| Metamorpho | |
|---|---|
 Metamorpho as depicted on the cover ofMetamorpho #1 (August 1993). Art byGraham Nolan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965) |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Rex Mason |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Outsiders Justice League Europe The Terrifics Seven Soldiers of Victory Doom Patrol Stagg Enterprises Justice League |
| Notable aliases | The Element Man Dyna-Man |
| Abilities |
|
Metamorpho (Rex Mason) is a fictionalsuperhero character appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. Created byBob Haney andRamona Fradon, the character debuted as the lead feature inThe Brave and the Bold (January 1965).[1] Originally an adventurer, he was converted into a metahuman made of several different elemental substances after being cursed by an ancient artifact while on an expedition. He is a founding member of theOutsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of theJustice League.
Anthony Carrigan portrays the character in theDC Universe (DCU), beginning with the filmSuperman (2025). Additionally,Tom Sizemore,Scott Menville,Adam Baldwin, andFred Tatasciore have voiced the character in animation.
In a 2013 interview withComic Book Resources, Fradon spoke on the character's genesis stating,[2]
"Metamorpho wasGeorge Kashdan's idea. He had studied science when he was in school and he thought of a character made of fourelements who could change himself into differentchemical compounds. He gave Bob Haney the idea, and Bob fleshed it out brilliantly. I believe George continued to supply the "scientific" details for Bob to use throughout the life of the feature.
Bob, George and I got together to figure out what the character should look like. He wasn't your average super hero so capes and masks didn't suit him. I tried a lot of those and finally decided that since he was always changing his shape, clothes would get in his way. So I drew him in tights, with a body made up of four different colors and textures that were supposed to indicate the four elements."
Metamorpho's creator,Bob Haney, had seen success with DC Comics in 1964 with the titlesMetal Men andDoom Patrol, featuring bands of superheroes exhibiting fantastic powers. Under the editorial management ofGeorge Kashdan, Haney was asked to capitalize on these titles' popularity with a similar character.[3] Metamorpho debuted inThe Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965).[4]
As first conceived, Metamorpho was a parody of the fantastic characters that populated comic books in the 1960s.[5] ArtistRamona Fradon was coaxed out of maternity retirement to illustrate Metamorpho's first appearances. The popularity of Metamorpho's appearances inThe Brave and the Bold led to a 17-issueongoing series between 1965 and 1968. Metamorpho also appeared in two issues ofJustice League of America (#42 and #44), but did not join the eponymous group and became a reserve member.
Metamorpho appears on the cover ofAquaman #30 as one of the pallbearers (along withBatman,Hawkman, andSuperman) at the "Sea King's Funeral".[6] Metamorpho also appears in a series of backup stories inAction Comics #413–418 andWorld's Finest Comics #218–220 and #226, #228 and 229.[7]
In 1975, Metamorpho appeared in1st Issue Special #3, a brief anthology series consisting of one-shots. That issue was written by Bob Haney and illustrated by Ramona Fradon, Metamorpho's creators. Haney and Fradon had met at the 1974San Diego Comic-Con, and while reminiscing, it emerged that both of them regarded Metamorpho as one of the features they most enjoyed working on, leading them to ask DC if they could do one more Metamorpho story together.[8] Fradon later commented: "I think we both felt that Metamorpho was our baby. I never had an experience like I had working with Bob Haney onMetamorpho. It was like our minds were in perfect synch ... it was one of those wonderful collaborations that doesn't happen very often".[8]
After becoming a charter member of the Outsiders in 1983, and member of the European branch of theJustice League International, Metamorpho received his own four-issue mini-series in 1993. In 2005, DC Comics reprinted Metamorpho's earlyThe Brave and the Bold appearances and the entirety of the 1965 series as one of the company's volumes ofShowcase Presents. In 2007,Dan Jurgens launched the six-issue seriesMetamorpho: Year One.
As part ofWednesday Comics,Neil Gaiman wrote a 12-page Metamorpho story thatMike Allred illustrated.[9] In 2016, Metamorpho starred in the anthology seriesLegends of Tomorrow alongsideFirestorm,Sugar and Spike, and theMetal Men.[10]
In 2024, Metamorpho received a new ongoing series,Metamorpho: The Element Man, as part of theDC All In initiative. It is written byAl Ewing and illustrated bySteve Lieber.[11][12]
Rex Mason is an amoral adventurer and mercenary who is hired by Stagg Enterprises CEOSimon Stagg to steal an Egyptian artifact, the Orb of Ra.[13] Shortly after hiring him, Simon Stagg learns that Mason has been secretly dating his daughterSapphire Stagg. This and other incidents begin to fuel in Stagg a dislike for Mason that ultimately leads to a plot to kill him.
Inside the pyramid where the Orb is hidden, Mason is knocked unconscious by Simon's brutish bodyguardJava and exposed to a radioactive meteorite from which the Orb of Ra was fashioned, transforming him into Metamorpho, the Element Man.[14] Shocked by Mason surviving, Stagg instead manipulates him to do his bidding by using the meteorite's energy to threaten him. Later, it is revealed that Ra created Metamorpho and similar beings to help him battle his mortal enemy,Apep.[15]
Metamorpho, unlike most super-humanoids described in DC Comics, does not possess a fully human appearance. Similar to theMarvel Comics characterThing, he considers himself a "freak" and wishes only to be restored to his former human state, rejecting an offer of membership from theJustice League inJustice League of America #42 because of this.Green Lantern attempts to change him back using his power ring but is stopped by a "yellow" component of the meteorite radiation.
Metamorpho briefly has a crimefighting partner named Urania "Rainie" Blackwell, a woman who deliberately exposed herself to the Orb to gain its powers. She calls herselfElement Girl (nicknamed "the Chemical Doll") and works with him on a number of cases.[16]
Issues #16–17 were intended to show a new direction for the series, with Sapphire marrying a man named Wally Bannister and Metamorpho joining a mysterious Mr. Shadow to deal with an immortal queen. Bent on world conquest, the queen (an exact lookalike of Sapphire) marries Metamorpho. She later steps outside her mystic city and instantly ages 2,000 years. When Wally Bannister is murdered by Algon (a metamorph who has lived for centuries in a depowered state), Metamorpho is framed. Instead of coming to his defense against the false accusations, Metamorpho's colleague Mr. Shadow comes forth as an enemy. It is revealed that Mr. Shadow was attempting to enslave Metamorpho all along. Metamorpho is tried and convicted by a jury of rabble and is then executed.
Element Girl revives Metamorpho, and Algon, the real murderer, is killed by molten lava in an attempt to regain his burned-out powers. It is later learned that Mr. Bannister's murder was engineered by the villainous Prosecutor, who is then killed by an insectoid villain. At this point, issue #17 ends, and the story is never continued.
Metamorpho reappears years later inThe Brave and the Bold #101 (April–May 1972). It is revealed that Metamorpho had spent the period after the end of his own series immersed in a chemical bath concocted by Stagg in an attempt to cure his condition. Stagg retrieves him from this "cure" early because he needs Mason to save Sapphire. Metamorpho stars in a new backup series beginning inAction Comics #413 (June 1972). There is no reference in this revival series to the events or characters of the last two issues of his previous series.
Urania Blackwell, unreferenced since the end of the regular series, is later revealed to have ended her partnership with Metamorpho when her unrequited attraction to him became too much for her. Blackwell's powers are removed at her own request by Ra, resulting in her death; the episode, inNeil Gaiman'sSandman, involvesDeath of the Endless. Death mentions Algon's death in passing, trying to convince Blackwell that she will not live forever.[17]
Metamorpho spends some time working with theOutsiders. While in the despotically ruled nation Mozombia, Metamorpho is subdued and disassembled. The tyrant's forces keep him inert with a constant application of radiation.[18] He is freed byKatana's indestructible sword, which had been latched onto a live electrical wire.[19] While leaving Mozombia, the Outsiders' plane is shot down by theBad Samaritan. Metamorpho and the others spend some time stranded on a deserted island, too far away from land to rescue themselves.[20]
In the 1988 eventMillennium,Helga Jace betrays the Outsiders and kills Metamorpho.[21] In the 1989 eventInvasion!, Metamorpho is resurrected when theDominators' gene bomb detonates.[22]
Metamorpho spends some time with the Justice League, includingJustice League Europe. During this period, he encounters Sapphire Stagg again.[23] He becomes involved in a battle with theMetal Men, who have been tricked by Simon Stagg. His League friends,Rocket Red andAnimal Man, are at the site of the battle, but are being detained by Java. After the battle, Metamorpho learns he had a son with Sapphire, but the baby boy's touch harms all but Sapphire and Metamorpho. When Java holds the baby, his arms melt. Metamorpho hands the baby over to Simon, who immediately fears he will be affected like Java was moments before and die. However, something in his genetic structure protects him, just as it did with Sapphire. Simon's stance softens and everyone is set free.Doc Magnus, the leader of the Metal Men, offers his services in creating new arms for Java. On the way home, Metamorpho's friends are puzzled as to how he knew Simon would be unaffected by the child. Metamorpho indicates that he hoped the baby would kill Simon.[24]
Later, Metamorpho has a romantic relationship withCrimson Fox, which is cut short by her apparent murder. His personal investigation of the incident uncovers multiple layers of lies and deceit. During his time with the team, while fighting the planet-smashing aliens called The Family, Metamorpho is hit by a powerful energy blast that destroys his body. He later reforms his body with a new appearance.[25]
InJLA #1, Metamorpho sacrifices himself to rescueNuklon,Obsidian, andIcemaiden from the destruction of the Justice League satellite. He is temporarily resurrected by theCathexis and permanently resurrected by Sapphire Stagg using the Orb of Ra.[26][27]
Shortly thereafter, an accident with one of Simon Stagg's experiments turns Simon, Sapphire, and Joey into an energy being, and causes Metamorpho to take on the form and personality of Java. "Java" kidnapsBlack Canary, asking for her help in rescuing the others. With Canary's help, he becomes Metamorpho again and returns the others to their normal forms.[28]
At the same time, Metamorpho has seemingly been appearing in theOutsiders (vol. 3) series, but Rex Mason informs the team that their "Metamorpho" isa regrown fragment of his body.[29]
Metamorpho continues to serve on the Outsiders whenBatman takes over, and after its further restructuring following Batman's apparent death. He is apparently killed yet again alongside the rest of the team in a satellite explosion orchestrated byTalia al Ghul.[30]
In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. One story reveals that the Outsiders have survived. It is stated that Metamorpho was able to save the team by the same technique he previously used to rescue the Justice League duringHyperclan's attack.[31] He is also shown as one of the candidates for the newJustice League International, but is ultimately not chosen.[32]
InDoomsday Clock, Metamorpho is featured on the news as an apparent example of the "Superman Theory", in which the government is thought to have been experimenting on humans to give them superpowers.[33]
InThe Terrifics, Metamorpho is a member of the eponymous team, consisting of himself,Mister Terrific, andPlastic Man. They travel into the Dark Multiverse and discoverPhantom Girl, who is trapped in her intangible form. Metamorpho is temporarily returned to his human form, but chooses to be transformed again and becomes Stagg Industries' chief security officer.[34][35]
Metamorpho can transmute his body into a wide variety of elemental compounds and form them at will. Originally, he was limited to elements that were naturally found in the human body. Somehow, this limitation seems to have disappeared. He can stretch, bounce, elongate, and reform himself like rubber or plastic. Rex is able to alter the consistencies of thesechemical elements and combine them into complex compounds. Metamorpho could reshape parts or the whole of his body. Rex's body provides him with natural armor, offering damage resistance from blunt and energy attacks.[36] He is also a skilled martial artist, archaeologist, and detective.
Besides dealing with Simon Stagg and Java, Metamorpho had his own rogues gallery in his comics:
An alternate universe variant of Metamorpho makes a cameo appearance inDC: The New Frontier #12 as a member of theJustice League.[55]
An alternate universe variant of Metamorpho appears inJLA: The Nail #2.Jimmy Olsen brainwashes an unstable Metamorpho into helping him spread anti-metahuman propaganda by threatening to kill his family. As part of Olsen's plans, Metamorpho is forced to kill theThinker and attack aLexCorp tower inMetropolis until he is stopped byJ'onn J'onzz. Metamorpho attempts to warn him of Olsen's plot, but dies due to Olsen's brainwashing.[56]
An alternate universe variant of Metamorpho appears inJustice #7 as a member of the Justice League.[57]
Metamorpho appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[62]
Scribe Bob Haney and artist Ramona Fradon were truly in their element...Haney and Fradon's collaborative chemistry resulted in [Rex] Mason becoming Metamorpho.
