The Anti-Living Virus is a techno-organic hybrid virus, exclusive to the DC Comic series DCeased.
DCeased Storyline[]
The virus was created on the planet of Apokolips, following Darkseid's defeat at the hands of the Justice League, however because he captured Cyborg, he didn't need to fight any further. On Apokolips however, Desaad and Darkseid merged the half of the Anti-Life Equation they had with the other half that Cyborg unknowingly possessed. Once merged, the equation summoned the Black Racer, who Darkseid restrained and Desaad took a piece of, infecting Cyborg in the process to keep him alive. Darkseid was among the first to be infected with the virus and destroyed Apokolips following Cyborg opening a boom tube home. Once on Earth however, Cyborg was reconnected to the world-wide web, which despite his attempt at stopping the virus, began spreading throughout the world via the internet. This resulted in all those using smart phones, computers and even TVs to become infected with the virus and even infecting others.
Despite their best efforts to stop the spread of the virus, members of both the heroes and villains succumbed to the virus, resulting in many of the surviving heroes to retreat to another world via arks built on Earth. Many people were left behind during the evacuation, either surviving or having already been infected. Superman himself was infected with the virus and nearly destroyed humanity's only hope of survival, but because of his son's intervention, as well as the intervention of the Green Lantern Corps, the now infected Man of Steel flew to the sun and began absorbing the energy into his cells. This resulted in the Lantern corps setting up a quarantine zone, as well as escorting the remaining survivors to Earth 2. 5 years later, was when the reformed Justice League returned, seeking Cyborg, as he was sending out a distress beacon via Batman's tracker.
Once there, Cyborg revealed there was indeed a cure within himself, to which they needed to use the knowledge of the New Gods to access. With the aid of Mister Miracle, they were able to go to New Genesis, meet with Highfather and request an audience with Metron. They used Madame Xanadu's Crystal Ball as payment for Cyborg to use Metron's Mobius Chair to learn how to access the cure within him. He found that he needed to recode his blood, using the life equation, which he did and with the aid of several others, was able to manufacture a cure that they used the immunize the entire world.
Overview[]
The Anti-Living Virus is a corrupted version of the Anti-Life Equation, which is capable of turning normal humanoids into agents of what many refer to as the "Anti-Living", "Unliving", "Infected" and even "Zombies", though the last name would rather be inaccurate as they do not desire to eat flesh following their infection. Their main and only goal is to infect those still living and will seek out those still living in order to infect them. Those infected usually look as if they are in a zombie-like state, with gray skin and sometimes claw marks on their heads, resulting from their failed attempts to claw the Anti-Life Equation from their minds, as well as injuries sustained prior. Despite their rather zombie-like appearance, they don't show any signs of degeneration following their infection and remain that way, as they are no longer living. It's hypothesized by Cyborg that because they don't show signs of degeneration, that the virus actually freezes the infected's life cycle, at least until they are cured. The virus only effects humanoid lifeforms possessing sentience, where as animals are much more fortunate, as due to the arrogance of the New Gods, they didn't regard animals as being sentient. Those infected also still posses their souls, so those who are not killed are incapable of passing into either Heaven or Hell.
Infection happens in a couple ways, probably the most traditional is either through a bite or scratch. This is the reason many people call the Anti-Living the name Zombies, even though they have no desire to continue consuming the flesh they've bitten or scratched. Because the virus is techno-organic in nature, it is able of infecting virtually any form of technology, infecting those facing the screen of a smart phone, TV or computer. Technology such as land lines, analog TV stations and radio broadcasting systems are too primitive for the virus to be transmitted, therefore making the technology immune. Infection can also occur in the water if there is infected blood, so sea dwelling life such as the Atlanteans are heavily susceptible to it. Infected individuals also are capable of using the skill sets and powers they had before their infection with great efficiency, but they also possess the same weaknesses as their species were prior. The virus also possesses a form of hive mind, as an infected Diana said "We have a voice" when compelled by the lasso of truth used by Cyborg. Once cured, the formerly infected possess no knowledge of their time as a member of the Anti-Living.
Though the virus is highly infectious, there is a cure for it and that is through Cyborg's blood, which is recoded via the opposite to the Anti-Life Equation, the Life Equation. Once the cure is synthesized, injection is needed and it takes a few moments for the cure to take effect. Once this happens, they are returned to their normal selves. There is also some who possess advanced healing factors that actually can purge the virus from their system or are completely immune to the effects. Swamp Thing is a prime example of possessing complete immunity to the virus, mostly due to the fact that he is not around technology all his life, plus his powers come from his connection to the semi-mystical force known as the Green. Deathstroke also was briefly infected and turned into a member of the Anti-Living, however because of his powerful healing factor, he was able to purge the virus from his system. Preventative steps can also be taken to ensure no more people become infected as well, mostly in terms of avoiding all infected, as well as screens from phones, TVs and computers. Destroying servers connecting to the internet are also a vital step, as the virus is transmitted via the world-wide web. Kryptonians are capable of using their x-ray vision to to keep themselves from viewing screens, which is how Superman was able to prevent himself from infection. Because he was the carrier of the virus, Cyborg's techno-organic body was also able to create the cure for the virus, therefore making him immune to the effects. Lobo is immune to the virus due to the fact that his Czarnian physiology, plus his own immortality keep him from being infected, even if he was scratched by an infected Thanagarian.