Metamorpho ( Rex Mason ) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . He was created in 1965 by writer Bob Haney and artist Ramona Fradon .
90-515: Metamorpho is a founding member of the Outsiders , and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League . The character has been moderately popular since his introduction in 1965. Originally adventurer Rex Mason, he is converted into a man made of a shifting mass of chemicals after being cursed by an ancient artifact that he has retrieved. Anthony Carrigan is set to portray the character in
180-566: A Wednesday Comics , Neil Gaiman wrote a 12-page Metamorpho story that Mike Allred illustrated. In 2016 he starred in a new comic book series titled DC's Legends of Tomorrow . Rex Mason is an adventurer who is hired by Stagg Enterprises CEO, Simon Stagg , to retrieve a rare Egyptian artifact, the Orb of Ra. Shortly after hiring him, Simon Stagg learns that Mason has been dating his daughter Sapphire Stagg . This and other incidents begin to fuel in Stagg
270-641: A superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . As their name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who do not fit the norms of the "mainstream" superhero community, i.e. the Justice League . The Outsiders have had a number of different incarnations. They were founded by Batman , whose ties to the Justice League were strained at the time, and introduced the now-classic line-up of Batman, Black Lightning , Metamorpho , Geo-Force , Katana , Halo and Looker . A later incarnation of
360-458: A "yellow" component of the meteorite radiation, is unable to make him normal again. Metamorpho briefly has a crimefighting partner named Urania "Rainie" Blackwell, a woman who deliberately exposed herself to the Orb to gain its powers. She calls herself Element Girl (nicknamed "the Chemical Doll") and works with him on a number of cases. Issues #16–17 were intended to show a new direction for
450-664: A charter member of the Outsiders in 1983, and member of the European branch of the Justice League International , Metamorpho received his own four-issue mini-series in 1993. In 2005, DC Comics reprinted Metamorpho's early The Brave and the Bold appearances and the entirety of the 1965 series as one of the company's volumes of Showcase Presents . In 2007, Dan Jurgens launched the six-issue series Metamorpho: Year One . As part of
540-510: A deserted island, too far away from land to rescue themselves. In Millennium , Helga Jace betrays the Outsiders and kills Metamorpho. He is later resurrected in Invasion! when the Dominators ' gene bomb detonates. Metamorpho spends some time with the Justice League, including Justice League Europe . During this period, he encounters Sapphire Stagg again. He becomes involved in a battle with
630-476: A dislike for Mason that ultimately leads to a plot to kill him. In an Egyptian pyramid, Mason is knocked unconscious by Simon's brutish bodyguard Java and is eventually exposed to a radioactive meteorite from which the Orb of Ra was fashioned, transforming him into Metamorpho, the Element Man. After transforming Metamorpho, the Orb proves harmful to him, and Stagg uses it to threaten him into compliance. Later, it
720-502: A giant door opening in his room. He walks through it, where he sees a pod with a chair inside. He takes a seat, as a hologram of Batman activates. Batman explains that, because he has not entered a special code into the Bat-Computer (or any of its subsidiaries) for a certain length of time, this recording is playing (meaning he is probably dead). He tells Alfred of a very important mission the latter must undertake on his behalf (since Batman
810-513: A group of patriotic metahumans who also regularly came into contact with the Suicide Squad . During this time, Geo-Force's half-sister Terra died as a traitor against the Teen Titans . Batman revealed his real identity as Bruce Wayne to the team (although they already knew it). Eventually, Halo's origins were revealed. Emily Briggs (who later became the superheroine Looker and joined the team)
900-527: A new appearance. In JLA #1, Metamorpho sacrifices himself to rescue Nuklon , Obsidian , and Icemaiden from the destruction of the Watchtower. He is temporarily resurrected by the Cathexis and permanently resurrected by Sapphire Stagg using the Orb of Ra. Shortly thereafter, an accident with one of Simon Stagg's experiments turns Simon, Sapphire, and Joey into an energy being, and causes Metamorpho to take on
990-482: A new incarnation, outside of Batman's "purview", beginning in 2023. A version of the team appears in the live action series Black Lightning , fully formed starting in the third season and led by Black Lightning. The Outsiders first appeared in a special insert in the final issue (#200) of The Brave and the Bold in 1983. The team was given its own comic, Batman and the Outsiders , which debuted in August 1983. It
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#17328760486911080-754: A new version of the 'Outsiders' was introduced. This is explained as being an ancient secret society dedicated to the elimination of corruption, but which itself has grown corrupt. Its membership is formed from the leaders of various clans centred around totemic weapons: the Mask, the Fist, the Arrow, the Axe, the Spear, the Shield, the Sword. A literal Green Arrow was the totemic weapon of the 'Arrow Clan', but this
1170-723: A prelude to DC's Dark Nights: Metal crossover, in an expository scene which explains that Batman formed the Outsiders (Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Geo-Force, Katana, and Halo) to investigate a mystery concerning the DC Universe which connects the strangeness of the Multiverse to the amazing properties of metals—like Nth metal, the Court of Owls ' resurrection metal, Aquaman 's trident, and Doctor Fate 's helmet— to metahumans and to mystical lands like Nanda Parbat , Skartaris , Atlantis , and Themiscyra , and much more. He assembled
1260-714: A reactive capacity like most other superhero teams, this group should act as hunters, tracking down supervillains before they can cause problems. Former Outsiders the Technocrat and Looker are near the Breach when he explodes in the Battle of Metropolis . The fate of the Technocrat remains unclear, while Looker soon appears in an issue of the World War III limited series. Roy Harper is saved by Superman from Doomsday , and Captain Marvel Jr.
1350-463: A result of their enemy's attempt to brainwash him. In the sequel JLA: Another Nail , the Outsiders are shown trying to find traces of his essence in the hope that he can be brought back to life, but they are interrupted by the current threat before they can determine if this is actually possible. Rex Mason/Metamorpho appears in the 12-issue mini-series Justice , as a member of the Justice League . Outsiders (comics) The Outsiders are
1440-604: A team, later fighting such villains as Agent Orange, the Fearsome Five and the Cryonic Man. Recurring foes include the Masters of Disaster (New Wave, Shakedown, Windfall, Heatstroke, and Coldsnap), who at one point were almost able to kill Black Lightning. Windfall eventually became disenchanted with her team and joined the Outsiders. Another recurring opponent was the Force of July ,
1530-469: Is a member of the eponymous team, consisting of himself, Mister Terrific , and Plastic Man . They travel into the Dark Multiverse and discover Phantom Girl , who is trapped in her intangible form. Metamorpho is temporarily returned to his human form, but chooses to be transformed again and becomes Stagg Industries' chief security officer. In 2024, Metamorpho will star in a new ongoing series as part of
1620-517: Is able to alter the consistences of these chemical elements and combines them into complex compounds. Metamorpho could reshape parts or the whole of his body. Rex's body provides him with natural armor, offering damage resistance from blunt and energy attacks. He is also a skilled martial artist, archaeologist, and detective. Besides dealing with Simon Stagg and Java, Metamorpho had his own rogues gallery in his comics: In Darwyn Cooke 's 12-issue series, DC: The New Frontier , Metamorpho appears with
1710-485: Is called to return to Abyssia (the origin of her powers), where she must also face the Manhunters. During the adventure, she is drained of much of her power and returns to her normal form. Halo is hit in the crossfire when saving Katana's life, and slips into a coma as Katana vows to look after her. The team is disbanded by Geo-Force as Looker returns to her husband, and Batman rejoins the Justice League. This revival of
1800-423: Is framed. Instead of coming to his defense against the false accusations, Metamorpho's colleague Mr. Shadow comes forth as an enemy. It is revealed that Mr. Shadow was attempting to enslave Metamorpho all along. Metamorpho is tried and convicted by a jury of rabble and is then executed by absolute zero, the first of what will become a series of multiple if temporary deaths. Element Girl revives Metamorpho, and Algon,
1890-569: Is killed shortly afterward and Looker is arrested as a suspect. The Outsiders, fortunately, clear her name. The Outsiders are reunited with Batman when they band together to fight Eclipso . After the adventure, Batman gives them access to a batcave in Los Angeles. The team is also infiltrated by a clone of Windfall. Meanwhile, Looker and Geo-Force feel guilty about their affair and eventually end it. Metamorpho faces his own personal problems with his wife Sapphire Stagg-Mason . The clone of Windfall
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#17328760486911980-525: Is led by the Red Robin . This incarnation of the team proved short-lived, as all of its members (except the Red Robin) were caught in an explosion caused by Lord Death Man in the 2011 Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes one-shot issue. The survivors were revealed in issue #1 of (vol. two) (2012). Metamorpho had kept everyone alive via his powers. Beginning with Jeff Lemire 's run of Green Arrow (vol. 5),
2070-588: Is revealed that Mason and simliar beings were created by Ra to help him battle Apep . Metamorpho, unlike most super-humanoids described in DC Comics, cannot assume a normal, fully human appearance, being no longer composed of flesh, blood and bone. As such, he considers himself a freak and wishes only to be restored to his former human state, rejecting an offer of membership from the Justice League in Justice League of America #42 because of this. Green Lantern attempts to change him back using his power ring, but due to
2160-485: Is shot down and the team is marooned on a deserted island for three weeks. Tensions rise as Geo-Force tries to resign his leadership and he and Looker succumb to temptation. Eventually, the team is rescued. More trouble arises when a detective is hired to look into Looker (now working as a model known as Lia Briggs) and her private life, and learns of her actual identity as Emily. The detective tries to blackmail her, but she hypnotizes him and forces him to leave. However, he
2250-553: Is still walking around) is dead. Eventually it is discovered that Looker is not dead, but undead. The Outsiders find her, and free her from the vampire's control. After the defeat of the vampires, two teams (one composed of Geo-Force, Katana, and the Technocrat; the other composed of the Eradicator , Looker, Wylde, Halo and Sebastian Faust) claim the name of the Outsiders; both teams are considered fugitives for some time, thanks to questionable tactics by their new members. During this time,
2340-568: Is ultimately killed; the Masters of Disaster are defeated, as the real Windfall joins the Outsiders. The team also meets the other Los Angeles-based team Infinity, Inc. The team is next involved with the crossover event Millennium , wherein it is revealed that Dr. Jace is an operative of the villainous Manhunters and kidnaps the team. The team (now joined by the Atomic Knight ) free themselves, but Dr. Jace blows up herself and Metamorpho. Looker
2430-424: Is unable to do so), but gives him a choice to accept or decline. Alfred promptly accepts; Batman explains what Alfred has meant to him throughout his life, saying to him what he did not have a chance to say at his death: "Goodbye, Dad." With this, Batman charges Alfred to assemble a new team of Outsiders. Alfred travels around the planet, recruiting Roy Raymond Jr. , Black Lightning, Geo-Force (leader), Halo, Katana,
2520-522: The Batman R.I.P. storyline, Alfred Pennyworth acts on Batman's instructions to reassemble the team once more, recruiting new members and more of the team's original lineup. Another version of the team with a familiar line-up briefly featured in Batman Incorporated in 2011 as the black ops section of Batman's organization. Following DC's 2011 reboot , a new version of the Outsiders is introduced in
2610-609: The Creeper and Metamorpho. As a member of the team, each must become a true "outsider," living away from their families and the public eye for months at a time. Each member fills a role once filled by Batman, making this team a composite. This story arc ended with issue #25, and the series ended after 40 issues. Dan DiDio and Phillip Tan began a new run of Outsiders in January 2010, in which Geo-Force appears to be acting more irrationally since his battle with Deathstroke . Without consulting
2700-491: The DC All In initiative, titled Metamorpho: The Element Man , by creators Al Ewing and Steve Lieber. Metamorpho has the ability to transmute his body into a wide variety of elemental compounds and form them at will. Originally, he was limited to elements that were naturally found in the human body. Somehow, this limitation seems to have disappeared. He can stretch, bounce, elongate, and reform himself like rubber or plastic. Rex
2790-434: The DC Universe (DCU), beginning with the upcoming film Superman (2025). Fradon spoke on the characters genesis stating, "Metamorpho was George Kashdan 's idea. He had studied science when he was in school and he thought of a character made of four elements who could change himself into different chemical compounds . He gave Bob Haney the idea, and Bob fleshed it out brilliantly. I believe George continued to supply
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2880-525: The Final Crisis: Submit story contradicts this; the events of that Final Crisis storyline occur after the events in Batman R.I.P. , suggesting a continuity error. When Black Lightning rejoins the team after the events of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis , he is shown visiting Thunder (who is still hospitalized in a coma). As a result of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis (where Batman apparently died),
2970-536: The Great Ten ). The timely intervention of Batgirl and ReMAC saves the team from execution. Metamorpho steals a shuttle back to Earth, escapes from the European Space Agency and rejoins the team. During the Batman R.I.P. events, an assembly of the Outsiders (including Thunder) receives a message from the missing Batman. It asks them to feed a secret code into the cybernetic mind of ReMAC, allowing it to track
3060-458: The Man-Bat ) serves as the team's technical advisor, and her assistant Salah Miandad operates the "blank" OMAC drone known as ReMAC . In issue #9, Batman calls on former team member Looker to assist in an interrogation. The first main storyline of the title involves Batman sending the team to investigate the mysterious Mr. Jardine, who is organizing a convoluted plot to populate a subterranean lake on
3150-481: The Metal Men , who have been tricked by Simon Stagg. His League friends, Rocket Red and Animal Man , are at the site of the battle, but are being detained by Java. After the battle, Metamorpho learns he had a son with Sapphire, but the baby boy's touch harms all but Sapphire and Metamorpho. When Java holds the baby, his arms melt. Metamorpho hands the baby over to Simon, who immediately fears he will be affected like Java
3240-473: The Outsiders . While in the despotically ruled nation Mozombia, Metamorpho is subdued and disassembled. The tyrant's forces keep him inert with a constant application of radiation. He is freed by Katana 's indestructible sword, which had been latched onto a live electrical wire. While leaving Mozombia, the Outsiders' plane is shot down by the Bad Samaritan . Metamorpho and the others spend some time stranded on
3330-557: The "Sea King's Funeral". Metamorpho also appears in a series of backup stories in Action Comics #413–418 and World's Finest Comics #218–220 and #229. In 1975, Metamorpho appeared in 1st Issue Special #3, a brief anthology series consisting of one-shots. That issue was written by Bob Haney and illustrated by Ramona Fradon, Metamorpho's creators. Haney and Fradon had met at the 1974 San Diego Comic-Con , and while reminiscing, it emerged that both of them regarded Metamorpho as one of
3420-460: The "scientific" details for Bob to use throughout the life of the feature. Bob, George and I got together to figure out what the character should look like. He wasn't your average super hero so capes and masks didn't suit him. I tried a lot of those and finally decided that since he was always changing his shape, clothes would get in his way. So I drew him in tights, with a body made up of four different colors and textures that were supposed to indicate
3510-604: The Atomic Knight to go after them, hoping to bring in his former allies without too much trouble. He is eventually convinced of their innocence and joins them. The new members who join the team in Markovia are the magician Sebastian Faust , the warsuit-wearing engineer and industrialist the Technocrat and Wylde (Charlie Wylde), a friend of the Technocrat who has been turned into a mountain bear by Faust's uncontrollable magic. During
3600-537: The Caped Crusader and the Black Glove organization and help him in his fight. As they comply (against Batgirl's advice), the code reveals itself as a cybernetic booby-trap coming from Simon Hurt (the mastermind behind Batman's downfall) and ReMAC explodes. Several Outsiders are wounded, and Thunder suffers brain injuries severe enough to knock her into a seemingly-irreversible coma. However, her in-costume appearance in
3690-658: The Changing Man . In the Batman: Earth One series of graphic novels, the Outsiders appear in Volume 3 as an alliance of Gotham crimefighters brought together by Batman. The team consists of Batman, Robin , Batgirl , the Cat , Killer Croc , and Ragman , with Alfred Pennyworth and Lucas Fox supporting them in a subway version of the Batcave. Wednesday Comics Wednesday Comics
Metamorpho - Misplaced Pages Continue
3780-540: The Halo entity is restored to Violet Harper's body, returning her to normal off-panel and a new team of Outsiders is formed and seen as active during the Day of Judgement crossover event. Members of this new team include Geo-Force, Halo, Katana, and Terra II, who in the 1999 Titans Secret Files series, left the team after a round of genetic tests performed by scientists failed to decipher Terra II's genetically altered DNA to tell who she
3870-586: The Moon with alien lifeforms. While trying to stop Jardine's unauthorized space-shot in South America, Metamorpho is blasted into space and is forced to escape from the International Space Station (where seemingly-brainwashed astronauts from around the world are building a giant weapon). Seeking a shuttle to hijack, the rest of the team infiltrates a Chinese space facility (only to be captured by members of
3960-457: The Outside (July 2018) had Batman and Black Lightning come together to defeat a villain known as Karma. In the aftermath of the battle, Batman told Black Lightning that he wanted him to lead a new team of Outsiders consisting of himself, Cassandra Cain , Duke Thomas , and Katana , who had fought as their allies in the fight against Karma. An ongoing comic book featuring this team, titled Batman and
4050-566: The Outsiders (vol. 2), with the Dark Knight taking control of the team in the aftermath of the "CheckOut" crossover with Checkmate. In the weeks leading up to the new series' debut, Batman holds tryouts to determine who will be on the team in a series of one-shots called Five of a Kind . Each issue featured a different creative team (including Outsiders creator Mike W. Barr) and an epilogue written by Tony Bedard . Batman angers several members, who feel he has no right to remove people already on
4140-616: The Outsiders (vol. 3), was set to release in December 2018. The series was abruptly cancelled before finally releasing in May the following year. Later, Black Lightning assembles a new "modular" iteration of the team with himself, Duke, Katana, and Metamorpho, plus a "rotating fifth chair" for other superheroes like Robin, Green Arrow, or Mister Miracle . In the set-up to the new series in Batman: Urban Legends , Batman formally asks to join
4230-643: The Outsiders before that title was cancelled. The team moves into a new headquarters in Los Angeles and once again becomes involved in an adventure with the Force of July (ending in Moscow ). Villains such as the Duke of Oil and the Soviet super-team the People's Heroes are introduced during this time. The team's adventures take them all over the globe, most notably when the Outsiders' plane
4320-421: The Outsiders from the early 2000s comics was led by Nightwing and Arsenal following the dissolution of the Teen Titans superhero group, and depicted the team as a group hunting for super-criminals. For the team's third incarnation, Batman reforms them as a special strike team featuring classic members Katana and Metamorpho alongside new recruits such as Catwoman and Black Lightning's daughter Thunder . After
4410-459: The Outsiders have been operating covertly outside of the United States . Most of the members were presumed dead until a botched mission forced them to reveal their presence. Following the revelation of their existence, they are recruited by Checkmate to pursue missions which Checkmate cannot support publicly. Checkmate's assignment as part of the "CheckOut" crossover story arc involves dispatching
4500-481: The Outsiders to Oolong Island in China , the scene of World War III the previous year . The mission goes disastrously wrong when Chang Tzu captures Owen Mercer and Checkmate's Black Queen , until both sides are bailed out by Batman. In the aftermath, Nightwing decides to give Batman control of the team once more. In November 2007, writer Chuck Dixon and artist Julian Lopez relaunched Outsiders (vol. 3) as Batman and
4590-436: The Outsiders was notable for having mostly new characters ( Geo-Force , Katana , Halo and Looker ). The other members were two characters who refused membership in the Justice League ( Black Lightning and Metamorpho ) and former Leaguer Batman. The Outsiders formed in the fictional East European country of Markovia, which was ravaged by war at the time. Batman had attempted to enlist the Justice League of America's aid, but
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#17328760486914680-444: The Outsiders when Batman takes over, and after its further restructuring following Batman's apparent death. He is apparently killed yet again alongside the rest of the team in a satellite explosion orchestrated by Talia al Ghul . In 2011, " The New 52 " rebooted the DC universe. One story reveals that the Outsiders are revealed to have survived. It is stated that Metamorpho was able to save
4770-813: The Sword Clan. An unkillable shapeshifter named Magus heads the Mask Clan. A physically intimidating man known as the Butcher leads the Axe Clan. Golgotha, leader of the Spear Clan, for a time led the Outsiders overall. Onyx leads the Fist Clan. The Shield Clan is led by Kodiak, who in addition to his mastery of the shield, wears a terrifying skull mask. The original Outsiders are reintroduced in Dark Days: The Forge #1 (2017),
4860-417: The baby would kill Simon. Later, Metamorpho has a romantic relationship with Crimson Fox , which is cut short by her apparent murder. His personal investigation of the incident uncovers multiple layers of lies and deceit. During his time with the team, while fighting the planet-smashing aliens called The Family, Metamorpho is hit by a powerful energy blast that destroys his body. He later reforms his body with
4950-621: The characters they would most like to write. Each issue was 16 pages, with each story taking up one full page when folded out. The first Superman story was printed in USA Today and subsequent installments were posted online at the USA Today website. Each issue printed the strips in the following sequence: Wednesday Comics won the 2010 Harvey Award in the category Best Anthology. The series has been collected into an individual volume : The collected edition contains two stories not printed in
5040-564: The end of the regular series, is later revealed to have ended her partnership with Metamorpho when her unrequited attraction to him became too much for her. Blackwell's powers are removed at her own request by Ra, resulting in her death; the episode, in Neil Gaiman 's Sandman , involves Death of the Endless . Death mentions Algon's death in passing, trying to convince Blackwell that she will not live forever. Metamorpho spends some time working with
5130-410: The father of Outsiders member Sebastian Faust. During the confrontation, the bear-like Wylde betrays the team when Felix promises to restore his humanity. The team defeats Felix Faust and Wylde, who eventually becomes an actual bear (without the ability to speak) and is kept in a zoo. The title ends with the clearing of the Outsiders' names and the marriage of Geo-Force and Denise Howard. In the interim,
5220-416: The features they'd most enjoyed working on, leading them to ask DC if they could do one more Metamorpho story together. Fradon later commented: "I think we both felt that Metamorpho was our baby. I never had an experience like I had working with Bob Haney on Metamorpho . It was like our minds were in perfect synch ... it was one of those wonderful collaborations that doesn't happen very often". After becoming
5310-476: The first two issues of Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2). Afterward, Catwoman and the Martian Manhunter left the team and Batgirl , Geo-Force and the Green Arrow joined; Thunder consistently appeared in the series as well. In issue #5, Ralph "the Elongated Man " and Sue Dibny make a guest appearance. They are now "ghost detectives", and seem able to possess people in a method similar to that of Deadman . Dr. Francine Langstrom (wife of Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a.k.a.
5400-429: The form and personality of Java. "Java" kidnaps Black Canary , asking for her help in rescuing the others. With Canary's help, he becomes Metamorpho again and returns the others to their normal forms. At the same time, Metamorpho has seemingly been appearing in the Outsiders (vol. 3) series, but Rex Mason informs the team that their "Metamorpho" is a regrown fragment of his own body . Metamorpho continues to serve on
5490-462: The four elements." Metamorpho's creator, Bob Haney , had seen success with DC Comics in 1964 with the titles Metal Men and Doom Patrol , featuring bands of superheroes exhibiting fantastic powers. Under the editorial management of George Kashdan , Haney was asked to capitalize on these titles' popularity with a similar character. Metamorpho, the Element Man, debuted in The Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965). As first conceived, Metamorpho
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#17328760486915580-445: The initial confrontation with the vampires, Looker is (apparently) killed. Hiding out in Gotham City , the Outsiders experience another loss as the Technocrat's wife Marissa and Halo are killed during a fight with Batman (actually the man standing in for Bruce Wayne, Jean-Paul Valley ). However, Halo's spirit survives in the reanimated body of Marissa. For some time afterward, the Technocrat has trouble accepting that his wife (whose body
5670-447: The original group, and was printed in the Baxter paper format used on such titles as The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) and the Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 3). It lasted for 28 issues, in addition to Annual s and special issues. The series originally ran alongside the title The Adventures of the Outsiders , chronicling events a year after that series. In the end, the first few issues of this series were reprinted in The Adventures of
5760-402: The other members: "Whether you like it or not, you're here to save the world. And you're going to be hated for it". After the team's first official mission in Outsiders #50, Catwoman overheard the other recruits talking about the team being "down by law" and said: "Batman can't possibly start up his own crew of super-crooks without me in it!" The team from Outsiders #50 was featured in
5850-435: The pages of Green Arrow as a secret society represented by seven weapon-themed clans. Members in this incarnation include Katana, Onyx , and several new characters. The original Outsiders are returned to continuity in 2017, following DC Rebirth , once again as a secret team founded by Batman; Batman revives the team with a new line-up in 2018. Black Lightning leads another incarnation in 2022. Batwing and Batwoman lead
5940-437: The period after the end of his own series immersed in a chemical bath concocted by Stagg in an attempt to cure his condition. Stagg retrieves him from this "cure" early because he needs Mason to save Sapphire. Metamorpho stars in a new backup series beginning in Action Comics #413 (June 1972). There is no reference in this revival series to the events or characters of his previous two issues. Urania Blackwell, unreferenced since
6030-419: The real murderer, is killed by molten lava in an attempt to regain his burned-out powers. It is later learned that Mr. Bannister's murder was engineered by the villainous Prosecutor, who is then killed by an insectoid villain. At this point, issue #17 ends, and the story is never continued. Metamorpho reappears years later in The Brave and the Bold #101 (April–May 1972). It is revealed that Metamorpho had spent
6120-433: The rest of the Justice League at the end of the series. In the Elseworlds story JLA: The Nail , an unstable Metamorpho is forced to kill the Thinker by the unknown mastermind behind the recent anti-metahuman propaganda. He later attacks a LexCorp tower in Metropolis , but J'onn J'onzz intercepts the attack, Metamorpho weakly explaining that someone forced him to kill by threatening his family, before he dies as
6210-493: The rest of the team (or Alfred), Geo-Force enters into a non-aggression pact with New Krypton (offering Markovia as a haven for all Kryptonians). The Eradicator is New Krypton's representative. In 2011, " The New 52 " rebooted the DC universe. In he pages of the 2011 Batman Inc. series by Grant Morrison , Batman assembles a new team of Outsiders which acts as a black-ops wing of Batman Incorporated. The team consists of Metamorpho, Katana, Looker, Halo and Freight Train, and
6300-402: The second superhero to decline an invitation to join that organization ( Adam Strange being the first), though he did become a reservist, eventually being called in during a Justice League/Justice Society crossover to help find and rescue the Seven Soldiers of Victory . Metamorpho appears on the cover of Aquaman #30 as one of the pallbearers (along with Batman , Hawkman , and Superman ) at
6390-408: The series was renamed Outsiders (vol. 4) and featured a new team roster. The change occurred when a new creative team took over, with Peter Tomasi writing and Lee Garbett on art duty. Tomasi began with Batman and the Outsiders Special (vol. 2) #1 and the retitled series began with issue #15. One night, after going to visit the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Alfred awakens in Wayne Manor to
6480-417: The series, with Sapphire marrying a man named Wally Bannister and Metamorpho joining a mysterious Mr. Shadow to deal with an immortal queen. Bent on world conquest, the queen (an exact lookalike of Sapphire) marries Metamorpho. She later steps outside her mystic city and instantly ages 2,000 years. When Wally Bannister is murdered by Algon (a metamorph who has lived for centuries in a depowered state), Metamorpho
6570-608: The team as the fifth chair to help Duke track down the location of his mother. The following are enemies of the Outsiders: In the JLA: The Nail miniseries, the Outsiders were formed by Black Canary to help Oliver Queen have his own team to focus on after becoming paralyzed and losing an arm after a disastrous battle with Amazo , but who quickly dismissed them feeling like a "sidekick." The team consists of Black Canary, Black Lightning, Geo-Force, Katana, Metamorpho, and Shade,
6660-465: The team by the same technique he previously used to rescue the Justice League during Hyperclan 's attack. He is also shown as one of the candidates for the new Justice League International , but is ultimately not chosen. In Doomsday Clock , Metamorpho is featured on the news as an apparent example of the "Superman Theory", in which the government is thought to have been experimenting on humans to give them superpowers. In The Terrifics , Metamorpho
6750-467: The team to operate outside the knowledge of the government, the Justice League, or the Batman family . In the Watchmen sequel Doomsday Clock , Geo-Force took advantage of the metahuman arms race in light of the "Superman Theory" and assembled Markovia's version of the Outsiders. The group consists of Baroness Bedlam, Eradicator , Knightfall , Terra , and Wylde. The Detective Comics story arc On
6840-531: The team traveled to Markovia, discovering many Markovian military casualties. They were defeated by the Masters and learn that Bedlam cloned Adolf Hitler ; however, the Hitler clone committed suicide in horror of the atrocities perpetrated by the original. The Outsiders became unofficial agents of Markovia to receive Markovian funding. They moved to Los Angeles ; Geo-Force left his girlfriend Denise behind and Looker separated from her husband. This series again featured
6930-546: The team. Captain Boomerang leaves the team for Amanda Waller 's Suicide Squad, and Nightwing decides to take no part in the Outsiders' questionable activities. Katana is chosen as the team's first official member, joined later by the Martian Manhunter , Metamorpho and Grace . Thunder is kicked off the team; the second Aquaman is rejected because Batman feels he does not match up to his predecessor, Orin . Batman then tells
7020-455: The teams learn that Halo's (original) body has been brought back to life by the terrorist organization Kobra . In control of her body is Violet Harper, the evil woman whose body Halo originally inhabited. She now has abilities similar to Halo's, calls herself Spectra and joins Strike Force Kobra with Dervish and Windfall. Both Kobra and Violet Harper are defeated, and Windfall rejoins the Outsiders. The two teams unite to confront Felix Faust ,
7110-434: The title in 1993 lasted 25 issues and was written by Mike W. Barr, with most issues penciled by Paul Pelletier . Declared a traitor in his native Markovia, Geo-Force is forced to seek the help of old (and new) Outsiders to battle the vampire -lord who controls his country. This is later coupled with the framing of the Outsiders for the slaughter of a Markovian village, forcing them into hiding. This fugitive status motivates
7200-589: The wake of the Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day crossover, which dissolves both groups. Arsenal accepts a sponsorship offer from the Optitron Corporation and uses the money to buy an enormous bomb shelter which had belonged to a multimillionaire, renovating it as group headquarters. He recruits a group of young heroes, the last of whom is his friend Nightwing (who joins reluctantly). Nightwing decides that, instead of functioning in
7290-481: Was a parody of the fantastic characters that populated comic books in the 1960s. Artist Ramona Fradon was coaxed out of maternity retirement to illustrate Metamorpho's first appearances. The popularity of Metamorpho's appearances in The Brave and the Bold led to a 17-issue ongoing series between 1965 and 1968. Metamorpho also appeared during this time in two issues of Justice League of America (#42 and #44) and became
7380-429: Was a weekly anthology comic book launched by DC Comics on July 8, 2009. The twelve issues of the title were published in 14" x 20" broadsheet format, deliberately similar to Sunday newspaper comics sections. Each edition featured 15 pages, each from a different story by a different creative team. Spearheaded by DCU Editorial Art Director Mark Chiarello , creators were approached and asked to develop stories for
7470-438: Was created and originally written by Mike W. Barr and illustrated by Jim Aparo (later illustrated by Alan Davis ). After Batman left the group in issue #32, the title was changed to The Adventures of the Outsiders , continuing until its cancellation with issue #46. Issue #38 featured the last original story in the series, as issues #39-46 were reprints of stories from the companion series The Outsiders (1985). The cast of
7560-728: Was destroyed by the Green Arrow as part of his symbolic rejection of the group. The Soultaker sword owned by Katana is the Sword Totem, making her the leader of the Sword Clan. The weapon totems supposedly grant immortality and enlightenment on the wielder, but the Green Arrow doubts such claims. The leader of the Arrow Clan was once Robert Queen , the Green Arrow's father. With his apparent death, it passed to Komodo (Simon Lacroix) , an evil archer. It would later be passed to Shado , Robert Queen's former lover and another master archer. Katana heads
7650-497: Was introduced. Denise Howard (the love interest of Geo-Force) appeared for the second time. Baron Bedlam later returned to life. With the assistance of the Bad Samaritan, the Masters of Disaster and Soviet forces, he again tried to seize control of Markovia. Batman withheld this information, angering the rest of the team. This eventually led to Batman disbanding the team and returning to the Justice League of America. Nevertheless,
7740-453: Was moments before and die. However, something in his genetic structure protects him, just as it did with Sapphire. Simon's stance softens and everyone is set free. Doc Magnus , the leader of the Metal Men, offers his services in creating new arms for Java. On the way home, Metamorpho's friends are puzzled as to how he knew Simon would be unaffected by the child. Metamorpho indicates that he hoped
7830-462: Was prior to being turned into a genetic doppelgänger of the original Terra. Outsiders (vol. 3) is almost completely unrelated to the previous series. It was launched in 2003 with new members, some of whom had been part of the Titans . The series was cancelled with issue #50 and relaunched as Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2), featuring a mix of current and new members. The new team is put together in
7920-466: Was searching for Dr. Jace for the doctor to help him with his powers. Katana arrived in Markovia to kill General Karnz (Bedlam's military commander) as vengeance for her family's death. Batman found a young, amnesiac girl in the woods exhibiting light-based powers whom he names Halo who was an Aurakle that possessed the body of Violet Harper after she was killed by Syonide . These heroes banded together to defeat Baron Bedlam and decided to stay together as
8010-588: Was sent to Earth-S when it was reformed. When New Earth came into existence, he went with other heroes who could fly to fight Superboy-Prime . In the Infinite Crisis hardcover, Freddy joined alongside the other Titans to take down the members of the Secret Society of Super Villains who tried to kill Robin . After Infinite Crisis , the Outsiders are "officially" no more. Because of the Freedom of Power Treaty ,
8100-410: Was told they had been ordered to stay out of the conflict. Because he disagreed with the order, Batman resigned to strike out on his own. He and Black Lightning traveled to Markovia to free captive Lucius Fox from Baron Bedlam who killed the country's ruler King Viktor. One of the king's sons became Geo-Force after gaining powers from Markovia's top scientist Dr. Helga Jace to stop Bedlam. Metamorpho
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