So I've been working on a Duke Thomas wiki for a while and I just finished the first draft of his Metahuman page. So I wanted to discuss Metahumans with you guys, compare notes to make sure I have my information straight.
here's what I have so far:
- Metahumans are a significant portion of Earth's population who are born with a genetic variant commonly referred to as the "metagene". the metagene typically lays dormant until an instance of extraordinary physical and emotional stress activates it, causing a "spontaneous chromosomal combustion" as the metagene takes the source of the bio-stress – be it chemical, cosmic, or whatever – and turns the potential catastrophe into a catalyst for "genetic change". This genetic change manifesting as metahuman abilities.
- Some people posses metahuman abilities from birth despite having seemingly normal parent, suggesting the metagene can skip generations and activate spontaneously without any prior manifestation in the ancestry. One well-known example is Dinah Laurel Lance, the second Black Canary. Laurel was born with a metagene, her infamous ultrasonic scream known as the Canary Cry, despite neither parent possessing any metahuman abilities.
- Dark Nights: Metal revealed that (in-universe) the term "meta"-human originated from a rudimentary hospital program that was used to flag Nth metal toxicity found in a person's bloodstream, similar to iron or zinc; “meta” being shorthand for the "metal" it detected. This natural "metal toxicity" believed to be the "genetic variant" that changes an individual's DNA and results in the metagene, metahumans and their various heightened abilities and powers.
- The lineage of metahumans and their origins can be traced by this Nth Metal connection, dating all the way back to three tribes from the earliest known era of humanity; the Bird Tribe, the Wolf Tribe, and the Bear Tribe.
- When The Totality crashed to earth and introduced the various forms of Heavy Metal and other mysterious forces into the world, The Bear tribe and Vandar Adg of the Wolf Tribe were the first ones to encounter the Totality. They were all mutated by the radiation of the Totality, granting them immortality and making them the world’s earliest iteration of Metahumans.
- There was believed to be roughly 1.3 million metahumans on Earth in modern day, 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 O.M.A.C.s consider Alpha- and Beta-level threats. For reference, Superman and Wonder Woman were categorized as Alpha-level, while Metamorpho was considered a Beta and the Ratcatcher is considered a Gamma-level. However, since the destruction of the Source Wall, the number of Alpha and Beta level metahumans, as well as the general metahuman population, were sharply increased by the new cosmic radiations affecting the universe.
"Metahuman" as a term is used relatively loosely. it's usually used to refer to any human-like being with extraordinary powers and abilities be they a result of science, magic, alien origins, mutation, divinity, proficiency or technology. while the "metagene-metahuman" concept holds true in some form or another across DC's different continuities, DC does not use the metagene concept as a hard editorial rule and few writers explicitly reference the metagene when explaining a character's origin.
Aliens such as Superman and the Martian Manhunter, divine beings like Wonder Woman, and even separate human-like species such as Atlanteans have all been referred to as or mistaken for metahumans.
- Immortals: Immortals are metahumans who have the capacity to live nigh-indefinitely. There is a long standing network of Immortal beings by various means (magic, ancient artifacts, metahuman powers, etc.) and within this community of immortals there are factions of different metahuman immortals whose roots stem from the five original members of Bear Tribe. The immortals of the Bear Tribe can share their immortality with the metahumans they recruit to their individual "Houses". The Metahumans that are made immortal by the Bear siblings inherit their longevity but do not receive their invulnerability.
- Force Users: Force users, such as speedsters, are metahumans with a metagene that makes them attuned to one of the four aspects of the Forever Force; The Speed Force, Still Force, Sage Force, and the Strength Force. These genes can influence those who posses them even when dormant, such as those with the ‘speedster’ metagene being drawn to long, flat regions; which is why so many are in the Midwest. Force attune family lines with similar metagenes are also drawn to each other. The Allens and Wests are two such families, producing powerful and significant Speed Force avatars.
- Homo Magi: Not all humans get there powers from standard metahuman genetic process, some humans have a different type of variant that gives them the capacity to inherently utilize magic. These particular humans seem to be part of a branch in the evolutionary tree called ''Homo Magi". The "Homo Magi" can mate and breed with normal humans and typically have no distinct qualities other than magic use.
- Aliens: Many aliens who reside on Earth have powers and abilities that are often mistaken for metahuman abilities. While many of these abilities are a result of their species' natural evolution, metas may not be strictly limited to humanity either. There have been instances in a variety of alien races of a section of their population rapidly adapting and evolving on a genetic level beyond what should be possible. Most notably, the planet Maltus was home to a subsect of lifeforms who possessed "micro-colonies", cells that help creatures that possess them to evolve and maintain an advantage over any threat in their ecosystem; very similar to the metahuman phenomenon on earth.
Control and Countermeasures
It is possible for individuals skilled in science and biology to manipulate, dampen or modify the activities of the metagene. The Dominators were able to devise a Gene Bomb that would accelerate metagene activity to the point of cellular and physical instabilities. Checkmate was able to created an anti-metagene virus that had 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.
- Prison: Metahuman criminals have to be incarcerated in specialized metahuman prisons, which are outfitted with provisions to hold criminals with metahuman abilities and even have mystical dampeners to contain the magic-based powers of the Homo magi. Prisoners in these facility are tagged with nanobyte tracers injected into their bloodstream and outfitted with power-dampening collars that allow them to be located wherever they are.
- The OMAC Project: OMACs are living machines, cyborgs created from human bodies that have been transformed by a virus in order to assassinate any and all beings with superpowers; specifically Metahumans. The virus is derived from Brainiac-13's nanotechnology, which had been acquired by the U.S. Department of Defense and Lexcorp, and was then secretly introduced into general vaccine supplies.
- Brother MK I/Brother Eye: OMACs are controlled by the Brother MK I satellite. Brother MK I was created by Batman and programmed by Pseudopersons Inc. scientist, and partner of Wayne Industries, Buddy Blank. Its sole purpose was to gather data on all metahumans, both villain and hero. Batman had grown distrustful of metahumans after discovering that the Justice League altered his memories following an altercation with Doctor Light in Identity Crisis. Maxwell Lord subverted the original mission of the Brother MK I satellite by inculcating a fear and suspicion of all metahumans. Alexander Luthor Jr. later gave the satellite sentience as part of his plans.
When Maxwell Lord was killed by Wonder Woman, Brother MK I, rechristening itself Brother Eye and initiated the "KingIsDead" protocol. Specifically designed to be used in the event of Lord's death, it ordered all of the OMACs (all 1,373,462 of them) to attack and kill all metahumans on Earth and destroy Checkmate. A group superhero effort stopped the attack, using an EMP blast as well as a "Shut Down" command given by Sasha Bordeaux. While this drastically reduced the number of OMACs, remnants of OMAC technology is still out there.