Metagene

The Metagene is a concept that features in DC Comics.

History

Origin

It was a gene in some humans that gives them the potential to become "super-powered" metahumans. Many humans' metagenes were activated by the Dominators' Gene-Bomb. Synthetic metagenes were developed at one point by the U.S. military by authorization of General Wade Eiling, but they were flawed, threatening to kill the first test subjects- the Ultramarines.

General Eiling had a team of geneticists synthesize the Metagene that was imparted on four recruits to turn them into super-soldiers that formed the International Ultramarine Corps. The process was lethal on the test subjects which meant that they could only live for a week. To hide their origin, the General created a cover story for the Ultramarine Corps that was designated as the Threshold Project. (JLA v1 #25)

A number of Metahumans began to emerge in Little Falls, Colorado with these being the result of a Meta-Virus that was deemed to had been released by the nation of Bialya as part of a terrorist attack. This was achieved through genetically engineered mosquitos that were used as the delivery mechanism that were designed to withstand the cold and made with technology used by the original Killer Bee who was a Bialyan operative. Unknown to anyone at the time, the virus made use of Kryptonian genetic signatures and was triggered by the planetary system’s yellow sun. Chaos resulted as over 30,000 new Metas had been unleashed on American soil that caused the superhero community to be pushed to the brink at containing dangers from the use of their powers. Some of the new Metas attempted to cooperate with the authorities whilst others struggled with their powers and even a few went rogue with them attacking others. (Action Comics v1 #802)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new sequence of events were created as a result of the altered timeline. The Daemonites leading scientist Skugardt discovered its existence on Earth during the reign of Helspont as he sought out a means of genetic salvation. As a result, the Daemonites infiltrated the planet in order to cultivate it for the future though Helspont was betrayed and imprisoned whilst his agents divided into factions that no longer monitored its development. (Superman Annual v3 #1)

In Russia, in the wake of the Superman Theory the government began to pass new Metahuman laws that forced every newborn from birth to be tested for the Metagene which led to mass protests. (Doomsday Clock v1 #8)

Overview

It was possible to synthesize the Metahuman gene though one attempt made it lethal to its hosts and killed them within a week. (JLA v1 #25)

It was held that the chances of a Metagene trigger occurring was 1-in-6.7 million in the modern age. (Action Comics v1 #801) During those years, it was estimated that 1-5 million humans typically undergo a Metagene transmutation per year. (Action Comics v1 #802)

Members

• Black Lightning :

Notes

• The Metagene was created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane where it made its first appearance in Invasion! v1 #1 (January, 1989).

In other media

Television

• In Young Justice, the Metagene made an appearance in the animated television series starting in the episode "Before the Dawn". Its existence was revealed and shown to be an object of interest to both the Kroloteans as well as the Reach.

Appearances

• Invasion! v1:
• Superman Annual v3:
• JLA v1:
• Action Comics v1:
• Doomsday Clock v1: