John Corben (DCAU)

Metallo
DC Animated Universe‎
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Real Name	John Corben
Main Alias	Metallo
Other Aliases	Superior Man · Steel Man
Affiliation	Kaznian terror group · Lex Luthor · Legion of Doom · Formerly Superman Revenge Squad
Base Of Operations	Metropolis · Hall of Doom
Status
Alignment	Bad
Identity	Public Identity
Marital Status	Single
Occupation	Mercenary
Characteristics
Gender	Male
Eyes	Black · Green · Photocellular
Hair	Blond
Origin
Universe	DCAU
Creators	Robert Bernstein · Al Plastino
First Appearance	Superman & Batman Magazine #1 (June, 1993)
Appearance of Death	"Chaos at the Earth's Core" (September 24, 2005)

John Corben was turned into Metallo by Lex Luthor. Though he was an enemy of Superman, he was no friend of Luthor.

History

John Corben was a mercenary working for Lex Luthor, during a smuggling campaign to Kaznia. Having been hired to steal the Lexo-Suit armor to deliver to the regent. Superman stopped him. In prison, Corben was diagnosed with a virus that would kill him. Luthor proposed to a plan to rescue him, but left out the details but in essense offered a new lease on life by transfering his consciousness into a new body. And so, Corben woke with his mind in an android body composed of a new alloy of incredible durability and powered by a chunk of Kryptonite.

However, Corben soon learned that his new body no longer had any of the physical sensations including sense of taste, smell or touch. This sensory deprivation eventually drove him insane, causing Corben to rip his artificial flesh apart and dub himself "Metallo". Driven by revenge, Corben struck out at Lex, who defended himself by claiming that the technology to restore his lost senses was still in development, and would only be provided if Corben upheld his end of the deal to destroy Superman. Compliant once more, Corben fought again against Superman but the Man of Steel revealed the origin of the Corben's illness: it was a virus made by Luthor for the sole purpose of making a puppet out of Corben. Now completely insane, Corben lashed out at both Lex and Superman, but fell into the ocean and with no buyouncy, sunk to the depths, supposidely drowning him. As Corben had no need for oxygen, however, he merely walked the ocean floor, slowly making his way towards land once more.

Years later Corben struck out on his own, battling with an identity crisis and amnesia. His memories eventually resurfaced, causing him to become a recurring enemy of Superman. He eventually found his way to Grodd's Legion of Doom. During a mission to Skartaris, he was captured by John Stewart and S.T.R.I.P.E.. Before he could be questioned, something shut down his mind, and he was rendered in an inactive state.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Android Body: After being infected with a virus, Corben's mind was placed in an android body, coated in an artificial skin modeled after his original body. His eyes glowed green because of his kryptonite power source.
  • Superhuman Strength
  • Superhuman Durability
  • Superhuman Stamina
  • Radiation Production
  • Self-Sustenance: Due to his android body, Metallo can survive environments that would be lethal to a normal human. He can walk along the ocean floor, or be encased in lava, with no ill effects; he no longer requires food, water or oxygen.

Abilities

• Firearms
• Thievery

Weaknesses

• Kryptonite Removal: Metallo is powered by the lump of kryptonite in his chest. Removing the kryptonite will cause him to power down.
• Restricted Senses: After his transformation Metallo lost his sense of touch, smell, and taste, leading to a near-complete form of sensory deprivision that drove him insane.
• Amnesia

Other Characteristics

• Morozco's Retrovirus: In order to sway Corben to his side, Luthor infected him with a violent strain of Morozco's Retrovirus, for which no cure existed. The only alternative was to become a cyborg.
  

Paraphernalia

Weapons

• Kryptonite Cannon: Metallo could channel the radiation of the lump of kryptonite in his chest into a beam.

Notes

• This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the DC Animated Universe and is an adaptation of John Corben/Metallo. The original character was created by Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino and first appeared in Action Comics #252.
• Metallo was voiced by Malcolm McDowell for all appearances in the animated series Superman and the Justice League Unlimited episode "Chaos at the Earth's Core". Corey Burton voiced the character for the Justice League episode "Hereafter, Part I".
  

Recommended Reading

• Superman: "The Way of All Flesh"

Related

• 26 Appearances of John Corben (DCAU)
• 5 Images featuring John Corben (DCAU)
• 2 Quotations by or about John Corben (DCAU)
• Character Gallery: John Corben (DCAU)

External Links

• Metallo at the DC Animated Universe Wiki

Footnotes

Legion of Doom member This character is or was a member of the Legion of Doom, a team of supervillains called together for the purpose of conquering the world and defeating the Super Friends, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Legion of Doom members" category.

Secret Society of Super-Villains member This character is or was a member of the Secret Society of Super-Villains, a cadre of super-villains who band together to accomplish feats no one super-villain can do alone, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Secret Society of Super-Villains members" category.

Justice League Villain This character is or was primarily an enemy of the Justice League, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Justice League Villains."

Steel Villain(s) This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of Steel. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Steel Villains category."

Superman Villain(s) This character has been primarily an enemy of Superman in any of his various incarnations, or members of the Superman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Superman Villains category."