DC Database
Register
Advertisement

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

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

  • 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.

Abilities

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.[3]
  • 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.


Weapons

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


Related

External Links

Footnotes


Hall of Doom
DC Rebirth Logo

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.

Villains United Vol 1 1 Textless
DC Rebirth Logo

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.

Injustice League Unlimited 002
Justice League Villain
DC Rebirth Logo

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 007
Steel Villain(s)
DC Rebirth Logo

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."

Villains-secret-files
Superman Villain(s)
DC Rebirth Logo

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."

Advertisement