Metamorphae
Encyclopedia
Metamorphae are a class of superpowered
beings existing in the fiction
al DC Comics
universe. Metamorphae are human
s who have been transformed by the sun god
Ra
to serve as warrior
s in his battle against the god Apep
(also known as the serpent that never dies). Metamorphae are beings with the ability to shapeshift
and change into any element found in the human body, or any combinations thereof.
To date five different metamorphae have been chronicled:
Metamorpho
's son Joey Stagg inherited abilities similar to those of his father's, but was not an actual Metamorph
. Joey Stagg could affect the elements around him instead of those part of him. These days, he has lost this metahuman
ability.
The lifespan of metamorphae is unknown. Algon was said to have lived two thousand years before his demise in a volcano
.
As Death
pointed out to Element Girl
, the god Apep died some 3,000 years ago. Death claims to have informed Ra of this, but Ra continues to create metamorphae regardless, suggesting that he is unable to understand or accept that his "never-ending battle" has ended.
Superpower (ability)
Superpower is a popular culture term for a fictional superhuman ability. When a character possesses multiple such abilities, the terms super powers or simply powers are used...
beings existing in the fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe. Metamorphae are human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s who have been transformed by the sun god
Solar deity
A solar deity is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms...
Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
to serve as warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s in his battle against the god Apep
Apep
In Egyptian mythology, Apep was an evil god, the deification of darkness and chaos , and thus opponent of light and Ma'at , whose existence was believed from the 8th Dynasty onwards...
(also known as the serpent that never dies). Metamorphae are beings with the ability to shapeshift
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
and change into any element found in the human body, or any combinations thereof.
To date five different metamorphae have been chronicled:
- Rex MasonMetamorphoMetamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
, the superheroSuperheroA superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
adventurer known as MetamorphoMetamorphoMetamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
(first appearance Brave and the Bold #7) - Urania "Rainie" BlackwellElement GirlElement Girl is a fictional DC Comics superhero who first appeared in Metamorpho #10 . The character's death was featured in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series in issue #20, "Façade."-Fictional character biography:...
, known as Element GirlElement GirlElement Girl is a fictional DC Comics superhero who first appeared in Metamorpho #10 . The character's death was featured in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series in issue #20, "Façade."-Fictional character biography:...
(first appearance Metamorpho vol. 1 #10) - Algon, RomanAncient RomeAncient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
centurionCenturionA centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
and paramourIntimate relationshipAn intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship that involves physical or emotional intimacy. Physical intimacy is characterized by romantic or passionate love and attachment, or sexual activity. The term is also sometimes used euphemistically for a sexual...
of Jezeba, Queen of Ma-Phoor (1st mentioned in Metamorpho #16, 1st appearance in Metamorpho #17) - Ahk-Ton, known as Metamorph (first appearance Batman and the Outsiders #17, January 1985)
- Jillian Conway (first appearance Metamorpho vol. 2 #1, August 1993)
- ShiftMetamorphoMetamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
(first appearance Titans/Young Justice: Graduation DayTitans/Young Justice: Graduation DayTitans/Young Justice: Graduation Day was a three-part comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It was written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Ale Garza and Trevor Scott .-Overview:...
#3)
Metamorpho
Metamorpho
Metamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
's son Joey Stagg inherited abilities similar to those of his father's, but was not an actual Metamorph
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
. Joey Stagg could affect the elements around him instead of those part of him. These days, he has lost this metahuman
Metahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
ability.
The lifespan of metamorphae is unknown. Algon was said to have lived two thousand years before his demise in a volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
.
As Death
Death (DC Comics)
Death is a fictional character from the DC comic book series, The Sandman . The character first appeared in The Sandman vol. 2, #8 , and was created by Neil Gaiman and Mike Dringenberg....
pointed out to Element Girl
Element Girl
Element Girl is a fictional DC Comics superhero who first appeared in Metamorpho #10 . The character's death was featured in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series in issue #20, "Façade."-Fictional character biography:...
, the god Apep died some 3,000 years ago. Death claims to have informed Ra of this, but Ra continues to create metamorphae regardless, suggesting that he is unable to understand or accept that his "never-ending battle" has ended.