Despero

Despero
Despero as depicted in JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (February 2003). Art by Carlos Pacheco.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Justice League of America #1 (Oct. 1960)
Created by	Gardner Fox (writer) Mike Sekowsky (artist)
In-story information
Species	Kalanorian
Place of origin	Kalanor
Team affiliations	Injustice League Secret Society of Super Villains Time Stealers
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes Regeneration Genius-level intellect Telekinesis Energy manipulation Energy projection Flight Force field Telepathy Illusion casting Mind control Mind reading Metamorphosis Molecular reconstruction Magic powers Reality warping Astral projection Possession Pyrokinesis Biokinesis Size alteration Interstellar travel Teleportation Advanced hand-to-hand combatant Expert strategist and tactician

Despero (/ˈdɛspəroʊ/) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Justice League of America #1 (October 1960), and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.^[1]

Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character is a pink-skinned humanoid extraterrestrial with three eyes and psychic powers. Despero has appeared in both comic books and other DC Comics-related products such as animated television series and feature films, trading cards, and video games. He is an enemy of the Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, the Green Lantern Corps, and the Justice League.

Despero appeared in the live-action Arrowverse television series The Flash five-part episode "Armageddon", portrayed by Tony Curran.

In 2010, IGN named Despero the 96th-greatest comic book villain of all time.^[2]

Despero first appeared in Justice League of America #1 (October 1960) and writer Mike Conroy noted: "It was the first of several run-ins the would-be universe conqueror would have with the superteam".^[3]

Despero became a semi-regular villain and returned in Justice League of America #26 (March 1964), #133–134 (August–September 1976), and #177–178 (April–May 1980). The character made cameo appearances in Justice League of America #247–250 (February–May 1986) and then featured as the main villain in issues #251–254, dated June–September 1986.

Despero returned in an extensive story arc in Justice League America #37–40 (April–July 1990) and Justice League Europe #30–34 (September 1991–January 1992). The character's body reappeared as the host for L-Ron in Justice League Task Force #0 (October 1994), #13–33 (June 1994–March 1996), and #37 (August 1996) and Justice League International (vol. 2) #67–68 (August–September 1994). Despero reappeared in spirit form in Supergirl (vol. 4) #17–18 (January–February 1998) and Young Justice #6 (March 1999).

Despero eventually reappeared whole in the graphic novel JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (December 2002), and featured in the "Crisis of Conscience" storyline in JLA #115–119 (September– November 2005), Superman/Batman #33 (March 2007), and Trinity #4 (June 2008). Despero returned to a more human form in an alternate universe storyline in Booster Gold (vol. 2) #5 (February 2008) and #7–10 (April–August 2008).

The character returned in Justice League of America (vol. 2) #38 (December 2009) and featured in R.E.B.E.L.S. Vol. 2 #12–13 (March–April 2010).

Despero first appears when in pursuit of two rebels from the planet Kalanor, which he rules as a tyrant^[4] (in Pre-Crisis it is an other-dimensional solar system). They are attempting to create a weapon to defeat him. The rebels make contact with the Justice League of America with JLA member Flash accepting Despero's challenge after he places the rest of the group in a hypnotic trance, but the Flash is defeated in a game similar to chess due to Despero cheating using his third eye's mental powers, and along with the rest of the JLA sent to different worlds.^[5] Despero found out about this by reading the mind of one of the rebels he had tracked down and teleported, though her father and Flash were protected by the dimensional traveller's 'blue glow'. The JLA are able to escape all the dangers on the worlds and return to Earth using a dimensional traveler one of Despero's henchmen possesses after the Flash defeats him. Despero has found the rebel and plans to use the energy-absorbing weapon they hoped to use to disable his weapons to conquer Earth, but Snapper Carr uses it to weaken the villain after pretending he has been hypnotized, though the 'blue glow' protected him. Despero is then imprisoned and Kalanor is freed.^[6]

The villain has his third eye surgically removed, making him lose his hypnotic powers. Eventually it grows back, he fakes his death in an explosion at a lab and in revenge ages half of the Justice League and banishes the remainder to three other worlds, where he has caused reptile, insect, and marine life to become intelligent, planning to conquer the worlds later. When Despero attempts to deceive Wonder Woman by disguising himself as an aged Superman, she overpowers the villain with her Lasso of Truth, realizing the energy should not have affected Superman, and forces him to undo his actions.^[7] Despero is thwarted again when the Justice League intervene in his intergalactic plans of conquest,^[8] save member the Martian Manhunter who is being forced to play in a life and death chess match.^[9]

Despero eventually returns with even greater abilities, and a new body (now physically enhanced by the "Flame of Py'tar", a remnant of the nuclear energy responsible for creating his race), and completely destroys the Justice League Satellite. After defeating the Justice League, Despero reshapes Gotham City to suit his purposes. Taunted by Batman, Despero is eventually distracted, allowing fellow member Vibe to extinguish the Flame of Py'tar. The villain's form is immediately dispelled and reality restores itself.^[10]

Despero eventually reforms, and targets the Justice League member Gypsy. After murdering Gypsy's parents, Despero is about to kill her when the Martian Manhunter intervenes. The villain quickly defeats the Manhunter, although fellow Justice League member Guy Gardner arrives and hurls Despero away. Despero attacks the League at their headquarters, and kills the comatose Steel (on life support for injuries sustained during a battle against the androids of Professor Ivo).^[11] When Despero is about to murder the Blue Beetle, the Martian Manhunter bestows upon him the gift of "Mayavanna": a sacred Martian rite that provides the subject with a reality in which they obtain their desires. Despero sees himself killing the entire League and destroying the world, and is immediately at peace. The villain then reverts into a fetus, and is eventually given to trader Manga Khan in exchange for his servant robot, L-Ron.^[12]

A re-aged Despero is angered by this defeat and escapes from Manga Khan, returning to Earth to battle the Justice League. Unknown to Despero, Khan hires the bounty hunter Lobo to recapture him. Despero engages the Justice League, Justice League Europe, and Lobo in Times Square, New York City, and keeps them all at bay. A desperate Green Lantern Kilowog and L-Ron use the slave collar Despero still wears to switch his mind with L-Ron's, with the latter's body being destroyed shortly afterwards. Now in Despero's body, L-Ron returns to Manga Khan.^[13]

L-Ron reappeared, still in Despero's body, and had a number of adventures with the Justice League Task Force^[14] and Justice League International.^[15] Despero returns in spirit form, and temporarily repossesses his old form until stopped by the heroine Supergirl.^[16] The villain makes a second attempt to return to a corporeal state, attacking a circus and luring out teen heroes Young Justice. Currently jumping between bodies but able to create a psychic illusion of his true form, Despero initially sets his sights on possessing Superboy, but ultimately manages to take possession of the Martian Manhunter. However, Young Justice are able to use the Manhunter's fear of fire against him to draw J'onn's psyche to the surface, expelling Despero from his body so that team ally the Secret can banish Despero's spirit form.^[17]

Despero's spirit eventually returns with the aid of JSA villain Johnny Sorrow, and takes over the body of President of the United States Lex Luthor. Together they release the Seven Deadly Sins which possess several members of the JLA and JSA, and neutralize the wizard Shazam. The remainder of the teams successfully drive the Sins from their comrades, and eventually defeat both Sorrow and Despero, who is driven from Luthor when exposed to Sorrow's lethal stare.^[18] The villain returns as the guiding force behind a new Secret Society of Super Villains, and allows them to remember they once learned the Justice League's identities. Although Despero takes mental control of several members of the League, he is eventually stopped by Green Lantern and imprisoned on the planet Oa.^[19]

Having allied himself with a race that destroys species unworthy of survival, Despero attempts to convince them to destroy Earth by using an alien substance known as the 'Blackrock' to influence Earth's alien superhumans—Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, Starfire, etc.—to turn against humanity by playing on their occasional feelings of isolation. His efforts are foiled when Batman exposes himself to the Blackrock while under attack by Superman, the sight of his friend's contamination helping Superman to recognise what is happening to him, allowing Superman to confront the aliens directly and convince them that Despero deceived them.^[20] Despero returned in his original human form when plucked from the timestream by Mister Mind, and is convinced to join a group called "The Time Stealers". The villains successfully create an alternate universe that differs significantly from the original. Booster Gold and several allies (Rip Hunter and the Justice League International) eventually undo the change and restore the original universe.^[21]

Despero briefly allied with villains Morgaine le Fey and Enigma and became god-like until stopped by the combined efforts of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.^[22] Despero returns to attack the Justice League, but when teleported away by member Zatanna, is imprisoned on Oa once again.^[23]

At the request of human computer Vril Dox, Despero joins in the fight against the original Starro (a humanoid), that controls all other versions and is conquering the galaxy. Despero engages Starro in combat and, although easily destroyed, begins to regenerate into a superior form, which was always the villain's intent. Vril Dox uses Despero's head as a weapon against Starro and its forces.^[24]

In September 2011, DC Comics cancelled all of its monthly books and rebooted its continuity in an initiative called The New 52. In this new timeline, Despero first appears when he arrives in the Watchtower wearing a Kryptonite ring, subduing Atom and Firestorm.^[25] He attacks the rest of the Justice League until he ends up defeated by Martian Manhunter.^[26]

In the "Forever Evil" storyline, Despero appears as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains when the Crime Syndicate invade the main universe.^[27] When Stargirl and Martian Manhunter arrive in Denver, they are ambushed by Despero.^[28]

Despero is an alien from the planet Kalanor, and in addition to a genius intellect possesses a third eye on his forehead capable of mind control, illusions, telekinesis, and telepathy. Despero is also empowered by the "Flame of Py'tar", a mystical source of power that grants him massive superhuman strength, durability, speed, reflexes and the ability to alter his biomass (from human-sized to massive, even reintegrating himself molecule by molecule). His power varies based on the psionic energy he wields; for example, through the complete flame of Py'tar he once had the ability to manipulate reality to a degree, creating monsters and demons out of an earthen city. Otherwise without it, he has still repeatedly been shown to be more powerful than Kryptonians, Amazons, Hourman and even Captain Marvel.

• Despero appears in the Justice League two-part episode "Hearts and Minds", voiced by Keith David.^[29] This version is an alien outcast who discovered the Flame of Py'tar, which granted him the ability to control others' minds and project powerful energy blasts. Subsequently, he built an army of followers empowered by the Py'tar known as the Legion of the Third Eye, killed several members of the Green Lantern Corps, and threatened to spread his fanatical crusade across the galaxy. Upon discovering the Flame of Py'tar is the dormant life-force of the planet Kalanor, the Martian Manhunter allows it to speak through him and expose Despero as a fraud before releasing the Py'tar and spreading its power across Kalanor. This restores its ecosystem, transforms Despero's followers into trees, and drags him underground.
• Despero appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.^[29] This version has eyes on his palms in addition to his third eye. In his most notable appearance in the episode "The Eyes of Despero!", he brainwashes the Green Lantern Corps into serving him until Hal Jordan seemingly sacrifices himself and the Corps. Undeterred, Despero tries to corrupt Mogo and use his vast power to brainwash entire planets until Batman, Guy Gardner, Sinestro, and G'nort join forces to free Mogo and defeat Despero.
• Despero makes a non-speaking appearance in the Young Justice episode "Cornered".^[29] This version is a gladiator who allows his majordomo L-Ron to speak for him. He arrives on Earth to prove himself as the greatest warrior in 93 star systems before the Team stops him, after which he is imprisoned on Warworld.
• Despero appears in The Flash five-part episode "Armageddon", portrayed by Tony Curran.^[30] This version wears a belt that enables him to time-travel and assume a human form. Additionally, he hails from a possible future where the Earth was destroyed by an Armageddon caused by a speedster. Believing the Flash was responsible, Despero travels back in time to challenge him until the Atom tampers with his belt. In response, Despero gives the Flash a week to prove him wrong. Following a trip to the future, the Flash reveals Eobard Thawne was the true culprit. Despero tries to kill Thawne, but battles the Flash once more until he is defeated, depowered, and forced to flee. According to The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace, had The CW renewed the series for a tenth season, he had planned to make another crossover event featuring Despero bringing about an alien invasion and fighting Earth's heroes in addition to the Flash.^[31]

• Despero makes a minor non-speaking appearance in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.^[29]
• Despero makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Green Lantern: Beware My Power.^[29]

• Despero appears in Justice League Task Force.
• Despero appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[32]

• Despero appears in Justice League Unlimited #1.^[33]
• Despero makes a minor appearance in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic, in which he crash-lands on Earth while fleeing Sinestro, who eventually kills him.

• Despero Chronology. DCU Guide. Archived March 11, 2016.