Universo

For other uses, see Universo (disambiguation).

Universo is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, and first appeared in Adventure Comics #349 (October 1966).^[1]

Universo
Universo, on the cover of Adventure Comics #349, art by Curt Swan.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Adventure Comics #349 (October 1966)
Created by	Jim Shooter (writer) Curt Swan (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Vidar
Species	Human Titanian (post-Zero Hour continuity)
Place of origin	Earth (31st century)
Team affiliations	Green Lantern Corps Legion of Super-Villains
Partnerships	Dark Circle Jacques Foccart Legion of Substitute Heroes
Notable aliases	Argus Oranx III, Earth President Kandro Boltax, Vid-Gupta
Abilities	Mind control through hypnosis

Fictional character biography

Pre-Zero Hour

In Universo's first appearance, he is depicted as a powerful hypnotist.^[2] With his "Hypno Stone", he is able to control the head of the Time Institute, and lure the Legionnaires into a series of traps.^[3] The Legion defeats him with the help of a Time Cube invented by scientist Rond Vidar, who is revealed to be Universo's son.

With his next scheme, Universo manages to take control of Earth by posing as the new president, Kandro Boltax, using his powers of hypnosis, augmented by a chemical placed in the world's water supply. He accomplishes this while most of the Legion is away from Earth on a mission, and they return to find the Legion outlawed. The Legion find refuge in one of Lex Luthor's abandoned hideouts and eventually, with the help of Rond Vidar, are able to thwart his plans.^[4]

Years later, Legionnaires Blok and Timber Wolf view a file from the Legion Archives. Therein, it is revealed that Universo is a former member of the Green Lantern Corps who was assigned to journey to the Time Institute on Earth and prevent the Legion from viewing the dawn of time. When Universo attempted to view the dawn of time himself, he was stripped of his ring by the Guardians of the Universe.^[5]

"Five Years Later"

Years later, the Dominators seize control of Earth during its economic collapse, and Universo ends up as one of the primary leaders of the resistance movement. He is branded a terrorist by the Dominion-backed Earthgov, who accuse him of working with the Khund. He was in fact working with the Dark Circle, though it is clear he is not working for them and has his own agenda. Jacques Foccart, Troy Stewart, and the former members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes work alongside him in resisting the Dominion control of Earth.

Post-Zero Hour

Following Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which reboots the Legion's continuity, Universo is depicted as Sarmon Ardeen, Saturn Girl's cousin. This version of Universo is erased from continuity following Infinite Crisis, which further alters DC's timeline.^[6]

The New 52

In The New 52, Universo disguises himself as president-elect Hiroshi Takaneda. After a precognitive terrorist attempts an assassination, he hypnotizes Saturn Girl into missing his true identity. It is revealed that within nine years, the United Planets will fall apart under Universo's rule.^[7]

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Universo appears in Superboy's Legion. This version is a benevolent supercomputer and leader of the Science Police who is later destroyed by Lex Luthor and replaced by the Emerald Eye of Ekron.

Powers and abilities

Universo can manipulate the minds and memories of others. Furthermore, he wears a necklace that enhances his abilities.

In other media

Universo appears in the one-shot Batman '66 Meets the Legion of Super-Heroes. This version is the descendant of Egghead.