Metamorpho made his highly anticipated big-screen debut in the James Gunn’s Superman film, introducing audiences to one of DC Comics’ most unique and visually striking heroes. Before witnessing his cinematic transformation, understanding Metamorpho’s comic book origin provides essential context for appreciating this fascinating character’s journey from adventurer to elemental superhero.
Metamorpho’s Comic Book Debut and Creation
Metamorpho first appeared in The Brave and the Bold issue #57 in December 1965, created by writer Bob Haney and artist Ramona Fradon. The character’s real name is Rex Mason, originally portrayed as an adventurous soldier of fortune in the classic Indiana Jones mold before his dramatic transformation into the Element Man.
The comic immediately establishes Rex Mason’s world through his relationship with his wealthy benefactor Simon Stagg and Stagg’s daughter Sapphire, setting up the complex dynamics that would define Metamorpho’s origin story.
Rex Mason: The Man Before the Monster
The Adventurer’s Life
Rex Mason lived as a professional adventurer, completing dangerous missions funded by the wealthy industrialist Simon Stagg, nicknamed “Mr. Millions.” Mason’s most recent assignment involved traveling to South America to discover the secrets of indigenous witch doctors who possessed the ability to shrink human bodies.
The story opens with Mason’s dramatic return, where he demonstrates his success by using the shrinking potion on Stagg’s pet cheetah. However, Mason refuses to hand over the dangerous formula to Stagg, declaring it too hazardous for someone with Stagg’s power-hungry nature.
The Romance and Rivalry
Rex Mason’s relationship with Sapphire Stagg creates immediate tension with her father’s disapproval and the jealousy of Java, Stagg’s prehistoric bodyguard. Java, a caveman brought back to life by Stagg and given enhanced intelligence, harbors romantic feelings for Sapphire and views Mason as his primary rival.
The dynamic between these three characters—Mason, Sapphire, and Java—becomes the driving force behind the tragic events that transform Rex Mason into Metamorpho.
The Orb of Ra Mission: A Setup for Transformation
The Million-Dollar Assignment
Simon Stagg offers Rex Mason one million dollars to retrieve the mysterious Orb of Ra from an ancient Egyptian pyramid in the upper Nile valley. Despite Sapphire’s premonitions and pleas for him to stay, Mason accepts the mission, believing the payment will provide enough wealth to free both himself and Sapphire from Stagg’s control.
Unknown to Mason, Stagg has given Java secret instructions that will lead to betrayal and transformation.
The Betrayal in the Pyramid
Upon reaching the pyramid, Mason and Java discover the Orb of Ra—described as a chunk of outer space meteor imprisoned within a crystal quartz ball shaped like an ancient pharaoh’s scepter. Java betrays Mason by attacking him, leaving him unconscious in the chamber while escaping with the orb.
The betrayal activates an ancient Egyptian mechanism that carries Mason’s unconscious body deeper into the pyramid’s heart, where he encounters a glowing, intensely hot meteorite.
The Transformation: Birth of the Element Man
The Life-Saving Formula
Facing death from the meteorite’s extreme heat, Mason remembers a chemical formula given to him years earlier by Simon Stagg, contained within a ring and intended for use only in life-threatening situations. Mason consumes the formula and loses consciousness as the meteorite’s energy overwhelms him.
The Metamorphosis
Upon awakening, Mason discovers his body has been completely transformed. Every part of his physical form now consists of different colored materials and elements. When he looks in a mirror found within the tomb, he realizes he is no longer Rex Mason but has become something entirely different—a living embodiment of the periodic table.
The transformation grants Mason the instinctive ability to change into gaseous form, allowing him to escape the sealed pyramid by flowing through cracks in the stone as a jet of gas.
Metamorpho’s Powers and Abilities Explained
Elemental Transmutation
Metamorpho’s primary ability revolves around elemental transmutation—the power to alter his body into any element or compound found in the human body or Earth’s crust. This includes:
- Metals: Iron, gold, silver, mercury, and other metallic elements
- Gases: Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and various chemical compounds
- Liquids: Water, oil, acids, and other liquid substances
- Compounds: Plastic, carbon dioxide, and complex chemical combinations
Shape-Shifting Capabilities
Beyond elemental control, Metamorpho possesses advanced shape-shifting abilities, enabling him to:
- Create defensive structures like iron shields
- Form offensive weapons such as metal swords
- Generate gigantic limbs for enhanced strength
- Construct complex machinery from his own body
- Transform into gas form for flight capabilities
Enhanced Durability and Healing
Metamorpho’s elemental nature provides him with:
- Virtual invulnerability to conventional weapons
- Resistance to environmental hazards including fire, electricity, and radiation
- Immunity to poison and disease due to his non-biological structure
- Regenerative abilities allowing him to repair damaged portions of his body
- Adaptation to extreme environments through elemental adjustment
Instinctive Chemical Knowledge
The transformation grants Metamorpho an intuitive understanding of chemistry, allowing him to instinctively know which elemental combinations will produce specific effects for any given scenario.
The Orb of Ra: Metamorpho’s Weakness
The story reveals that the Orb of Ra, the very artifact that led to Mason’s transformation, serves as Metamorpho’s primary weakness. The scepter’s energy field renders him helpless and vulnerable, providing a crucial limitation to his otherwise overwhelming powers.
Simon Stagg recognizes this vulnerability and hides the orb in a shark tank, planning to use it as a means of controlling Metamorpho for his own purposes.
Metamorpho’s Heroic Purpose
Accepting the New Reality
Initially devastated by his monstrous appearance, Rex Mason struggles with his transformation. However, Sapphire’s unwavering love and support help him realize that his powers could serve a greater purpose. Rather than viewing his condition as a curse, Mason begins to understand that his abilities position him to help others in ways no ordinary human could.
The Element Man’s Mission
The comic concludes with Metamorpho embracing his new identity as “the Element Man,” dedicating himself to using his fantastic powers for heroic purposes while continuing to search for a cure that might restore his human form.
Conclusion
The character’s complex origin story, rooted in themes of sacrifice, transformation, and acceptance, provides rich material for exploring what it means to be heroic despite physical limitations and societal rejection.