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Personal DataReal Name UnknownResidence: Mobile
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He was first encountered in 1939 when he masterminded a protection racket through ganglord Jackie Reynolds. Reynolds organized unscrupulous cab drivers into a union, the Cab Protective League. Reynolds' union, financed by the Ultra-Humanite, intimidated other cab drivers through violence and threats of against passengers. In the summer of 1939, a cab carrying Clark Kent was assaulted by a CPL driver. The incident led Superman to investigate Reynolds activities, and by extension, discover the Ultra-Humanite. The criminal was a crippled old man and claimed to be the source of many illegal operations across the nation. When Superman moved to intercept the crimelord, he was felled by strong jolt of electricity. An attempt to execute Superman with a buzzsaw failed when the blade shattered against Superman's invulnerable body and impaled itself in Reynolds' throat. Leaving Superman to perish in flames, the Ultra-Humanite escaped in a special airplane. Escaping the burning shack, Superman destroyed the plane's propellers, allowing it to crash into the ground. To his surprise, Superman found no evidence of his foe's body (Action Comics #13).
The Ultra-Humanite had survived
however, escaping via parachute. He continued to work behind the scenes,
masterminding a graft racket (Action Comics #14) and an extortion
ring (Action Comics #17). In December of 1940, the Ultra-Humanite
bestowed a deadly Christmas present on Metropolis. Unleashing a "purple
plague" on Metropolis, the criminal scientist brings the city to a standstill.
Again confronted by Superman, the Ultra-Humanite fired an electric gun
of his own devising at the hero. Unfortunately for the villain, the gun
exploded, killing the Ultra-Humanite. Satisfied that justice had been done,
Superman left the criminal's corpse for the authorities (Action Comics
#19).
The world had not heard the
last of the Ultra-Humanite. The villain was indeed nearly dead when abandoned
by Superman but the swift arrival of his henchmen saved him. Following
explicit instructions left by the Ultra-Humanite, criminal surgeons preserved
the crimelord's brain until they had found a suitable host. Racing time,
the villains intercepted up-and-coming actress Dolores Winters. The actress
was then slain and her brain replaced with that of the criminal Ultra-Humanite.
When a celebrity gala was held on board the cruise ship Sea Serpent, Dolores Winters was among the honored guests. When the ship was out of reach of shore, the criminal revealed his/her true plans; to ransom the celebrities for $5,000,000. When the ransom is raised, Superman followed the Ultra-Humanite's henchmen after they pick it up. Tracking the kidnappers to an air-filled grotto, Superman watched from the shadows as "Dolores Winters" counted the money. When the villain declared he would execute the celebrities despite the ransom, Superman moved to intercept. In the torchlight, Superman recognized the eyes of his old foe. Faced with his old enemy again, the Ultra-Humanite escaped by diving into the dark water of the grotto (Action Comics #20).
Soon after, the Ultra-Humanite read of the discover of an atomic weapon created by physicist Terry Curtis. Using the comely form of the young actress, the villain seduced and kidnapped the scientist. After extended torture, Curtis agreed to help the Ultra-Humanite build an atomic arsenal of his own. When an airship destroys a Metropolis building, Superman follows it the criminal lair inside a volcano. In exchange for Curtis release, the Ultra-Humanite sends Supermen to steal crown jewels, expecting him to be destroyed by the guards. When Superman returns unharmed, the Ultra-Humanite unleashed a series of death traps, each of which fail. Confronted again with his ultimate foe, the Ultra-Humanite dives through an opening in the side of his lair to his apparent doom in the volcano's crater (Action Comics #21).
[Editorial Note: Most early records of the Ultra-Humanite's activities are considered canonical with the sole deviation that other heroes rather than Superman opposed him.]
As ever, the Ultra-Humanite survived by leaping into a special heat-shielded drill device. Tunneling through the earth, the criminal made an easy escape and eventually regrouped and expanded his plans. Using advanced science, he generated super-powered henchmen, Deathbolt and the Amazing Man, to assist in his plans. Further, after discovering a dying race of subterranean creatures, he generated an army of servile drones. Finally, he set out to acquire several artifacts of power to boost his personal power level and avoid defeat at Superman's hands. These artifacts included the Powerstone recovered in Skull Valley by Superman (Action Comics #47, Superman #17), the Hammer of Thor discovered by Hawkman (All-Star Comics #3), the body of Robotman and the helm of Dr. Fate.
Again kidnapping physicist Terry Curtis, now known as Cyclotron, the Ultra-Humanite attempted to defeat the Justice Society, succeeding in capturing Robotman (All-Star Squadron #21-23). In the 1980's, the future self of the Ultra-Humanite contacted himself in 1942 and attempted to improve his chances by switching minds with his past self. His plans were defeated however, when the arrival of Infinity Inc., a second generation team of heroes from the 1980's. The Ultra-Humanite was seemingly killed when Terry Curtis attempted to destroy himself and the villain by detonating his irradiated body (All-Star Squadron #25,26, Annual #2). The Ultra-Humanite as revealed to have been whisked away in a temporal flux during the Crisis on Infinite Earths (All-Star Squadron #55-56).
The records of the Ultra-Humanite
between 1942 and more recent times are confusing. Multiple accounts, possible
from multiple timelines, are recorded. In one account, almost certainly
a parallel timeline, Dolores Winter allied herself with Nazi Germany. Toward
the
end of the war, he replaced the actress' body with that of undercover operative
Tex Thompson, the Americommando. The Humanite then used Thompson's body
to build a career as a U.S. Senator and transfer the brain of 
Adolph
Hitler to young hero Dan the Dyna-Mite. The plans are thwarted when the
two villains are killed in battle with the All-Star Squadron (The Golden
Age #1-4). In the Pre-Crisis Time Line, the Ultra-Humanite retained
Winters body until 1947 (Superman Family #201), at which point he
exchanged it for a giant insect before being defeated in battle by Superman
and the Golden Age Insect Queen (Superman Family #213-214). In another
tale apparently lost by Zero Hour, the Ultra-Humanite transferred
his mind to a large tyrannosaur, only to be defeated by the All-Star Squadron
and their sidekicks, the Young All-Stars (Young All-Stars #13-14).
The most recent, and likely the most accurate version of the Ultra-Humanite's history post-1942 states that he retained the body of Dolores Winters through at least the late 1940's. At some point after his defeat in 1942, he moved to Nazi Germany and allied himself with the forces there. The Ultra-Humanite's activities in Nazi Germany have not been fully recorded. When Germany fell to the allies, the villain escaped and remained an active foe of the Justice Society. In one case which has not been fully recorded, he joined with other "super-villains" include the Shade, Vandal Savage and the Brain Wave to attack the JSA. Whether this implies that the Ultra-Humanite was a member of some later incarnation of the Injustice Society or a splinter group is unknown (revealed in Justice Society of America #4).
Regardless of discrepancies in older records, the recent history of the Ultra-Humanite is clear. As his bodies fail him, either through age, immune rejection or damage, the Ultra-Humanite has been driven to a greater diversity of bodies. In the early 1980's, he used his vast science to mutate an albino gorilla growing it to huge size and placing his brain within it. His first actions in this new body was to organize a new Secret Society of Super-Villains. Collecting 10 foes of individual JLA and JSA members, the Ultra-Humanite succeeded in capturing several heroes from both teams. His betrayal of his colleagues however, caused them to free the captured heroes. In the end, the Secret Society of Super-Villains was captured and disbanded (Justice League of America #195-197)
Left in Limbo after the defeat
of the Secret Society, the Ultra-Humanite devised a new plan. Learning
of the ancient legend of the River of Koehaha (All-Star Comics #36),
the villain escaped Limbo and lured several members of the Justice Society
to Colorado. Investigating a grotto, they were ambushed by the Ultra-Humanite
and 
drowned
in the river's fabled water. Koehaha, draining from the lands rich in various
herbs, is oxygen rich and narcotic. "Drowning" in it results not in death,
but a state of deadened conscious and an evil disposition. So affected,
the JSA went on a rampage, attempting to conquer the Earth. With his enemies
defeated and discredited, the Ultra-Humanite planned to assume control
of the Earth. His plans were thwarted by the intervention of the remaining
Justice Society members and the children, Infinity Inc. As the JSA confronted
him, the Ultra-Humanite fled to Limbo only to be met by the elder Brain
Wave, long time foe of the JSA. In a titanic mental struggle, the Ultra-Humanite
slew the Brain Wave, albeit at the cost of much of the great apes abilities
(Infinity Inc. #1-10).
The Ultra-Humanite staged a series of other crimes in the body of the white ape (Infinity Inc. #45, Teen Titans #38, Starman #62) before it finally begin to fail him. When the JSA was trapped in Limbo forestalling Ragnarok, the Ultra-Humanite abandoned the body of the great ape. Using a series of human hosts, he built a company known as Ultra-Gen. Within this company, he created a series of genetic innovations, including a new body for himself with greater abilities than before. The Ultra-Humanite was again thwarted by the Justice Society, fresh from Limbo with the aide of the Modern Age Flash (Justice Society of America #3-5).
Most recently, the Ultra-Humanite has been seen as a prime mover behind a subversive organization known as The Council. He has evolved his quasi-human body into a more powerful form but the full extent of it's powers, and his plans, remains to be seen (JSA Annual #1).
Power and Skills: The Ultra-Humanite has a vast intellect and mental skills which he has acquired over years of self-experiementation. In the mid 20th century, he functioned primarily as a scientist with a vast array of weapons and lackeys. In 1942, he increased in personal power by fusing with the Powerstone but this was short-lived and he was returned to being a "normal" woman. In the body of the Great Ape, his mental powers were greatly amplified, those these were not evident in the mutant form he used in 1992. In addition to his body-specific powers, his brain has been altered to survive periods of disembodiment and exchange between forms. The basis of this ability is unknown.
Weaknesses and Limitations: The Ultra-Humanite's weakness are an inherent function of his current form. In human form, he is subject to mortal weaknesses. In other forms, his limitations are unknown.
Golden Age Appearances
Action Comics #13-14
Action Comics #17
Action Comics #19-21
Post-Golden Age Appearances
Action Comics Archives #1-2 Reprints of Action Comics
#13,14,17,19-21
All-Star Squadron #21-26, Annual #2 - 1942
All-Star Squadron #55-56
Infinity Inc. #1-10
Infinity Inc. #45
JSA Annual #1
Justice League of America #195-197
Justice Society of America #3-5
Starman #62 - cameo
Superman Family #201 - 1940's
Superman Family #213-214 - 1940's
Teen Titans #38