Ultivac was a robot faced by the Challengers of the Unknown.
History
Near the beginning of their career as adventurers, the Challengers of the Unknown were interrupted by the arrival of former war criminal Felex Hesse who asked the Challengers to protect him from his rogue creation Ultivac. Ultivac, he explained, is a giant robot built by he and fellow former prisoner Floyd Barker, which upon activation went after them. Ultivac soon attacked the group. Unable to stop Ultivac from capturing Hesse, the Challengers seek the help of a top secret laboratory and its director general June Robbins. Meanwhile, Ultivac constructed an army of robots modeled after Hesse to collect resources it needs for continued existence. The Challengers find and incapacitate it. Hesse and Barker repossess the robot and try to make money displaying it as a sideshow attraction. However, Ultivac, having developed a liking to Robbins, broke free and kidnapped her. The Challengers talked Ultivac into peaceful relations with humanity when suddenly Hesse arrived and destroyed it with a ray gun.[1]
Years after, the Enchantress formed a band of super-villains from times past called the Forgotten Villains (which includes a rebuilt Ultivac, now under control of Mr. Poseidon) in search of a third wizard to form a "Triad" with her and the sorcerer Kraklow. Superman and the Forgotten Heroes teamed up to oppose them.[2]
Some years after, Ultivac fought the Forgotten Heroes again, now being controlled by Atom-Master.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
All of the Ultivac's powers are functions of its design and programming:
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Stamina
- Flight: Propellers-based; they can't work in a vacuum.
- Genius Level Intellect: He also is capable of rapid analysis of huge amounts of data.
- Eidetic Memory: Sometimes referred to as the "Ultimate Computer".
- Remote Viewing: Ultivac is capable of watching what happens far from the place where he is, even with obstacles.[2]
- Detection: Ultivace is able to read molecular structures. Whether he does this with microscopic vision or another power is unknown.[2]
- Portal Creation: He can open portals between any two locations that he chooses and travel through them and bring others through it as well.
- Sonic Shock Waves: Ultivac has sonic powers that enable him to project shock waves from his hands that could shatter concrete and steel.[2]
- Illusion Casting: Ultivac can project holograms from his databank or from his Remote Viewing ability. He can't project holograms from his imagination.[2]
Abilities
- Empathy: Ultivac has demonstrated the ability to feel human emotions. Whether Ultivac is experiencing true emotions or whether his programming is simply enabling him to mimic these sensations is a matter of speculation.
Weaknesses
- Technological Reliability As a robot, Ultivac could be affected by whatever power or rigor applicable to computers and robots, as magnetism.
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
Trivia
- It is possible that Ultivac's name is a reference to Multivac, a computer featured in sci-fi books written by Isaac Asimov between 1955 and 1983.
Related
- 11 Appearances of Ultivac (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Ultivac (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Ultivac (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Ultivac (New Earth)
Footnotes
Secret Society of Super-Villains member |
Challengers of the Unknown Villain(s) |
Forgotten Villains member
This character is or was a member of Forgotten Villains, a group of criminals who banded together to conquer the universe. |