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Metahuman
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Characteristics
Place of origin Earth
In DC Comics' DC Universe, a metahuman is a superhuman. The term is roughly synonymous with
both mutant and mutate in theMarvel Universe and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate
Marvel Universes. The term as a referent to superheroes began in 1986 by author George R. R.
Martin, first in the Superworld role playing system, and then later in his Wild Cards series of novels.
[1]

Contents
[hide]
1 DC Comics: Origins & Definition
o 1.1 Xenobrood
o 1.2 The Metagene
o 1.3 White Martians
o 1.4 Metavirus
o 1.5 Population
o 1.6 Exo-gene
o 1.7 Homo magi
2 Novels
o 2.1 Wild Cards
3 Comics
o 3.1 Marvel Comics
o 3.2 Ultimate Marvel
o 3.3 Amalgam
4 Videogames
o 4.1 City of Heroes
o 4.2 Fallout 3
o 4.3 Marvel:Ultimate Alliance
o 4.4 Infamous
5 Role playing games
o 5.1 GURPS
o 5.2 Shadowrun
6 Television
o 6.1 Static Shock
o 6.2 Birds of Prey
o 6.3 Smallville
o 6.4 Young Justice
o 6.5 Hulk and the agents of S.M.A.S.H.
7 Websites
o 7.1 Metahuman Press
8 See also
9 Notes and references
10 External links
DC Comics: Origins & Definition[edit]
Main article: Invasion! (DC Comics)
The term metahuman was first used by a fictitious race of extraterrestrials known as the Dominators,
when they appeared in DC Comics' Invasion! miniseries. The Dominators use this term to refer to any
human native of the planet Earth with "fictional superhuman abilities". The prefix "meta-" simply means
"beyond", denoting persons and abilities beyond human limits. Metahuman may also relate to an
individual who has exceeded what is known as "The Current Potential" meaning ones ability to move
matter with mind. (SeeTelekinesis).
Xenobrood[edit]
Main article: Xenobrood
Before the White Martians arrived on Earth, Lord Vimana the Vimanian overlord from the Xenobrood
mini-series claimed credit for the creation of the human race both normal and metahuman, due to their
introduction of superpowered alien genetic matter into human germline dna.
[2]
The Vimanians in the
series forced their super powered worker drones to mate with humanity's ancestors Australopithecus
afarensis (3 million years ago), and later Homo erectus (1.5 million years ago) in order to create a race
of super powered slaves.
[3]

The Metagene[edit]
The Invasion! mini-series provided a concept for why humans in the DC Universe would survive
catastrophic events and develop "super powers." One of the Dominators discovered that select
members of the human race had a "biological variant" he called the meta-gene (also spelled
"metagene"). This gene often lay dormant until an instant of extraordinary physical and emotional
stress activates it. A "spontaneous chromosomal combustion" then takes place, as the metagene
takes the source of the biostress--be it chemical, radioactive or whatever--and turns the potential
catastrophe into a catalyst for "genetic change," resulting in metahuman abilities. It should also be
noted that DC does not use the "metagene concept" as a solid editorial rule, and few writers explicitly
reference the metagene when explaining a character's origin.
DC also has characters born with superhuman abilities, suggesting the metagene can activate
spontaneously and without any prior appearance in the ancestry. One well-known example involves
Dinah Laurel Lance, the second Black Canary. Although her mother (Dinah Drake Lance, the original
Black Canary) was a superhero, neither she nor her husband Larry Lance were born with any known
metagenes. However, Dinah Laurel was born with a metagene, the famed ultrasonic scream known as
the Canary Cry.
The prefix meta-, in this context, simply means "beyond"as in metastable, which is beyond regular
stability and ready to collapse at the slightest disruption, or metamorphosis, which is the state of going
beyond a single shape. In the DC comic mini-series Invasion!, the Dominators point out that the Meta-
gene is contained inside every cell of the human body.
In the DC Comics universe, metahuman criminals are incarcerated in special metahuman prisons, like
the one built on Alcatraz Island, which is outfitted not only with provisions to hold criminals whose
powers are science and technology-based, but even mystical dampeners to hold villains
(including Homo magi) whose powers are magic based. Prisoners in this facility are tagged with
nanobyte tracers injected into their bloodstream that allow them to be located wherever they are.
[4]

It is possible for individuals skilled in science and biology to manipulate, dampen or modify the
activities of the metagene: while the Dominators were able to devise a Gene Bombable to accelerate
the metagene activity to the point of cellular and physical instabilities, during the Final Crisis, an anti-
metagene virus was spread as a last-ditch weapon in the invaded Checkmate quarters.
This metavirus has the opposite effects of the Gene Bomb, curbing and shutting down the metagene
and stripping the metahumans of their powers for an unspecified amount of time.
[5]

White Martians[edit]
Main article: White Martian
According to the storyline in JLA vol. 1 #4 by Grant Morrison,
[6]
the storylines in Martian
Manhunter #25-27 by John Ostrander,
[7]
and Son of Vulcan #5 by Scott Beatty,
[8]
the genetic potential
for a future metagene was discovered in ancient Homo sapiens DNA (500,000 - 250,000 years ago)
by the White Martian race. The White Martians performed experiments on these primitive humans,
changing how the metahuman phenotype was expressed by the metagene.
Due to their experimentations, they actually altered the destiny of the human race. Whereas, before,
evolution would have eventually made mankind into a race of superhumans similar to
the Daxamites and Kryptonians, now only a select few humans would be able to develop
metahuman powers. As punishment for this, the group of renegades known as the Hyperclan was
exiled to the Still Zone, a version of the Phantom Zone.
[9][10]

Metavirus[edit]
The White Martians also created a metavirus, a metagene that could be passed from host to host via
touch. This metavirus was responsible for the empowerment of the very firstSon of Vulcan. And from
that time onwards the Sons of Vulcan passed the metavirus down in an unbroken line, sworn to hunt
and kill White Martians.
Population[edit]
The terms "meta" and "metahuman" does not only refer to humans born with biological
variants. Superman and Martian Manhunter (aliens) as well as Wonder Woman (a near-goddess)
and Aquaman (an Atlantean) are referred to in many instances as "metahumans." It can refer to
anyone with extranormal powers, no matter the origins and including those not born with such power.
According to Countdown to Infinite Crisis, there are roughly 1.3 million metahumans on Earth, 99.5%
of which are considered "nuisance-level" (such as kids who can bend spoons with their mind and the
old lady "who keeps hitting at Powerball"). The other 0.5% are what Checkmate and
the OMACs consider alpha, beta and gamma level threats. For example, Superman and Wonder
Woman were categorized as alpha level, while Metamorpho was considered a beta level
and Ratcatcher was considered a gamma level.
Exo-gene[edit]
The 52 mini-series introduced a toxic mutagen called the Exo-gene (also referred to as the Exogene).
It is a toxic gene therapy treatment created by Lexcorp for the Everyman Project which creates
metahuman abilities in compatible non-metahumans. First appears in 52 #4, first announcement of the
Everyman Project in 52 #8. The project was controversial, creating a lot of unstable heroes and gave
Luthor an "off switch" for their powers, creating countless mid-flight deaths.
Homo magi[edit]
Main article: Homo magi
DC also suggests that some humans have inherent ability to utilize magic, and these humans are part
of a branch or offshoot of humanity referred to as the Homo magi, who have interbred with normal
humans. As with aliens and mutants with superhuman powers, Homo magi are also often classed
together as Metas by the general public of the DCU.
Novels[edit]
Wild Cards[edit]
"Metahuman" was used for the first time in 1986 by George R. R. Martin in an altered version of
the Superworld role playing system, and later in the Wild Cards anthology series as the formal
scientific term referring to both superhuman powers and those that possess them, as seen in the
appendices to Volume I (the general public of the Wild Cards universe commonly refer to such
individuals as Aces).
[1]

Comics[edit]
Marvel Comics[edit]
The word "metahuman" is most often attributed to DC Comics Universe, while Marvel superpowered
beings are commonly referred to as mutants or mutates. However, both DC and Marvel have made
use of the terms "metahuman" and "mutant" within their own universes. The first use of the term
'metahuman' in the Marvel universe was in the New Mutants Annual #3, written by Chris Claremont,
released in 1987. In it, a Russian security officer describes the protagonists as "metahuman
terrorists".
[citation needed]

In Marvel Comics, metahuman can sometimes be used to refer to an attribute of a character that
possesses a high degree of superhuman durability. A character possessingmetahuman level
invulnerability can withstand virtually all puncture wounds, temperature extremes of hot and cold, and
corrosives without sustaining damage. The various tissues of their bodies; skin, bone, muscle, etc.,
are essentially as hard as a diamond. As a result, they are practically invulnerable to injury by
conventional attacks or weaponry (e.g.Luke Cage or The Thing). This classification system is not
commonly used within the comics themselves, being mainly limited to supplemental materials.
[citation
needed]

Ultimate Marvel[edit]
In Ultimate Fantastic Four #24, Reed Richards calls the Ultimate version of Namor "possibly the most
powerful metahuman on Earth".
Amalgam[edit]
In Amalgam Comics' JLX series, beings called Metamutants (a cross of Metahumans and Mutants)
are introduced, presumably carrying the Metamutant Gene (a cross of the Meta-gene and the Mutant
Gene), presumably also known as the X-gene. They stand as Amalgam's version of Marvel's Mutants,
and, most likely, face the same trials and prejudices.
Videogames[edit]
City of Heroes[edit]
In the MMORPG City of Heroes, the Illuminati-like Malta Group refers to super-beings as metahuman.
When spotting a player, its paramilitary operatives will often report an "MHI" or Meta-Human Incursion
to their squad.
Fallout 3[edit]
In the game Fallout 3, Fawkes refuses to call himself and his fellow Super Mutants as such, preferring
the term 'Metahuman'.
Marvel:Ultimate Alliance[edit]
During the opening cutscene of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Nick Fury calls upon all 'Metahumans' to
help protect the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier from the Masters of Evil.
Infamous[edit]
In the Infamous game series, people who contain what is called the 'conduit gene' are called 'Conduits'.
'Conduits' have the potential to gain superpowers either through absorbing ray-sphere energy or by
other means.
Role playing games[edit]
GURPS[edit]
GURPS International Super Teams, the 1991 worldbook for the "house campaign" for the GURPS
Supers rules, uses "metahuman" as the formal scientific/academic term employed within the setting for
a human with super-powers.
Shadowrun[edit]
Metahuman is also used in the Shadowrun universe for fantasy creatures like elves and dwarves, and
the like. These metahumans are described as being subspecies of Homo sapiens who began
emerging following the return of magic in 2011 and generally have been the targets of racism
throughout their existence. In game terms, metahuman characters generally have abilities beyond
those of normal humans, such as increased strength or agility, improved vision, etc.
Television[edit]
Static Shock[edit]
In animated versions of the DC universe, the term metahuman is sometimes used, most commonly
this is true for the animated series Static Shock (a series which intersects and interacts with the main
animated DC Universe, including the Batman and Superman shows of the nineties, as well as
the JLU). Static Shock is a show in which all superpowered characters are granted powers by a large
chemical explosion later nicknamed "the Big-Bang", are dubbed "Meta-Humans" or "Bang-Babies"--
and are a sub-group of Metahumans. A few strange facts and differences are presented by this
version of the term:
Despite being used regularly in the DC Comics universe, the term metahuman was not commonly
used at the time Milestone Comics' first 4 books (Static being the fourth) were published (if at all).
Metahumans/Bang-Babies in Static Shock have no latent metagene, but rather a mutated genome
due to a common chemical accident. These mutations often reflect previous attributes (many such
attributes paradoxically personality related)
"Metahuman" is first presented in the show by Virgil Hawkins the main character of the show
Static Shock as an alternative to the word "Mutant" because it sounded "degrading."
Bang Baby/Metahumans can be cured by chemical antidote, a fact separating them from other
Superbeings in the Animated DC Universe.
The expression is rarely used in the show's sibling shows despite sharing the same continuity.
It is suggested that bang baby/metahumans' powers are subject to change due to the unstable
nature of their origin.
Birds of Prey[edit]
On the television series Birds of Prey, metahumans included heroines Huntress and Dinah Lance.
New Gotham also had a thriving metahuman underground, mostly made up of metahumans who were
trying to live their own lives, although a self-hating metahuman, Claude Morton (Joe Flanigan), tried to
convince the police that all metahumans were evil.
Smallville[edit]
On the television series Smallville, metahumans can be naturally occurring, but the majority of them on
the show are the result of exposure to kryptonite, which in the Smallvilleuniverse can have the effect of
turning people into super-powered "meteor freaks", often with psychotic side effects. Non-kryptonite
metahumans include the Smallville versions ofAquaman and the Flash
Young Justice[edit]
On the animated series Young Justice, the alien antagonists known as the Kroloteans have frequently
used the term and have even researched into the discovery of a "metagene" by abducting and testing
on random humans. The alien Reach conduct similar experiments and kidnap a cadre of teen
runaways to test for the metagene, leading several of these individuals to develop superpowers. In the
episode "Runaways," a STAR Labs scientist surmises that the gene is "opportunistic" in as much as it
causes its user to develop powers seemingly based on their personal experiences or surroundings.
Hulk and the agents of S.M.A.S.H.[edit]
On the animated series Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Doc Samson tells Scaar that he
specializes in consoling 'Metahumans'.
Websites[edit]
Metahuman Press[edit]
The super-powered fiction site Metahuman Press uses the term metahuman to refer to all characters
with extra-normal powers. The origins of metahuman abilities vary from story to story, but often involve
the activation of a metagene either by accidental occurrence or by regular mutation. Such individuals
are frequently referred to simply as "metas".
See also[edit]