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| “ | Y'know, being turned into my base chemical components by an ancient Egyptian artifact -- should have prepared me for days like this. | „ |
| ~ Metamorpho. |
| “ | We'll all always be Outsiders. In more ways than one. | „ |
| ~ Rex Mason. |
| “ | You heard her, E-dog. Phantom Girl needs us. The Terrifics needs us. | „ |
| ~ Prime-Earth Metamorpho. |
Metamorpho (real name Rex Mason) is a fictional character and superhero from DC Comics, and a member of the Outsiders, Justice League, Seven Soldiers of Victory, and the Terrifics. Originally a soldier of fortune, Rex Mason came into contact with a fallen meteor that was the Orb of Ra. Upon contact, Rex became Metamorpho the Element Man, a being with elastic and elemental powers.
He was created by the late Ramona Fradon, the late Charles Paris and the late Bob Haney, and first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #57 in January of 1965.
History[]
Even before he was the Fab Freak of 1001 Elements, Rex Mason was already a thrill-seeking daredevil, hoping to one day prove himself worthy to the love of his life, Sapphire Stagg. But Sapphire's father, corrupt businessman Simon Stagg, belived that his daughter was too good for any man, decided to kill Rex. Sent to Egypt by Stagg, Rex was accompanied by Simon's literally neanderthal sidekick, Java, who himself was in love with Sapphire, and was promised her hand if he killed Rex.
Rex's mission seemed easy enough; find the fabled Orb of Ra, and return it to Simon. But Java attacked Rex, and left him in the Orb's tomb, hoping that the Orb's radiation would kill Rex. But in typical comic book fashion, Rex was instead transformed into the multi-colored superhero, Metamorpho the Element Man, able to transform all or parts of his body into a different element. Originally hating his freakish appearance, Rex was forced to seek Simon's help to return to normal, but eventually accepted his form, and has since married Sapphire, and spawned a son with her.
Biography[]
Becoming Metamorpho[]
Rex Mason was a soldier of fortune who was tasked by Simon Stagg with collecting the Orb of Ra, which was crafted by the Pharo Ramses II's priest Ahk-Ton from a fallen meteor. Upon finding it, Rex's cohort Java stole it and left Rex, who was mutated with elastic and transmuted powers. Once learning of this, Rex sought the Justice League to help him return normal, but failed and rejected the team's offer to become a member. Despite wanting to return to normal, Rex decided to accept his powers and help others, and became an ally to Simon Stagg's daughter, Sapphire Stagg Mason.
Hero Career[]
Rex started his career by helping others that needed assisting, such as Batman when he was turned into a monster, and Mason managed to hold "Bat-Hulk" until he found a way to undo the process. Metamorpho was later offered a chance to return normal by Stagg, but the price was that he had to spend years submerged into a vat of chemicals. Rex agreed, but was stopped when Sapphire was kidnapped by the Bounty Hunter, and Mason teamed up with Batman to stop the villain. Mason also worked with Superman and Batman on stopping an international criminal, and with Plastic Man to help clear Batman's name. He then joined the Outsiders after helping Batman stop Baron Bedlam and rescue Lucius Fox, and Rex also worked with Dr. Helga Jace on finding a cure for him.
Powers and Abilities[]
Metamorpho is able to transmute his body in whole or in part into any element. He is able to combine and shape these elements at will. He is also capable of shape-shifting, and can reshape parts of his body and the whole at his will, including being able to stretch his body; he can also be solid, liquid, plasma or gas. His transmuted body is resistant to blunt force and energy attacks. He appears to be functionally immortal, particularly in his inert state, evident by the fact that he has survived death several times. He is a skilled martial artist, as well as an archaeologist and a detective. He is weak to the Orb of Ra, which is like Kryptonite to him.
In Other Media[]
Television[]
The DCAU[]
Metamorpho appears in the two-part Justice League episode "Metamorphosis". These episodes re-imagine his origin, which is ascribed to mutagenic gas that he was exposed to by Simon Stagg. He is a good friend of John Stewart and initially believes he was cheating with Sapphire on him, but comes to his senses. He later makes non-speaking cameo appearances in the Justice League Unlimited episodes "Initiation", "Clash", "Panic in the Sky", and "Destroyer".
He is voiced by the late Tom Sizemore.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold[]
Metamorpho appears alongside other members of the Outsiders in the episode "Enter the Outsiders!" He is a teenager in this appearance, and portrayed as a lighthearted character. He later appears in the episodes "Duel of the Double Crossers!" and "Inside the Outsiders!", the latter of which deals with his emotional turmoil and anger over his appearance. An older version of Metamorpho appears alongside the other Outsiders in the opening to the episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!"
He is voiced by Scott Menville.
Metamorpho is introduced somewhat similar to his origin in the comics, but this time as a security guard working for Stagg Industries. In "Toxic," he is tricked into the testing site for the company's "Project: Metamorpho" drug by Simon Stagg (who was jealous of him dating his daughter), and is eventually transformed into an elemental mostristy. Batman initially thinks he's a monster before realizing who he is and that his genetic makeup is falling apart, meaning he'll die. Batman and Stagg lure Metamorpho back to the test site to administer a cure, but it fails and he seemingly disintegrates. After Batman arranges for Stagg's arrest, Metamorpho reconstitutes in the sewers. In "Monsters," Batman and Katana discover that a vigilante fighting crime in a run-down part of Gotham is actually Metamorpho, having grown accustomed to his abilities and decided to protect the people. The two aid him in fighting off paid high-tech mercenaries that were actually hired by Sapphire Stagg, much to Batman's anger and Metamorpho's sadness. He decides to keep in touch with them in case they need help, an offer which he takes up in "Alone" alongside some of Batman's other allies when Deathstroke attacks the Batcave. After using his body to protect the cave from the bombs, Metamorpho creates a chemical on Man-Bat's instruction to wipe Deathstroke's memory of Batman as Bruce Wayne.
Films[]
Justice League: The New Frontier[]
Metamorpho makes a brief non-speaking cameo appearance at the end of this film.
DC Universe (James Gunn)[]
In the upcoming movie Superman (2025), he will be portrayed by Anthony Carrigan. The film will be set in the new DCU (DC Universe) multimedia franchise produced by James Gunn.
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 Members
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Arsenal | Atomic Knight | Batgirl | Batman | Black Lightning | Captain Boomerang, Jr. | Captain Marvel, Jr. | Catwoman | Creeper | Dervish | Doctor Light | Eradicator | Faust | Francine Langstrom | Freight Train | Geo-Force | Grace Choi | Green Arrow | Halo | Huntress | Indigo | Jade | Katana | Looker | Martian Manhunter | Metamorpho | Nightwing | Owlman | ReMac | Shift | Signal | Starfire | Technocrat | Terra | Thunder | Windfall | Wylde | ||