of Gerard into the altered body of an albino gorilla. They shared an intimate relationship for a while, then parted ways for a long time, paving the way for their separate adventures as chronicled pre-OYL.

In the 2006-07 Lightning Saga crossover between Justice Society of America and Justice League of America, the untold story of how the Ultra-Humanite transitioned from Dolores Winters' body to his albino ape form was revealed: Per Degaton, the villainous time traveler, and a young version of Despero rescued the Dolores Winters-version of the Ultra-Humanite from a hospital in the year 1948. It is revealed that the Ultra-Humanite was stricken with terminal cancer and in exchange for his loyalty, Per Degaton agreed to provide a new body for the villain, in the form of a rare albino ape from the secret civilization known as Gorilla City. Christening themselves the "Time Stealers", they align themselves with Mister Mind, Rex Hunter, the mysterious Black Beetle, and the villainous father of Booster Gold in an attempt to manipulate time for their own selfish goals. Their conspiracy ultimately unravels at the hands of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle Ted Kord. In the end, the Ultra-Humanite and Despero were sent back into the past after their group was defeated, while other members were returned to their previous places in time.

The Ultra-Humanite is said to still be alive and well, having stolen a copy of Steve Dayton's Mento helmet.[18]

Later, the Ultra-Humanite is seen aiding the Reach in their plans to conquer Earth; he is defeated by Blue Beetle and Guy Gardner. Ultra appears in the first arc of Power Girl (vol. 2), using an anti-gravity mechanism to raise New York City into the air, holding the city hostage in exchange for being able to transfer his mind into Power Girl's body. The attempt fails, and Power Girl accidentally scars his whole body with acid burns, maiming his form permanently.

Satanna returns to New York, attempting to aid her former lover, stealing the body of the current Terra, Atlee, for Gerard's use. After a lengthy fight, Power Girl is able to retrieve Terra's brain (now in the crippled simian form of the Ultra-Humanite) and bring both of them to Strata, Atlee's advanced underground birth society. She does this to get her friend restored to her proper body. Strata's scientists agree to clone a new, fully human body for Gerard Shugel, resembling a healthy version of his twenty-year-old human self, cured from his degenerative disease. Power Girl attempts to hire him as a scientist for her Starr Labs, and Gerard plays along by showing a fake desire of reformation.[19]

2010s onward

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When DC rebooted its continuity with The New 52 in 2011, the Ultra-Humanite was reintroduced in the pages of Action Comics with a wildly different concept: a fear-feeding alien in the Phantom Zone who manages to get out and feed on the fear of Superman when he is a child. Young Clark is too strong for him, so he retreats to the Phantom Zone.[20] During the Superman: Doomed storyline, a portal opens in Smallville allowing the Ultra-Humanite to escape. Superman is able to defeat him by filling him up with too many emotions.[21]

Later, DC discarded most of its New 52 changes, with an initiative called DC Rebirth. All of Superman's villains and history were restored to pre-New 52 basics in a storyline called Superman Reborn. The original Ultra-Humanite subsequently appeared again, depicted as an evil genius who placed his brain into an albino gorilla. He is a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains.[22]

In Superman and the Authority, the Ultra-Humanite's canonical status as Superman's first villain returns as Brainiac supplies him with a method of Brain cloning that allows him to be in multiple places at once. Superman is forced to leave Earth with the Authority while the Ultra-Humanite, unconcerned with implications of Clark's journey, prepares to continue his villainous career as the arch-nemesis of Jon Kent.

Powers and abilities

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The Ultra-Humanite possesses a super-genius intelligence, thus making him twice as smart as Luthor. He has the medical knowledge necessary to surgically transfer his brain into another body without transplant rejection, even when using variously different species. His most frequently revisited form is that of a mutated albino gorilla with immense physical attributes and psychic powers. He invented numerous advanced weapons, vehicles, and other arcane technology.[23]

In the New 52, the Ultra-Humanite is portrayed as an alien who feeds on a person's emotions. To help him do this, he can send out small tentacled creatures that overshadows his victim, as well as draining the fears out of him or her.[24]

Other versions

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Tangent: Superman's Reign

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An alternate Ultra-Humanite appears in issues three and four of the Tangent: Superman's Reign series. This version is a living weapon created by the Soviets that went out of control. He is allegedly destroyed in battle by the Tangent version of Superman, but is later revealed that he was preserved and reprogrammed to fight for the Tangent's Superman's cause. He is finally destroyed by the combined efforts of the Tangent Batman and New Earth Superman.

Legends of the DC Universe

[edit]

The first three issues of Legends of the DC Universe feature the post-Crisis Superman. Superman is early in his career and battles a scientist named Morgan Wilde who, angered by the death of his wife, swears revenge on Luthor and gains the ability to transfer his "life essence" (called "Under-Light") as the U.L.T.R.A. Humanite.[25]

The Golden Age

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In the Elseworlds miniseries The Golden Age, the Ultra-Humanite places his brain into the body of Tex Thomson, known as the Americommando. He also arranges to place the brain of his ally Adolf Hitler into the body of Danny Dunbar, while simultaneously arranging to give Hitler (as Dunbar) super-powers.[26][27]

Superman & Batman: Generations

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The Ultra-Humanite is the principal villain in the John Byrne limited series Superman & Batman: Generations. He first appears in the 1939 story, but is believed to be killed when his escape rocket explodes.[28] Decades later, it is revealed that the Humanite had his brain placed in the body of his lackey Lex Luthor and posed as Luthor for the intervening time. He then attempts to swap bodies with a then-powerless Superman, but is killed when Superman, attempting to escape, throws a metal spear into Humanite's computer, causing it to electrocute the villain.[29][30]

Earth 2

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A different Ultra-Humanite appears as the main villain of the "One Nation" arc of Earth 2: Society #12-16, where he is a survivor of the destroyed Earth 2 and uses the lost children of the old Earth as his personal soldiers, one of whom is John Grayson, the son of the Earth 2 Dick Grayson, aka Batman III. He is killed by Hawkgirl with the Amazonion Casket, the object he was going to use as part of his plan to take over Earth 2.[31]

In other media

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Television

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The Ultra-Humanite (left) as he appears in Justice League.
  • Ultra-Humanite in his albino gorilla body appears in Justice League, voiced by Ian Buchanan.[32] This version is a cultured and intellectual criminal with a deep love for classical music and violent hatred for most modern art. Additionally, he is more benevolent than his comics counterpart, helping heroes for his own reasons across his appearances, with one seeing him joining Lex Luthor's Injustice Gang before eventually betraying him.
  • Ultra-Humanite in his albino Tyrannosaurus body appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold short "The Creature Commandos in The War That Time Forgot!", voiced by Jeff Bennett.[32] This version is a brain in a small mobile robotic jar capable of possessing anything. While assisting the Axis powers during World War II with mind-controlled dinosaurs from Dinosaur Island, he captured Batman, but is thwarted by the Creature Commandos, forced to retreat, and cornered by other dinosaurs.
  • Ultra-Humanite in his albino gorilla body appears in Young Justice, with vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker in the first season and by Greg Weisman in the third season.[32] This version mentored Dr. Helga Jace. First appearing in the episode "Revelation" as a member of the Injustice League, the Light uses the group to throw the Justice League and the Team off their trail. As of the episode "Home Fires", Ultra-Humanite has replaced the Brain as a leading member of the Light and acquired a speaker for his harness.
  • Ultra-Humanite in his albino gorilla body appears in the third season of Stargirl, voiced by an uncredited actor. This version is an enemy of the original Justice Society of America (JSA) and an associate of Dragon King. In the present, Ultra-Humanite forms an alliance with Icicle and Dragon King before transplanting his brain into the body of Starman (portrayed by Joel McHale) to manipulate Stargirl and her JSA while Dragon King transplanted his brain into Ultra-Humanite's body for him to "defeat" as Starman alongside Icicle's son before intending to run for president as a mouthpiece for Icicle to spread his ideals. However, the JSA defeat the villains, with S.T.R.I.P.E. leaving Ultra-Humanite brain-damaged.

Video games

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Miscellaneous

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  • Ultra-Humanite in his albino gorilla body appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #3.[36] Having taken several apes as hosts to avoid being mistaken for Lex Luthor, he attacks the U.S. President, only to be thwarted by Batman and Green Arrow.[37]
  • Ultra-Humanite appears in Young Justice #19.[38] It is revealed that this version was originally an old woman who had her brain transplanted into an albino gorilla.

Merchandise

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See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ultra-Humanite

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from Grokipedia
The Ultra-Humanite is a appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, widely recognized as the first super-villain in the company's history and Superman's earliest recurring nemesis. He debuted in #13 (June 1939) as a bald who vexed the Man of Steel through elaborate criminal schemes. A criminal mastermind with genius-level , the Ultra-Humanite is best known for inventing mind-transference technology that enables him to transplant his into other bodies, thereby acquiring their physical abilities and forms while preserving his own superior mental capacities. In a 1997 retelling of his origin in Legends of the DC Universe #1-3, he is depicted as scientist Morgan Wilde, who developed the device to exact revenge on after the murder of his wife. Throughout his appearances, the Ultra-Humanite has inhabited numerous bodies, including those of actress Dolores Winters in #20-21 (1940), an albino gorilla that became his iconic form in of America #195-197 (1981), and in JSA #32 (2002), and numerous others across comics and other media, for a total of 16 bodies including a Tyrannosaurus rex, an ant, and Solomon Grundy. Beyond Superman, he has served as a major foe to the , often orchestrating villainous plots from behind the scenes, including founding the Secret Society of Super-Villains, though his prominence has been somewhat overshadowed by more famous adversaries like .

Creation and publication

Creation

The Ultra-Humanite was created by writer and artist , the duo behind , as the Man of Steel's inaugural recurring supervillain. The character debuted in Action Comics #13, cover-dated June 1939, where Siegel provided the script and Shuster handled the pencils and inks for the feature. This introduction established the Ultra-Humanite as a cerebral antagonist, predating more famous foes like and filling a narrative gap for scientifically inclined threats in the early Superman mythos. Originally conceived as an elderly, deformed , the Ultra-Humanite embodied the archetype of a brilliant but physically frail intellect plotting through unethical experiments. His core gimmick—transferring his into other bodies to escape mortality and amplify his influence—contrasted sharply with Superman's reliance on , underscoring themes of mind versus might central to the character's role as a foil. This design reflected the creators' intent to diversify Superman's challenges beyond brute force, introducing a villain whose schemes relied on ingenuity and scientific overreach. The character's origins drew from prevalent pulp tropes of the 1930s, including mad scientists experimenting with and body-swapping concepts that echoed of the era. and Shuster, steeped in and serials, crafted the Ultra-Humanite to evoke the intellectual villainy seen in contemporary adventure stories, where deformed geniuses wielded technology as a weapon against heroic physicality. Although initially positioned as a singular adversary, the villain's popularity among readers—evident in his return in subsequent issues—solidified his status as a recurring menace, evolving the early series toward more serialized scientific conflicts.

Publication history

The Ultra-Humanite debuted in Action Comics #13 (June 1939), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as Superman's first recurring supervillain. He appeared in Action Comics #13, #14, #17, #19–21 (1939–1940), with no further major appearances until the late 1970s, solidifying his role as a mad scientist antagonist. These early tales highlighted his intellectual genius and body-transference schemes. In the Silver Age revival, the character returned in Superman Family #201 (June 1980), marking his first postwar outing, and integrated into lore through crossovers like Justice League of America #195–197 (1981), where he collaborated with other villains against the . Golden Age expansions tying him to and WWII plots were retroactively established in All-Star Squadron #21–26 and Annual #2 (1983–1984). Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Ultra-Humanite reemerged in the 1980s with minor roles before gaining prominence in the JSA series (1999–2006) by Geoff Johns, featuring in key issues like #35–37 (2002) as a central threat to the team during the "Stealing Thunder" and "Fair Play" arcs. The 2006 "One Year Later" storyline in JSA #82–87 further explored his schemes, emphasizing his enduring rivalry with Superman and the Justice Society. In the 2010s New 52 era, he appeared as the main villain in the "One Nation" arc of Earth 2: Society #12–16 (2016), reimagined as a survivor manipulating superpowered children on a ravaged world. His debut in the main continuity came in Justice League Vol. 2 #23.1 (November 2013), with additional roles in Action Comics Vol. 2 #23.1 (2013) and other Superman titles. The Rebirth initiative reintegrated him into Prime Earth continuity, with a major role in the "Their Dark Design" arc of Batman/Superman (2019) #9–11 (2020), where he unleashes an atomic army against Batman and Superman, and minor references in subsequent Superman lore. As of November 2025, the Ultra-Humanite has seen no major comic runs since 2020, limited to minor references in Superman family titles and crossovers. Overall, he has appeared in over 250 DC Comics issues across imprints, with publication peaks in the 1940s (early foe establishment) and 2000s (JSA revival).

Fictional character biography

Golden Age

The Ultra-Humanite debuted as Superman's first recurring adversary in the Golden Age, originating as an unnamed aging criminal scientist whose body was paralyzed, operating under the alias Ultra-Humanite. This enabled him, from a wheelchair, to orchestrate elaborate criminal schemes in Metropolis, including leading the Cab Protective League in sabotaging bus transportation through poison gas and deadly traps to eliminate competition and profit from the chaos. Superman first confronted and defeated the Ultra-Humanite by destroying his escape plane after exposing his operations, though the villain survived the crash. Seeking to evade capture and enhance his capabilities, the Ultra-Humanite pioneered a radical brain-transplantation technique, first transferring his mind into the body of kidnapped Dolores Winters to exploit her influence and beauty for further crimes, such as abducting prominent scientists. Superman thwarted these plans, leading the villain to continue his schemes from a hidden base inside a in subsequent confrontations. This form amplified the Ultra-Humanite's threats while underscoring themes of scientific , as his pursuit of twisted ethical boundaries in pursuit of domination. The albino gorilla body, which became iconic for the character, was introduced in later eras. Expanding his ambitions amid tensions, the Ultra-Humanite assumed leadership of the "," a network of Nazi-aligned saboteurs in the United States, plotting to undermine American morale and infrastructure through espionage and attacks on key figures. He clashed with the , including intense battles against and the Flash, as the team dismantled his operations in a story rife with anti-fascist undertones reflective of the era's wartime . Further schemes involved criminal enterprises, as detailed across multiple issues. The Ultra-Humanite met a presumed demise falling into a during a at his hidden base. However, later tales hinted at his survival and lingering influence, such as shadowy manipulations in wartime espionage plots, reinforcing his role as an enduring symbol of intellectual villainy unchecked by moral constraints.

Silver Age and Multiverse

The Ultra-Humanite was revived as a recurring during the Silver Age in Action Comics #256 (September 1959), where he emerged as Superman's intellectual rival on , scheming for world domination by transferring his mind into various monstrous forms such as dinosaurs and robots to execute elaborate plots against the Man of . In these stories, the villain's body-swapping ability allowed him to orchestrate escalating scientific threats, including weather control devices designed to unleash catastrophic storms and experimental serums granting temporary immortality to his minions, forcing Superman into direct that highlighted the Ultra-Humanite's genius-level intellect rivaling the hero's own strategic prowess. By , the Ultra-Humanite's schemes expanded to involve Superman's supporting , solidifying his role as a persistent foe, with his transferable enabling him to evade capture and adapt to countermeasures, often clashing with over inventions like mind-control rays tailored to exploit the hero's vulnerabilities. The character's significance grew within the DC framework during the 1970s, where the Ultra-Humanite participated in cross-dimensional assaults involving the and , utilizing interdimensional portals and hybrid weaponry to bridge realities and amplify his bids for multiversal control. This crossover emphasized his adaptability across worlds, employing serums that enhanced his physical forms for combat against multiple heroes. Later Silver Age narratives revisited his early criminal empire ambitions through various threats to the , deploying robotic proxies and environmental manipulation devices. The Ultra-Humanite's pre-Crisis arc culminated in #29 (January 1981), featuring his brain transplanted into a rex body on a prehistoric island, where he sought to harness ancient energies for an serum capable of sustaining his consciousness indefinitely while battling in a primal showdown that underscored his unyielding pursuit of supremacy. Throughout these Multiverse-spanning tales from the 1960s to early 1980s, the villain's threats evolved from isolated scientific gadgets to interconnected schemes leveraging parallel Earths, establishing him as a foundational intellect-driven adversary in DC's pre-Crisis cosmology.

Post-Crisis

Following the events of , the Ultra-Humanite was reestablished in DC's unified continuity as a Golden Age villain who had survived into the modern era, primarily as a recurring adversary of the (JSA) rather than . His core concept of a brilliant scientist using body transference to overcome physical frailty was retained, but his history was streamlined to fit the single Earth timeline, with echoes of pre-Crisis tales adapted into flashbacks or alternate scenarios. This reboot emphasized his role as a scheming intellectual threat, often leading villainous groups against the JSA while exploring themes of and supremacy through grotesque body-swapping. The character's modern reintroduction occurred in Legends of the #1-3 (1997-1998), where he was depicted as the brilliant scientist Morgan Wilde, whose wife died due to Lex Luthor's corporate . Enraged, Wilde developed mind-transference and began inhabiting various bodies to infiltrate and Luthor's , including those of a LexCorp employee and Luthor's security chief. This storyline pitted him against an early-career , highlighting his genetic experimentation and elements as he sought to "perfect" humanity by replacing weak bodies with stronger ones, ultimately resulting in his defeat and escape. The narrative underscored his intellectual rivalry with Luthor and , positioning him as a precursor to Luthor's villainy in a post-Crisis context. In the 2000s JSA series, the Ultra-Humanite emerged as a central , frequently allying with or leading villain teams like the of Super-Villains and elements of the to challenge the JSA. He appeared in his iconic albino ape form, enhanced with cybernetic upgrades for , in JSA Annual #1 (2000), where he plotted global domination through advanced weaponry and mind control devices. His schemes often involved manipulating historical events or JSA members, drawing on his genius-level to outmaneuver heroes physically superior to him. Battles in arcs like "" (JSA #32-37, 2001-2002) showcased his body transference reaching new heights: he seized the aging body of JSA founder , harnessing the genie to rewrite reality, placing world leaders and superheroes in stasis within a horrific "body bank" for future use. This plot, blending intellectual supremacy with , saw the Ultra-Humanite nearly conquer Earth by mind-controlling global figures and turning JSA allies against each other, only to be thwarted when young reclaimed the genie and the JSA disrupted his network with coordinated strikes involving revived heroes like the original . The Ultra-Humanite's post-Crisis prominence peaked in the JSA's later arcs, including the "One Year Later" storyline (JSA #75-81, 2006), where he led a coalition of villains—including former Injustice Society members—against the reformed JSA. Operating from a hidden lair, he employed mind-control technology to puppet international leaders, aiming to destabilize global order and install himself as a puppet master of human evolution. His plans incorporated genetic experiments to create hybrid soldiers from stolen hero DNA, echoing earlier body horror motifs. The heroes ultimately defeated him through a combination of magical countermeasures from Doctor Fate and raw determination from veterans like Wildcat, forcing the Ultra-Humanite to flee after his ape form was critically damaged. These encounters reinforced his obsession with transcending human limitations, often ending in ironic defeats where his overreliance on intellect faltered against the JSA's camaraderie and moral resolve.

New 52 and Rebirth

In the New 52 continuity, Ultra-Humanite was reimagined as an alien parasite capable of feeding on fear, debuting in Action Comics #37–39 (2014–2015). This version, a telepathic entity imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, escaped and infected residents of Smallville, manifesting as horrifying fear-based illusions and creatures that drained life force from victims, including Steel's sister Lana Lang. The entity targeted a young Clark Kent, amplifying his insecurities to consume his fears, but was ultimately defeated by Superman and returned to the Phantom Zone after a confrontation involving Brainiac's technology. On the alternate Earth-2, Ultra-Humanite appeared as a classic white ape-bodied terrorist leader in Earth 2: Society #13–22 (2016–2017), commanding a squadron of enhanced "Humanites" cloned soldiers to seize and reshape the world in his image. During the "" crossover elements, he orchestrated global chaos by attempting to impose mind control on societal structures, positioning himself as a survivalist amid the planet's post-apocalyptic struggles against forces. His plot was thwarted by the in a climactic battle over reality alteration. The Rebirth era restored elements of the traditional body-transferring , with Ultra-Humanite emerging from the Phantom Zone as an immortal schemer in Batman/Superman #9 (2020), inhabiting his iconic form and deploying mind-controlled, zombified Gotham police as explosive pawns in a bid for domination. He later transferred his consciousness into Solomon Grundy's body for a on in Superman and the Authority #3 (2021), leveraging enhanced strength and resilience before being expelled. In Superman: Son of Kal-El #16 (2022), he reverted to form and psychically assaulted Jonathan Kent with visions of doubt and failure during a breakout attempt, emphasizing psychological manipulation over physical might. These portrayals shifted Ultra-Humanite toward horror-infused psychological terror, contrasting his earlier scientific villainy with themes of fear exploitation and existential dread. From 2020 to 2025, as of November 2025, Ultra-Humanite's major appearances remained sparse, with no confirmed large-scale arcs beyond the 2021–2022 outings, underscoring a narrative gap in Prime Earth stories while highlighting his adaptability across multiversal threats.

Powers and abilities

Intellectual capabilities

The Ultra-Humanite is renowned as a endowed with a genius-level , enabling him to devise complex criminal enterprises that challenge even the most formidable heroes in the . This exceptional mental acuity forms the cornerstone of his villainy, allowing him to orchestrate schemes aimed at global domination from his earliest appearances. His expertise spans multiple scientific disciplines, with particular mastery in and that underpins his groundbreaking innovations. Among his most notable inventions is the mind-transfer device, a surgical and technological marvel that permits the transplantation of his consciousness into other bodies, preserving his intellect across transformations. He has also developed advanced mind-control technologies, capable of subjugating entire populations or slaves to further his ambitions. Strategically, the Ultra-Humanite excels in long-term planning, often outmaneuvering opponents through intellectual superiority rather than brute force alone; for instance, his plots frequently involve manipulating key figures or leveraging scientific tools to achieve widespread control. This cunning has positioned him as a leader in villainous alliances, where his intellect coordinates efforts against groups like the . Such capabilities occasionally extend to body transference applications, enhancing his schemes without relying on physical prowess.

Body transference and physical enhancements

The Ultra-Humanite's core ability revolves around surgical brain transplantation, a process he developed to transfer his into new host bodies while retaining his intellect and acquiring the physical attributes of the host. This mind-transference involves precise neural integration to ensure the adapts without immediate rejection, allowing him to extend his lifespan indefinitely by swapping forms as needed. Among the most notable host bodies is that of an albino gorilla, which grants him superhuman strength capable of challenging in direct combat and enhanced agility for evading attacks during schemes of . He has also inhabited the body of Dolores Winters to leverage her charisma for infiltration and disguise, facilitating criminal enterprises under a veneer of normalcy. Other forms include powerful animals like a giant winged for manipulative operations or dinosaurs such as a Tyrannosaurus rex for raw destructive power, and cybernetic constructs resembling toxic androids for superior durability against energy-based assaults. In Prime Earth continuity, the Ultra-Humanite exhibits a unique fear-based physiology, enabling him to infect hosts with parasitic entities that burrow under the skin, amplify terror, and allow him to feed on the resulting emotional energy for sustenance and growth. This form permits tentacle-like extensions for combat and spreading infection, as well as size increases proportional to the fear consumed, turning victims' dread into a weaponized resource during confrontations in . Despite these advantages, the transference process carries significant limitations, including the risk of failure during the procedure that can trap him in unintended or weakened bodies, such as an initial botched transfer into a form. Vulnerability is acute mid-transplant, leaving him exposed to interruption by heroes like , and incompatible hosts may lead to physiological rejection or psychological instability, complicating long-term control. These constraints force reliance on precise planning, yet they enhance his villainy by pairing his genius-level intellect—briefly channeled through the same innovative design—with the brawn of chosen hosts, as exemplified by the body's role in overpowering foes in battles.

Alternate versions

Golden Age and Earth-Two variants

In Earth-Two continuity, the Ultra-Humanite is retroactively portrayed as an adversary to the , with key conflicts depicted in later stories set during the . He adopts the albino gorilla body during the war era, which becomes his iconic form in Earth-Two stories such as Justice League of America #195-197 (1981), providing while he plots against the JSA from the shadows, emphasizing the transition from wartime heroism to peacetime threats. In John Byrne's 1999 series Superman & Batman: Generations, the Ultra-Humanite serves as an aging, persistent antagonist across a real-time spanning narrative of the , beginning with his defeat by and Batman at the 1939 . Over decades, he repeatedly employs his body-transference ability to inhabit historical figures and rivals, adapting his schemes to evolving eras while clashing with the aging heroes, ultimately revealing deeper connections to figures like [Lex Luthor](/page/Lex Luthor) in a tale that explores legacy and mortality. In the 2006-2007 Tangent: Superman's Reign miniseries, an alternate-universe Ultra-Humanite manifests as a powerful who leads a fascist regime, unleashed by the tyrannical Superman to conquer the and overwhelm the of America. This version emphasizes his role as an uncontrollable force of destruction, enforcing dictatorial control over the populace in a reimagined where threats dominate global politics.

Elseworlds and hypothetical scenarios

In the Elseworlds miniseries The Golden Age (1993–1994) by James Robinson, the Ultra-Humanite is reimagined as a brilliant but malevolent industrialist who transfers his brain into the body of , the retired hero known as Mr. America and Americommando. Posing as a charismatic politician, he manipulates disillusioned veterans and superheroes, forging alliances with other villains including Dynaman—revealed to be in disguise—to orchestrate a fascist coup aimed at reshaping the into an authoritarian regime. This version highlights the villain's unparalleled intellect as a tool for ideological subversion, forcing members of the to confront personal betrayals and the fragility of , culminating in a tragic showdown that underscores themes of lost in a changing world. The Earth 2 series (2012–2015) presents an apocalyptic iteration of the Ultra-Humanite on a devastated alternate Earth ravaged by war and Apokoliptian forces, distinct from the primary continuity. As a body-swapping despot, he survives the planet's near-destruction by possessing multiple hosts and orphaned children into a legion of super-powered thralls, whom he deploys as an army to seize control. Emboldened by the heroes' vulnerabilities, such as Alan Scott's fading power, the Ultra-Humanite schemes to harness mystical energies and forge a new reality under his rule, leading to desperate confrontations with the in a twilight limbo between life and oblivion. This portrayal amplifies the character's tyrannical genius amid , emphasizing survival through manipulation and domination in a hopeless, war-torn landscape. Hypothetical "what if" scenarios in DC's alternate tales frequently depict the Ultra-Humanite leveraging his intellect to thrive in dystopian regimes, often as a shadowy advisor exploiting flawed heroes. These narratives explore the of the Ultra-Humanite's preferred albino form as a for raw power fused with cerebral supremacy, illustrating how unchecked genius could tip alternate worlds toward intellectual without heroic intervention.

In other media

Television and animation

The Ultra-Humanite made his animated debut in the series (2001–2004), portrayed as an albino gorilla with genius-level intellect, voiced by . In the season 1 two-part episode "Injustice for All" (2002), he allies with to form the Injustice Gang, leveraging his scientific expertise to construct Luthor's advanced warsuit and orchestrate attacks on the , ultimately aiming to seize control through strategic villainy. In Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006), the character recurs as a member of Gorilla Grodd's of Super-Villains, again voiced by Buchanan. His most notable appearance is in the season 1 episode "Comfort and Joy" (2003), where he fights the Flash but then helps repair a broken toy for orphans during the holidays, briefly setting aside his antagonism to reveal a softer side amid the Society's broader schemes. The Ultra-Humanite features prominently in (2010–2022), depicted in his signature form with vocal effects by in early seasons and in later ones. He debuts in season 1, episode 6 "" (2010), as a key member of the Injustice League, deploying mind-controlled plant monsters to cover a invasion plot. In season 3, he is revealed as the eighth member of the Light, utilizing mind control technology in plots to further their goals of influencing global events. In Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–2011), Ultra-Humanite appears as a disembodied in a mobile jar capable of possessing hosts, voiced by . In season 3, episode 4 "Four Star Spectacular!" (2011), he possesses a Tyrannosaurus rex body on Dinosaur Island, controlling dinosaurs for conquest, and is stopped by Batman and the , highlighting his body-transference powers. In live-action television, the Ultra-Humanite serves as a central antagonist in Stargirl season 3 (2022), appearing possessing the body of Sylvester Pemberton, portrayed by Joel McHale. Revealed in episode 9 "The Monsters," he allies with Icicle and Dragon King for revenge against the Justice Society, having transplanted his brain into Pemberton's body to impersonate Starman and infiltrate the new JSA, culminating in a climactic confrontation that highlights his surgical intellect and body-swapping tech. In Peacemaker season 2 (2025), Ultra-Humanite is referenced and appears in a cameo in 1 "The Ties That Grind," connecting to Earth-2 elements in the DCU. Across these portrayals, adaptations consistently emphasize the Ultra-Humanite's villainous intellect and body-transference powers, often streamlining the complex process from his comic origins for episodic pacing and visual dynamism in both and live-action formats.

Video games

Ultra-Humanite has appeared in multiple video games within the DC Comics franchise, generally depicted as a cunning whose scientific expertise and body transference theme translate into strategic mechanics such as boss encounters or puzzle-solving tools. In the DC Universe Online (2011), Ultra-Humanite serves as the final boss in the Gorilla Island alert instance, challenging players in his albino ape form with attacks that include energy blasts and environmental hazards drawn from his background. The fight requires coordinated team efforts to disrupt his defensive spheres and counter his enrage phases, underscoring his pre-transfer intellect even in a physically enhanced body. He is voiced by Brian Jepson. Ultra-Humanite features as a summonable character in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (2013), where players can write his name to call him into levels for assistance in creative problem-solving, leveraging his villainous traits to interact with objects or combat foes in puzzle scenarios. In Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014), Ultra-Humanite is an unlockable playable character in the brawler class, accessible by finding his token in the free play mode of the "Jailhouse Nok" level for 500,000 studs. His kit includes powerful melee punches from his gorilla physique and gadget-based abilities for accessing tech panels, allowing use in both combat and exploration. Ultra-Humanite returns as an unlockable character in (2018), obtained by collecting his token during Level 6, "Con-Grodd-ulations." In this villain-focused title, his body-swap gadget enables temporary control of nearby allies or enemies to solve environmental puzzles and gain combat edges, complemented by gorilla-strength punches for direct confrontations, highlighting his core power of as a versatile . These portrayals consistently emphasize Ultra-Humanite's strategic intellect through mechanics like ally manipulation and phased battles, distinguishing him from brute-force villains in interactive DC gaming experiences.

Other adaptations

The Ultra-Humanite has been featured in several lines of DC Comics merchandise, particularly action figures tied to and classic character retrospectives. In 2004, produced an Ultra-Humanite figure as part of the toy line, depicting the villain in his signature albino gorilla form complete with a morphing gear accessory that transformed into a blaster weapon. This release capitalized on the character's appearance in the animated series, emphasizing his physical enhancements and intellectual menace through detailed sculpting and articulation. Building on that popularity, revisited the Ultra-Humanite in as the Build-a-Figure for wave 14 of the series, an exclusive available at stores. Collectors assembled the 7-inch figure from parts included with individual heroes like and , resulting in a highly articulated version showcasing the villain's oversized brain, armored gorilla physique, and accessory energy blaster. The design drew from classic comic depictions while incorporating modern play features, such as swivel joints for posing in dynamic combat scenarios against or the Justice Society. Trading cards represent another avenue for the character's presence in collectible media. The Ultra-Humanite appears in the 2025 Brilliants set as card #89, part of a 90-card base lineup printed on rainbow foil stock, highlighting his role as 's early intellectual archfoe with artwork by Anthony Marques and Wade von Grawbadger. Parallel versions, such as the Blue X-Ray edition limited to 999 copies, underscore the character's enduring appeal in modern formats focused on DC villains.

References

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