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Despero

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Despero
File:Despero345.png
Art by Chris Batista.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceJustice League of America #1, (October 1960)
Created byGardner Fox (writer)
Mike Sekowsky (artist)
In-story information
Place of originKalanor
Team affiliationsInjustice League
Secret Society of Super Villains
Time Stealers
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, speed, stamina, intelligence and flight
Vast psionic powers including telepathy, telekinesis, hypnotism, and teleportation

Despero is a fictional character, a supervillain in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, he first appeared in Justice League of America #1 (October 1960).[1]

Publication history

File:JLofA-1.jpg
Cover of Justice League of America #1 (October 1960), Despero's first appearance.
Art by Mike Sekowsky.

In his 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 swore vengeance ever since.[1]

Fictional character biography

Despero went through virtually as many transformations as the League itself. Initially conceived as a physically weak, mind-controlling tyrant with a penchant 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.

Rebirth

Justice League America #38-42 established the character as being driven by a deep hatred for the Justice League, to the point that his hatred allowed for him to survive death and regenerate his body through sheer willpower. He attacked the Justice League as he had known it (previous incarnation - "Justice League Detroit" ) and then sought them out, eventually battling at the United Nations building (New York). The battle ended only through Martian Manhunter employing his telepathy to trick Despero into thinking he had successfully killed not only the Justice League, but all life on Earth, causing him to let go of his hatred and regressing to the form of a fetus.[1] The fetus Despero was then given to Manga Khan in exchange for his robotic man-servant L-Ron.

Breakdowns

During the "Breakdowns" story (which ran through Justice League America/Justice League Europe titles), Despero was aged back into adulthood and escaped back to Earth to continue his vendetta against the JLA. Despero attacked both the American and European Justice League teams and the murderous bounty-hunter Lobo (who had been hired to retrieve Despero for Khan) in Times Square, New York. Despero could only be stopped once again through desperate means; the robot L-Ron used the slave collar Despero wore to switch bodies with Despero, gaining his monstrous form while trapping him into L-Ron's powerful, if small, robotic form. Attacking the Justice League, Despero was defeated by an unlikely source, a duck hunter who shot him by mistake, destroying his robot body in the process. L-Ron then went into outer space with his new body before returning to Earth and joining the Justice League Task Force.

Although he was seemingly killed when L-Ron's body was destroyed, his mind somehow ended up returning to his body, where it was shown to be battling L-Ron for control of his original body. L-Ron succeeded in casting him out after Despero briefly regained control over his body, at which point he once again became a "free floating evil essence", able to possess innocent people. In this state, he confronted Young Justice, currently attempting to prove their maturity by tackling a crisis on their own; he initially sought to possess Superboy, seeing him as the most powerful host available- Robin was merely mortal and he could barely comprehend Impulse's chaotic mind-, but eventually managed to take control of the Martian Manhunter, who had been watching the fight in case the teens required assistance. Using J'onn's primal fear of fire, they drove Despero out of his body, and he was subsequently banished to another dimension by Secret, although he apparently escaped.

Cast out of Luthor in JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice.
Art by Carlos Pacheco.

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 gaze and apparently returned to corporeal form. Despero defeats several teams of JSA/JLA and takes on Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Manhunter, Power Girl, and Hourman at the same time, allowing the next wave of Green Lanterns Kyle Rayner and Alan Scott, Firestorm, Captain Atom, and Zatanna to attack using their full powers right after the psychic attack. Despero withstood all of that and more before eventually falling to the stare of Johnny Sorrow.[1]

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 a telepathic battle with both Martian Manhunter and Aquaman, Despero took control of them as well as Batman, but not before Catwoman summoned the Justice League.

In the ensuing battle, Despero mentally took control of the Green Arrow, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), and the Black Canary. After Despero nearly took control of Superman, Red Tornado arrived and saved Superman. As Despero moved to attack Tornado with the members of the League over whom he had taken control, Zatanna arrived and stopped him. After he was defeated, Despero was taken by Hal Jordan into Oa's custody.

Return

He would come back from Oa however, in Superman/Batman, in order to bring with him a race of aliens that only took planets from those they deemed unworthy. He ended up turning almost all of Earth's alien heroes against Earth, and Superman, due to his power, was ready to kill Batman. In the end, Earth was saved when Superman, broken free of Despero's power, convinced the aliens that not all humans are horrible, and Batman confirmed it, by not blowing up their ship. It is currently unknown what was done with Despero after the fight.

A version of Despero resembling the character's original appearance appeared in Justice League of America vol. 2 #9. He was shown in Metropolis at some point in the future, conspiring with Per Degaton and the Ultra-Humanite. The trio returned in the 2007 Booster Gold series, members of "The Time Stealers", a time travelling conspiracy to alter the past of the current DCU.

On the cover of Justice League of America #13 (Vol.2), it showed Despero as a member of the new Injustice League, though this was not corroborated by the story.

He next appeared in Trinity #4, in a premonitionary dream by the mystic Tarot. Morgaine Le Fey and Enigma have made plans to convince him to join them. Despero agreed, and for a time, the three had the power of gods, before being beaten and returned to normal by Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

In preview images for the new "Adventure Comics" series, it is hinted that Despero will enter into an alliance with media mogul Morgan Edge.

Despero once again targeted the Justice League of America, who were still reeling and weakened from the events of "Final Crisis" and the "Justice League: Cry for Justice" miniseries. He was defeated when Zatanna sent him to the centre of the Earth.

Death

After his fight with the Justice League, Despero's next appearance was in the R.E.B.E.L.S. series. His planet Kalanor was revealed to be within the force field blockade Vril Dox erected to contain the invasion of the newly resurgent Starro the Conqueror. When Vril Dox contacted Despero seeking the tyrant's aid against the Star Conqueror, Despero instead expressed regret that Dox was not there in person, so that he may "tear that grin off your face."

He challenges Starro himself to single combat and when he comes in contact with Starro's consciousness he breaks down in sheer fear. Starro then executes him with no effort.

Powers and abilities

Despero is empowered by the Flame of Py'tar, giving him great physical strength, such that he has been shown to overpower Superman and Captain Marvel simultaneously, along with Wonder Woman and Power Girl.[2] His durability, while always high, varies in intensity: at one point he was able to easily withstand simultaneous physical attacks by the combined forces of the JLA and JSA, yet on another occasion Aquaman was strong enough to throw a piece of steel rebar into his shoulder, as well as having a group of sharks bite into him, causing the villain to bleed.

Despero is also very intelligent, skilled as both a warrior and a tyrant. His hypnotic third eye grants him telepathic powers that on one occasion have been depicted as surpassing those of the Martian Manhunter.[3] He can also project realistic illusions and entrance virtually any sentient being. Despero also possesses telekinetic abilites. He has shown the ability to teleport matter anywhere in the universe, and can project telekinetic beams of concussive force powerful enough to injure beings as strong as Power Girl.[2] In his "spirit" form, Despero's powers would pass to whomever he possessed, and he proved capable of possessing any living being.

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.[volume & issue needed]

Reception

In 2009, Despero was ranked as IGN's 96th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[4]

In other media

Television

  • Despero appears in the Justice League episode "Hearts and Minds" voiced by Keith David. In this incarnation, Despero is a native of the harsh desert planet of Kalanor. Born with a third eye, he was outcast. In his travels through the desert, he stumbled upon the Flame of Py'tar, which gave him the ability to control the minds of other and project powerful energy blasts that could overpower Green Lanterns. He built up an army of followers empowered by the Py'tar, defeated several members of the Green Lantern Corps, and threatened to spread his fanatical crusade across the galaxy. It is eventually discovered that the Flame of Py'tar is actually the dormant life-force of Kalanor. The Martian Manhunter allows it to speak through his body, thereby exposing Despero as a fraud while releasing the Py'tar. The Py'tar then spread its power across Kalanor, seeding it with lush vegetation. Despero's followers traveling the universe are transformed into trees that fall to the nearby planets. While Despero himself is dragged underground never to be seen again, his last words in the series are, "Oh Py'tar, now I see... paradise!".
  • Despero appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "The Eyes of Despero" voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. This version has eyes on the palms of his hands in addition to the third eye on his head.. He plans to overthrow and destroy the Green Lantern Corps by hypnotizing its members into becoming his army. When he succeeds in corrupting a large number of Lanterns, Hal Jordan apparently kills the lot of them, as well as himself. Despero alters his plan, corrupting Mogo so as to use his vast power to brainwash entire worlds in an instant. Batman, summoned by Hal's ring, as well as Green Lanterns Guy Gardner, Sinestro, and G'nort, band together to free Mogo and defeat Despero. Once Mogo is freed, he shoots a rock which knocks out Despero. In "Duel of the Double Crossers", Batman makes the Outsiders fight Despero in Metropolis in a simulation.

Film

Video Games

Miscellaneous

  • Despero has appeared in issues #1 of the Justice League Unlimited spin-off comic book.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Despero", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 98, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5, OCLC 213309017
  2. ^ a b JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice
  3. ^ JLA #119
  4. ^ Despero is number 96 IGN. Retrieved 10-05-09.
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