The Controllers are a fictional extraterrestrial race existing in the
DC Universe
The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lant ...
. They first appear in ''
Adventure Comics'' #357 (June 1967), and were created by
Jim Shooter
James Shooter (born September 27, 1951) is an American writer, editor and publisher for various comic books. He started professionally in the medium at the age of 14, and he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comic ...
,
Mort Weisinger
Mortimer Weisinger (; April 25, 1915 – May 7, 1978) was an American magazine and comic book editor best known for editing DC Comics' ''Superman'' during the mid-1950s to 1960s, in the Silver Age of comic books. He also co-created such features a ...
, and
Curt Swan.
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
In their initial appearance, the Controllers came from "another space-time continuum". Their universe had almost been destroyed by war, and they were determined to prevent the
Earth-One
Earth-One (also Earth-1) is a name given to two fictional universes (The Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis versions of the same universe) that have appeared in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. The first Earth-One was given its name in ...
universe from going the same way. They used their mind-control abilities to prevent intergalactic war, but also had powerful weapons, including the Sun-Eater. This concluded with "
The Death of Ferro Lad" story where
Ferro Lad
Ferro Lad (Andrew Nolan) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero and member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century of the . He is Andrew Nolan of Earth and is known in Post-''Zero Hour'' continuity simply as Ferro.
Publicatio ...
dies destroying the Sun Eater. The Legion's long-time enemy
Time Trapper
This is a list of fictional characters from DC Comics who are enemies of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Legion of Super-Heroes enemies
In alphabetical order (with issue and date of debut appearance).
In other media
See also
List of Superman en ...
was revealed to be a renegade Controller.
Maltusians
The Controllers' origins were changed during the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' events. They were now originally part of a race of immortals called the Maltusians. These beings left
Maltus and colonized a new world called
Oa. Now calling themselves Oans, they feel responsible for the catastrophic effects on the universe caused by one of their own, the renegade scientist
Krona. The group argues over ways to handle the situation. One group of Oans desires to dedicate their immortal existences to contain evil. This group eventually became the
Guardians of the Universe. Another group decides that evil should be destroyed. This group leaves planet Oa, eventually becoming the Controllers. It is also revealed that the Controllers left over the Guardians' decision to not destroy their former robot minions, the
Manhunters, after the Manhunter rebellion on Oa.
Just as the Guardians slowly changed their physical appearances over billions of years of existence, so did the Controllers. Originally, all Oans were blue-skinned
humanoids; currently, the Controllers are pink-skinned and hairless. The Controllers moved to another dimension and dedicated themselves to creating weapons that could be used to destroy evil beings if they became too dangerous. Among these are the Sun-Eaters, gaseous beings that can devour whole planets and stars, and the Miracle Machine, a device that can turn any thought into reality.
Controlling the Darkstars
The Controllers eventually recognized the benefits of having a law-enforcement agency at their disposal and formed the Network for the Establishment and Maintenance of Order (NEMO). Their agents were the
Darkstars
The first Darkstars were a group of intergalactic policemen that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics. They were introduced in ''Darkstars'' #1 (October 1992), and were created by Michael Jan Friedman and Larry Stroman. The series last ...
, armed with crimson exo-mantles that were powered by the Controllers' own energy. Many former members of the
Green Lantern Corps joined the Darkstars after the Corps was destroyed. As time went on, the Controllers expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the Darkstars. More specifically, they were troubled that Darkstar agents were mostly looking after their own agendas rather than those of the Controllers. They withdrew their support from the Darkstars. This made many of the early Darkstar uniforms useless, as they relied on energy transmitted from the Controllers. The Darkstars are now defunct; most had been slain by the forces of
Grayven
Grayven is a supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in ''Green Lantern'' (vol. 3) #74 (June 1996), and was created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks making him one of the few characters related to Darkseid not to have been created by J ...
.
Other Endeavors
In their continuing effort to create an alternative to the Green Lantern Corps, the Controllers experiment on Martyn Van Wyck, transforming him into the pyro-kinetic
Effigy. Their plans to create an entire organization of such beings, all brainwashed to serve the Controllers, was underway before Kyle Rayner learned of the plan and convinced the immortals to abandon it.
An unnamed Controller was featured in ''
Power Company
An electric utility is a company in the electric power industry (often a public utility) that engages in electricity generation and distribution of electricity for sale generally in a regulated market. The electrical utility industry is a major pr ...
'' issues #12-14, where he is a prisoner of
Doctor Polaris
Doctor Polaris is an alias used by two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
Publication history
Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, the first Doctor Polaris, Neal Emerson, made his first appearance in ''Green ...
. The Power Company eventually succeeds in freeing him. He tells the group that his original reason for visiting the Earth was an attempt to re-secure a cosmic artifact called the "Mephistopheles Matrix".
In the series ''
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...
'', a group of Controllers discover a
Krona freed of his Cosmic Egg and aid him; though, when their treachery is discovered by Krona they are promptly eliminated.
In the ''
Final Crisis'' storyline, the Controllers were revealed to survive into the 29th century, at which time they develop the Miracle Machine, whose schematics
Superman memorizes upon a visit to the 31st century.
In the ''
Blackest Night
"Blackest Night" is a 2009–10 American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous central miniseries, written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis, along with a number of tie-in issues. ''Blackest Ni ...
'' storyline, a small group of Controllers appeared in search of the "orange light of avarice", hoping to create their own Corps. This group locates the orange light on the planet Okaara, but they are slaughtered by
Larfleeze
Larfleeze, also known as Agent Orange, is a supervillain appearing in comics published by DC Comics, usually as an antagonist in books featuring Green Lantern and the Green Lantern Corps. He is the primary wielder of the orange light of avarice, d ...
, and assimilated as constructs in his
Orange Lantern Corps
The Orange Lantern Corps is a supervillain organization published by DC Comics. They first appeared in ''Green Lantern'' (vol. 4) #25 and were created by Geoff Johns and Philip Tan.
Fictional character biography
The Orange Lantern Corps is a fact ...
.
DC Rebirth
The Controllers reveal themselves to be on the brink of extinction, and in order to prevent that, began kidnapping the Guardians of the Universe in order to use their DNA to create new conditions. By trapping them in a machine, the Controllers mined the Guardians' ancient Maltusian genes and twisted them into their own image, transforming them into Controllers. They also began a new campaign of the
Darkstars
The first Darkstars were a group of intergalactic policemen that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics. They were introduced in ''Darkstars'' #1 (October 1992), and were created by Michael Jan Friedman and Larry Stroman. The series last ...
which are according to them far more lethal than the previous generation and possess tactical capabilities that surpass those of the Green Lantern Corps. The Controllers were soon captured by the Darkstars' whose mantle had gained consciousness of their own and are now using the Controllers' psionic powers to link all Darkstars' thoughts and use the cosmic energy inside their bodies to fuel their foundry.
Powers and weapons
Similar to the
Guardians of the Universe, the Controllers are one of the most powerful forces in the DC universe. Coming from the same race as the Guardians, they are immortal, have psionic powers like telepathy, telekinesis, and mind control, and they can manipulate cosmic energy. The Controllers also have vast knowledge, which allows them to create advanced technology and weapons. Their most known weapons are the Sun-Eater, Miracle Machine, and the
Darkstar exo-mantle.
Other versions
In the future of the
Legion of Super-Heroes, a renegade Controller became the villain known as the
Time Trapper
This is a list of fictional characters from DC Comics who are enemies of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Legion of Super-Heroes enemies
In alphabetical order (with issue and date of debut appearance).
In other media
See also
List of Superman en ...
.
Various DC Comics reboots have since altered this timeline, which is one of many origins given for the Time Trapper. The Controllers also ended up giving the Miracle Machine to the Legion for safekeeping.
In other media
Television
* A Pre-Crisis Controller appears in the two-part ''
Legion of Super-Heroes'' episode "Sundown", voiced by
David Lodge. This renegade Controller believes that the ultimate perfection comes from
chaos
Chaos or CHAOS may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional elements
* Chaos (''Kinnikuman'')
* Chaos (''Sailor Moon'')
* Chaos (''Sesame Park'')
* Chaos (''Warhammer'')
* Chaos, in ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy''
* Cha ...
, rather than order, and releases the last Sun-Eater in existence to spread this chaos across the universe. Superman was sent to stop him on his own while the Legion stops the Sun-Eater and an army of robots he has sent to protect it. The Controller's plan was foiled, but at the cost of the Legion member
Ferro Lad
Ferro Lad (Andrew Nolan) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero and member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century of the . He is Andrew Nolan of Earth and is known in Post-''Zero Hour'' continuity simply as Ferro.
Publicatio ...
's life. As he makes his escape, Superman warns him to never appear again.
* The Controllers briefly appear in the ''
Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' episode "When OMAC Attacks". Batman alongside
Hawk and Dove
Hawk and Dove are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates, they appeared in ''Showcase'' #75 (June 1968) during the Silver Age of Comic Books. The duo has existed in ...
had to stop a war between the Controllers and the Warlords of Okaara.
Video games
* A Controller appears in the Wii version of ''
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters''.
References
External links
The Book of Oa: MaltusDCU Guide: Controllers
{{Legion of Super-Heroes
Characters created by Jim Shooter
Characters created by Curt Swan
Characters created by Mort Weisinger
DC Comics extraterrestrial supervillains
DC Comics supervillains
DC Comics characters who have mental powers
DC Comics telekinetics
DC Comics telepaths
Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities
Fictional characters who can manipulate light
Fictional characters with immortality
Green Lantern characters