Algon and Otan: Malicious Masters of Metamorphosis

Algon was a Roman soldier of Earth-One 2000 years ago. Ben Otan was a Mongolian soldier of Earth-Two 600 years ago. Both gained immortality and the ability to transform their bodies into elemental forms. Yet while their outward appearance were malleable, their inner selves… their hearts… hardened over the centuries of their existence.When Algon emerged from an Egyptian pyramid he found himself lost within, after being separated from his fellow Roman legionnaires, he found himself now inhuman. The first Elemental Man in history, mutated by the Orb of Ra meteorite contained within the structure, Algon became the protector of the African city name Ma-Phoor, ruled by its Queen Jezebel. When he betrayed her, she exposed him to the orb, causing his body to decompose.

When Ben Otan recovered from exposure to the Sandman’s silicoid compound gas, formed from the gaseous body of Rex “Metamorpho” Mason, both men visiting that ancient era to retrieve a fellow hero. Otan and a handful of his fellow Mongolian discovered their bodies now possessed properties, capable of fluctuating from silicon to glass. 

While Otan and his fellow Sand-Being schemed overtaking humanity, the African city of Ophir was ruled by its immortal Queen Setap. Otan and Setap never had occasion to meet, living half a world apart.

In the 20th century. Algon began to regain his powers, and sought to replace the current element man, Rex Mason. Attempting to frame Metamorpho for murder as he appeared identical to Mason’s elemental form, Algon’s plan was uncovered by Rex and his fellow metamorph, Urania “Element Girl” Blackwell. During this confrontation, Algon perished. Others like him from the dimension of the “Sand-Superman” of Quarm would take Algon’s place at menacing humanity.

As for Ben Otan, he and his silicon servants developed a weapon that could decimate humanity, until the Flash confronted them. The result was the self destruction of the Sand-Beings, victims of their own weapon. Only one of their kind remained, Sandman’s sidekick Sandy, himself transformed into a similar silicoid creature.