10 Sandman Fates Worse Than Death

Created by Bob Haney and Sal Trapani for Metamorpho #10, Urania “Raina” Blackwell was a spy for the Central Intelligence Agency who agreed to undergo the same metamorphosis that Rex Mason went through with the Orb of Ra, to become one of the “metamorphae”. She called herself Element Girl and went on adventures with Mason as Metamorpho. Fearing they were falling for each other, Mason broke ties with her.

With the CIA having little use for a metamorphic spy and her own insecurities, Raina became more isolated and unsure how to interact with people anymore. She rarely created “real” faces to go out into the world and ended up using them as ashtrays. Blackwell lived her life alone, waiting on a disability check and a call from her handler each month. Element Girl had even tried to commit suicide on a few occasions, but her powers made it impossible.

Death overheard Raina crying and checked on her. Realizing who she was, the former heroine begged for death but the lady with the ankh said that she couldn’t help her, though the Sun God Ra could. All she had to do was ask him to take back his “gift.” Blackwell looked directly at the sun and spoke to Ra. She disintegrated into ashen form with a look of pure joy on her face.