Java appeared in a cartoon of the character Martin Mystery. Is the same character? ame name, concept and looks? ll I knos of Martin M. is that it was based on a French BD comic.
For me, Metamorpho is one of those DC heroes that have the most potential to be stars of the highest profile. There's a whole story and uniqueness to the character that sets him apart from dozens of other heroes. A very similar case to that of Firestorm, in my opinion.
Agreed. Firestorm and Metamorpho are such powerhouses, it’s a shame they’re often shoved to the background. Firestorm alone could solve so many issues in the DC universe
@@diegopansini3152maybe thats why they're shelved. If they were more popular, whenever theres a problem people would ask "wheres firestorm?" Or "wheres metamorpho?" Hence authors dont use them as much because of their overpowered-ness
Metamorpho might be the most perfect C-lister ever conceived. He's a little too inherently weird conceptually, goofy looking visually, and OP in a not straightforward enough way to ever quite fully break out. But at the same time, the concept is also extremely compelling, the look is visually striking, and the powers are so versatile that it pretty much guarantees there will always be enough writers who want to write him, artists who want to draw him, and readers who want to read him to keep him in pretty regular circulation & moderately relevant/successful.
I’ve loved Metamorpho since I saw the Justice League episode he was in as a kid. I don’t think I’ve even read a comic with him in it tbh, he just left a big impression on me as a kid and I love him.
Metamorpho has always been DC's answer to Ben Grimm. I always wanted to see crossover that would have these two go on an adventure3 and, possibly even more fun, sit with them as they share a beer and just chew the fat. You did show a panel from JLA that was one of the best uses for Metamorpho. Turning into an escape bod and then filling it with shock absorbing fluid was genius and loved that. He's a great character and I'm hoping we get to see the Terrifics in Superman Legacy
I always really liked Metamorpho and always felt he’s one of those guys who coulda been A list of writers just gave him the chance. He’s got a great backstory, powerset, a good personality, a lot of his own character history, and a really interesting design. His problem is… he can’t stop dying. For long stretches at that. Ike it was a joke that he died like 3 times in the main universe and in one of those times, he was revived by having a bomb dropped on him!
Honestly, my favorite Metamorpho story was the arc from Justice League Europe where he fought to get his and Sapphire's infant son back from Stagg. He had great fights with Guy Gardner and the Metal Men, a heartbreaking dilemma with his son's out-of-control powers, and a really heartwarming scene-turned-funny moment at the end when Simon finally holds his grandson. Top notch stuff. Also, anyone else think the face of 90s Metamorpho is a dead ringer for modern Dwayne Johnson?
Yup, agreed 100%. Metamorpho checks all the boxes: A clever concept, a great design, strong supporting cast, an appealing style, and Haney and Fradon knew how to leverage all that to create great, memorable stories. To use a movie analogy, he may never be a "leading man", but he's like a really good character actor who elevates any project he appears in.
Metamorpho's always a good time when he shows up. His powers can get very creative. I'm fond of his design in Young Justice once he becomes more deformed and in Beware the Batman due to the miss-matching textures and the purple/green eyes. U'm excited to see him played by one of my favorite actors in the Superman movie.
Metamorpho is one of those characters that I thought was neat as a kid, but the older I got, the more compelling the character became. Yes, his look and backstory are peak 60's Silver Age Comics, but the best parts of that age; goofy at first blush but iconic in the long run. His powers were also fascinating as I evolved from Who is the Strongest/Fastest/Toughest debates as a kid to admiring the infinite versatility such powers would present as an older reader. Metamorpho is a character and a concept that gets better with age, and I'm always thrilled to see him show up in any expanded media. Very curious to see what happens if he ever makes it to the big (or small) screen!
Hope we get a Silver Age Metamorpho omnibus if his movie is a hit. What is really impressive about the character is that he has kept his supporting cast the same since his debut. Even much bigger named Heroes have had time keeping consistent side characters.
I know I am gunna get some hate, but I think the Absorbing Man has aged well tbh, his relationship with Titania also helps, but recently in the last few years such as his role in the Black Bolt series has given the character nuance without him turning entirely good, but isn't all bad either.
This is such a great video. Metamorpho has always been up there with Plastic Man and Firestorm as a character that needs way more appearances. All three allow for nearly infinite creativity with writing and art. I think the open ended nature or their powers is extremely intimidating for most which is why they are used so sparingly.
Metamorpho is one of those that you think you wouldn't get any play but I'll be damned he's managed to hang in there. The DCAU version might remain my favorite but I'm curious to see what Gunn does with the character.
The premise is similar to the film "the House of Frankenstein". Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney) is transformed into a strange creature and reluctantly agrees to work with untrustworthy mad scientist Neiman (Boris Karloff) who pretends to be trying to cure him, but really is not. His deformed hunchbacked assistant Daniel is in love with the beautiful girl, but she is in love with the cursed Larry, causing Daniel to have jealous hate toward Larry.
Is that the one where the hunchback winds up getting his brain transplanted into the creature's body and goes mad with power before coming to a sticky end? Been a long time since I've seen those old films...
I love that Rex and Sapphire were literally standing in Simon's shadow. The artwork also suggests that The Element Man can escape via flatulence. Seriously (as much as I am capable of being), there was something about the initial design of the character that I remember being most affected by (memory is limited, I had that B&B issue IIRC). Doom Patrol was another favorite. The Odd DC Universe is a wild place to go. Good show!
One of my first times with Metamorpho was his Power Records adventure wherein he faces Fumo the Fire Giant. I can still hear Fumo yelling "Stupid, stupid little man!"
I was introduced to Rex through Justice League Unlimited, and I grew to love him over time. I really enjoyed his recent World's Finest story and I'm glad he's finally going to get his live-action debut. Side-note: I swear Simon Stagg has the greatest hair in comics.
I had no idea he had such a rich history. (I’m definitely seeing a clear through-line to Venture Brothers… that kind of world and absurdity but then a deep humanity woven into it). I think he could fit into something like the Doom Patrol tv series or anything by James Gunn (human drama with “weird freaks”) I’m already emotionally invested in this love triangle and mad scientist father-inlaw dynamic even before the superhero stuff
Yeah straddling the lines between older pulps/comics, adventure/organized crime/superhero stories, tragic/funny is all pretty Relevant to VB. Also, Hank dating the daughter of a crime boss who doesn't totally approve of him makes for a more direct if superficial point of comparison.
I'm a longtime Metamorpho fan, and have looked for and read some of the issues of that 60's run. Sometimes reading them can feel like they're trying too hard to be 'hip' and 'with it', but they're mainly enjoyable. I'm also a fan of those Metal Men and Doom Patrol series! I hope there's a day when The Metal Men make a comeback! By the way, 'making love' had a different meaning back then, it was more like 'making out'. In the 70's it changed to actual s-e-x. The red wig and black lipstick are Power Moves!!
Yes. There's an old Popeye cartoon where he breaks the fourth wall and says "I've never made love in Technicolor before", and its because Olive is just flirting with him, not that he is worried about an actual sex scene. :)
Metamorpho's generally had good luck with artists over the years, I think in part because his power set has got to be fun to go crazy with. Like any shifter/stretchy hero you really don't need to worry about staying on-model, which I'm told is very liberating.
My first exposure to Metamorpho was The Outsiders from the 80s. That being said those older stories before that time had something unique that I began to explore after learning the sad story of the original Element Girl. Now THAT was heartbreaking.
Go back to Victorian Era fiction and it was even more innocent, just hands-off dating, really. Became steadily more sexualized over the years starting around the late 1950s and pretty just has just meant "having sex" since the mid-to-late 1970s. Anybody old enough to remember "making whoopie" from the Dating Game? Glad that one faded away... :)
@@richmcgee434 I despise euphemistic terms like "making whoopie" because they just take a clean word and gradually make that word permanently filthy for a generation or more. On many YT channels, the overuse of "frickin/fricken" as a verbal crutch to replace an obscene word sounds like that word itself to my ears now. Although its etymology is not fully agreed upon, one of the filthiest words in our language likely began as any of a handful of related cunning euphemisms for a part of a woman's anatomy.
There's quite a lot of additional context to include before you can bring up Facade without it seeming like a forced obscure reference. It would have been nice to hear something about Urania Blackwell, but I can see why such an obscure character (her Sandman appearance seems to have been the high point of her career) would represent too much of a rabbit hole for this video - though maybe a topic for her own video someday?
I remember reading Metamorpho as a backup story and I loved the idea of everything. Him thinking his powers are a curse. Stagg, his benefactor, wanting to get rid of him but needing him for his powers. Sapphire may be ditzy but I loved how she stood behind her man. It was just so different from the other DC heroes at the time because everything was so complex.
I first remember reading stories with Metamorpho in the early 70s with him guesting in the Brave and the Bold with Batman or JLA. Jim Aparo always did a great job drawing him. They would frequently reprint his stories as back-ups in giant size issues which is how I got his backstory. Great character that DC didn’t know what to do with until the Outsiders.
First time I've seen him was in Batman: The Brave & The Bold cartoon, in the old Wildcat eps helping misguided super powered teens and he turned into oxygen to re start his old heart
The first time I saw Metamorpho was in that one episode of Beware the Batman, and by the end I really hoped he survives cause I liked his character so much, it was so tragic in a way, I read it as a story of someone who used to take things for granted now had to face those things while caught between being a man and a monster, so I was really happy to see him return later in the show, and I still smile whenever I see him cameo in other things
For years, I didn't know there was a _male_ version of this guy - my only experience was Element Girl in the Sandman story "Façade" (from the collection "Dream Country") which got... _dark._ It was much later that I found out that Element _Man_ (aka Metamorpho) was a thing, and it was a little weird discovering a male version of that distinctive look after re-reading "Façade" many times by that point.
The expression "making love" used to have a more innocent meaning. As in It's A Wonderful LIfe when Donna Reed told her mother that Jimmy Stewart was "making violent love" to her. That was the late 40s depicting the late 20s or early 30s. Don't know how or why but sometime in the 70s that term came to mean something a bit more than heavy petting. If Metamorpho got the same treatment as Peacemaker and Vigilante it could work pretty well but I doubt he would catch on beyond the hardcore DC fans. The budget to make him work properly on screen would also get complicated and expensive really fast. James Gunn obviously wants to do something which is why he is getting shoehorned into the Superman movie but I really don't have any faith in a Gunnverse.
Metamorpho remains my all time favourite superhero. Love his freakish design. First introduced to Rex in JLE and quickly hunted down his silver age stories and further adventures in Batman and the Outsiders. So pumped for his live action version. Although as you say not his first venture into live action. A live action pilot was filmed during his silver age run but was never aired. Remember reading about it in one of the newsletters at the back of the early comic books. Hoping he will get more solo adventures in the near future. Great overview of the history of this very underrated character. Thank you for putting a spotlight on him.
For me Metamorpho got 2 great reintroductions that got my interest. First as the amnesiac in Batman's Outsiders, then as the family man in League of Justice Europe.
Great vid! I like the new filming setup. I might suggest lighting the area behind you a different color. The idea being to create more visual contrast with you and separate you from the background. Just a lighting nerd thinking out loud. Your excellent work is appreciated!
My first read of Metamorpho was in Batman and the outsiders #7. I found it in the quarter bin and was amazed about each member of the team. After that came the early 2000s Outsiders before the return of the Teen Titans. Crossing fingers for a good Metamorpho and maybe a possible Terrifics movie as well.
7:04 Can we pause a moment to reflect on the fact that Rex's transformation hasn't altered his voice in the slightest? I get a mild head cold and people can't recognize me on the phone any more, while Rex probably doesn't even have lungs or vocal chords in that morphic hodgepodge of chemicals he's become.
To be honest I hadn't really heard of him before the movie casting despite being very familiar with DC lore, largely thanks to you and of course I am a DC fan. But I have a theory similar to yours about that tropes(greek word by the way). It's the soap opera/greek tragedy tropes that have a universal appeal and are popular with all the genres. Science fiction, horror, superhero and of course comedy and drama throw in something about a love triangle,a love that has to overcome obstacles, evil family members and most of the time you have a success 😉
Never been a big fan, but do love every time he shows up in adaptation 🤔 is it just me , or does Simon Stagg’s “ I’ll do whatever it takes to find a cure for you Rex” sound a lot like Reed Richards “ I’ll do all I can to cure you Ben” 🤨 Another Outstanding video Sasha 🖖🏾
I didn’t read very many Metamorpho stories as a boy in the 1960’s. I was hooked on the character simply from the ads for his series in DC Comics back then. And I’ve been hooked on the character ever since.
I don't really know Metamorpho very well, although I knew of him. Weirdly, I probably know more about him via that issue of The Sandman starring Element Girl.
My first introduction to Metamorpho was his theme song and story in songs and stories of the Justice League of America and I've thought he was so neat since
It's also worth noting that Metamorpho was considered for Justice League membership early on, refusing membership over ten years before Black Lightning did the same (issue 42, 1960: "Metamorpho Says NO!").
Thanks, this was a cool video. I didn't know Metamorpho well having only seen him in the cartoons and sewing the homage Gaiman paid him in Sandman. This adds so much to the Gaiman story and really intrigues me. I'll have to check these out.
My introduction to Metamorpho was through Worlds Finest and I loved it!! In particular I am so interested in the Metal Men and want to read more about them
Thinking about it, Metamorpho is one of those characters that I like to see just showing up in things. I do agree that trying to do live action with him is a brave choice that may backfire (James Gunn is good at taking things that I wouldn't expect to work in live action and proving me wrong, but he also has to deal with the executives who may want to weigh in, and VFX that may not be ready yet).
'Making love to' used to mean wooing or courting. It didn't equate to doing the dirty until relatively recently. If I recall, Sherlock Holmes used the phrase in Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.
The "just dating" usage is all over the place in Victorian Era fiction, and quite probably earlier. Didn't even imply kissing until into the 1920s or 30s, and it wasn't hardcore sex until the 70s or 80s.
15:09 - 15:11 I heard Metamorpho's name and saw his image before I watched this video. I didn't know his powers though. I like his concept. I'm glad you took the time to make this video, O Sasha, so I could learn about him. I was entertained by thin video as I always am by your videos.
I enjoyed his 90s run in Outsiders, but have consistently questioned the color-blocked design. Oh - and your set is wonderfully lit! I'm enjoying looking over the shelves... Cheers!
I first discovered Metamorpho in Chuck Dixon's short lived run on Batman and the Outsiders, and really enjoyed him. Dixon really brought out the classic traits/history/personality of the character as you lay out here - his adventuring personality, powers, and love of Saphire. Great stuff!
I've always enjoyed this character. I think he has the potential to look really cool in live action. Especially if they did something like young justice did after he got an explosive thrown at him he got all spikey and contorted it was great. Or if they go the beware the batman route and make parts of him translucent. I always liked that too.
I've seen Metamorpho's animated adaption for the past 20 years and he is always a cool charter in them both visually and what story they give him. New set looks great but the lipstick is making me think of the Miraculous villain Zombizou.
Always felt that Metamorpho was a solid character that never lived up to his potential, mostly because the writers saw him as kind of a rocky tough guy. Very one-note in his powers. His ability to turn into literally any element on the periodic chart -- more than 100 elements in all -- gave him access to a wealth of untapped powers. DC needed someone with a chemistry degree, who understood the properties of all of these chemicals and their capabilities -- to fully display what he was capable of.
Metamorpho has such a cool powerset, and when he gets adapted into things, he's actually one the best parts. In Justice League, they just adapt most of his main comic story. Brave and the Bold, funny enough, isn't that character accurate, but he's good guy, who's just young in this version. Beware The Batman's version is like "What if we played the story a bit realistically". Young Justice I feel as the best design, and with a version who's the happiest you could possibly see of him. The movie's casting is a bit odd, since Rex is a tough guy, but the actor is always great anyway. I wanna mention that Simon Stagg is somehow such a stand out too, that he can appear by himself, and be a thing. Like In that episode of The Flash, Wonder Woman 1984 (Yeah, he was in that), and Arkham Knight, where's one of the main antagonist, with no mention of Rex or his daughter.
I'll say this for Stagg, his haircut is just plain iconic. Can't mistake him for anyone else. For some reason he always reminds of Flintheart Glomgold from Ducktales.
Metamorpho worked well on The Terrifics since that series was a pastiche of the early Fantastic Four stories which played in the same adventure/sci-fi genre as the early Metamorpho stories.
I cant believe the timing..I reread the Terrifics run over the weekend and grabbed a random box today and it had Outsiders comics that I grabbed to read. Spooky.
I've enjoyed Rex's adventures since he first appeared (I was 4; I remember forcing an adult to read it to me...a common occurrence, growing up). Later, I recall discussing exactly those narrative/artistic elements(pun intended) with my son...
Thanks for the (for me) heads up about Metamorpho, Sasha. As one who cut his teeth on reprints of the old Doc Savage pulp novels of the 50's, Metamorpho's early adventure run intrigues me. As to the term "making love" making it past the Comics Code, let's just say that that particular phrase has changed meaning drastically over the centuries. To quote Jane Austen from Pride and Prejudice: "He is as fine a fellow," said Mr. Bennet, as soon as they were out of the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to us all. I am prodigiously proud of him."
Metamorpho is easily one of my favorite lesser known heroes. He's a lot of fun, im both campy and serious ways. I kinda like him where he's at, though. I fear too much popularity will ruin him.
I loved Metamorpho so much that I created my own superhero that was a transforming dog. In addition to being able to turn into any element he wanted, he could shape change, which also just happened to give him intelligence. He could have turned himself into a human at any time, but always felt that would not be true to what he was. So kind of an inverse of the "I'm an ugly monster" trope.
I can't remember why exactly, but I was a big fan of Metamorpho in the '60s - '80s. I can't say I've been excited by his animated portrayals. As always, thank you so very much for the videos.
Metamorpho's relationship with Simon Stagg is what makes the character - Metamorpho has a relatable employment situation. Stagg is an amoral plutocrat who keeps sending Rex off to do evil in the world which Rex has to mitigate to make a living. He's never given enough money to make it on his own and Stagg has another favorite employee who is a fawning psychopath. Rex is also indentured to Stagg for healthcare needs
BRAVE and the BOLD #123 is a must read for Metamorpho fans. Metamorpho vs Plastic Man is a hoot! And, with the exception of the fabulous Ramona Fradon, no one drew Rex better than Jim Aparo.
First off: I like the new set. I'd love to see you do a retrospective look at the inspiration feedback loop between comics and shows with Batman, Namely the Adam West one, as there's plenty of our generation that grew up with BTAS that have covered it in depth, but not many talk as much about the classic series.
I feel like his story would make a compelling show. In the right hands,like play up the whole dynamic of staggs pulling the strings behind. The scenes and him coming to grips with being forever changed after his accident. Have the caveman plotting behind his back,and maybe go on a journey of his own of self acceptance.
One of my favorite DC characters (along with Booster Gold). Metamorpho is one of those characters that can be used to good effect today, with the right handling. Side note: the only way Rex Mason could POSSIBLY be cured is by contact with the very same meteor that GAVE him his powers!!
I love when this guy shows up. Maybe is me. But I find his powers to be super great Never forget that Kevin from Ben 10 was a reference to Metamorpho, especially his mutant form from alien force
Element Girl's Turn
ua-cam.com/video/PjyaZX32Urg/v-deo.html
Java appeared in a cartoon of the character Martin Mystery. Is the same character?
ame name, concept and looks? ll I knos of Martin M. is that it was based on a French BD comic.
For me, Metamorpho is one of those DC heroes that have the most potential to be stars of the highest profile. There's a whole story and uniqueness to the character that sets him apart from dozens of other heroes. A very similar case to that of Firestorm, in my opinion.
Agreed. Firestorm and Metamorpho are such powerhouses, it’s a shame they’re often shoved to the background. Firestorm alone could solve so many issues in the DC universe
Metamorpho reminds me of absorbing man. From marvel comics.
Agreed, both are amazing characters. At least Metamorpho gets some play though, while poor Firestorm is lucky to get an occasional cameo.
@@diegopansini3152maybe thats why they're shelved. If they were more popular, whenever theres a problem people would ask "wheres firestorm?" Or "wheres metamorpho?" Hence authors dont use them as much because of their overpowered-ness
Yes! Metamorpho and Firestorm are full of untapped potential.
Metamorpho might be the most perfect C-lister ever conceived. He's a little too inherently weird conceptually, goofy looking visually, and OP in a not straightforward enough way to ever quite fully break out. But at the same time, the concept is also extremely compelling, the look is visually striking, and the powers are so versatile that it pretty much guarantees there will always be enough writers who want to write him, artists who want to draw him, and readers who want to read him to keep him in pretty regular circulation & moderately relevant/successful.
I've always loved Metamorpho, so much you can do with him in stories. Also, I love Simon Staggs design. Genuine evil businessman right there!
I’ve loved Metamorpho since I saw the Justice League episode he was in as a kid. I don’t think I’ve even read a comic with him in it tbh, he just left a big impression on me as a kid and I love him.
He almost killed Superman… pretty powerful, he handled them easily. He did that to them in comics too!
Metamorpho has always been DC's answer to Ben Grimm. I always wanted to see crossover that would have these two go on an adventure3 and, possibly even more fun, sit with them as they share a beer and just chew the fat. You did show a panel from JLA that was one of the best uses for Metamorpho. Turning into an escape bod and then filling it with shock absorbing fluid was genius and loved that. He's a great character and I'm hoping we get to see the Terrifics in Superman Legacy
I always really liked Metamorpho and always felt he’s one of those guys who coulda been A list of writers just gave him the chance. He’s got a great backstory, powerset, a good personality, a lot of his own character history, and a really interesting design. His problem is… he can’t stop dying. For long stretches at that. Ike it was a joke that he died like 3 times in the main universe and in one of those times, he was revived by having a bomb dropped on him!
He might die in the Movie for the same reason that he died in the comics OVER and OVER.... "Because they can" without any social issue.
Honestly, my favorite Metamorpho story was the arc from Justice League Europe where he fought to get his and Sapphire's infant son back from Stagg. He had great fights with Guy Gardner and the Metal Men, a heartbreaking dilemma with his son's out-of-control powers, and a really heartwarming scene-turned-funny moment at the end when Simon finally holds his grandson. Top notch stuff.
Also, anyone else think the face of 90s Metamorpho is a dead ringer for modern Dwayne Johnson?
Is there anyone Guy didn't get in a fist fight with back I. Those day. Bruce, Rex, Ted, Hal etc
Also, don't give them any casting ideas.
Yup, agreed 100%. Metamorpho checks all the boxes: A clever concept, a great design, strong supporting cast, an appealing style, and Haney and Fradon knew how to leverage all that to create great, memorable stories. To use a movie analogy, he may never be a "leading man", but he's like a really good character actor who elevates any project he appears in.
Metamorpho's always a good time when he shows up. His powers can get very creative. I'm fond of his design in Young Justice once he becomes more deformed and in Beware the Batman due to the miss-matching textures and the purple/green eyes. U'm excited to see him played by one of my favorite actors in the Superman movie.
Metamorpho is one of those characters that I thought was neat as a kid, but the older I got, the more compelling the character became. Yes, his look and backstory are peak 60's Silver Age Comics, but the best parts of that age; goofy at first blush but iconic in the long run. His powers were also fascinating as I evolved from Who is the Strongest/Fastest/Toughest debates as a kid to admiring the infinite versatility such powers would present as an older reader. Metamorpho is a character and a concept that gets better with age, and I'm always thrilled to see him show up in any expanded media. Very curious to see what happens if he ever makes it to the big (or small) screen!
Hope we get a Silver Age Metamorpho omnibus if his movie is a hit. What is really impressive about the character is that he has kept his supporting cast the same since his debut. Even much bigger named Heroes have had time keeping consistent side characters.
Ramona Fradon is such an underrated Silver Age artist. She's the bee's knees.
He's not one of my favorite characters but it's cool when he pops up in various comics, cartoons, etc. Kinda like a "Hey, that's Metamorpho!" Moment.
Which characters do you feel have aged like fine wine?
I know I am gunna get some hate, but I think the Absorbing Man has aged well tbh, his relationship with Titania also helps, but recently in the last few years such as his role in the Black Bolt series has given the character nuance without him turning entirely good, but isn't all bad either.
Outside of Batmen,Superman,Wonder woman?
Nightwing literally of course some changes here in there but he literally aged like fine and hes better than Batman now
The immortal Vandal Savage?
Ralph Dibney the Elongated Man.
This is such a great video. Metamorpho has always been up there with Plastic Man and Firestorm as a character that needs way more appearances. All three allow for nearly infinite creativity with writing and art. I think the open ended nature or their powers is extremely intimidating for most which is why they are used so sparingly.
Metamorpho is one of those that you think you wouldn't get any play but I'll be damned he's managed to hang in there. The DCAU version might remain my favorite but I'm curious to see what Gunn does with the character.
The premise is similar to the film "the House of Frankenstein". Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney) is transformed into a strange creature and reluctantly agrees to work with untrustworthy mad scientist Neiman (Boris Karloff) who pretends to be trying to cure him, but really is not. His deformed hunchbacked assistant Daniel is in love with the beautiful girl, but she is in love with the cursed Larry, causing Daniel to have jealous hate toward Larry.
Is that the one where the hunchback winds up getting his brain transplanted into the creature's body and goes mad with power before coming to a sticky end? Been a long time since I've seen those old films...
@@richmcgee434 No, that was the Ghost of Frankenstein. This one came after that.
I love that Rex and Sapphire were literally standing in Simon's shadow. The artwork also suggests that The Element Man can escape via flatulence. Seriously (as much as I am capable of being), there was something about the initial design of the character that I remember being most affected by (memory is limited, I had that B&B issue IIRC). Doom Patrol was another favorite. The Odd DC Universe is a wild place to go. Good show!
One of my first times with Metamorpho was his Power Records adventure wherein he faces Fumo the Fire Giant. I can still hear Fumo yelling "Stupid, stupid little man!"
I was introduced to Rex through Justice League Unlimited, and I grew to love him over time.
I really enjoyed his recent World's Finest story and I'm glad he's finally going to get his live-action debut.
Side-note: I swear Simon Stagg has the greatest hair in comics.
He has the adaptive drip🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶
I had no idea he had such a rich history. (I’m definitely seeing a clear through-line to Venture Brothers… that kind of world and absurdity but then a deep humanity woven into it).
I think he could fit into something like the Doom Patrol tv series or anything by James Gunn (human drama with “weird freaks”)
I’m already emotionally invested in this love triangle and mad scientist father-inlaw dynamic even before the superhero stuff
Yeah straddling the lines between older pulps/comics, adventure/organized crime/superhero stories, tragic/funny is all pretty Relevant to VB. Also, Hank dating the daughter of a crime boss who doesn't totally approve of him makes for a more direct if superficial point of comparison.
I'm a longtime Metamorpho fan, and have looked for and read some of the issues of that 60's run. Sometimes reading them can feel like they're trying too hard to be 'hip' and 'with it', but they're mainly enjoyable. I'm also a fan of those Metal Men and Doom Patrol series! I hope there's a day when The Metal Men make a comeback! By the way, 'making love' had a different meaning back then, it was more like 'making out'. In the 70's it changed to actual s-e-x.
The red wig and black lipstick are Power Moves!!
Yes. There's an old Popeye cartoon where he breaks the fourth wall and says "I've never made love in Technicolor before", and its because Olive is just flirting with him, not that he is worried about an actual sex scene. :)
The art in the original stories was AMAZING.
Metamorpho's generally had good luck with artists over the years, I think in part because his power set has got to be fun to go crazy with. Like any shifter/stretchy hero you really don't need to worry about staying on-model, which I'm told is very liberating.
My first exposure to Metamorpho was The Outsiders from the 80s. That being said those older stories before that time had something unique that I began to explore after learning the sad story of the original Element Girl. Now THAT was heartbreaking.
The term "making love" was once roughly equivalent to something like "pitching woo" or smooching in a more innocent age.
Go back to Victorian Era fiction and it was even more innocent, just hands-off dating, really. Became steadily more sexualized over the years starting around the late 1950s and pretty just has just meant "having sex" since the mid-to-late 1970s.
Anybody old enough to remember "making whoopie" from the Dating Game? Glad that one faded away... :)
@@richmcgee434 I despise euphemistic terms like "making whoopie" because they just take a clean word and gradually make that word permanently filthy for a generation or more. On many YT channels, the overuse of "frickin/fricken" as a verbal crutch to replace an obscene word sounds like that word itself to my ears now.
Although its etymology is not fully agreed upon, one of the filthiest words in our language likely began as any of a handful of related cunning euphemisms for a part of a woman's anatomy.
He was, I think, the first hero to reject JLA membership.
Yes he was.
Side note: The Element Girl one off story in The Sandman is still one of my all time favorites, was hoping for a mention.
There's quite a lot of additional context to include before you can bring up Facade without it seeming like a forced obscure reference.
It would have been nice to hear something about Urania Blackwell, but I can see why such an obscure character (her Sandman appearance seems to have been the high point of her career) would represent too much of a rabbit hole for this video - though maybe a topic for her own video someday?
@@rmsgrey I hear you, defintely down the rabbit hole, but who knows, maybe someday, indeed?🙂
@@rmsgrey Yeah, they're both worth a video of their own.
I remember reading Metamorpho as a backup story and I loved the idea of everything. Him thinking his powers are a curse. Stagg, his benefactor, wanting to get rid of him but needing him for his powers. Sapphire may be ditzy but I loved how she stood behind her man. It was just so different from the other DC heroes at the time because everything was so complex.
I first remember reading stories with Metamorpho in the early 70s with him guesting in the Brave and the Bold with Batman or JLA. Jim Aparo always did a great job drawing him. They would frequently reprint his stories as back-ups in giant size issues which is how I got his backstory. Great character that DC didn’t know what to do with until the Outsiders.
A Caveman named Java... Like Java from Martin Mystery?
Glad I'm not alone in my thinking, lol.
First time I've seen him was in Batman: The Brave & The Bold cartoon, in the old Wildcat eps helping misguided super powered teens and he turned into oxygen to re start his old heart
The first time I saw Metamorpho was in that one episode of Beware the Batman, and by the end I really hoped he survives cause I liked his character so much, it was so tragic in a way, I read it as a story of someone who used to take things for granted now had to face those things while caught between being a man and a monster, so I was really happy to see him return later in the show, and I still smile whenever I see him cameo in other things
Back in the day, "making love" didn't always mean s*x. It often referred to basic romantic behavior like hugging and kissing.
I loved Metamorpho in Justice League Europe, and I REALLY loved him as a member of The Terrifics!
For years, I didn't know there was a _male_ version of this guy - my only experience was Element Girl in the Sandman story "Façade" (from the collection "Dream Country") which got... _dark._ It was much later that I found out that Element _Man_ (aka Metamorpho) was a thing, and it was a little weird discovering a male version of that distinctive look after re-reading "Façade" many times by that point.
The expression "making love" used to have a more innocent meaning. As in It's A Wonderful LIfe when Donna Reed told her mother that Jimmy Stewart was "making violent love" to her. That was the late 40s depicting the late 20s or early 30s. Don't know how or why but sometime in the 70s that term came to mean something a bit more than heavy petting.
If Metamorpho got the same treatment as Peacemaker and Vigilante it could work pretty well but I doubt he would catch on beyond the hardcore DC fans. The budget to make him work properly on screen would also get complicated and expensive really fast. James Gunn obviously wants to do something which is why he is getting shoehorned into the Superman movie but I really don't have any faith in a Gunnverse.
Metamorpho remains my all time favourite superhero. Love his freakish design. First introduced to Rex in JLE and quickly hunted down his silver age stories and further adventures in Batman and the Outsiders. So pumped for his live action version. Although as you say not his first venture into live action. A live action pilot was filmed during his silver age run but was never aired. Remember reading about it in one of the newsletters at the back of the early comic books. Hoping he will get more solo adventures in the near future. Great overview of the history of this very underrated character. Thank you for putting a spotlight on him.
For me Metamorpho got 2 great reintroductions that got my interest. First as the amnesiac in Batman's Outsiders, then as the family man in League of Justice Europe.
Great vid! I like the new filming setup. I might suggest lighting the area behind you a different color. The idea being to create more visual contrast with you and separate you from the background. Just a lighting nerd thinking out loud.
Your excellent work is appreciated!
This sounds like the perfect excuse for those fairy lights I've been eyeing forever lol
My first read of Metamorpho was in Batman and the outsiders #7. I found it in the quarter bin and was amazed about each member of the team. After that came the early 2000s Outsiders before the return of the Teen Titans.
Crossing fingers for a good Metamorpho and maybe a possible Terrifics movie as well.
7:04 Can we pause a moment to reflect on the fact that Rex's transformation hasn't altered his voice in the slightest? I get a mild head cold and people can't recognize me on the phone any more, while Rex probably doesn't even have lungs or vocal chords in that morphic hodgepodge of chemicals he's become.
To be honest I hadn't really heard of him before the movie casting despite being very familiar with DC lore, largely thanks to you and of course I am a DC fan. But I have a theory similar to yours about that tropes(greek word by the way). It's the soap opera/greek tragedy tropes that have a universal appeal and are popular with all the genres. Science fiction, horror, superhero and of course comedy and drama throw in something about a love triangle,a love that has to overcome obstacles, evil family members and most of the time you have a success 😉
Never been a big fan, but do love every time he shows up in adaptation 🤔 is it just me , or does Simon Stagg’s “ I’ll do whatever it takes to find a cure for you Rex” sound a lot like Reed Richards “ I’ll do all I can to cure you Ben” 🤨 Another Outstanding video Sasha 🖖🏾
Ramona Fradon deserves so much respect.
I love the new backdrop btw Sasha, it looks so well put together!!
I didn’t read very many Metamorpho stories as a boy in the 1960’s. I was hooked on the character simply from the ads for his series in DC Comics back then. And I’ve been hooked on the character ever since.
I always like Metamorpho. Great character and looks. Your new set is shaping up.
I always loved characters like Metal Men Eclipso, the Composite Superman and Metamorpho! They were always just pure fun!
I don't really know Metamorpho very well, although I knew of him. Weirdly, I probably know more about him via that issue of The Sandman starring Element Girl.
My first introduction to Metamorpho was his theme song and story in songs and stories of the Justice League of America and I've thought he was so neat since
Metamorpho is to me, DCs Thing,, all kinds of good, potential and understanding to their plight. Two of my all time favorite characters in comics.
It's also worth noting that Metamorpho was considered for Justice League membership early on, refusing membership over ten years before Black Lightning did the same (issue 42, 1960: "Metamorpho Says NO!").
Thanks, this was a cool video. I didn't know Metamorpho well having only seen him in the cartoons and sewing the homage Gaiman paid him in Sandman. This adds so much to the Gaiman story and really intrigues me. I'll have to check these out.
My introduction to Metamorpho was through Worlds Finest and I loved it!! In particular I am so interested in the Metal Men and want to read more about them
Thinking about it, Metamorpho is one of those characters that I like to see just showing up in things. I do agree that trying to do live action with him is a brave choice that may backfire (James Gunn is good at taking things that I wouldn't expect to work in live action and proving me wrong, but he also has to deal with the executives who may want to weigh in, and VFX that may not be ready yet).
'Making love to' used to mean wooing or courting. It didn't equate to doing the dirty until relatively recently. If I recall, Sherlock Holmes used the phrase in Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.
The "just dating" usage is all over the place in Victorian Era fiction, and quite probably earlier. Didn't even imply kissing until into the 1920s or 30s, and it wasn't hardcore sex until the 70s or 80s.
Metamorpho has always been a "yeah, I'll read him if he's the comics I read" character. I do like the new set.
15:09 - 15:11 I heard Metamorpho's name and saw his image before I watched this video. I didn't know his powers though. I like his concept. I'm glad you took the time to make this video, O Sasha, so I could learn about him. I was entertained by thin video as I always am by your videos.
I liked him when he turned down membership to the Justice League of America and years later joined the JLI.
I enjoyed his 90s run in Outsiders, but have consistently questioned the color-blocked design. Oh - and your set is wonderfully lit! I'm enjoying looking over the shelves... Cheers!
I first discovered Metamorpho in Chuck Dixon's short lived run on Batman and the Outsiders, and really enjoyed him. Dixon really brought out the classic traits/history/personality of the character as you lay out here - his adventuring personality, powers, and love of Saphire. Great stuff!
I've always enjoyed this character. I think he has the potential to look really cool in live action. Especially if they did something like young justice did after he got an explosive thrown at him he got all spikey and contorted it was great. Or if they go the beware the batman route and make parts of him translucent. I always liked that too.
This reminded me of a wonderful but sad issue of Sandman involving Element Girl
I've seen Metamorpho's animated adaption for the past 20 years and he is always a cool charter in them both visually and what story they give him. New set looks great but the lipstick is making me think of the Miraculous villain Zombizou.
Always felt that Metamorpho was a solid character that never lived up to his potential, mostly because the writers saw him as kind of a rocky tough guy. Very one-note in his powers. His ability to turn into literally any element on the periodic chart -- more than 100 elements in all -- gave him access to a wealth of untapped powers. DC needed someone with a chemistry degree, who understood the properties of all of these chemicals and their capabilities -- to fully display what he was capable of.
Metamorpho has such a cool powerset, and when he gets adapted into things, he's actually one the best parts. In Justice League, they just adapt most of his main comic story. Brave and the Bold, funny enough, isn't that character accurate, but he's good guy, who's just young in this version. Beware The Batman's version is like "What if we played the story a bit realistically". Young Justice I feel as the best design, and with a version who's the happiest you could possibly see of him.
The movie's casting is a bit odd, since Rex is a tough guy, but the actor is always great anyway.
I wanna mention that Simon Stagg is somehow such a stand out too, that he can appear by himself, and be a thing. Like In that episode of The Flash, Wonder Woman 1984 (Yeah, he was in that), and Arkham Knight, where's one of the main antagonist, with no mention of Rex or his daughter.
I'll say this for Stagg, his haircut is just plain iconic. Can't mistake him for anyone else.
For some reason he always reminds of Flintheart Glomgold from Ducktales.
Metamorpho worked well on The Terrifics since that series was a pastiche of the early Fantastic Four stories which played in the same adventure/sci-fi genre as the early Metamorpho stories.
Hell yeah!! Metamorpho video!! Thank you Sasha!!
Metamorph vs Clayface vs Sandman vs Venom.....let the chaos begin 💪👍💪
Very cool video. I boarded the Young Justice clips you edited in. Keep up the good work
Indeed, 'Parody' is so broad of a term that it warrants to be not a simple tag, but an entire tag category.
I cant believe the timing..I reread the Terrifics run over the weekend and grabbed a random box today and it had Outsiders comics that I grabbed to read. Spooky.
Man Sasha I really do love how you do your makeup here. You really can pull of any lipstick color!
I've enjoyed Rex's adventures since he first appeared (I was 4; I remember forcing an adult to read it to me...a common occurrence, growing up). Later, I recall discussing exactly those narrative/artistic elements(pun intended) with my son...
Thanks for the (for me) heads up about Metamorpho, Sasha.
As one who cut his teeth on reprints of the old Doc Savage pulp novels of the 50's, Metamorpho's early adventure run intrigues me.
As to the term "making love" making it past the Comics Code, let's just say that that particular phrase has changed meaning drastically over the centuries.
To quote Jane Austen from Pride and Prejudice: "He is as fine a fellow," said Mr. Bennet, as soon as they were out of the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to us all. I am prodigiously proud of him."
Black lipstick looks kinda badass.
Metamorphosis video is a good idea, he is such a creative character and very underused.
Casually Comics: "Why does Metamorpo work?"
Me: "Well, Look 👀 at Him!"😅
Metamorpho is easily one of my favorite lesser known heroes. He's a lot of fun, im both campy and serious ways. I kinda like him where he's at, though. I fear too much popularity will ruin him.
Irony the hero who can change doesn’t with the backstory.
I remember him from JLE. It was a fairly comedic comic, but he was one of the more grounded characters that kept it from getting too goofy.
I loved Metamorpho so much that I created my own superhero that was a transforming dog. In addition to being able to turn into any element he wanted, he could shape change, which also just happened to give him intelligence. He could have turned himself into a human at any time, but always felt that would not be true to what he was. So kind of an inverse of the "I'm an ugly monster" trope.
ok
I can't remember why exactly, but I was a big fan of Metamorpho in the '60s - '80s.
I can't say I've been excited by his animated portrayals.
As always, thank you so very much for the videos.
Metamorpho's relationship with Simon Stagg is what makes the character - Metamorpho has a relatable employment situation. Stagg is an amoral plutocrat who keeps sending Rex off to do evil in the world which Rex has to mitigate to make a living. He's never given enough money to make it on his own and Stagg has another favorite employee who is a fawning psychopath. Rex is also indentured to Stagg for healthcare needs
I love that Rex has now become the DC Version of Ben Grimm in the Terrifics
It’s a fantastic background,Sasha.
Metamorpho has always been a favorite of mine. I loved him in the TERRIFICS. Please do a TERRIFICS episode.
Great video! Thank you! I've never heard of this character.
Feels like DC seeing the popularity of Ben Grimm's pathos, and taking a swing at getting the same. Ben and Rex even look similar before metamorphosis
Ya gotta love Rex
I just did these tragic oddball characters
Last time I remember him getting proper respect was Morrison’s first issue of Justice League
BRAVE and the BOLD #123 is a must read for Metamorpho fans. Metamorpho vs Plastic Man is a hoot! And, with the exception of the fabulous Ramona Fradon, no one drew Rex better than Jim Aparo.
Love the new transitions.
Also, White Sand! Please please please review White Sand.
I loved his most recent adventures in The Terrifics. Great title.
First off: I like the new set.
I'd love to see you do a retrospective look at the inspiration feedback loop between comics and shows with Batman, Namely the Adam West one, as there's plenty of our generation that grew up with BTAS that have covered it in depth, but not many talk as much about the classic series.
I feel like his story would make a compelling show. In the right hands,like play up the whole dynamic of staggs pulling the strings behind. The scenes and him coming to grips with being forever changed after his accident. Have the caveman plotting behind his back,and maybe go on a journey of his own of self acceptance.
One of my favorite DC characters (along with Booster Gold). Metamorpho is one of those characters that can be used to good effect today, with the right handling. Side note: the only way Rex Mason could POSSIBLY be cured is by contact with the very same meteor that GAVE him his powers!!
A favorite character of mine ever since Brave and the Bold tv-series. He stands out, has fun powers and, atleast in that series, a fun personality.
I love when this guy shows up. Maybe is me. But I find his powers to be super great
Never forget that Kevin from Ben 10 was a reference to Metamorpho, especially his mutant form from alien force