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Post by rberman on Jun 26, 2020 14:19:24 GMT -5
Metamopho seems like he would have fit in well with Marvel's growing stable of "monsters cursed with powers" heroes. Was it just a sign of the times, or was DC playing catchup to Stan and Jack's freak show? Either way, Metamorpho has never been an A-lister but still racked up hundreds of appearances in solo stories in The Brave and the Bold and a lengthy tenure in the Outsiders. Has he had enough attention that you have a favorite story about him? It's hard to beat his origin ( The Brave and the Bold #57, 1965, by Haney and Fradon), which fairly overflows with ideas. A venal billionaire has a beautiful daughter Sapphire and a revived caveman butler Java and a cocksure daredevil stuntman, Rex Mason. Mason is sent to retrieve an ancient artifact, but jealous Java tries to off Mason so he can woo Sapphire. Rex gains element-themed powers in the accident. He comes home for payback and decides to stick around in hopes of a cure, even after his boss attempts to murder him. It's such a messed up set-up, pregnant with devious possibilities, that you'd think it came out of the grim 90s instead of the optimistic mid-60s. His hip dialogue often set him apart from DC's other squarer heroes as well.  |
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Crimebuster
CCF Podcast Guru
Making comics!
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Post by Crimebuster on Jun 26, 2020 15:13:27 GMT -5
I have a strong dislike for Metamorpho, but I will say that his first appearance is very solid, and easily the best of his stories that I have read.
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Post by MDG on Jun 26, 2020 16:04:27 GMT -5
I'm hot and cold on Metamorpho--I like the character, the supporting cast and dynamics, the art... But I have a problem with characters that can change into other things. All of a sudden, Rex knows the physical properties of every element and can call on them as needed? And where's all that extra mass come from (or go)? I have the same problem w/ Beast Boy. Metamorpho is, however, in my all-time favorite silver age comic:  |
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Post by brutalis on Jun 26, 2020 16:32:12 GMT -5
True, if you think logically there is no way Metamorpho, Beast Boy, Firestorm, Swamp Thing, Flash and others like them could do ALL of the things creators come up with for them based upon their power sets. Who in the world could know everything necessary to do the incredibly difficult, creative, amazing things they do? Thankfully, reality is NOT what I read my comic books for, which is why Metamorpho and Flash and Firestorm are 3 favorite DC characters for me. I don't let reality ruin the fun and craziness which comes from their abilities. Instead I read to see what new concepts and insane creations the writers/artists come up with for them.
For the longest time the only issue I had of Metamorpho was #5 which I found one summer in a Salvation Army pack of comic books my grandparents bought me. So Will the Real Metamorpho Please Stand Up has to be my vote for GREATEST Element Man stories. In it you get 2 Metamorpho's for the price of one! Stagg helps another person become a duplicate EMan because Stagg dislikes Mason sooo much and wants to be rid of him (basically if Stagg can't have Rex doing what Stagg wants then an element man is worthless to him) so we get to see 2 Elemental shape changers fighting against one another. FUN!
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Post by earl on Jun 26, 2020 16:52:14 GMT -5
Ramona Fradon is a cool artist. Only have a couple Metamorpho issues, but would love to eventually read that whole run. I'd think it would make a good cartoon.
I always liked the character in the original Batman and the Outsiders. That series and the first 'baxter' Outsiders series were both books I liked as a teenager.
Would have loved to have had a vintage issue with Metamorpho and Plastic Man. Batman and those two guys could really do some damage, as in truth they both have crazy powerful superpowers.
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Post by brutalis on Jun 26, 2020 16:55:31 GMT -5
Ramona Fradon is a cool artist. Only have a couple Metamorpho issues, but would love to eventually read that whole run. I'd think it would make a good cartoon. I always liked the character in the original Batman and the Outsiders. That series and the first 'baxter' Outsiders series were both books I liked as a teenager. Would have loved to have had a vintage issue with Metamorpho and Plastic Man. Batman and those two guys could really do some damage, as in truth they both have crazy powerful superpowers. Hope you have the current Terrifics run. Rex and Plas do a great Ben Grimm/Johnny Storm routine of tormenting each other out of love and respect. The play so well together especially when trying to one up the other's transformations. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 26, 2020 18:10:58 GMT -5
I never liked Metamorpho because he has infinite power and never rose above a third tier hero. Same with Firestorm and a few others that could change something into anything.
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Post by tartanphantom on Jun 28, 2020 14:49:12 GMT -5
True, if you think logically there is no way Metamorpho, Beast Boy, Firestorm, Swamp Thing, Flash and others like them could do ALL of the things creators come up with for them based upon their power sets. Who in the world could know everything necessary to do the incredibly difficult, creative, amazing things they do? That's an easy question to answer. They all learned it from the Professor on Gilligan's Island-- who knew how to do virtually everything about everything except build a sea-worthy vessel out of the island's native timber.  |
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Post by rberman on Jun 28, 2020 15:03:36 GMT -5
True, if you think logically there is no way Metamorpho, Beast Boy, Firestorm, Swamp Thing, Flash and others like them could do ALL of the things creators come up with for them based upon their power sets. Who in the world could know everything necessary to do the incredibly difficult, creative, amazing things they do? That's an easy question to answer. They all learned it from the Professor on Gilligan's Island-- who knew how to do virtually everything about everything except build a sea-worthy vessel out of the island's native timber. They practiced! Firestorm at least had his brain connected with that of a nuclear physicist. |
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