Metamorpho
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Metamorpho (Rex Mason) is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. A founding member of the Outsiders, he has also been a member of the Justice League Europe and the Justice League of America.
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[edit] Publication History
Metamorpho's creator, Bob Haney had seen success with DC Comics in 1963 with titles Metal Men and Doom Patrol, featuring bands of superheroes exhibiting fantastic powers. Under the editorial management of George Kashdan, Haney was asked to capitalize on these titles' popularity with similar a character; Metamorpho, the Element Man debuted in The Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965). As first concieved, Metamorpho was a parody of the fantastic characters that populated comic books in the 1960s. [1]. Artist Ramona Fradon was coaxed out of maternity-retirement to illustrate Metamorpho's first appearences. The popularity of Metamorpho's appearences in The Brave and the Bold led to a seventeen-issue ongoing series between 1965-1968.
In 2005, DC reprinted Metamorpho's early Brave and the Bold appearences and the entirity of the 1965 series as one of the company's inaugural volumes of Showcase Presents.
[edit] Origin
While in an Egyptian pyramid, Rex Mason was exposed to a radioactive meteorite which transformed him into the Element Man. He became able to shapeshift and change into any element found in the human body, or any combinations thereof. In the first issue of Grant Morrison's JLA, he died (technically, became "inert") attempting to help his fellow superheroes safely make planetfall as their satellite was destroyed.
Metamorpho briefly had a crimefighting partner; a woman who deliberately gained his powers, and called herself Element Girl. She worked with him on a number of cases, before her unrequited attraction to him became too much for her.
[edit] In other media
Metamorpho appeared in the Justice League animated series two-part episode "Metamorphosis". He also briefly appeared in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Clash".
In "Metamorphosis", he was voiced by Tom Sizemore. Rex Mason was a friend to John Stewart when they were former Marines. He was exposed to a level of chemical gas by his boss and clashes with the League as he tries to take revenge out on his boss (Stagg). When Metamorpho's attempts at revenge cause a giant monster to be created that threatens to harm his girlfriend (Sapphire), Metamorpho sacrifices himself to stop the creature. He subsequently regenerates himself when a piece of his destroyed body feels a tear drop from the eyes of his girlfriend. In a later episode when Superman apparently dies, John Stewart's first and only idea for a replacement member in the League is Metamorpho. In another adventure, John Stewart, Wonder Woman, and Batman went to the future where they met the JLU, including Stewart's son, Warhawk. Warhawk's real name is Rex Stewart, as he was named after John's good friend Rex Mason.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Jones, Gerard and Will Jacobs (1997). The Comic Book Heroes. Rocklin, CA: Prima, 76-77.
