Changes: Matrix (Pocket Universe)

In a Pocket Universe alternate reality, three Kryptonian criminals escaped the Phantom Zone, and tried to take over that reality's Earth. There was no Superman in this reality (his younger self, Superboy, having died before the criminals' escape) but there was a Lex Luthor who hadn't gone bad. Using an artificial life form called the "protoplasmic matrix," Lex made a red-headed woman who resembled his true love, the deceased alternate reality Lana Lang, even having Lana's memories due to her synaptic pathways being copied into the creature. This Lex had also patterned her physiology to resemble Superman's, whom he had seen using one of his many inventions to look into another universe.

Like Superman, the creature was super humanly strong and fast and could fly, but also had the powers of shape shifting, telekinesis, and invisibility. The girl, whom Luthor called Matrix, was given a feminine version of Superman's uniform, shape-shifted into a young blonde woman, and fought the three criminals as "Supergirl". Her powers were no match for theirs, however. Desperate, Lex sent Matrix into the mainstream universe to recruit Superman. Her efforts were successful, and Superman did aid in stopping the Kryptonian criminals, but the alternate Earth had been ruined, and was now lifeless. Superman took the orphaned Matrix, now turned into a humanoid form of protoplasm, back to the mainstream DC Universe with him.^[1]

Supergirl

Upon arrival on the mainstream Earth, Matrix was taken to live with Superman's parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. Although the Kents were kind, Matrix (or "Mae" as the Kents named her) became delusional for a time, believing she was Clark, even assuming his form. After a fight with the real Superman, Matrix came to her senses, but concerned that she might become unstable again and cause the Kents harm, she fled into outer space.^[2]

After many misadventures, she returned to Earth, where she met and fell in love with Lex Luthor, who was disguised at the time as his own son.^[3] Again donning the uniform her reality's Lex had given her, Matrix assumed the name of Supergirl and became Luthor's bodyguard. Lex made Matrix's existence public to the world, which led to a brawl between Matrix and Superman over her decision, although Superman and the Kents eventually accepted her right to make her own decisions while Matrix in turn assured her 'family' that she wouldn't tell Lex any of Superman's secrets.^[3]

Death of Superman

Main article: Death of Superman

When Doomsday killed Superman, Supergirl used her powers to protect Metropolis, but was met with some derision, as many people saw her as Luthor's "pet".^{[citation needed]}

During that time Matrix rescued victims, taught the new hero Superboy about the importance of being serious when saving lives, and helped Superman return once he was found to be alive again. She even posed as Clark Kent, pretending that Clark was trapped in a well-stocked cellar during Doomsday's initial attack, to help explain why Clark was gone while Superman was dead.

Reign of Tomorrow

Main article: Supergirl Vol 3

But her biggest shock came when she learned that Lex had cloned her, making thousands of his own personal "Supergirls". She went berserk, and destroyed his lab, his clones, and almost killed Lex before he fell into a coma due to flaws in the cloning process that had created his new body.

Later on, She joined the Teen Titans for a short while, but left shortly afterwards, realizing that it just wasn't for her.

Earth-born Angel

After some soul searching, Mae began to wonder if she was even a real person or if she even had a soul.

Eventually she happened upon a dying girl named Linda Danvers. Matrix's shape shifting ability merged the two into the new Supergirl and Mae became the Earth Angel of Fire, simultaneously losing her shape-shifting abilities as she subconsciously defined herself as just Linda and Supergirl. The remnants of her protoplasmic form that were not absorbed in the merge became an evil, insane Matrix, who fought the Mae/Linda merged Supergirl, until she was absorbed by Blithe, the Earth Angel of Light. Later, when the good aspect of Matrix was separated from Linda, she was merged with Twilight, and became a new Angel of Fire.^[4]

Matrix wouldn't get directly involved in metahuman affairs again, and her existence was erased after several cosmic upheavals.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Psychokinesis
- Flight
- Invisibility: By deflecting lightwaves and sound waves with her aura, she could become invisible and inaudible, even to Superman's sense of hearing.
- Invulnerability
- Shape-Shifting: Minor changes in coloration and facial features were relatively effortless, but significant changes in size, build or gender were apparently quite strenuous.
  - Bio-Fusion: Matrix could revert to her proctoplasmic form in order to fuse with other beings and heal them as shown with Linda Danvers and Twilight.
- Superhuman Agility
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Stamina
- Superhuman Strength: Matrix was, using her Psychokinesis, strong enough to lift in excess of 100 tons. Her strength does not match other Supergirls however she was able to knock one of them out with a single punch.
- Telekinesis
  - Energy Projection: She could focus her telekinesis into devastating force blasts.
  - Force Field: She could extend a psionic barrier around others to shield them from harm.
Earth-Born Angel of Fire (Formerly): After being separated from Linda Supergirl retained at least some of her angelic abilities.
- Flame Vision
- Wings

Weaknesses

Vulnerability to Fatigue: Her stamina, while probably greater than a human's, was not unlimited. She was vulnerable to fatigue, and to physical and emotional stress. When under the influence of the Eradicator, she suffered an identity crisis and believed that she was Superman/Clark Kent, as well as having impaired cognitive abilities.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{DC Database:Character Template
-{{Distinguish2|Supergirl|Matrix}}
+| Image                   = Supergirl Matrix 001.jpg
-[[Image:Supergirl - Matrix.jpg|frame|right|Matrix as Supergirl]]
+| RealName                = Matrix
-'''Real Name:''' Matrix <br>
+| CurrentAlias            = Supergirl
-'''Nicknames:''' Mae <br>
+| Aliases                 = [[Mae]], [[Linda Danvers]], [[Draaga]]
-'''Former Aliases:''' No known former alias <br>
+| Identity                = Public
-'''Other Current Aliases:''' No other known current aliases <br>
+| Alignment               = Good
+| Affiliation             = [[Superman Family]]; [[Teen Titans (New Earth)|Teen Titans]]; [[LexCorp]]
+| Relatives               = [[Lex Luthor (Pocket Universe)]] (creator)
+| Universe                = Pocket Universe; New Earth
+| BaseOfOperations        = [[Metropolis]] (formerly); [[Leesburg]] (formerly)
+| Gender                  = Female
+| Height                  = 5'8
+| Weight                  = 118 lbs
+| Eyes                    = Blue
+| Hair                    = Blond
+| UnusualFeatures         =
+| Citizenship             = American
-==Status==
+| MaritalStatus           = Single
-'''Occupation:''' Adventurer <br>
+| Occupation              =
-'''Legal Status:''' no legal status as Matrix<br>
-As Linda Danvers, Matrix is a citizen of the United States with a juvenille criminal record<br>
-'''Identity:''' [[:Category:Secret Identity|Secret]] <br>
-'''Marital Status:''' Marital status unknown <br>
-'''Group Affiliation:''' [[Teen Titans]] <br>
-'''Base of Operations:''' Mobile <br>
+| PlaceOfBirth            = [[Pocket Universe]]
-==Origin==
+| Creators                = John Byrne
-Matrix Supergirl is an artificial lifeform created by [[Lex Luthor (Pocket Universe)|Lex Luthor]] from the so-called "pocket universe" created by the Time Trapper that produced the traditional [[Superboy (Pocket Universe)|Superboy]] in the current DC history reality. <br>
+| First                   = Superman Vol 2 16
+| Last                    = Convergence: Supergirl: Matrix Vol 1 2
+| Quotation               =
+| Speaker                 =
+| QuoteSource             =
+| Overview                =  '''Matrix''' was a protoplasmic, shape-shifting life form created by an alternate [[Lex Luthor (Pocket Universe)|Lex Luthor]]. She was '''[[Supergirl]]''' for a while.
-'''Place of Birth:''' Luthor's lab in Smallville Kanasas on pocket universe Earth<br>
-'''Known Relatives:''' no biological relatives as Matrix is a manufactured being (android) created by [[Lex Luthor (Pocket Universe)|Lex Luthor]]; Jonathan and Martha Kent ("foster" parents); Clark Kent ("foster" brother);<br>
-relatives of Linda Danvers after merging with Danvers<br>
-'''First Appearance:''' SUPERMAN Vol. 2 #16 (April, 1988) <br>
-'''Final Appearance:''' SUPERGIRL Vol. 3 #1-2 [1996] (merged with Linda) <br>
+| HistoryText             =
-==History==
+===Origins===
+{{main|Supergirl: The Supergirl Saga}}
+In a [[Pocket Universe]] alternate reality, three [[Kryptonian]] criminals escaped the [[Phantom Zone]], and tried to take over that reality's Earth. There was no Superman in this reality (his younger self, [[Kal-El (Pocket Universe)|Superboy]], having died before the criminals' escape) but there was a [[Lex Luthor (Pocket Universe)|Lex Luthor]] who hadn't gone bad. Using an artificial life form called the "protoplasmic matrix," Lex made a red-headed woman who resembled his true love, the deceased alternate reality [[Lana Lang (Pocket Universe)|Lana Lang]], even having Lana's memories due to her synaptic pathways being copied into the creature. This Lex had also patterned her physiology to resemble Superman's, whom he had seen using one of his many inventions to look into [[New Earth|another universe]].
+Like [[Kal-El (New Earth)|Superman]], the creature was super humanly strong and fast and could fly, but also had the powers of shape shifting, telekinesis, and invisibility. The girl, whom Luthor called Matrix, was given a feminine version of Superman's uniform, shape-shifted into a young blonde woman, and fought the three criminals as "Supergirl". Her powers were no match for theirs, however. Desperate, Lex sent Matrix into the mainstream universe to recruit Superman. Her efforts were successful, and Superman did aid in stopping the Kryptonian criminals, but the alternate Earth had been ruined, and was now lifeless. Superman took the orphaned Matrix, now turned into a humanoid form of protoplasm, back to the mainstream DC Universe with him.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 22}}</ref>
-An artificial 'protoplasmic' lifeform, Matrix was the only survivor from a pocket universe destroyed by super-powered [[Krypton|Kryptonian]] criminals despite [[Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)]]'s assistance. She had been created by the Lex Luthor of that world, a benevolent scientist, out of the dying body of that universe's Lana Lang.  She was created in the image of "Supergirl" as a homage to that world's Superboy, the only hero of their universe, after Superboy disappeared in his final battle against the Time Trapper to safeguard the pocket universe.  Supergirl was sent to our world to retrieve Superman and bring him to help defend against that dimension's Kryptonian criminals who were directly killing all life in the pocket universe.  But due to problems in the transport device, they returned to late to stop the insane Kryptonians from destroying all life on that world.  Supergirl was badly injured in the battle and Superman was forced to execute that reality's General Zod and his partners through use of that realitiy's Green Kryptonite in order to prevent them from continuing their unstoppable murderous rampage into the main DC universe.
+===Supergirl===
-[[Image:ACTION706.JPG|right|thumb|131px]]
+Upon arrival on the mainstream Earth, Matrix was taken to live with Superman's parents, [[Jonathan Kent (New Earth)|Jonathan]] and [[Martha Kent (New Earth)|Martha Kent]]. Although the Kents were kind, Matrix (or "Mae" as the Kents named her) became delusional for a time, believing she was Clark, even assuming his form. After a fight with the real Superman, Matrix came to her senses, but concerned that she might become unstable again and cause the Kents harm, she fled into outer space.<ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 644}}</ref>
+After many misadventures, she returned to Earth, where she met and fell in love with [[Alexander Luthor (New Earth)|Lex Luthor]], who was disguised at the time as his own son.<ref name=AC676>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 676}}</ref> Again donning the uniform her reality's Lex had given her, Matrix assumed the name of Supergirl and became Luthor's bodyguard. Lex made Matrix's existence public to the world, which led to a brawl between Matrix and Superman over her decision, although Superman and the Kents eventually accepted her right to make her own decisions while Matrix in turn assured her 'family' that she wouldn't tell Lex any of Superman's secrets.<ref name=AC676/>
-Superman took the wounded Matrix with him back to his universe, entrusting her at first in the care of his parents, who called her "Mae". Unsure of itself, the shapeshifter began to model itself after Superman. It also assumed the role of Clark Kent briefly when the real Superman was in self imposed exile in outer space. Eventually, Superman returned and Matrix, still locked in Superman's image, banished herself into outer space. She was found by [[Maxima]] and [[Draaga]], who mistook her for the real Superman.  During a fight with Draaga, she shifted back into her Supergirl image. Both Draaga and Matrix were then taken to [[Warworld]] and brainwashed by [[Brainiac]] into serving him.<ref>''Action Comics'' #674</ref> Brainiac was planning an invasion of Earth, but Superman (rallying most of Earth's heroes) launched a preemptive strike against Warworld.  Early in the fighting, Draaga and Matrix both managed to shake off Brainiac's brainwashing and join with Superman. <ref>''The Adventures of Superman'' #488</ref> Supergirl managed to convince Maxima to switch sides as well.  She was prepared to sacrifice herself to destroy a bomb Brainiac sent after the team, but Draaga (having sworn to protect her) sacrificed himself instead, much to Matrix's heartache. <ref>''Superman: The Man of Steel'' #10</ref> After Brainiac was defeated, Supergirl buried Draaga on an asteroid.  She decided to keep the image and name Supergirl and return to Earth.<ref>''The Adventures of Superman'' #489</ref>
+===Death of Superman===
-Upon returning to Earth, she met [[Lex Luthor]] and allied herself with him. At this time, Luthor was posing as his son, Lex Luthor II. In her universe, Luthor had been a brave and honorable man and she assumed that he was similar. Supergirl became Luthor's bodyguard and lover, much to Superman's chagrin (who still had his doubts about this new Luthor).<ref>''Action Comics'' #677</ref> When Doomsday emerged, Luthor kept Supergirl from joining the fray until the battle between the monster and Doomsday reached Metropolis itself. Unfortunately, Doomsday was so powerful that he quickly overcame Matrix, hitting her so hard that she was reduced to her protoplasm state. <ref>''Superman: The Man of Steel'' #19</ref> Supergirl was grieved at the loss of the Man of Steel, and decided to try and live up to legacy and defend Metropolis. When Superman's body was stolen by Cadmus, Supergirl decided to investigate, leading to a battle with the Underworlders.<ref>''The Adventures of Superman'' #499</ref> When Lois Lane discovered that it was Cadmus that stole the body, Supergirl retrieved the body herself and saw that it was reburied.<ref>''Superman'' (vol.2) #77</ref>Supergirl also led Team Luthor alongside Lex during Superman's absence.<ref>''Supergirl and Team Luthor'' special #1</ref>After Superman's return from the dead, she briefly posed as Clark Kent to preserve his secret identity (i.e. explaining where Clark had been).
+{{main|Death of Superman}}
+When [[Doomsday (New Earth)|Doomsday]] killed Superman, Supergirl used her powers to protect [[Metropolis]], but was met with some derision, as many people saw her as Luthor's "pet".{{cn}}
+During that time Matrix rescued victims, taught the new hero [[Kon-El (New Earth)|Superboy]] about the importance of being serious when saving lives, and helped Superman return once he was found to be alive again. She even posed as Clark Kent, pretending that Clark was trapped in a well-stocked cellar during Doomsday's initial attack, to help explain why Clark was gone while Superman was dead.
-Eventually, she discovered that Luthor had been attempting to clone an army based off of her.  Upon discovering this, she uncovered the full nature of Luthor's duplicity and ended their relationship. She only stopped short of killing Luthor by Superman's intervention.<ref>''Supergirl'' 1994 Mini-Series #1-4</ref> It was at this point that the truth about Luthor (him being the original Luthor in a cloned body) was discovered.
+===Reign of Tomorrow===
-Matrix also briefly joined the Teen Titans after helping them defeat an evil version of [[Raven]].
+{{main|Supergirl Vol 3}}
+But her biggest shock came when she learned that Lex had cloned her, making thousands of his own personal "Supergirls". She went berserk, and destroyed his lab, his clones, and almost killed Lex before he fell into a coma due to flaws in the cloning process that had created his new body.
+Later on, She joined the [[Teen Titans (New Earth)|Teen Titans]] for a short while, but left shortly afterwards, realizing that it just wasn't for her.
-During the [[Trial of Superman]], Supergirl was one of the heroes recruited by the [[Alpha Centurion]] into the [[Superman Rescue Squad]]. She traveled into space with the team to rescue the Man of Steel from the [[Tribunal]].
+===Earth-born Angel===
-Matrix had promised to find a missing woman, Linda Danvers. Linda had fallen in with cultists and was to be sacrificed. She was stabbed repeatedly by [[Buzz]]. Matrix bonded itself to the dying Linda, forming a new being--[[Supergirl (Linda Danvers)]].<br>
+After some soul searching, Mae began to wonder if she was even a real person or if she even had a soul.
+Eventually she happened upon a dying girl named [[Linda Danvers (New Earth)|Linda Danvers]]. Matrix's shape shifting ability merged the two into the new Supergirl and Mae became the Earth Angel of Fire, simultaneously losing her shape-shifting abilities as she subconsciously defined herself as just Linda and Supergirl. The remnants of her protoplasmic form that were not absorbed in the merge became an evil, insane Matrix, who fought the Mae/Linda merged Supergirl, until she was absorbed by [[Blithe (New Earth)|Blithe, the Earth Angel of Light]]. Later, when the good aspect of Matrix was separated from Linda, she was merged with [[Twilight II (New Earth)|Twilight]], and became a new Angel of Fire.<ref>{{c|Supergirl Vol 4 74}}</ref>
-==Characteristics==
-'''Height:''' 5'11" <br>
-'''Weight:''' 140 lbs (xxx kg) <br>
-'''Eyes:''' Blue <br>
-'''Hair:''' Blonde <br>
-'''Unusual Features:''' No unusual features <br>
+Matrix wouldn't get directly involved in metahuman affairs again, and her existence was erased after several [[Infinite Crisis|cosmic]] [[Flash: Flashpoint|upheavals]].
-==Powers==
+| Powers                  =
+* {{Psychokinesis}}
-'''Known Powers:'''
+** {{Flight}}
-*super strength
+** {{Invisibility}}: By deflecting lightwaves and sound waves with her aura, she could become invisible and inaudible, even to Superman's sense of hearing.
-*superspeed and flight
+** {{Invulnerability}}
-*Shapeshifting
+** {{Metamorphosis|Shape-Shifting}}: Minor changes in coloration and facial features were relatively effortless, but significant changes in size, build or gender were apparently quite strenuous.
-*Psychokinetic blasts and shields
+*** {{Bio-Fusion}}: Matrix could revert to her proctoplasmic form in order to fuse with other beings and heal them as shown with [[Linda Danvers (New Earth)|Linda Danvers]] and [[Twilight II (New Earth)|Twilight]].
-*Invisibility
+** {{Superhuman Agility}}
-'''Known Abilities:''' No known abilities. <br>
+** {{Superhuman Speed}}
-'''Strength Level:''' Strength level unknown <br>
+** {{Superhuman Stamina}}
+** {{Superhuman Strength}}: Matrix was, using her Psychokinesis, strong enough to lift in excess of 100 tons. Her strength does not match other [[Supergirl|Supergirls]] however she was able to knock one of them out with a single punch.
+** {{Telekinesis}}
+*** {{Energy Projection}}: She could focus her telekinesis into devastating force blasts.
+*** {{Force Field}}: She could extend a psionic barrier around others to shield them from harm.
+*{{Unique Physiology|Earth-Born Angel of Fire}} {{Formerly}}: After being separated from [[Linda Danvers (New Earth)|Linda]] Supergirl retained at least some of her angelic abilities.
+** {{Pyrokinesis|Flame Vision}}
+** {{Wings}}
+| Abilities               =
+| Strength                =
+| Weaknesses              = * {{Vulnerability to|Fatigue}}: Her stamina, while probably greater than a human's, was not unlimited. She was vulnerable to fatigue, and to physical and emotional stress. When under the influence of the [[Eradicator]], she suffered an identity crisis and believed that she was Superman/Clark Kent, as well as having impaired cognitive abilities.
+| Equipment               =
+| Transportation          =
+| Weapons                 =
+| Notes                   =
-==Miscellaneous==
+| Trivia                  =
-'''Equipment:''' No known equipment. <br>
+| Recommended             = {{Supergirl RR}}
-'''Transportation:''' No known transportation. <br>
+| Links                   =
-'''Weapons:''' No known weapons. <br>
+}}
+{{Superman Family Member}}
+{{Teen Titans Member}}
-==Notes==
+{{Supergirl}}
-*Created by [[John Byrne]]
+[[Category:Supergirl]]
+[[Category:Gestalt Characters]]
-==Trivia==
+[[Category:LexCorp members]]
-* Matrix's existence in canon has been placed in doubt following [[Infinite Crisis]], although some editors at DC do insist that Linda Danvers is still around.
+[[Category:Lex Luthor's Love Interests]]
-==Recommended Readings==
-* Supergirl: Many Happy Returns
-==Related Articles==
-* [[Supergirl (Linda Danvers)]]
-==External Links==
-*
-==References==
-<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"><references /></div>
-----
-[[Category: Characters]]
-[[Category: Good Characters]]
-[[Category:Blond Hair]]
-[[Category:Blue Eyes]]

Changes: Matrix (Pocket Universe)

Revision as of 09:20, 24 April 2020

Contents

History

Origins