Professor Ivo
Encyclopedia
Professor Anthony Ivo is a fictional character
, a mad scientist
in the DC universe
and is the creator of the androids Amazo
, Kid Amazo
, Tomorrow Woman
and Composite Superman
in his retconned origin.
, where he gained new insights through the dissection of one of the Appelaxian
s. He used this knowledge to build Amazo; Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths, his desire to perfect Amazo was so great he held little qualms as to kill his own father and a complete stranger in the benefit of the mental and biological templates he needed to create the android. In any case, both Pre- and Post-Crisis, he had Amazo attack the JLA in the hope of using their powers to imbue himself with immortality, though Pre-Crisis he tried to use Amazo to steal long-lived creatures, though he captured the JLA on the way in gas filled cylinders, save Batman and Superman, stole their powers and placed them in Amazo, and made a potion that would allow him to live for 500 years, though he can make more. He then told Amazo to remove their memories. However Green Lantern
recharges his ring, having used the yellowish-greenish gas he had inhaled, then exhaled to protect him from the ring, and draws the powers out of Amazo and back to their rightful owners, also giving them back their memories. Ironically at the end of the story Ivo is sentenced to 500 years, while Amazo is stored in the trophy room.
Years later, Ivo discovered an immortality potion and drank it, but found that the immortality brought with it horrible disfigurement that made his skin scaly. He blamed this on the JLA and drifted further into insanity as he attacked the League on numerous occasions. Ivo built duplicates of himself to keep him company. These duplicates were repulsed by the insanity of their creator and locked him away, then carried out his dreams of revenge by attacking the new Justice Leaguers (Vibe
, Gypsy
, Steel
and Vixen
) and killing Vibe.
A year later, Ivo built a private island populated by robots. There, Ivo created "Men In Black" nicknamed Amazoids who had similar powers to Amazo. The Amazoids could steal one superpower each; they succeeded in robbing the powers of Red Star
, Rebis
, Valor
, Power Girl
, Starman
and Geo-Force
. However, this time Ivo's goal was not revenge, but suicide. Ivo realized that the disfigurement was not the side effect; it was the immortality. His body was becoming more and more infected, more and more immobile, until he would be nothing but a pain-filled living statue. Fearing this even more than death, he ordered the Amazoids to turn their full power on him. It didn't work. The JLA'er Ice
, sympathizing with him, unknowingly invoked the power of Guy Gardner's
Green Lantern ring to cure him.
Professor Ivo's disfiguring experience was not enough to keep him from the temptation of the immortality serum and he once again brought about his own deformity by drinking it. As both Ice and the Green Lantern rings were gone, Ivo apparently consigned himself to his own horrible fate and was later imprisoned. Later, he would form a partnership of sorts with fellow mad scientist T. O. Morrow
, constructing the powerful mechanized superheroine Tomorrow Woman
as a trap to mindwipe the JLA with an electromagnetic pulse. While both men bickered and bantered all the while, they formed a friendship or camaraderie of sorts, even drinking a toast when he was imprisoned by the JLA. Still, Morrow was deeply annoyed at Ivo's boasts about Amazo, and to spite him, snitched on the JLA when Ivo planned to use the android to escape. Still, they remained comrades of some sort and still delight in spiting and belitting each other.
Later on, the nearly omnipotent android Hourman sought Ivo to have him explain the very nature of androids. As the father and precursor of the entire race, Ivo gave him the best explanation he could in exchange for a minor piece of knowledge Ivo wanted: whether he would die or not in the end. Hourman told him and left Ivo in his lair to meditate on the answer.
Professor Ivo recently returned in Infinite Crisis
as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains
. He then appeared in Brad Meltzer's Justice League of America sans disfigurement. However, in a fight with Black Canary
, Arsenal
and Green Lantern
, he claims to still retain his immortality. In Justice League of America #4, it is revealed that he is not the mastermind of the events, but rather working for an intelligent Solomon Grundy
. It appears Grundy is using Ivo to build him an Amazo body to live forever.
He also took part in the Salvation Run
storyline.
The Secret Society of Super Villains also assigned him to collect soil samples in Auschwitz, Poland
which will be used to create the Wonder Woman
villain Genocide
. Ivo brings along his newest android Red Volcano
as an aid. During this mission it is revealed that Ivo isn't in agreement to create the new villain but follows through with orders at the prospect of having other Secret Society members create an antidote for his physical disfigurement. Following the Final Crisis
, he was with Cheetah III's Secret Society of Super Villains
.
After tiring of Ivo's torment, Red Tornado coordinated with his Justice League teammates to have his former creator captured and incarcerated.
Maxwell Lord later approaches Professor Ivo with a job to reprogram the Metal Men
.
Professor Ivo created a serum which provides him with an extremely long life span. The serum has however left his body twisted and malformed. As a result of his "immortality" serum, Ivo has developed a thick, resilient second skin. The skin appears to be bulletproof, and impenetrable to most forms of energy.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
in the DC universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
and is the creator of the androids Amazo
Amazo
Amazo is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in The Brave and the Bold #30 and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. An android, Amazo's special ability is to replicate the special abilities of various superheroes and...
, Kid Amazo
Kid Amazo
Kid Amazo is a fictional cyborg from DC Comics, built to be the "son" of Amazo. Originally meant to star in a 2004 hardcover called JLA: Kid Amazo, he made his debut three years later, in the pages of JLA Classified; as a result, he was "predated" by the similar Marvel Comics character Victor...
, Tomorrow Woman
Tomorrow Woman
Tomorrow Woman is a fictional character, an artificial lifeform and superhero from DC Comics. She debuted in JLA #5 , and was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter.-The Justice League:...
and Composite Superman
Composite Superman
The Composite Superman is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Superman and Batman.-Joseph Meach version:First appearing in World's Finest Comics #142, June 1964, Joseph Meach was a diver who had fallen on hard times. In an attempt to draw publicity to himself, Meach set up a water tank on a...
in his retconned origin.
Fictional character biography
Anthony Ivo grew up with a crippling fear of death. The thought of his life ending was so great that he even avoided his own mother's funeral. For Ivo, avoiding death became his life's obsession. Ivo took to studying cybernetics and soon became an employee of the criminal organization LocusLocus (comics)
Locus is a fictional mutant villainess in the Marvel Comics universe. She was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front in the comic title X-Force under the leadership of Reignfire...
, where he gained new insights through the dissection of one of the Appelaxian
Appelaxian
The Appelaxians are a fictional alien race in DC Comics. They first appeared in Justice League of America #9, which told the origin of the League. Seven Apellexians used Earth as a battleground to decide who would rule their planet as Kalar. They were defeated by seven Earth heroes, who went on to...
s. He used this knowledge to build Amazo; Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths, his desire to perfect Amazo was so great he held little qualms as to kill his own father and a complete stranger in the benefit of the mental and biological templates he needed to create the android. In any case, both Pre- and Post-Crisis, he had Amazo attack the JLA in the hope of using their powers to imbue himself with immortality, though Pre-Crisis he tried to use Amazo to steal long-lived creatures, though he captured the JLA on the way in gas filled cylinders, save Batman and Superman, stole their powers and placed them in Amazo, and made a potion that would allow him to live for 500 years, though he can make more. He then told Amazo to remove their memories. However Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
recharges his ring, having used the yellowish-greenish gas he had inhaled, then exhaled to protect him from the ring, and draws the powers out of Amazo and back to their rightful owners, also giving them back their memories. Ironically at the end of the story Ivo is sentenced to 500 years, while Amazo is stored in the trophy room.
Years later, Ivo discovered an immortality potion and drank it, but found that the immortality brought with it horrible disfigurement that made his skin scaly. He blamed this on the JLA and drifted further into insanity as he attacked the League on numerous occasions. Ivo built duplicates of himself to keep him company. These duplicates were repulsed by the insanity of their creator and locked him away, then carried out his dreams of revenge by attacking the new Justice Leaguers (Vibe
Vibe (comics)
Vibe is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America Annual #2 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton.-Paco Ramone:...
, Gypsy
Gypsy (comics)
Gypsy is a fictional character, a DC Comics superheroine. She first appeared in Justice League Annual #2 and was created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton. She is a member of the Birds of Prey and has been a member of the Justice League.-Fictional character biography:Cindy Reynolds is born to...
, Steel
Commander Steel
Commander Steel is the name of three fictional characters, superheroes published by DC Comics, all members of the same family. The first Steel appeared in Steel, The Indestructible Man #1 published by DC Comics, and was created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck. His stories were set in World War II...
and Vixen
Vixen (comics)
Vixen is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics universe. She debuted in Action Comics #521 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Bob Oksner.-Publication history:...
) and killing Vibe.
A year later, Ivo built a private island populated by robots. There, Ivo created "Men In Black" nicknamed Amazoids who had similar powers to Amazo. The Amazoids could steal one superpower each; they succeeded in robbing the powers of Red Star
Red Star (comics)
Red Star is a fictional Russian superhero in the DC Universe. A former member of the Teen Titans, he first appeared under the name Starfire in Teen Titans #18...
, Rebis
Negative Man
Negative Man is a fictional superhero from DC Comics. He first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80.-Larry Trainor:The original Negative Man, Larry Trainor, is a founding member of the Doom Patrol, along with Elasti-Girl, Robotman, and The Chief...
, Valor
Valor (comics)
Valor, in comics, may refer to:* Valor, a member of the Legion of Superheroes better known as Lar Gand* Valor , an EC Comics title...
, Power Girl
Power Girl
Power Girl is a DC Comics superheroine, making her first appearance in All Star Comics #58 ....
, Starman
Starman (comics)
Starman is a name used by several different fictional DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, the original Starman, Ted Knight, first appeared in Adventure Comics #61...
and Geo-Force
Geo-Force
Geo-Force is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Markov is Prince of Markovia and the half-brother of Terra. Geo-Force is one of the founding members of the superhero group the Outsiders. He first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the...
. However, this time Ivo's goal was not revenge, but suicide. Ivo realized that the disfigurement was not the side effect; it was the immortality. His body was becoming more and more infected, more and more immobile, until he would be nothing but a pain-filled living statue. Fearing this even more than death, he ordered the Amazoids to turn their full power on him. It didn't work. The JLA'er Ice
Ice (comics)
Ice is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in publications from DC Comics. Created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, she first appeared in Justice League International #12 ....
, sympathizing with him, unknowingly invoked the power of Guy Gardner's
Guy Gardner (comics)
Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
Green Lantern ring to cure him.
Professor Ivo's disfiguring experience was not enough to keep him from the temptation of the immortality serum and he once again brought about his own deformity by drinking it. As both Ice and the Green Lantern rings were gone, Ivo apparently consigned himself to his own horrible fate and was later imprisoned. Later, he would form a partnership of sorts with fellow mad scientist T. O. Morrow
T. O. Morrow
T.O. Morrow is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. The original T. O. Morrow debuted in The Flash vol. 1 #143 and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino. The modern T. O. Morrow first appeared in The Flash vol...
, constructing the powerful mechanized superheroine Tomorrow Woman
Tomorrow Woman
Tomorrow Woman is a fictional character, an artificial lifeform and superhero from DC Comics. She debuted in JLA #5 , and was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter.-The Justice League:...
as a trap to mindwipe the JLA with an electromagnetic pulse. While both men bickered and bantered all the while, they formed a friendship or camaraderie of sorts, even drinking a toast when he was imprisoned by the JLA. Still, Morrow was deeply annoyed at Ivo's boasts about Amazo, and to spite him, snitched on the JLA when Ivo planned to use the android to escape. Still, they remained comrades of some sort and still delight in spiting and belitting each other.
Later on, the nearly omnipotent android Hourman sought Ivo to have him explain the very nature of androids. As the father and precursor of the entire race, Ivo gave him the best explanation he could in exchange for a minor piece of knowledge Ivo wanted: whether he would die or not in the end. Hourman told him and left Ivo in his lair to meditate on the answer.
Professor Ivo recently returned in Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
as a member of the Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
. He then appeared in Brad Meltzer's Justice League of America sans disfigurement. However, in a fight with Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
, Arsenal
Roy Harper (comics)
Roy Harper is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He was known for over fifty years as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy. He first appeared alongside his mentor in More Fun Comics #73...
and Green Lantern
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
, he claims to still retain his immortality. In Justice League of America #4, it is revealed that he is not the mastermind of the events, but rather working for an intelligent Solomon Grundy
Solomon Grundy (comics)
Solomon Grundy is a fictional character, a zombie supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Named after the 19th century children's nursery rhyme, Grundy was introduced as an enemy of the Golden Age Green Lantern , but has since become a prominent enemy for a number of superheroes, such as Batman and...
. It appears Grundy is using Ivo to build him an Amazo body to live forever.
He also took part in the Salvation Run
Salvation Run
Salvation Run is a seven-issue 2007-2008 DC Comics limited series which was designed to tie in to the company's major event series Final Crisis in 2008.-Premise:The premise of the series, which is based on a pitch by George R. R...
storyline.
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
which will be used to create the Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
villain Genocide
Genocide (comics)
Genocide is a fictional character owned by DC Comics, and created by writer Gail Simone for the Wonder Woman comic book.-Fictional character biography:...
. Ivo brings along his newest android Red Volcano
Red Volcano
Red Volcano is a fictional character, a comic book android supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in DC Universe #0 , and was created by Grant Morrison, Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti.-Publication history:...
as an aid. During this mission it is revealed that Ivo isn't in agreement to create the new villain but follows through with orders at the prospect of having other Secret Society members create an antidote for his physical disfigurement. Following the Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
, he was with Cheetah III's Secret Society of Super Villains
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
.
After tiring of Ivo's torment, Red Tornado coordinated with his Justice League teammates to have his former creator captured and incarcerated.
Maxwell Lord later approaches Professor Ivo with a job to reprogram the Metal Men
Metal Men
The Metal Men are fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in Showcase #37 and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciller Ross Andru...
.
Powers and abilities
Professor Ivo is a criminal mastermind and a scientific genius. He is responsible for the creation of the androids Amazo and the Tomorrow Woman. He was also able to create an immortality serum.Professor Ivo created a serum which provides him with an extremely long life span. The serum has however left his body twisted and malformed. As a result of his "immortality" serum, Ivo has developed a thick, resilient second skin. The skin appears to be bulletproof, and impenetrable to most forms of energy.
Television
- Professor Ivo (listed on the computer screen at one point as Arthur Ivo) appeared in the Justice LeagueJustice League (TV series)Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
episode "Tabula Rasa" as AMAZO's creator. Ivo worked for LexCorpLexCorpLexCorp is the fictional company founded by Lex Luthor in the popular DC Comics Superman series. It made its first proper appearance in John Byrne's The Man of Steel miniseries, which established the post-Crisis Superman setting...
, but was fired when Mercy GravesMercy GravesMercedes "Mercy" Graves is a fictional supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She debuted on Superman: The Animated Series as the bodyguard/personal assistant of Superman's archenemy, Lex Luthor...
took over the company. When Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
goes to see Ivo, he is already dead (contrary to the comics, where he was longevity) but Luthor finds AMAZO instead. Luthor briefly quips that the "cigarettes got you at last".
- Professor Ivo appears in the Young JusticeYoung Justice (TV series)Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young...
episode "Schooled" voiced by Peter MacNicolPeter MacNicolPeter MacNicol is an American actor. He may be best known in films for his roles of Janosz Poha in Ghostbusters II, Stingo in Sophie's Choice, Thomas Renfield in Dracula: Dead and Loving It and David Langley in Bean...
. Professor Ivo returns after the League believes he was dead and sends AmazoAmazoAmazo is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in The Brave and the Bold #30 and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. An android, Amazo's special ability is to replicate the special abilities of various superheroes and...
after them. Four hours after the battle, Professor Ivo sends his Mobile Optimal Neural Quotient Infiltrators (Ivo stated that it took him ages thinking up an acronym for "monkey") to raid the convoys containing the parts of Amazo and steal them back. SuperboySuperboy (Kon-El)Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
ends up trailing the M.O.N.Q.I.s to a boxcar where he encounters Professor Ivo. After Superboy takes down some of the M.O.N.Q.I.s, Professor Ivo unleashes Amazo on him with the fight leading to Robin's school. Professor Ivo showed up in the gymnasium to watch the fight as the other Young Justice members show up. Though Young Justice tries to apprehend Professor Ivo, they were unable to due to Amazo. After SuperboySuperboySuperboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
destroyed Amazo by sending his fist through Amazo's head while he was still intangible, Professor Ivo managed to get away. In "Terrors," Professor Ivo makes a cameo as an inmate at Belle ReveBelle ReveBelle Reve Penitentiary is a fictional prison and sanitorium in the DC Universe, first appearing in Suicide Squad #1 by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.-Fictional background:...
. In "Humanity," the team and ZatannaZatannaZatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
visit Professor Ivo in Belle Reve to interrogate him on where T.O. Morrow's hideout. He snitches that T.O. Morrow's base is beneath Yellowstone National Park somewhere near Old Faithful. Professor Ivo makes contact to T.O. Morrow (who was being impersonated by Red VolcanoRed VolcanoRed Volcano is a fictional character, a comic book android supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in DC Universe #0 , and was created by Grant Morrison, Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti.-Publication history:...
) warning him that the team is heading their way.