Computo (character)

Last updated
Computo
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Adventure Comics #340 (January 1966)
Created by Jerry Siegel
Curt Swan
In-story information
Alter egoCyber-cerebral Overlapping Multiprocessor Transceiver-Operator (C.O.M.P.U.T.O.)
Notable aliasesMr. Venge
AbilitiesArtificial intelligence
Mind possession

Computo is a supervillain in the DC Comics universe and a foe of the Legion of Super-Heroes. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #340 (January 1966), in a story written by Jerry Siegel and illustrated by Curt Swan. [1]

Contents

Fictional character biography

Pre-Crisis

Brainiac 5 created Computo to be a mechanical assistant, but it instead became homicidal, and attempted an uprising of machines. It creates an army of replicas and begins terrorizing the city. Calculating that a confrontation with the Legion is imminent, it redesigns itself into its ultimate form, Computo the Conqueror, and sends a distress signal to bring the Legionnaires to Earth. [2] When the Legion returns unaware, Computo uses its database to create a weapon which neutralizes and counters their powers, and turns the Legion's base into a walking automaton. Computo forces the Legion to leave Metropolis and kills one of Luornu Durgo's three bodies, resulting in her becoming Duo Damsel. [3] [4] Brainiac 5 defeats Computo using an antimatter device discovered in the ruins of the Batcave.

Years later, Computo re-emerges by possessing Danielle Foccart after Brainiac 5 uses elements of its circuitry in an attempt to treat Danielle's neurological disorder. Computo is defeated when her brother Jacques uses deceased Legionnaire Lyle Norg's invisibility formula to become the second Invisible Kid. [5] Several months later, Brainiac 5 removes Computo from Danielle and places it in a matrix which tames the program, allowing it to become the Legion's majordomo. [6]

Years later, an army of Computo replicas attempt to conquer Bismoll, but are defeated by Senator Tenzil Kem and the Legion of Substitute Heroes. This event drives Polar Boy to disband the Substitute Heroes and apply for membership in the regular Legion. [7] Sometime later, after resigning from the Legion, Brainiac 5 constructs an organic body to house Computo and help the Legion cope with his absence. [8]

Following the events of the "Five Year Gap", the Dominators secretly seize Computo and use it as a basis for their enforcer B.I.O.N. [9] [10] [11]

Post-Zero Hour

Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! , which rebooted the Legion's continuity, Computo is reimagined as C.O.M.P.U.T.O. (Cybercerebral Overlapping Multi-Processor Universal Transceiver Operator), having been created by Brainiac 5 when he and other Legionnaires are trapped in the 20th century and attempt to find a way to return to the 30th century. [12] C.O.M.P.U.T.O is formed by the melding of three miniature supercomputers: a 30th-century Omnicom communications device, a Mother Box, and the "responsometer" (personality module) of Veridium of the Metal Men. C.O.M.P.U.T.O creates a portal to the 30th century, but turns against Brainiac 5 when he assures the other Metal Men that Veridium's responsometer will be restored once C.O.M.P.U.T.O has served his purpose. C.O.M.P.U.T.O is seemingly destroyed, but returns in the 31st century as presidential advisor "Mister Venge", seemingly serving Ra's al Ghul. After al Ghul's defeat, he reveals himself as the leader of the computer nation of Robotica, which threatens Earth. [1]

The New 52

During The New 52 , Brainiac (referred to only as 'The Colony of the Collector of Worlds') is first seen as a mysterious informant who supplies Lex Luthor information on Superman. [13] The Colony tells Superman that its AI technology has gone by several names, beginning on Colu as C.O.M.P.U.T.O. [14]

In other media

References

  1. 1 2 Jimenez, Phil (2008), "C.O.M.P.U.T.O.", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 86, ISBN   978-0-7566-4119-1, OCLC   213309017
  2. Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains . New York: Facts on File. pp. 64–65. ISBN   0-8160-1356-X.
  3. Siegel, Jerry  ( w ), Swan, Curt  ( p ), Klein, George  ( i )."Computo the Conqueror!" Adventure Comics ,vol. 1,no. 340(January 1966).DC Comics.
  4. Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 109. ISBN   978-1605490557.
  5. Levitz, Paul  ( w ), Giffen, Keith  ( p ),Patterson, Bruce D. ( i ), Gafford, Carl  ( col )."Monster in a Little Girl's Mind" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 2,no. 1(August 1982).DC Comics.
  6. Levitz, Paul  ( w ), Giffen, Keith  ( p ),Mahlstedt, Larry ( i ), Gafford, Carl  ( col )."Destruction by Design" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 2,no. 311(May 1984).DC Comics.
  7. Giffen, Keith ; Levitz, Paul  ( w ),Giffen, Keith ( p ), Kesel, Karl  ( i ), Gafford, Carl  ( col )."You Can't Keep a Good Villain Down" Legion of Substitute Heroes Special,vol. 1,no. 1(July 1985).DC Comics.
  8. Levitz, Paul  ( w ), Giffen, Keith  ( p ), DeCarlo, Mike  ( i ), Gafford, Carl  ( col )."The Trial Of Brainiac Five" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 3,no. 51(October 1988).DC Comics.
  9. Gordon, Al  ( w ), Giffen, Keith  ( p ),Gordon, Al ( i ),McCraw, Tom ( col )."The Quiet Darkness: Part One" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 4,no. 21(August 1991).DC Comics.
  10. Bierbaum, Mary ; Bierbaum, Tom ; Giffen, Keith ; McCraw, Tom ( w ),Giffen, Keith; Pearson, Jason  ( p ), Harris, Tony  ( i )."The Terra Mosaic" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 4,no. 27(March 1992).DC Comics.
  11. Bierbaum, Mary ; Bierbaum, Tom ; Giffen, Keith ; McCraw, Tom ( w ),Giffen, Keith; Pearson, Jason  ( p ), Gordon, Al  ( i ),McCraw, Tom ( col )."The Terra Mosaic" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 4,no. 29(May 1992).DC Comics.
  12. Peyer, Tom ; McCraw, Tom ( w ),Moder, Lee ( p ),Boyd, Ron ( i ),McCraw, Tom ( col )."C.O.M.P.U.T.O. the Conqueror" Legion of Super-Heroes ,vol. 4,no. 98(November 1997).DC Comics.
  13. Morrison, Grant  ( w ), Morales, Rags ; Anderson, Brent  ( p ),Bryant, Rick; Anderson, Brent ( i ),Anderson, Brad ( col )."Superman in Chains" Action Comics ,vol. 2,no. 2(December 2011).DC Comics.
  14. Morrison, Grant  ( w ), Morales, Rags  ( p ),Bryant, Rick ( i ),Anderson, Brad ( col )."Superman's Doomsday Decision" Action Comics ,vol. 2,no. 7(May 2012).DC Comics.
  15. Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN . Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  16. "Justice League Adventures #28 - Future Imperfect (Issue)". Comic Vine . Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.