Controllers (DC Comics)

Controllers
A Controller from Power Company #14. Art by Tom Grummett.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Adventure Comics #357 (June 1967)
Created by	Jim Shooter (writer & artist) Mort Weisinger (writer) Curt Swan (artist)
Characteristics
Place of origin	Maltus (formerly)
Inherent abilities	Energy manipulation, functionally immortal

The Controllers are a fictional extraterrestrial race existing in the DC Universe. They first appear in Adventure Comics #357 (June 1967), and were created by Jim Shooter, Mort Weisinger, and Curt Swan.

In their initial appearance, the Controllers came from "another space-time continuum." Their universe had almost been destroyed by war, and they were determined to prevent the Earth-One universe from going the same way. They used their mind-control abilities to prevent intergalactic war, but also had powerful weapons, including the Sun-Eater. This concluded with "The Death of Ferro Lad" story where Ferro Lad dies destroying the Sun Eater. The Legion's long-time enemy Time Trapper was revealed to be a renegade Controller.

The Controllers' origins were changed following the Crisis on Infinite Earths events. They were now originally part of a race of immortals called the Maltusians. These beings left Maltus and colonized a new world called Oa. Now calling themselves Oans, they feel responsible for the catastrophic effects on the universe caused by one of their own, the renegade scientist Krona. The group argues over ways to handle the situation. One group of Oans desires to dedicate their immortal existences to contain evil. This group eventually became the Guardians of the Universe. Another group decides that evil should be destroyed. This group leaves planet Oa, eventually becoming the Controllers. It is also revealed that the Controllers left over the Guardians' decision to not destroy their former robot minions, the Manhunters, after the Manhunter rebellion on Oa.

Just as the Guardians slowly changed their physical appearances over billions of years of existence, so did the Controllers. Originally, all Oans were blue-skinned humanoids; currently, the Controllers are pink-skinned and hairless. The Controllers moved to another dimension and dedicated themselves to creating weapons that could be used to destroy evil beings if they became too dangerous. Among these are the Sun-Eaters, gaseous beings that can devour whole planets and stars, and the Miracle Machine, a device that can turn any thought into reality.