Rex Mason is known by many names. The Element Man. The Fab Freak. The Mod Monster. Mostly he is known as Metamorpho and as one of DC Comics strangest heroes. Despite this (or perhaps because of this given James Gunn’s fondness for oddball superheroes) Rex made his live-action premiere in the Superman trailer. He’s also headlining a new DC All-In monthly series.
Written by Al Ewing, with art by Steve Lieber, Metamorpho #1 acts as an introduction to the weird world of Rex Mason. The opening page is rendered in the style of a Silver Age comic book, which introduces the ensemble. It also introduces a new enemy, Mister 3, who claims to have the power to destroy the Element Man once and for all.
The main cover and first seven pages of Metamorpho #1 may be viewed below.
The story behind how Metamorpho was created in the real world is nearly as convoluted as his comic book origins. The character started with editor George Kashdan, who envisioned a science-based hero that could change into any element. Kashdan passed this idea on to writer Bob Haney, who fleshed out the concept as a parody of monster heroes, like The Thing from Fantastic Four. The design for the character came from artist Ramona Fradon, who was coaxed out of maternity leave to draw the first Metamorpho comics.
The backstory of Metamorpho mashes up multiple genres. Rex Mason was an adventurer in the Indiana Jones mold, who was transformed by a mystic Egyptian artifact. His archenemy, industrialist Simon Stagg, is also his girlfriend’s father. Rex also had to contend with Java, Stagg’s unfrozen caveman manservant, who had his own designs on Sapphire Stagg. Between them and Mister 3, Rex will certainly have his hands full in his new comic.
Metamorpho #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on December 25, 2024.