Metallo
Back to Villains Main > MetalloReal Identity: John Corben
Affiliation(s): None
Powers/Skills: Enhanced Strength, Immortality, Impenetrability, Radiation Projection, Shapeshifting, Technokinesis, and Matter Absorption
Voiced By: John C. McGinley
Over 10 years ago, John Corben was almost killed in a car accident. Before an ambulance arrived on scene, a scientist named Emmett Vale saved his life. However to do so, Vale replaced all of Corben's body with that of a robot's with a Plastex material. His heart became a piece of Kryptonite. When Corben awakened, he was horrified at his transformation. Vale re-named him Metallo and explained that he needed a champion to fight against Superman, who he concluded was going to conquer Earth.
Metallo concluded that Superman wasn't a menace and choked Vale to death. He decided to use his powers for a life of crime. Operating in Metropolis, Metallo eventually came into conflict with Superman. During the battle, Superman realized Kryptonite was a weakness of his. Fortunately for Superman, Lex Luthor was observing the fight and intervened to prevent Metallo from killing Superman. Luthor wouldn't allow anyone else the honor of triumphing over the hero. Metallo was able to escape a LexCorp lab on reserve energy and often stole shipments of Kryptonite or spare parts from LexCorp facilities.
After Lex Luthor became President of the United States, he was privy to Kryptonite meteor nearing Earth. After setting up a meeting with Superman, Luthor unleashed Metallo on him. Batman and Superman were buried alive by Metallo, who shot a piece of Kryptonite into Superman's chest. As Metallo was leaving the scene, he encountered Major Force and was killed. Metallo's corpse was recovered by S.T.A.R. Labs. In an effort to turn the public against Superman, Luthor announced that the meteor rendered Superman insane and used the apparent murder of Metallo as proof. He then issued a $1 Billion bounty to anyone who could bring Superman to justice.