Who's Who: Computo

Computo
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: None

Super-Power(s): Super-intelligence; control over computers; in some forms, energy blasts, super-strength, and armored skin.
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Villain turned servant.

Legion Log
Computo was built by Brainiac 5 as a super-secret project in the United Planets Lab Complex. The most efficient, complex computer ever built, Computo was supposed to be a "boon to mankind." However, in Brainiac 5's haste to upload all human knowledge into his creation, he neglected to explain or attribute any human emotions to it, such as compassion or love. Computo quickly mastered all books fed to it, so then hooked Brainiac 5 up to its sensors to absorb HIS knowledge and experience directly into its database. It then re-wired the lab's manufacturing facility to auto-manufacture an army of facsimiles in order to take control of Earth.

Discarding Brainiac 5, Computo replicated itself into an even more awesomely terrifying version of itself. It then altered the computer in the Legion's head-quarters, turning it against the Legionnaires. They manage to break out of their prison, but as they scramble to escape from Computo's robotoid hordes, Computo killed Triplicate Girl.

The Legion attempted to destroy Computo using a Bizarro Duplicator Ray, but the Bizarro Computo eventually turned on the Legion as well, and Computo destroyed it in disgust. Brainiac 5 then used an Anti-Matter rifle to destroy all of the robots.

Years later, when Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, and Mon-El were working to save the life of young Danielle Foccart, Brainiac 5 risks activating the Computo circuit, and the robot's "personality" possessed the body of Danielle. It took over the entire Legion headquarters, but was eventually stopped when Danielle was knocked unconscious.

Although Computo tried to regain consciousness atleast twice while it was trapped in Danielle's body, Brainiac 5 eventually transferred and gelded the personality into a "major domo" servant for the Legion. It was first a floating electrical globe robot, and then, later, a small android resembling the Legion foe, Validus. This Computo served the Legion for several years until it fatally malfunctioned during the Magic Wars.

After the so-called Five-Year Gap, the Dominators secretly seized Computo's A.I. and used it as a basis for their enforcer B.I.O.N. They used the entity to retrieve Batch SW6; it was defeated by Kono.

After the Reboot, C.O.M.P.U.T.O. (Cybercerebral Overlapping Multi-Processor Universal Transceiver Operator) is created by Brainiac 5 while he and other Legionnaires are trapped in the 20th Century to help find a way to return to the 30th Century. It is formed by the melding of three miniature supercomputers: a 30th-Century Omnicom communications device, a Mother Box, and the "responsometer" of Veridium of the Metal Men. It creates a portal to the 30th Century, but turns against Brainiac 5 when it overhears him promise to return the responsometer. C.O.M.P.U.T.O is seemingly destroyed, but returns in the 31st Century as Presidential Advisor "Mister Venge", by all appearances serving the wishes of Ra's al Ghul. After al Ghul's defeat, he reveals himself as the leader of the computer nation of Robotica which threatens Earth.

Computo does not appear in the Threeboot.

After Infinite Crisis, Computo's original history was presumably restored.

After Flashpoint, it seems C.O.M.P.U.T.O. is one of the names the "Brainiac A.I." (otherwise known as the Collector of Worlds) has had over the generations. The A.I. gave Superman trouble in the first year of his career.

Computo appeared in the Legion of Super-Heroes animated series as the computer operating the Legion headquarters. At one point, it is hacked by Imperiex to awaken the original Brainiac.

Defining Villainous Moment: 

Adventure Comics (v1) #340

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Computo kills one of Triplicate Girl's three selves

Important Computo Stories:

Adventure Comics (v1) #340
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Computo is created by Brainiac 5 to help humanity

Adventure Comics (v1) #341
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5)

Computo takes over Earth before the Legion finally destroys it

Legion of Super-Heroes Annual (v1) #1 (1982)
 (reprinted in The Great Darkness Deluxe Edition)

Computo re-awakens inside the body of Invisible Kid's little sister, Danielle

It takes over the Legion's headquarters and nearly kills all of the Legionnaires

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #309
 (reprinted in The Curse Deluxe Edition)

Computo nearly escapes from Danielle while Brainiac 5 is trying to cure her

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #311
 (reprinted in The Curse Deluxe Edition)

Computo is transformed into a floating servant robot

Legion of Substitute-Heroes Special #1

Bismoll stands on the brink of a Computo invasion

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #51

Computo is altered into a humanoid resembling Validus

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #61

Computo malfunctions during The Magic Wars

Justice League Adventures #28

Computo makes an appearance in a DCAU-continuity story

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #98-100

After the Reboot, Brainiac 5 creates C.O.M.P.U.T.O. to return the time-lost Legion home;
it does, but still goes bad

The Legion #12-14

C.O.M.P.U.T.O. leads Robotica in an invasion of Earth

Action Comics (v2) #7

After Flashpoint, C.O.M.P.U.T.O. is revealed to be part of the Brainiac A.I.