In the DC Universe, a metahuman is a human with superpowers. The term is roughly synonymous with the terms mutant, Inhumans and mutate in the Marvel Universe and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. In DC Comics, the term is used loosely in most instances to refer to any Anthropomorphism individual with extraordinary, often Paranormal abilities or other attributes, regardless of whether or not they are cosmic, mutant, scientific, Supernatural, skill-based or technological in nature. A significant portion of these are normal human beings born with a genetic variant called the "metagene",
The term was first used as a reference to superheroes 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.
DC Comics
The term was first used by the alien Dominators when they appeared in
DC Comics'
Invasion! mini-series in 1988.
The Dominators use this term to refer to any human with superhuman abilities.
In ancient times, the Xenobrood and White Martians experimented on humanity and created the metagene.[ Xenobrood #6 (April 1995)][ Xenobrood #3 - 4 (January - February 1995)][ JLA #4 (April 1997)][ Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) #25-27 (December 2000-February 2001)][ Son of Vulcan (vol. 2) #5 (December 2005)] In , the meta-gene is revealed to have also come from trace amounts of Nth Metal in the blood
Marvel Comics
The word "metahuman" is often attributed to the DC Universe, while superhuman beings in the
Marvel Universe are referred to as either mutants or mutates. However, both DC and
Marvel Comics have made use of the term "metahuman" and "mutant" in their universes. The first use of the term 'metahuman' in the Marvel Universe occurred in
New Mutants Annual #3 (1987), in which a Russian security officer describes the protagonists as "metahuman terrorists".
[ New Mutants Annual #3 (September 1987)]
In other media
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In Birds of Prey, metahumans included heroines the Huntress and Black Canary. They are treated seemingly as a race or species separate from humans.
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In Smallville, metahumans can occur naturally. However, the majority are the result of exposure to kryptonite, which can give humans superpowers.
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In Young Justice, the Kroloteans and Reach conduct experiments in triggering and manipulate the metahuman gene. In the , humans learn to detect and activate the metagene, resulting in widespread metahuman trafficking. The episode "Evolution" reveals that Vandal Savage was the first metahuman and the ancestor of all other metahumans.
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In the Arrowverse franchise, "metahuman" is used more narrowly than in the comics, typically referring to a human being who becomes transhuman and has uncanny abilities, often acquired by accident.
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In the Superman (2025 film), it is stated that metahumans have existed for 300 years within the new continuity established by director James Gunn.
See also
External links
