ULTIVAC

Real Name: Ultivac

Class: Robot

Occupation: Supervillain

Group Affiliation: Forgotten Villains

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile

First Appearance: Showcase #7 (March-April, 1957)

Powers: Ultivac was a sentient robot who possessed superhuman intellect, speed and durability, and the powers of flight and telepathy. Ultivac could project vibration beams.

History: (Showcase #7) - The Challengers of the Unknown were approached by Felix Hesse, a former high-ranking member in Nazi Germany's Ministry of Science. He told them that while in federal prison he met bank robber Floyd Barker, and once they were released they designed an enormous calculating machine for nefarious ends. The machine became sentient because of radioactive materials used in its' construction, and as the robot Ultivac it enslaved his creators until Hesse escaped. Ultivac busted into the Challs hq, grabbed Hesse, and flew off. The Challs alerted the FBI about the situation, and were sent to a top-secret Washington lab to meet June Robbins, a world-renowned expert in robotics. After imputing information into her computer the machine concluded that Ultivac would fall when a Challenger died. Ultivac created a number of android replicants of Hesse, sending them out to collect oil, chemicals and other materials it needed to live. Red Ryan and June followed one of the androids back to Ultivac's base in a cave, and Ultivac discovered them, promising no harm would come to them, although it could not let them leave. It sensed June had no fear, and she told Ultivac not to be afraid oif humanity; that man and machine could learn much from each other. Red used the distraction to strike one of Ultivac's power circuits with a metal rod and Hesse incapacitated Ultivac with a stun-ray. Over June's objections Hesse displayed Ultivac in chains at Yankee Stadium until he broke free of his binds. It grabbed June, telling her se was the only one it trusted, and retreated to an undersea cave. Prof. Haley followed in a scuba suit, but was also captured. June pleaded with Ultivac to trust her once more, knowing Ultivac's advanced mind could solve many of humanity's problems, and Ultivac reluctantly agreed to throw itself at the mercy of a public hearing. Ultivac and the U.S. government agreed to work together, but Hesse, claiming Ultivac as his property, shot the robot, seriously damaging it. Rocky kept Hesse from completely destroying Ultivac, but caught a blast that left him without a heartbeat. Fortunately a new heart-massage technique brought him back to life. Ultivac's sentience was gone, but June reused his parts to create an advanced computer. June said she'd earned a spot on the Challs, and the others agreed.

Comments: Created by Jack Kirby.