Cathexis (comics)

Originating from the sixth dimension, the Cathexis are an advanced and powerful race capable of creating sentient energy beings. Wishing to expand their power, they create Id, a sentient energy field capable of modifying reality to grant wishes. After arriving on Earth, Id grants Superman's wish to allow superheroes with secret identities to avoid the pressure of their job. As a result, Superman, Batman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Plastic Man, and Martian Manhunter are split into their human and superhuman identities; Wonder Woman and Aquaman are unaffected due to lacking secret identities.^[1]

Both halves of the heroes become aggressive and unstable due to lacking the balance of the other. While investigating the apparent resurrection of Metamorpho, the League meet the Cathexis and find that Metamorpho had been resurrected by Id. The Cathexis reverse the wish, then accompany the Justice League in tracking down Id. After Id is captured, the Cathexis turn on the League.^[2][3]

Eel O'Brien (Plastic Man's civilian identity), realizing the problems being faced by the divided Leaguers, gathers the League's civilian identities together. The six confront the Cathexis while O'Brian attempts to reverse Superman's original wish. However, enough time has passed that there is not enough energy to fully reverse the wish. Using Id's power, the Flash divides the Cathexis from two six-dimensional creatures into four three-dimensional ones who are easily defeated by Batman. With this achieved, the Leaguers wish for Id to destroy itself and banish the Cathexis back to their dimension, preventing them from recreating Id.^[4]