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| Metalhead | |
|---|---|
 Cover toX-Men 2099 #14 showing Metalhead and Rosa Art byRon Lim | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | X-Men 2099 #1 (October, 1993) |
| Created by | John Francis Moore Ron Lim |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Edward Beethoven Osako |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Place of origin | Marvel 2099 (Earth-928) |
| Team affiliations | X-Men 2099 |
| Notable aliases | Eddie van Beethoven Eddie von Beethoven |
| Abilities |
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Metalhead (Edward Osako) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character appeared in their futuristic comic book line dubbedMarvel 2099 inX-Men 2099. His creators wereJohn Francis Moore andRon Lim.
Edward Osako was once a syntho-percussionist for the band Armageddon Choir. He is a devout believer in Xi'an's dream ofmutant equality and the X-Men. After Xi'an is shot, he helps break into the Synge casino to find evidence to clear Xi'an of murdering the owner, Noah Synge. It is revealed that Synge's son Lytton murdered him, so the X-Men are freed and take to the road.[1]
The group searches for a woman named Mama Hurricane, for information on the mutant underground railroad during the Great Purge. When they arrive, they are attacked by a group of genetically enhanced humans calling themselves the Freakshow. Contagion, a member of Freakshow, infects Eddie with a virus that traps him in a metallic form.[2]
Eddie remains with the Freakshow, suffering from depression at his new monstrous appearance. He travels with them to the lands of the Keewazi tribe, developing a relationship with Freakshow member Rosa Vasquez. Glitterspike, an assassin and the father of Rosa's unborn baby, attacks the group, intent on stealing his child and selling it to the black market. Eddie and the others succeed in trapping Glitterspike in a cave with an alien monster, the Shadow Dancer. During this battle, Eddie's power to absorb the properties of any metal he touches returns, though he cannot return to his original human form.[3]
Months later, Glitterspike returns, having escaped the Shadow Dancer, losing an arm in the process. As he attacks Eddie, Rosa goes into labor. Eddie is defeated, but Rosa's unborn baby, who Cerebra stated would be a mutant, incapacitates Glitterspike and they are able to escape. Rosa gives birth to a son, Joaquim Vasquez, and asks Eddie to be his godfather.[4]
Eddie later reunites with his X-Men brethren for the first time since leaving them to join Freakshow. Their joy is short-lived as Joaquim is kidnapped by Vulcann, a bloodsmith who can freely alter the bodies of others. He accelerates Joaquim's aging, making him a young adult and activating his mutant powers. They return to Halo City as the city begins flooding, a product of the melting polar ice caps. Vulcann plans to use Joaquim to lead the mutant generation and bend them to his will. Eddie attempts to stop him, but is sent flying across the city by Joaquim. As he returns, he is captured with the rest of the X-Men. Eddie and Bloodhawk chain Vulcann to a rock beneath the ocean, leaving him to die. Eddie leaves, with the others, to get to higher ground, arriving in theSavage Land.[5]
In the Savage Land, Eddie helps to build a new civilization for humankind. During thePhalanx invasion, he is infected with thetechno-organic virus, remaining infected after the Phalanx collective is destroyed. However, he uses his ferromorphic abilities to purge the virus from his body.[6]
Metalhead has the ability to transform his body into any metal via physical contact. He possesses superhuman strength, durability, and the metal's specific properties, such asadamantium (invulnerability),copper (electrical conductivity), orgold (enhanced flexibility). After his battle with Contagion, he is left with metallic skin in his default form, but retains the ability to alter the molecular composition of his skin.[7]
An action figure of Metalhead was produced as part ofToy Biz's X-Men 2099 line.
