The Highbreed, formerly known as the Atasians, are a powerful species from the planet Augstaka.
Appearance
The Highbreed were originally a white humanoid species with black hands and feet, a purple face with red eyes, along with eyes on their chest. They usually had four eyes on their face (though some had only three), and the placement of the eyes would sometimes differ.
After the genetic repair, Highbreed now come in many colors.
Behavior
Highbreed DNA cell in the Omnitrix
The Atasians call themselves the Highbreed because they despise every other species and believe themselves to be "above" them. They also believe that they are the first species ever to come into existence, but, according to Dwayne McDuffie, they have no proof of it and they just made it up.
The Highbreed are racist to the extent they believe that their DNA is the purest of all alien species and seek to cleanse the universe of "lower life forms". To achieve this, they sent advance forces of Highbreed and Xenocytes, who built massive teleporter gates in secret, through which the main Highbreed armada arrived and destroyed the natives and their planet.
The Highbreed make no effort to hide their hatred for other races; in Ben 10 Returns, a Highbreed that Humungousaur fought openly and relentlessly insulted him with remarks like "filth" and "scum," and even said that Humungousaur had "infected" him when Humungousaur bit his hand.
History
Due to the Highbreed believing that their DNA is the purest of all alien species, they have tried to maintain their blood purity for so long that it has lead to much inbreeding. This idea of racial purity became their undoing, because of lack of genetic diversity in the Highbreed gene pool lead the Highbreed's immune system to become weak, making them vulnerable to infection, disease and sterility; their entire race was rendered completely sterile and without children, the Highbreed would become extinct. The Highbreed were dying out but didn't wish to do so alone, spurring their xenocidal rampage throughout the universe to extreme levels. They wanted to take the rest of the universe with them by attacking any species they found or encountered and bringing them to extinction like they were. They are fiercely loyal to their commander, and for them obeying order and dying is more important for them to live as shown in the episode If All Else Fails.
Powers and Abilities
The Highbreed have vast physical strength and sport wings that allow them to fly.
Highbreed can open their chest up, revealing root-like tentacles they can use to drink water from the ground.
Highbreed can rapidly shoot claw darts from their long and pointed fingers
Weaknesses
Due to Augstaka being cold, Highbreed have difficulty surviving and operating in warmer climates, which will cause them to dehydrate if they do not find water.
Before their DNA was rewritten, Highbreed were vulnerable to disease and sterility, and they were on the verge of extinction.
Council Highbreed after their genetical fusion
Ben used the Omnitrix to reconstruct the DNA of all Highbreeds with the DNA of the aliens in the Codon Stream. The shock of losing the genetic consistency that had been a pillar of their cultural identity for so long drives the council to immediately consider committing mass suicide as their only remaining honorable route. Reinrassic III then appears and convinces them that Ben helped them live again. The council then elects Reinrassic the new Highbreed Supreme. Afterwards, he declares that the war is over.
Notable Highbreed
The former Highbreed Supreme after the genetical fusion
- Reinrassic III (Methanosian arm)
- Highbreed Supreme
- Bailiff
- Highbreed Earth Commander
- Unknown (the Omnitrix's DNA sample of a Highbreed)
Trivia
- According to Dwayne McDuffie:
- Dwayne got the idea for Highbreed from bananas.
- At least one Highbreed does have Celestialsapien DNA after genetic repair, but he probably can't use the Celestialsapien power.
- Vilgax was ready to face their invasions on his territories.[1]
- Ben was not the only hero that thwarted the Highbreed's invasions, as heroes on many planets fought them locally.[2]
- Ironically, the name Highbreed sounds similar to "Hybrid", a mix between two different species, despite them caring greatly about their "purity".
- The Highbreed have some similarity to the Daleks from Doctor Who, like:
- They both believe all other species are inferior to themselves.
- They sound similar.
- Their purity is the cause of their race dying with the only solution of survival being to breed with other species/alien races.
- Their efforts are opposed by a time traveling hero (the Doctor to the Daleks and Professor Paradox to the Highbreed).
- The genetically repaired Highbreed come in multiple colors (similar to the New Dalek Paradigm).
- The leader of the Highbreed is known as the Highbreed Supreme, while Dalek ranks include a Dalek Supreme.
- Despite Reinrassic III saying otherwise, the Highbreeds' possible evolution from plants is hinted in Alone Together.
- The Highbreed, before their DNA was rewritten and their attitude towards other races changed, had much in common with the German Nazi party as they tried to exterminate all other races and were obsessed with racial "purity".
- The Highbreed are likewise similar to the Kree race from Marvel Comics; being a race of aliens who have evolved into a dead-end and who conquer other worlds while conducting experiments to restart their own evolution.