Metallo debuted in Action Comics #252 (May 1959), the same issue that introduced Supergirl. He was created by writer Robert Bernstein and artist Al Plastino as a cyborg who got his power from kryptonite, the only thing that can kill Superman.
Metallo's Basic Origin Story
When an auto wreck left the body of crook John Corben hopelessly mangled, Professor Emmet Vale transferred Corben's brain into a robotic body covered by artificial skin and containing a kryptonite heart. Thus Metallo was born.
In his new form, Corben has enhanced strength, endurance, and agility. He doesn't need food, sleep, or even oxygen. His brain is hermetically sealed inside a shielded-alloy skull with its own power supply.
Metallo has frequently battled Superman, the only costumed hero who could effectively handle him. But the cyborg also became more formidable through upgrades that enabled him to morph his body into any mechanical shape, inject his consciousness into any technological device, and grow to monstrous size.
In recent years, Corben has acquired a cloned version of his original human body, enhanced by a titanium-alloy frame and plastisteel musculature. Plus, Superman's archenemy, Lex Luthor, equipped Metallo's chest with green, blue, gold, and red kryptonite, each element of which the cyborg could expose at will.
Metallo in Other Media
Besides appearing on the cartoon show Super Friends, Metallo featured in the live-action series The Adventures of Superboy (played by Michael Callan) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (played by Scott Valentine).
His most memorable depiction was on Superman: The Animated Series where he was voiced by Malcolm McDowell (Rob Zombie's Halloween II). John Corben was pleased that, as Metallo, he was almost as strong as Superman. But the shocking discovery that he no longer could smell, eat, or feel drove him insane and caused him to rip away part of his artificial skin. This same version of the character later appeared on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.
Metallo also has been a featured villain in several recent video games, including Superman: Shadow of Apokolips and Superman Returns.
John C. McGinley (Scrubs) provides the voice of Metallo for the DC Universe Animated Movie Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, which is based on the popular Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuinness comic series. Brian Austin Green (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) has been confirmed to portray Corben/Metallo for at least two episodes of Smallville's ninth season.
Fans can only hope these latest portrayals are worthy of IGN's 52nd Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
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