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Metalo is an enemy of original Superman from Earth-Two created by Jerry Siegel and John Sikela, first appearing in World's Finest Comics #6. He is most notable for being one of the first ever villains to posses any physical challenge to the Man of Steel in a one-on-one combat.
Biography[]
Metalo's suit , perhaps combined with his strength serum, is capable of launching an entire railroad car in air, mimicking incredible strenght of Superman.
Metalo is a brillaint scientist, inventor and a leader of criminal gang George Grant, who somehow discovered toughest metal and made protective armor from it, equipped with jet tubes that can launch him very far into the air, as well as discovered serum that gave him incredible strenght to lift tremendous weights and one of very few to posses an actual challenge for Superman, whom he managed to knock out using torpedo from a nearby submarine.
Superman's first ever battle with someone equal in strenght and written by his co-creator Jerry Siegel
Years after unsuccessful attempt by Superman to indirectly kill Metalo by punching him into the lava he returned once again to make a revenge by means of creating a special equipment that rolled back original (Earth-2) Superman's physical powers to their initial level (to the level described in Action Comics #1) i.e. no flight or running at invisible (to the human eye) speeds or much greater lifting and punching strength, but for some reason it didn't eliminate Superman's X-ray vision (even though it wasn't present at the moment of Action Comics #1) and its more intense version heat-vision with which hero heated up Metalo's armor and made an escape into Secret Sanctuary (prototype and Earth-2 version of Fortress of Solitude which was nearby Metropolis and not on North Pole or North of Colorado) where he went through super-training and regained his previously lost physical talents to their pre-depowering level. Superman managed to smash Metalo's armor into pieces leaving him completely in his street clothes and finally captured him.
Equipment[]
Metal armor: Armor made from strongest metal capable of withstanding Superman's punches. It is also equipped with several jet tubes capable to launching Metalo in the air, even when he is carrying heavy railroad car along with him.
Strenght serum: Special serum that made Grant capable of lifting tremendous weights and even take damage from Superman without armor.
Red cape: Because Metalo was wearing red cape in his debut story people mistook him for Superman, erroneously attributing wrong doings on superhero.
Depowering ray: Grant was able to develop some sort of device which regressed Superman's physical powers to their initial form.
Images[]
Metalo uses special device to roll back Superman's physical powers to the point of their description in Action Comics #1
Just like Superman Metalo's armor is bullet proof. Also showcase of his jet tubes that easily can launch him in the air holding incredible weights
Man of Steel's unssuccessful attempt to kill Man of Metal
Superman's third battle with Metalo. In depowered (physically) state. From The Superman Family #217
Trivia[]
- Despite only ever appearing in two comics Metalo's legacy and significance is quite immense.
- Metalo is one of the original Superman's villains created by his co-creator and original writer Jerry Siegel. Along with Ultra-Humanite and Lex Luthor.
- He is one of the first super-villains to ever directly challenge Superman phyisically.
- Metalo directly inspired original John Corben Metallo.
- Metalo's look and concept may have inspired Batman's power-suit from Batman: The Dark Knight and Superman kryptonite armor ,which protected him from kryptonite effects, from its sequel "III Master Race". Also Metalo may have inspired Marvel Comics' Iron Man and also Steel (who also was pastishe of Marvel's Iron Man and Thor).
- This is one of the first superhero stories featuring villain impersonating hero and therefore tarnishing hero's reputation, making some people think of him wrong and even directly oppose him. Original Metallo will also go on impersonating Superman. This also inspired Cyborg Superman debut.
- In "Superman Source Book" there was used an amalgamation of Metalo and Earth-1 Metallo Corben brothers, by presenting his appearance and costume as the one seen in Superman Family #217, while his name "Metallo" and biography being of descriptions John and Roger Corben, as well as later's gadget the (SKULL) jet scooter.
- In first ever close-up on Metalo he is seen with an object on his belt in the shape of a gun, it is not known what its real purpose is as it never reappeared in this issue nor in his next appearance decades later by the writer E. Nelson Bridwell and penciler Kurt Schaffenberger.