Metahuman

In the DC Universe, a metahuman is a human or humanoid with superpowers. In American comic books published by DC Comics, the term is used loosely in most instances to refer to any human-like individual with extraordinary, often paranormal abilities or other attributes, regardless of whether they are cosmic, mutant, scientific, supernatural, skill-based or technological in nature.

The term in comic books published by DC Comics is typically used as a loose government classification of powered people and not a descriptor of a character's specific origins. As such it is often applied readily to humanoid and human-looking characters such as Superman (an alien) and Wonder Woman (a near-goddess) just as it is to characters like Metamorpho (a mutated human) and Lilith Clay (a human born with psychic abilities).

Within the metahuman population is a segment of the human population born with a genetic variant called the "metagene". It is this variant that some human beings have to gain powers and other paranormal qualities during freak accidents, or to manifest powers during times of intense psychological distress, effectively making them a subspecies of superhumans living within the population. With the notable exception of its 1951 creation Captain Comet, DC has avoided using the term "mutant" to describe such characters, due to that term's association with the X-Men franchise published by Marvel Comics.

When adapting DC Comics stories for television, video games, and film, some adaptations have attempted to define metahuman more narrowly than the source material. In Birds of Prey and Young Justice, metahumans are treated as a distinct sub-race of humans (akin to mutants in Marvel's X-Men) while others such as the Arrowverse television franchise apply the term exclusively to humans who receive their powers in freak accidents. More recently, the DC Universe film and television franchise has applied the same loose definition as the original comics.

Coinage

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. It was introduced in DC Comics in 1994.

DC Comics

The term "metahuman" was first used by the Dominators, an alien species who attacked Earth during the 1988 series Invasion!

Origins

DC Comics presents two conflicting accounts of the origins of the metagene. The 1995 Xenobrood mini-series shows the alien Vimanian race claim credit for the introduction of superpowered alien genetic matter into human DNA. The Vimanians forced their superpowered worker drones to mate with humanity's ancestors Australopithecus afarensis and Homo erectus to create a race of superpowered slaves.

Later, in Road to Dark Nights: Metal (2017), the Joker revealed to Duke Thomas that the term "meta" originated from a rudimentary hospital program used to automatically flag Nth Metal toxicity found in a person's bloodstream, similar to iron or zinc, with "meta" being short for "metal". This natural toxicity is the "variant" hat changes the individual's DNA, resulting in the metagene and its various heightened abilities and powers.

Metahuman as classification

The terms "meta" and "metahuman" do not refer only to humans born with biological variants. It can refer to anyone with intrinsic extraordinary powers, no matter the origins, and including those not born with such power. 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. According to Countdown to Infinite Crisis, roughly 1.3 million metahumans live on Earth, 99.5% of whom are considered "nuisance-level". The other 0.5% are what Checkmate considers alpha-, beta- and gamma-level threats. For example, Superman and Wonder Woman are categorized as alpha-level, while Metamorpho is considered a beta-level and Ratcatcher is considered gamma-level.

In 2026, the DC Comics website stated that metahuman was a label rather than a stable taxonomic category: "If you're looking for consistent parameters on what does or doesn't count as a metahuman, you're not gonna find them." Within the comics, the editorial stated that whether being a metahuman was defined by "the scope of the powers or their nature... depends who you ask". Specifically in relation to the films and TV series, it said "The line seems to be drawn at intrinsic powers versus extrinsic powers. If your powers come from an accessory you can take on and off, you're not a metahuman. But if you have a cybernetic implant, that does classify you as a metahuman."

In other media

In Birds of Prey, metahumans included heroines the Huntress and Dinah Lance. They are treated seemingly as a race or species separate from humans.
In Smallville, metahumans can occur naturally. However, the majority are the result of exposure to kryptonite, which can give humans superpowers.
In Young Justice, the Kroloteans and Reach conduct experiments in triggering and manipulate the metahuman gene. In the third season, humans learn to detect and activate the metagene, resulting in widespread metahuman trafficking. In the episode "Evolution", it is revealed that Vandal Savage is the first metahuman and the ancestor of all other metahumans.
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.
In Superman (2025), it is stated that metahumans have existed for 300 years within the new DC Universe continuity established by director James Gunn. Gunn quoted the definition used on the "metahuman" Wikipedia page to explain that Superman and Hawkgirl would be classed as metahumans, Mr. Terrific "arguably" is, and Green Lantern is not. Krypto is "meta", but "not human".
The DC Universe series Peacemaker and Creature Commandos establish that the term is used loosely; as in the comics, it is inclusive of cyborgs like Sasha Bordeaux as well as mystics, mutated humans, revenants, aliens, and the otherwise enhanced.

Coinage

DC Comics

Origins

Metahuman as classification

In other media

See also

References