The Vile Menagerie: PROTEX

Alter Ego: Protex
Occupation: Alien Invader
Group Affiliation: The Hyperclan, White Martians
Base of Operations: Varied
First Appearance: JLA #1 (January, 1997)
Height: Variable, but presents at approx. 6'5"
Build: Variable, often slim but muscular
Eyes: Variable, presents as light brown or red
Hair: Variable, presents as strawberry blond

History:
Before humanity had come into being, the early life forms on Earth indicated the potential for super-humanity, an entire race of veritable gods. At the time, White Martians had colonized the planet, and saw fit to manipulate and abuse the indigenous life as they chose. Under Commander Protex, the White Martians conducted horrific experiments that ended in "a biological catastrophe" that caused the metagene to lay dormant in most humans. Seventy White Martians working out of the now infamous Antarctic base Z'Onn Z'Orr were tried for their crimes and sentenced to "The Still Zone," an extra-dimensional prison outside the normal rules of space and time. Lacking much if any land mass or resources, the convicted White Martians were allowed a mothership by their accusers, the Green Martians, whom they would long outlive. Across millennia of incarceration, most Martian life was wiped out by a plague, and Earth evolved to its current state. It was only then, through unrevealed means, that these primitive White Martians finally freed themselves.

Aware of both the threat of the metahumans that had managed to come into being, despite their best efforts, as well as the ready access to the Martian's greatest weakness of fire, the next course chosen was subterfuge. Protex was intent on reclaiming Earth for his people, but those twin threats needed to be addressed. Seven White Martians were chosen to join Protex in assuming a more humanoid form, and the group presented themselves first before the White House as extraterrestrials from far further out than Mars. This Hyperclan were the last survivors of their unknown planet, and had long journeyed to find a world that they could save from itself, as they could not prevent the ecological ruin that befell their home. The Hyperclan immediately began a campaign of "fixing" parts of the Earth, such as bringing precipitation and vegetation to arid deserts, to a cheering population. They did this without any formal request or authority, all the while asking questions as to why Earth's metahumans hadn't done this before. At the same time, White Martians disguised by armor destroyed the Justice League's orbital base, while the Hyperclan itself openly tried and executed metahuman criminals like Judgment. As the leader and spokesman for the Hyperclan, Protex was always the media-forward face of the team, as well as the one most likely to engage with any critics.

The JLA soon discovered that the Hyperclan were using telepathic broadcasts from their multiple watchtowers, including the unearthed Z'Onn Z'Orr, to turn humanity against the heroes. The Martians had also targeted metahumans with fire-based powers, while Protex attempted to entice the J'Onn J'Onzz into betraying the JLA and joining his fellow Martians. Once things escalated to open conflict, it was Protex who defeated and captured Superman, by presenting him the psychic illusion of kryptonite in his presence. With five members of the League captive, and one seemingly in league with the Hyperclan, arrogance was their undoing. Protex was so dismissive of the threat potential of a mere human that he allowed the Batman to turn the tide. Upon this upset, Superman saw through the kryptonite ruse, and directly attacked Protex. Across a protracted one-on-one battle, Protex was finally beaten when Superman managed to guide the battle into the Earth's molten core. The defeated White Martians were telepathically brainwashed by the Manhunter from Mars into believing that they were individual human beings, and they were compelled to work in trades that would routinely bring them into close contact with open flames.

The plan was not foolproof, as one White Martian briefly assumed the identity of Bruce Wayne. During "The Id Case," J'Onn J'Onzz unknowingly reversed the brainwashing of the White Martians, who spent the next several weeks regrouping and planning. Protex's Martians developed a means of altering the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere in such a way as to suppress combustion-- affecting the ability of some lifeforms to breathe, suffocating plants, choking engines, and eliminating the Martians' primary weakness. The Martians also began abducting human telepaths. "At first, we gathered them to fully safeguard any detection-- only to make a fascinating discovery. Ingesting their healthy human brainmatter, it seems, allows for the first step in a rather glorious genetic mutation-- one that can multiply our telepathic powers a millionfold-- over distances measured in light-years. That was our true goal all along-- to gradually extend our control and sovereignty over the entire galaxy... all without ever having to physically leave a planet-turned-citadel where we were utterly invincible... because its atmosphere cannot support fire."

The disappearances caught the attention of J'Onn J'Onzz and Batman, with the Martians moving to capture and torture the Manhunter. Key figures in the lives of Earth's heroes were momentarily prompted to injure the JLA in various ways. The naval port of Murmansk was nearly wiped out by a nuclear explosion, its citizens saved by a Green Lantern construct. With the help of Batman and the Atom, the Manhunter freed himself from and weaponized the "psi-spikes" that had incapacitated him, and then destroyed the Martian watchtowers that were suffocating the Earth. The seventy strong White Martians engaged the JLA directly, breaking Green Lantern's arm and nearly bisecting Plastic Man with Laser Vision. However, they were repeatedly bested by the Martian Manhunter's psychic illusions, causing them to chase after phantom "Leaguers," or see each other as Earth's heroes and engaging in mortal, self-defeating combat.

Still, the White Martians effectively countered Earths' other metahuman forces, such as the JSA, Titans, and Young Justice. Protex eventually captured the JLA at the Fortress of Solitude, and with a telepathic prompt from J'Onzz, banished them to The Phantom Zone. Once there, the League could finally plan a strategy without eavesdropping, and were released by The Atom. Finally, Protex and the White Martians were lured to the moon, which was then dragged into near Earth atmosphere and ignited. Given the choice between immolation and banishment, Protex ordered his Martians to take physical form to be cast into the Phantom Zone.

Later, most if not all of the White Martians were massacred by Fernus the Burning Martian, although Protex's specific fate has not be revealed.

Powers: Unlike most of the Hyperclan, Protex demonstrated a more or less full compliment of know Martian abilities, including Telepathy, shape-shifting, invisibility, intangibility, flight, longevity, Martian Vision, and superhuman strength/stamina/durability/speed/senses. He was particularly potent at manipulation, casting mental illusions and swaying even powerful, well-trained Martian and Kryptonian minds.

Weaknesses: Protex has a catastrophic vulnerability to fire, causing diminishment of his abilities, and eventual death with prolonged exposure.

Distinguishing Features: Protex presents with golden, almost illuminated skin, and was especially aesthetically pleasing to humans, with one remarking on his resemblance to The Doors' singer-songwriter Jim Morrison.

Weapons: Protex deployed a variety of Martian tools and technology, such as The Flower of Wrath.

Vehicles:
As the leader of the White Martians of Z'Onn Z'Orr, Protex had access to the wonders of that base during its existence, as well as other, seemingly much less durable Martian watchtowers. He lived on the White Martian mothership in the Still Zone, which contained numerous away vessels.

Quote: "How long has it been? How long since we stood here the first time? What was the human species then? No more than dormant potential in the genetic material of jellyfish! How little they have changed. But remember the barges heaped with spices and precious metals? Remember the music of the brass gongs and the toiling of the warmills? Life was good then. Life will be better."

Created by: Grant Morrison & Howard Porter