Colu
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| Colu | |
 |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| In story information | |
| Type | Planet |
| Notable people | Vril Dox Brainiac 5 |
| Notable races | Coluan Computer Tyrants |
Colu is a fictional planet in DC Comics whose primary inhabitants are called the Coluans. Another name given for the planet was "Yod", which has appeared only once in comics was later pointed out in a letter by a fan. According to the reply to the letter, "Yod" is the Coluan name for their homeworld, however this name has not appeared since.
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[edit] Planetary Information
Details given out during the L.E.G.I.O.N. comics state that 20th century Colu is a rim world found on the approach to the Magellanic Clouds. It is the only inhabitable planet of its solar system and is the fourth planet from its sun. The surface is split between 50% land and water, and while it has polar ice caps and a few deserts, is mostly temperate. The majority of its populace lives in large cities with less than 1% of its population residing elsewhere outside those cities. [1]
In Pre-Zero Hour, Colu's capital was given as Metaire and was the most advanced city in the galaxy, in which the shrine of enlightenment was built.[2] In Mark Waid's Legion reboot, Colu uses its shrinking technology (pioneered by the original Brainiac) to make maximum use of its surface area. It is sometimes known as the "Bottle Planet of Colu".
[edit] Inhabitants
The Coluan race is essentially a green-skinned humanoid race. The average member of the Coluan race is noted for having a "level 8" intelligence (far higher than humans), with the notable exception of the Dox family who have a level 12 intelligence. In the 30th century setting of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Colu is famous for the incredible intellects of its inhabitants. The most brilliant, but most erratic, are still considered to be the Dox family, which includes the Legion's own Brainiac 5 (a.k.a. Querl Dox).
After the Zero Hour reboot, it was revealed that most Coluans prefer purely theoretical research, and found Brainiac 5's interest in experimentation disturbing. It was later revealed that, following their experience with the Computer Tyrants, the Coluans had a prejudice against artificial life.[3]
List of residents or characters who originate from this world include:
[edit] History
[edit] Pre-Crisis
In the pre-Crisis DC Universe of Earth-One, the Tyrants sent the android Brainiac into space to find suitable targets. To perpetrate the illusion that Brainiac was Coluan, a young Coluan named Vril Dox was sent along and instructed to pose as Brainiac's "son". Dox rebelled against the tyrants and freed Colu. He was the ancestor of Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
[edit] Post Crisis
In the Post-Crisis DCU, Colu was still ruled by the Computer Tyrants. To remain in control of Colu, the Tyrants would resort to measures such as memory erasing and brainwashing Colaun children so that the populace knew no other lifestyle than the one the Tyrants offered. [1]
However, in this timeline they did not create a Brainiac android. Instead they created Brainiac inadvertently when they sentenced the rebellious scientist Vril Dox to death, and his consciousness somehow found its way to Earth. His cloned lab assistant, Vril Dox II, eventually overthrew the Computer Tyrants, with the aid of the various heroic aliens who became L.E.G.I.O.N.. The Computer Tyrants downloaded themselves into a robot body, (apparently going on to become Pulsar Stargrave) but was unable to take Colu back from Vril Dox II.
Brainiac subsequently returned to Colu and attempted to conquer it using Brainiac 5 and the "sleepnet" (which was due to be invented on Colu in 750 years time). Vril Dox II returned to Colu to stop his father from conquering it and after a struggle he and Brainiac 5 managed to defeat Brainiac. Afterwards, the Colu high counsel decided the Dox family were barred from ever returning to Colu (which at some point was later be overturned). They also declaring to only research scientific thoery over experimentation. Brainiac 5 reveal afterwards that Colu was exactly the same in the 21st century as in the 31st century - Colu would see no significant development in the next 1,000 years.
[edit] Legionaires 1,000,000
In the Legionaires 1,000,000 comic, which showed a possible future for Colu, Colu was said to have joined itself with Bgztl (the homeworld of Phantom Girl). Over time, the two worlds' inhabitants slowly merged powers to form a race of people who, not only had great intelligence, but became spirit intellects, lacking the distraction of flesh. The two joint worlds were Brainiac 417's homeworlds. [4]
[edit] Other Media
Colu has been mentioned in the Legion of Super Heroes animated series, and later shown in the series finale "Dark Victory". In the series, the Coluans are a race of highly advance cybernetic beings that function as a Hive-Mind collective, with a handful of females in charge while males seemingly acting as drones.[5] Coluans can merge together to form one body[6] and are keepers of many secrets such as matter transformation technology. But the Hive-Mind's two faults are an intolerance for any individual uniqueness among Coluans, such as Brainiac 5, and easily being overpowered by a stronger will.
In the Legion of Superheroes in the 31st century comic, which is based on the show, they are once again cybernetic beings. However, individualism is not a problem in the comic in contrast to the show, as seen when Brainiac 5 returned to Colu for testing. This is also the only time in this Legion's run that was mentioned the average Colaun has an intelligence level of 8. [7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b L.E.G.I.O.N. 1 comics Feb 1st 1989. Information on Colu supplied.
- ^ Legionnaires #8 - released Nov 1993
- ^ The Legion issues 10-15, various examples of Coluan hatred towards artificial life, during after the Robotica war.
- ^ Legionaires 1,000,000
- ^ Legion of Superheroes Season #2 Episode #13 - Colu is seen in the animated series.
- ^ Legion of Superheroes Season #1 episode #6 and Season #2 Episode #13 - Colu is explored.
- ^ Legion of Superheroes in the 31st century #4 - Colu is explored.
