Cortexin is a chemical that, in conjunction with the Great Disaster, caused the animals of Earth-AD to become more human-like.
History
Many years ago, on an Earth of an alternate dimension, Dr. Michael Grant developed an experimental chemical agent known as Cortexin. He tested his mutagenic drug on several species of animals inside of his laboratory including apes, rats, bats and tigers. The exact purpose or nature of the Cortexin compound remains shrouded in mystery however.
Shortly after beginning the initial stages of his experiments, the world fell sway to a global catastrophe commonly referred to as the Great Disaster. Earthquakes and tidal waves erupted all across the globe and the nations of Earth found themselves at the mercy of nuclear Armageddon. Dr. Grant did not survive long enough to see his experiments come to fruition, but the lasting after-effects produced a legacy that would endure for centuries.
A large section of the Earth was rendered uninhabitable due to atmospheric nuclear radiation. However, the radiation produced a mutagenic side-effect with the surviving Cortexin-infected animals from Dr. Grant's labs. Not only were they safe from the long-term side-effects of nuclear fallout, but the strange drug permanently altered their genetic structure. With each successive generation, the various animal species began to evolve, adopting specific physical human characteristics. Within two human generations apes, birds, felines, canines and many other breeds were developing heightened intellect, bipedal locomotion, extra fingers, toes, thumbs and even the ability to articulate.
As each race grew in strength and numbers, they began to form primitive tribal societies and family clans. Many of the clans did not live in harmony with their cousins, and a culture of survival of the fittest soon developed among them.
Earth-86
Main article: Earth-86
Cortexin also mutated animals into antropomorphic, intelligent beings on Earth-86, but since human beings from that universe hadn't lost their intelligence, these creatures weren't able to rule that world[1].
Powers
- While the full nature of Cortexin's effects are lost to history, it appears that the drug granted its benefactor immunity against high level forms of atomic radiation. It could be argued that Cortexin alters the recipient's biological cell structure allowing it to adapt to its environment.
Notes
- As Earth-AD ceased to exist with the collapse of the Multiverse during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the existence of Cortexin is considered apocryphal by modern standards. However, the toxin is replaced by the Post-Crisis Morticoccus Virus that causes animals to evolve into the Animal People in which it also causes some humanoid people to devolve into savage feral animals; furthermore, unlike the Cortexin toxin, the virus is the cause of the modern from of the Great Disaster on Earth-51.
Recommended Readings
Related Articles
- Ape-Men
- Bat-Men
- Dog-Men
- Gopher-Men
- Leopard-Men
- Lion-Men
- Puma-Men
- Rat-Men
- Sloth-Men
- Tiger-Men
- Wolf-Men
See Also
- Appearances of Cortexin
- Item Gallery: Cortexin
- Images featuring Cortexin