Galatea (Justice League Unlimited)

Galatea (or Tea, for short) is the name of an age-accelerated clone of Supergirl created by Professor Hamilton and Project Cadmus on the animated series Justice League Unlimited. The episode in which this character debuts, "Fearful Symmetry" was initially titled, and is sometimes referred to as "Galatea".

She was designed specifically as a countermeasure to the Justice League, more specifically Superman and Supergirl were they to go rogue. Furthermore, Galatea's personality was influenced to ensure she performed her duties with a sociopathic relish. However, the shared genetic nature of the girls inadvertently created a psychic link in which Supergirl experienced Galatea's actions in dreams, while Galatea suffered sleepless nights because of Supergirl's subconscious moral restraints on her own actions.

Galatea decided to kill those aware of her creation in positions to expose her, in part to draw Supergirl out. Eventually, the twins fought while Supergirl was supported by Green Arrow and The Question until Project Cadmus cut short the fight by destroying the facility, to reign in Galatea and cover their involvement.

Galatea was badly injured in her first fight with Supergirl, and spent several months in an intensive care unit tended by Dr. Hamilton's team. After recovering, she was then upgraded through intensive training and a biological enhancement. Dr. Hamilton artificially aged her body to her physical prime to increase her combat effectiveness (At the time, Supergirl is somewhere between 18 & 20 - Her last appearance in the show was her 21st birthday - but the upgraded Galatea appears to be in her mid to late-20s).

Later on, after the Justice League was framed by Lex Luthor for firing on a city with their headquarters' main cannon, Amanda Waller ordered Galatea to lead an army of Ultimen clones to attack the League. Although Waller called off the assault after learning the truth, Galatea ignored the order and was eventually defeated by Supergirl in single combat while the League defeated the army. Supergirl defeated her by pinning her against a wall with a massive live electrical cable from the Watchtower's nuclear generator, frying Galatea with the electrical output of a small city. Galatea may have died as a result (her devastated body is last seen twitching convulsively).

The name "Galatea" was chosen as a reference to the Roman poet Ovid's account of the myth of Pygmalion the sculptor, and his love Galatea, whom he sculpted from ivory and brought to life through prayer.

Galatea's powers and appearance pay homage to Power Girl, although their origins and personalities are significantly different.