#infinity inc.

The Ultra-Humanite first appeared in Action Comics #13 on June 7, 1939, but we don't learn his give was name Gerard Shugel until many years later. Created by the same team behind Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, he was initially conceived as a recurring villain for the Man of Steel and, in many ways, served as a prototype for what would become Lex Luthor.

After Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character was reimagined as a long-standing adversary of the Justice Society of America. His new origin was explored in Power Girl by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Amanda Conner, where he was given the name Gerard Shugel (a nod to creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster). In this version, Shugel is born with an intellect far beyond the greatest minds on Earth—but also with a degenerative disease slowly destroying his body. He dedicates his life to developing methods to halt the disease and, ultimately, to transplant his brain into a healthy host.

By the time of his first appearance in Action Comics, he goes by Ultra-Humanite and is confined to a wheelchair. Eventually, he succeeds in transferring his mind into the body of famous actress Dolores Winters. Later, during a Justice League of America / Justice Society of America crossover, he transfers his brain into his now-iconic albino gorilla body—though he's known for frequently jumping bodies in his quest for survival and control.

Below are some of the most essential Ultra-Humanite stories across the decades:

📚 Essential Ultra-Humanite Reading List

• Action Comics #13, 14, 17, 19–21 (June 1939 – February 1940) The original Golden Age Ultra-Humanite stories, where he becomes Superman’s first major recurring villain, and transplants his brain in to Delores Winter's body.

• Justice League of America #195–197 (October–December 1981) A JLA/JSA crossover event featuring the Secret Society of Super-Villains. These issues mark the first appearance of Ultra-Humanite in his albino gorilla body and showcase his genius-level planning and brute strength.

• All-Star Squadron #21–26 (May–October 1983) Ultra-Humanite faces off against both the JSA and the All-Star Squadron during World War II inhabiting Dolores Winters’s body. This arc also includes the first appearance of Amazing-Man and sets up the formation of Infinity, Inc.

• Infinity, Inc. #1–10 (March 1984 – January 1985) The newly formed Infinity Inc. battles Ultra-Humanite—now in his gorilla form—as he continues his manipulations from behind the scenes.

• Young All-Stars #12–14 (May–July 1988) In one of his wildest transformations, Ultra-Humanite transfers his consciousness into a tyrannosaurus rex, pitting prehistoric power against the Young All-Stars.

• Justice Society of America #1–5 (July–November 1992) The JSA battles Ultra-Humanite in a new human-like body, operating under the corporate identity Ultragen.

• JSA #32–38 (January–July 2002) – “Stealing Thunder” Ultra-Humanite takes over Johnny Thunder's body and gains control of the Thunderbolt, reshaping reality to suit his vision. This arc shows how dangerous he becomes when given near-omnipotent power.

• Power Girl #1–3 (May–July 2009) A lighter, action-packed story where Ultra-Humanite attempts to swap bodies with Power Girl. It introduces new elements of his backstory including the name Gerard Shugel.