Metamorphic Mutations Motivate Madness

Metahuman mutations can on occasion induce madness, due to the traumatic alteration of genetic coding on a molecular level. This was the case when Rex Mason was exposed by multiple industrialist Simon Stagg's Orbs of Ra and when Sandy Hawkins was exposed to industrialist Wesley Dodd's silicon gun.

When initially irradiated by the original orb, Rex retained his sanity due to a pain pill he ingested during his mutation. However, years later as he was nearing his wedding date to heiress Sapphire Stagg, her vengeful father Simon used several replica orbs constructed from the same meteor as the original to transform Mason into a golden mass of silicon. Rex’s counterpart Joe Morgan was consumed by the evil of the alien orb he merged with before regaining his humanity.

After the death experimental silicon gun exploded and irradiated Sandy Hawkins, he was transformed into a golden mass of silicon that turned insane and developed an evil persona. His counterpart Brion “Geo-Force” Marcov along with his Outsider teammates attempted to revive Mason through exposure from the original Ra meteor in Egypt. Once more transformed into his standard Metamorpho form, this time Rex succumbed to madness induced by an ancient pharoah who teleported Mason and his teammates to an ancient Egypt. 

Soon after their transformations, both Rex and Sandy trained their sanity, while their doppelgänger’s Joe and Brion would themselves succumb to vengeful attitudes due to the betrayal of Joe’s three protégées and the rape of Brion’s girlfriend, spurred on my their own mutations which affected their judgement. Thankfully, the Outsiders and All-Stars intervened and helped these two men to train their moral clarity once more.

Twice-Told-Tales: Metamorphic Mayhem

Most superheroes offered membership into the illustrative Justice League of America have accepted their offer to join their ranks. However, there have been a few who declined this privilege. Adam Strange felt his obligations to his adoptive home on the world of Rann kept him from protecting his native home on Earth-One. Phantom Stranger never officially affirmed their offer, although he alluded to having tacitly accepting it from time to time. Black Lightning felt the League's global activity would keep him away from Metropolis' Suicide Slum, where he was needed most. The Justice Society of America likewise had a few honorary members declining full membership, such as Superman and Batman, due to their extensive commitments on Metropolis and Gotham City.

Rex “Metamorpho” Mason was the most notable example of an honorary member who declined full membership status in the League, as he was a reluctant superhero and only wanted to regain his humanity. However, at the same time the League extended their offer to Rex, and alien entity known as the Unimaginable* also wanted to join the team. Rejecting the being’s offer incurred its wrath, as it launched all manners of creatures against the World’s Greatest Superheroes and the Element Man. Using his elemental abilities, Mason is able to follow Leaguers Flash, Green Lantern, Atom, Batman and Superman into space where their foe has held them hostage, and aids yum in infiltrating Unimaginable’s body thereby defeating their adversary.

Joe Mason was a man who resented the opportunities that slipped through his hands over the years, when he trainee three young men to each become professional boxers. Instead, Ted “Wildcat” Grant then Al “Atom” Pratt and finally Jim “Guardian” Harper used Morgan’s training for heroics instead of athletics and adopted their alter egos. When an evil entity from outer space known as the Evil-Globe** sought out and merged with Morgan, the human/alien hybrid being captured and mentally manipulated Grant, Pratt and Harper… sending the trio after Justice Society members Green Lantern, Flash and Wondee Woman. The Globe’s ultimate goal was to defeat the Lantern and steal his power ring, in order to free itself from its indentured existence left upon it by his creators… the Guardians of the Universe. These powerful immortals of Earth-One’s universe cast out their evil impulses and stored into the evil-globe which they exiled into Earth-Two’s reality for all-time.

Shortly after its defeat, the Unimaginable returned to enact revenge against the Justice League which rejected it. Infecting the Leaguers he previously encountered with microorganisms which caused them to grow to a large stature, they sought  cure from alien physician Doctor Bendorion while their teammates including Woman Woman, fought criminals empowered by the energy entity that were running rampant. Metamorpho himself learned he wasn’t infected by their mutual foe, while the League discovered Bendorion and Unimaginable were one-and-the-same and permanently incarcerated the problematic pest.

The six All-Star Squadron members who initially fought one another under the Evil-Globe’s influence tracked down three colorful colors of Joe Morgan aka “Nat Milligan”, and then faced the gigantic merged form of all three. Atom, Wildcat and Guardian each by their words awoke the goodness within Joe Morgan, who internally fought to separate himself from the globe entity. While Morgan, once more human, lay dying… Green Lantern used his power ring to exile the globe back to other space.

* The Unimaginable’s Earth-Two counterpart was the equally enigmatic Aquarius, which later plagued both the Justice Society and later the Justice League, and almost erased Earth-Two from existence.

** The Evil-Globe’s Earth-One counterpart was the Green Glob, both of which created by the Guardians of the Iniverse. However, while the Globe in its split forms caused chaos wherever it found a willing human to join with, the various Globs worked to provide order and imparted life lessons to all humans whom they encountered throughout the years.

Indiana Jones meet Montana Mason

Montana Mason. Indiana Jones. Ace archaeologist achieving amazing acts of archaeology. These counterparts were legends on their respective Earths, albeit legends spoken in hushed tones and later mutated when other larger-than-life legends overtook them. Nevertheless, Montana and Indiana set the tone for noble discovery that later generations would imitate when uncovering astounding artifacts of the past.

On Earth-One, Montana trained his young son Rex to follow in his footsteps, although over time the father and his child deviated in their methods and goals. While the elder Mason sought to share his forgotten finds with the world, his son Rex had a far less benevolent nature, as the lad found opportunity to cash in on his prized treasures to increase his own personal fortunes.

On Earth-Two, Indiana was trained by his father, Henry Jones Senior who like him had similar noble intents in their archaeological work. However, whereas the father was more scholarly and reserved, his son was far more daring and adventurous. At times, the young Indiana became overzealous at protecting his fabled finds from those who wished to expose them.

Rex Mason eventually entered into the employee of wealthy Simon Stagg, and quickly fell in love with his daughter Sapphire. This embittered Stagg to Mason, motivating Simon to trick Rex into entering an ancient Egyptian tomb where he was irradiated by the meteorite stored with the Orb of Ra scepter. This transformed Rex into the elemental man known as Metamorpho, leading to his permanent severance from his own humanity and from any further relationship with his father. Rex never had further interactions with Montana, as the two Masons parted their separate ways.

Back over on Earth-Two, Indiana Jones had a professional rivalry with his fellow archaeologists Carter “Hawkman” Hall and his wife Sheira “Hawkgirl” Hall, while apparently knowing the Winged Warrior’s double identity. Whether he knew of Hall’s ancient ancestry as a 20th century descendant of Egyptian Prince Khufu is unknown, nor if he was aware of Khufu’s memories asserting themselves within Carter on occasion. However, Indy was known to have explored the various pyramids and tombs in Egypt’s Valley of Kings, and very well may have been present when fellow archaeological Jim Rock uncovered Khufu’s crystal dagger which first revealed Carter’s connection to the ancient Prince. Although his prime focus was on the pyramids in Mexico rather than Egypt.

Montana's son Rex as Metamorpho was a teammate of archaeologist Carter "Hawkman" Hall, as both were colleagues in the Justice League of America. While Hall was the team’s third new member, Mason accepted a provisional or honorary membership instead. Prior to arriving on Earth-One, Hall originated on the planet Thanagar-One where as Katar Hol he was his world's premier policeman, sent to observe how humanity protected its citizens. 

Whether Indiana had ever met Rex’s Earth-Two counterpart Joe Morgan, or whether the two men had some familial connection, is not known. Given their relative ages, Indiana and Joe may have been cousins rather than father and son like their Earth-One doppelgängers.

Chemically Created Corporate Crimefighters

Distinct corporate entities developed on Earths One and Two from those existing on Earth-Prime, and some birthed metahumans from their research. The notable and largest of these was Earth-One's S.T.A.R. Laboratories and Earth-Two's Garrick Research Laboratories, with branches across the United States.

Competitors to these included Dayton Industries and Stagg International of Earth-One, as well as Dodds-Bessing Steel and Tyler Chemical Laboratories of Earth-Two.

Similar to other revolutionary corporate think tanks such as that owned by the Metal Men’s Will Magus and Rex Tyler’s former employer Bannermain Chemical, these organizations fostered cultures of innovation, adapting to radically changing worlds with the advent of superheroes and their supervillain opponents. Regrettably, they didn’t always count the cost.

These legal entities spawned synthetic superheroes Mento, Metamorpho, Sandman, Sandy and Hourman… each of whom gained amazing abilities derived from the innovative research of these companies. Although each had debilitating side effects for those gifted with their synthetic science, as time would tell.

Steve Dayton's company developed the ultra-durable metal known as Promethium and cybernetic weaponry which he incorporated into his Mento suit. With this uniform and its helmet, Dayton aided the Doom Patrol and his wife Rita “Elasti-Girl” Farr.

Wesley Dodd's company refined steel as well as developed weaponry such as ray guns and silicoid guns. While granting users tremendous abilities, the adverse effects of these industry titan's creations led to Steve Dayton's declining mental health and Sandy Hawkins mutated silicon body.

Then there were the dual chemical-based technologies introduced to their respective worlds by Simon Stagg and Rex Tyler. While Stagg built his business from the ground up, Tyler acquired Bannermain Chemical, both growing these companies into successes.

Stagg International uncovered the ancient process of transforming humans into elementals, including Simon’s employee and future son-in-law Rex "Metamorpho" Mason. His science unleashed both good and evil.

Meanwhile, Tyler Chemical Laboratories through its founder's research developed the strength-enhancing drug known as Miraclo, graning its user Rex "Hourman" Tyler with a superhuman  physique for one hour at a time. However, these processes led Rex Mason to losing his humanity, and causing Rex Tyler to become addicted to Miraclo for a time.

Rex Tyler's Earth-One counterpart, Walter "Prof" Haley, along with his three teammates on the Challengers of the Unknown had the potential to create a thriving and profitable company. As experts in various key fields, together this fantastic foursome may well have found global success with their various inventions and innovations, if they hadn't pursued a different course in life. Finding that they were living on borrowed time, something Tyler himself felt throughout this costumed career, Haley and his allies decided to pool the money and resources into Challengers' Headquarters. From this hidden mountain base, they housed state-of-the-art equipment that aided them protecting humanity from various threats, both in the United States and internationally.

Evil Enigmas Engineer Elemental Endgames

Each universe within the Multiverse have common aspects, as well as divergent exceptions. Among these are unique elements to each reality. One such example was the mystery element known as Dexium, first discovered in the late 1940s on Earth-Two.

Research scientist and amateur archaeologist Carter Hall was tasked with discovering hidden aspects of this recently discovered element. Undoubtedly, he would have recruited his Justice Society teammate Jay "Flash" Garrick, who himself was a leading chemist, to assist him in dissecting this curious anomaly. However, before he could, the Dexium was stolen!

In fact, it was the criminal "Bulk" Mane who had sent his henchman to abscond with this revolutionary chemical concoction. which seemingly caused an ancient mace to move by itself through the air.  In fact, that mace was being held by Hall's fiancee Shiera Sanders in her Hawkgirl identity, as she attempted to prevent the theft while making herself invisible. The catalytic element causing this invisibility was the Dexium! Carter in his Hawkman alter ego tracked down both Hawkgirl and her captors, bringing Bane and his minions to justice.

A similarly menacing man-mountain named Java was given an ancient instrument known as the Orb of Ra, which contained a meteorite fragment which could unleash elemental transformations. This occurred when his employer Simon Stagg tasked Java with sealing his contracted employee Rex Mason within an Egyptian tomb. The meteor's radiation transformed Mason into Metamopho, the Element Man. On later occasions, Java would use manufactured duplicates of the Orb of Ra to attempt to vanquish Rex, whom he saw a rival to the affections of Stagg's daughter Sapphire.

Fiancées - Friends - Fiends of Strange Superhumans

Industrialists Simon Stagg and Herman Darling were about as amoral as one could get, which led to their continual conflict with superheroes in their lives. Simon founded Stagg Enterprises researching various cutting edge technologies, while Darling had other affluent business interests. While Stagg kept on the legal side, his business practices indicated underlying sinister motivations. Darling was more an overall grump and curmudgeon, especially around his daughter's dimwitted boyfriend. Stagg used the glowing Orb of Ra to eliminate his daughter Sapphire's boyfriend and his mercenary employee Rex Mason,  with the unexpected resulted being Mason's transformation into Metamorpho the Element Man of Earth-One. Darling soon discovered that Daisy's boyfriend Johnny Thunder of Earth-Two possessed an all-powerful living Thunderbolt who fulfilled his literal wishes.

Scientist Bruce Gordon found solace in the support system of his fiancée Mona Bennett and her father Professor Bennett, just as senator Thomas Wright found comfort in the extended family of his fiancée Wendy Foster and her father Doctor Foster. While Professor Bennet assisted Gordon in discovering the secrets of the shadow-casting black diamond which transformed Bruce into the evil Eclipso, Doctor Foster perhaps aided Thomas as Black Condor into refining his black light gun. Both sets of father-daughters aided the ladies' lads in their various adventures throughout the years, although Gordon's criminal career of alter ego and Wright's caped crusade as Black Condor meant that they never ended up settling down with their one-time true loves. 

Simon’s daughter Sapphire eventually got her wedding with Rex when her father finally gave them their blessing after years of enmity between the two men. This took place shortly after Rex joined Batman's Outsiders team and gained increased notoriety for himself. Herman's daughter Daisy eventually grew tired of Johnny antics and misadventures with his Thunderbolt servant, and eventually grew apart from him when Thunder adopted young Peachy Pet. Although Daisy attempted to become a surrogate older sister and prospective future mother-in-law for the girl, she soon made the decision to end her relationship with Johnny.

Eclipso's Earth-Two counterpart Doctor Charles "Doctor Midnight" McNider had as his romantic interest his nurse and personal assistant Myra Mason, with Myra's Earth-One counterpart as the personal assistant of Rick "Space Ranger" Starr in the future. The Earth-One Johnny Thunder never had time to have a romantic relationship, as he concentrated his time and energies into his criminal career leading his Lawless League gang (and twice usurping the control of the Thunderbolt from his doppelgänger). Black Condor's Earth-One counterpart Black Rock and Rex Mason's Earth-Two counterpart Joe Morgan were likewise preoccupied by their professional careers to find time for personal relationships with the opposite sex.

The most famous father-daughter duo on each Earth were undoubtedly Gotham City's Police Commissioners and their superheroine offspring. On Earth-One, this was James Gordon and his daughter Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon... and on Earth-Two, this was Bruce "Batman" Wayne and his daughter Helena "Huntress" Wayne. Unlike the aforementioned "damsels in distress" above, these two young women could easily take care of themselves and protect their cities from various threats.

Secret Origin of the Silicon Sentients

On Earth-Two, a secondary life-form  existed alongside yet in total seclusion from carbon-based humanity, the Sandmen of the Gobi Desert! Where did these silicon creatures come from, and why were they so eerily similar to that which was once Sandy the Golden Boy? Today, the tale can now be told from the chronicles of the Justice League of America, who found their genesis with both their creator the Sandman present… and with an alternate universe version of these beings in Metamorpho!

In early 1946, Wesley Dodds sought to improve upon the crime effectiveness of he and his sidekick, and so developed the silicoid gun. However, while testing it, the gun exploding, dousing Sandy in its experimental compounds. This mixture transformed the Golden Boy into the Silicon Creature, temporarily driven insane, causing Dodds' to keep the lad sedated for decades within his subterranean lair. When earthquakes began to expose a dangerous fault line underneath York City, Sandy was awoken and used his powers to save it. Years later, Wes restored Sandy to normal, although with residual abilities.

Between 1946 and Sandy's revival in 1974, Wesley resumed his Sandman costumed career and rejoined the Justice Society. Using a modified version of the silicon gun in 1966, Sandman was able to transform sand into a variety of shapes, formed with into a hardened glassy substance. Years later, while with his Justice Society allies accompanied by the Justice League in order to locate members of Law's Legionnaires to help them save the world. Sandman traveled with the Earth-One Superman and Metamorpho to the era of Genghis Khan.*

Faced with the hordes of Khan's followers thirsty for conquest in the ancient Gobi Desert, Metamorpho used his elemental body to transform into a tank, equipped to disperse the chemical compound he produced from the silicoid formula provided by Sandman, in order to disable the militant troops. The mutagenic properties of this Metamorpho concoction had an enduring effect on some of Khan's Mongul minions.

In fact, it was in 1946 (yes, the same year that Sandman invented his silicoid technology) that Jay "Flash" Garrick uncovered an ancient civilization of "Sandmen". These creatures led by Ben Otan lived in the Gobi Desert, and had the appearance and abilities that Sandy would soon manifest. Evidentally, these silicon creatures were a small portion of the men whom Sandman and his colleagues faced hundreds of years in the past when Genghis led them.

Now hating humanity, these Sandmen developed technology that would eliminate mankind, leaving them the sole dominant beings on Earth-Two. Thankfully, Flash was able to reverse their attack, as the Sandmen fell prey to their own death dealing device.

While there were more than half a dozen known Sandmen, including Sandy as well as Ben Otan and his comrades, there were also scant numbers of the corresponding Metamorphs on Earth-One** Beside soldier-of-fortune Rex Mason aka Metamorpho, there was architect Edifice Bulwalk and secret agent Urania Blackwell aka Element Girl. The oldest Metamorph was a Roman soldier named Algon who, like his love Queen Jezeba of the Ma-Phoor nation, was immortal. Then there were the similar beings of the neighboring Quarrm dimension… “Sand Superman” and a like being impersonating a Chinese warrior statue. In the end, only one Metamorph… Mason… remained as all these others ceased to exist one-by-one.

* Genghis Khan was one of the the aliases used throughout history by the immortal Vandal Savage.

** Differing physics in the two universes, as well as latent effects of Earth-One's Orb of Ra and Earth-Two's Hammer of Thor, and their artificial duplicates, played some part in Simon Stagg's transformation of Rex Mason and of Sandman's technology effecting Sandy Hawkins.

Ominous Orbs’ Outer-Space Origins

Many objects of power seemingly proliferate around and upon the Earths of the DC Multiverse. Among the oldest and most potentially powerful were the glowing globes known as the Orb of Ra and the Hammer of Thor, each tied to heroes of the 20th century.

The Orb of Ra was originally fabricated from a meteorite that crash landed in ancient Egypt on Earth-One, crafted by a Pharoah and his chief priest which could transmute elements. Left buried in a pyramid for thousands of years, it as recovered by soldier-of-fortune Rex Mason, who was exposed to its radiation when left unconscious by treacherous associate Java. Mutated into the inhuman Metamorpho, it allowed the so-called Element Man to transform his body into myriad of shapes and sizes, a reluctant but brave hero in service to the amoral businessman Simon Stagg. 

At times, Stagg used the Orb to attempt to reverse Mason's physical condition. At other times, he would use the Orb to weaken Rex, when the two came into conflict. Java, jealous of Rex’s relationship to Stagg’s daughter Sapphire, once used it against Metamorpho. 

Eventually, Stagg’s soldiers used a few replicas on Mason, when Rex tried to reunite with Sapphire, rendering Mason inert. His Outsiders allies traveled back to ancient Egypt to help revive Rex, and defeat the priest Akh-Ton who was behind Mason’s transformation. The original Orb was once more secured safely when Mason and Simon reconciled, with Rex marrying Sapphire.

The Hammer of Thor arrived on ancient Earth-Two, once in the possession of a space-traveling elder race who left it behind. In the mid 20th century, it would be uncovered by a Norwegian archaeologist and given to Carter Hall, the heir to an ancient Egyptian Prince tied to alien artifacts. Hall used the Hammer as a blunt-force weapon in his masked alter ego of Hawkman while battling the evil Mazda the Great. During this tale, the Winged Warrior misplaced the hammer in a volcano, which was extracted by a renowned college professor and metallurgist turned criminal mastermind Fairytales Fenton.

Fenton had previously led a gang of crooks disguised as Vikings, while he appeared as Thor of legends. Using a replica of alien alloy Hammer, Fenton battled New York City police and the city’s resident masked men Sandman and Sandy, the Golden Boy. Empowered by his hammer’s electromagnetic generating mallet, Fairytale rendered Sandy unconscious. 

After his defeat at the hands of Sandman, Fenton was liberated from a lengthy prison sentence by the Ultra-Humanite, sending the malevolent metallurgist to retrieve the original Hammer***. Once in its possession, the energies emitted from it turned Fenton insane, leading him into battle with the All-Star Squadron and Tarantula… whom Fenton mistook for Sandman himself. Ultra through her agent Cyclotron recovered the Hammer, which she used once more versus the All-Stars. When Cyclotron betrayed Ultra and exploded, seemingly killing both, the Hammer seemed to vaporize. Or did it? Given its properties, this is highly unlikely.

In an alternate timeline, Prince Khufu of Earth-Two, connected to the Hammer of Thor through Hawkman, battled the Earth-One Priest Ahk-Ton in a proto-Metamorpho form using the Orb of Ra. This was shortly after Rex, Sapphire and the Outsiders journeyed to that era when Metamorpho was temporary under Ahk-Ton's control.

Metamorpho was shown to be connected to silicon-based creatures, mirroring the Silicon Creature formerly known as Sandy, and the other silicon men whom the golden age Flash faced in the present day. This became evideht when the Egyptian Elemental Ahk-Ton's new master Vandal Savage used the Orb to create and army of literal sandmen.

***Cyclotron’s electro-generator powered by the Hammer of Thor was utilized by the Ultra-Humanite into transforming Olympic athlete Will Everett into the Amazing-Man. As a result, Everett gained the power to alter his body chemistry to mimic any substance he touched, similar to Mason’s abilities. 

Since an electro-magnetic belt worn by Will’s counterpart Jefferson Pierce only gave him electricity based powers rather than those displayed by Everett, this apparent derivation in superhuman attributes must have been derived from the extra-terrestrial influence of the hammer itself. Latent similar effects were caused by Fenton’s replica hammer as energy he was imbued with an afflicted upon Sandy Hawkins transformed that lad into his matter-mutating sand based form when coupled with exposure to Wesley “Sandman” Dodds experimental silicon gun that irradiated Sandy.

Malevolent Metamorphs Menace Mankind: Sinister Silicon Selves

Among the various living creatures residing on Earths One and Two, there is a diverse array of animals and plant life. The predominant life form, if not the most numerous, on these worlds is mankind. But while most life is carbon based, an oddity persists in these two reality. The presence of metamorphae on Earth-One, along with two visitors from the dimension of Quarrm, and the sand-beings of Earth-Two along with two glass-based leaders. 

For centuries, a variety of humans had been transformed into the Metamorphae, including ancient Roman centurion Algon, modern-day architect Eudife Bulwalk, government agent Urania Blackwell, and most famous of all... Rex Mason, who became Metamorpho the Element Man. Each of these individuals gained their transformative bodies and abilities after exposure to radiation originating from the Orb of Ra, which was an ancient meteorite harnessed to create this new species. While limited in number, this species was powerful.

Similar creatures resided in the Quarrm Dimension, and one of these energy entities accidentally was pulled into Earth-One's realm of existence during a reactor experiment using Kryptonite. Although Superman intervened and saved lives from the resulting explosion, the exposure to this potent energy left him unconscious on the sand. From his imprint upon that sand, the Quarrm creature created a body for itself resembling Superman, and sought to steal energy from the Man of Steel in order to sustain it. After a battle with another Quarrm creature, this "Sand" Superman returned to Quarrm. Similar creatures from the planet Rhynthar known as the Dust Devils invaded Rann-One and Earth-One. 

For centuries, a parallel specifies of bipedal beings resembling humans existed in the Gobi Desert. These Sand-Beings were limited in mumber but due to the nature of their being, used the sand to form bodies for themselves. As native inhabitants of Earth-Two, for centuries they gained mastery of their physical forms, which protected these energy entities.

By the time that a research party led by Jay Garrick discovered them, these Sand-Beings had created a solar powered weapon based on technology which sustained their lives. With this, they planned to unleash their vengeance upon mankind, which they felt subjegated the sand. Led by the humanity-hating leader Ben Otan, the half-dozen changelings were poised for world conquest.

Displaying an ability to transform between malleable sand and hardened glass forms and even form their bodies into various shapes, these Sand-Beings fought Jay's alter ego the Flash to a standstill. Only when the Flash tricked them into absorbing the full energy of their solar lamp were these being defeated... and seemingly destroyed forever! Although this tale seemed outlandish, Jay would tell it to his colleagues in the Liar's Club, and it would seem to other friends as well...

In fact, it seems that Jay shared what he learned of the Sand-Being's technology with his fellow Justice Society teammate Wesley Dodds. Dodds, as the Sandman, was obsessed with sand-based items, and from this he developed a silicoid gun. However, its instability caused it to explode, bathing his sidekick Sandy Hawkins in energies that transformed him into a new life form. This Silicon Creature, like the Sand-Beings, had metamorphic qualities during its two decades long existence. The former member of the All-Star Squadron, Sandy, eventually regained his human form... and gained earth-shaking powers!

Rex Mason, unlike the other Metamorphae, felt grounded by the love of his fiancee Sapphire Stagg, and despite interference from her father Simon, ended up marrying her. Although a loner, Metamorpho found acceptance as an honorary member of the Justice League of America and, years later, as a member of Batman's Outsiders.

Infinity Stones of the DC Multiverse

Just as there were six stones that each had unique powers granted to their possessors on Earth-616, so to on other Earths there were versions of these same objects with different names and distinct histories. Each of these were crafted from alien meteorites, and had profound impact on both Earths One and Two. 

The Guardians of the Universe concentrated emerald energy into a Central Power Battery on the planet of Oa, with portions of its energy siphoned off into thousands of miniature lanterns throughout the cosmos, used by the Green Lantern Corps in the Earth-One univese. A portion of this energy was transplanted into the Earth-Two realm which made the Starheart and the Council of Stars, protecting that universe. Hal Jordan and Alan Scott were given lanterns and their power rings.

The Star Sapphire was an object in each universe given to specific women who would become queens over alien races of immortal warrior women such as the Zamoran and Infanta. These sapphires allowed the user to traverse space and bend it to their will. Carol Ferris, Dela Pharon, Deborah Camille Darnell and an unidentified woman each used these gems.

Twin alien meteorites were formed into the Orb of Ra of Earth-One and the Hammer of Thor of Earth-Two. The Orb was capable of transmuting elements while the Hammer was able to manipulate the elements. While Metamorpho and Hawkman used these globes for good, Simon Stagg and Ultra-Humanite used them for evil.

Each Earth had their own Ruby of Life and Ring of Life, which had the ability to animate objects when worn by various men from around both Earths. The Ruby of Earth-Two was temporarily displaced by its owner Sargon from its native realm, but eventually returned from Earth-One when the effect of three such rubies corrupted him.

And then there was the distinct diverse gems known as the Black Diamond of Earth-One and the Powerstone of Earth-Two, which granted the owners such as Eclipso and Alexie Luthor to vast power of the mind. These gems brought forth evil in men like Bruce Gordon, Luthor and Ultra-Humanite.

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Interestingly, when the Power Stone and Hammer of Thor were brought together, they increased in power. This was similar to when the rubies and rings of life were present together, especially with Green Lantern's Power Ring. 

There were two other sets of powerful gems which, when combined, gave their owners' tremendous powers. Within the Earth-One universe, in the Gemworld dimension, twelve stones existed that when harnessed together into a breastplate were a source of tremendous power. These included the following gems: amethyst, aquamarine, moonstone, sapphire, turquoise, emerald, opal, garnet, diamond, ruby, sardonyx and topaz. This breastplace gave the evil Dark Opal tremendous power, which almost enabled him to defeat Princess Amethyst and her colleagues.

 
Within the Earth-Two universe, these same gems were found on that world, and were likewise merged in an ancient mechanism devised to forge these together. These included the following gems: diamond, yellow topaz, emerald, bluish-white diamond, and garnet. 

With these stones combined, they made the Lifestone which could bring inanimate objects to life. With this. the evil Doctor Brett nearly defeated the Seven Soldiers of Victory, with the dormant statue of Atlas gaining sentience and battling the heroes. However, the Soldiers outsmarted Brett in the end. 

Dark Opal had previously used his considered power to torment the citizens of the interdimensional locale known as Gemworld, opposed by Princess Amethyst. His Earth-Two counterpart Wotan had similar abilities and sought to rule all reality, although he was repeatedly opposed by his arch-enemy Doctor Fate along with Inza Cramer Nelson, girlfriend and later wife to Fate’s alter ego Kent Nelson. Unlike Opal, Wotan turned to scientific gadgetry to supplement his innate abilities. Eventually, Wotan was imprisoned in a interdimensional reality mirrored by that of Gemworld, kept immobile seemingly for all eternity!

Both Dark Opal and Doctor Brett perished following exposure to these gems. What became of their gems following the defeats of the gems’ owners is unknown, although their potential for causing havoc is highly potent should they still exist somewhere within the Multiverse.

The Forgotten Foes of the Freedom Fighters: Adaptoplasm

Initially when the Freedom Fighters journeyed to Earth I’m-X to battle the Axis Powers, their sole superpowered adversary was a fellow visitor from their native Earth-X, Baron Blitzkrieg. Once the Baron was defeated and retreated back to his home world, the Fighters evidentially faced other superpowered opponents. 

This includes the Adaptoplasm, which manifested from one of the German regime’s supercomputers. The substance used to create these synthetic beings is not dissimilar to that of the lost Freedom Fighter known as Plastic Man, and in an alternate timeline the Axis Powers in fact created such Plastic Men as pawns used versus their foes.

This quartet were perfectly matched to correlate with the capabilities of Ray and Human Bomb of the Fighters, as well as the Justice Leaguer Batman and Justice Socialite Doctor Fate. These four synthetic super humans were their Earth's version of Metamorpho and Doom Patrol members Elasti-Girl, Negative Man, and Beast Boy of Earth-One… as well as Sandy the Silicon Creature and the Earth-Two ectoplasm Patrollers known as Slim, Pedro and Fred of Earth-Two’s version of the Patrol.

While there were no chronicled instances of the Adoptoplasm being used previously, it is hypothetically possible that this was what created a wide range of adversrary which battled the Freedom Fighters throughout the decades.

Outsiders Week: Superhuman Studs

Prince Brion Marcov, youngest son of the tiny European monarchy known as Marcovia, enlisting the aid of scientist Dr. Helga Jace in giving him earth-based powers to protect his country from the forces of Baron Bedlam. Gaining super-strength, lava blasts, gravity manipulation abilities, he became known as Geo-Force. Joining the Outsiders formed by Earth-One's Batman, Geo-Force in his civilian identity became close friends with fellow Outsider Black Lightning and a college student.

Sandy Hawkins was the orphaned nephew of debutante Dian Belmont, who had been the girlfriend of Wesley Dodds. When she perished on and occasion when she substituted for Dodds' Sandman alter ego, Wesley took to wearing a costume designed by her prior to her death. He also sought out Sandy as atonement for her passing, adopting the lad and grooming him as his sidekick Sandy the Golden Boy. Alongside his mentor during his solo missions, as well as Sandman's Justice Society cases and a few adventures in the All-Star Squadron, Sandy built up a promising heroic career for himself.

This crimefighting career was eventually shattered when he was mutated by a silicon gun into becoming a new being known as the Silicoid Creature. Manifesting a separate personality, this thing was the counterpart of Metamopho. After decades as this creature in a sleeping state enducd by Sandman, Sandy was transformed by to a humanoid by his mentor, just like he had been yet manifesting earthquake generating abilities.

A few powers that Sandy did not manifest, which Geo-Force possessed, included emitting energy and anti-gravitational flight. This ability was harnessed by Rex Mason’s Earth-Two counterpart Joe Morgan, when an alien evil-globe originating from the universe of Earth-One merged with the ex-trainer. With his temporary powers, Morgan attempted to exact revenge against his former protégées Ted “Wildcat” Grant, Al “Atom” Pratt, and Jim “Guardian” Harper… as well as the globe’s mortal enemy Alan “Green Lantern” Jordan.

When Morgan fought back against the evil-globe, he lost his life just as a second irradiation from the Orb of Ra finally stripped Mason of his humanity forevermore. However, Sandy’s mutated form assumed the mantle of the metamorphic man-monster that corresponded to Mason’s Metamorpho.

Outsiders Week: Magnificent Metamophs

Earths One and Two both had a pair of elemental enigmas, and tragic troubleshooters. The former were tied to them were two objects of power, the Orb of Ra and the Hammer of Thor... designed from alien metals that imbued upon those exposed to them awesome abilities. The latter two lost their humanity when white glowing orbs transformed them into metamorphic men.Rex Mason was a world traveling treasure hunter who found himself in the employ of the greedy Simon Stagg. On one assignment, Rex was trapped inside an Egyptian pyramid, due to machinations of his mischievous boss. This left him exposed to the meteorite known as the Orb of Ra.

The Orb of Ra was made of an alien alloy in an Egyptian pyramid, while the equally ancient Hammer of Thor was discovered by archaeologist Carter Hall. As Hawkman, Hall used the hammer an early adventure when his alter ego battled the evil Mazda. Like the Orb of Earth-One, the Hammer of Earth-Two could alter elemental properties... as witnessed by its transforming Will Everett into the shape-shifting Amazing Man, Carter was unaware of its properties and so used it as a blunt instrument rather than a skilled tool. And another hammer built around the same principles would irradiate an All-Star Squadron teammate of Everett's, transforming that lad into an Elemental Man himself!

From this irradiation, Metamorpho was born, capable of altering and transforming his body into any variation of the scores of elements found in nature. Until a cure was found, Rex agreed to become a reluctant superhero on Earth-One.

Thor's Hammer would later be acquired by metalurist turned criminal Fairytales Fenton... whose adversary was the teenage hero known as Sandy the Golden Boy along wih the lad's mentor Wesley Dodds aka Sandman. Irradiated and empowered by his copycat Hanmer of Thor, Fenton used this energy to severely injury Sandy. Although the boy soon recovered from his wounds, exposure to the hammer's radiation through physical contact with Fenton left Sandy susceptible to another form of radiation years later!

Metamorpho the element man as a new life form with Mason's memories was the counterpart of the Silicon Creature that possessed the memories of Sandy Hawkins. When his guardian Sandman tested a silicoid gun which prematurely detonated, bathing his young ward in its radiations which along with the Orb’s lighting, the gigantic sand monster was born. Kept in suspended animation for decades, he was revived when the Justice Society aided Dodds in reuniting with Hawkins and soon regained his humanity. The Silicoid Creature then reverted back to Sandy Hawkins, the counterpart of Metamorpho's Outsiders teammate Prince Brion "Geo-Force" Marcov.

Rex Mason's Earth-Two counterpart Joe Morgan* encountered another glowing white alien orb. This transformed the boxing trainer into a multi-colored man much like Metamorpho, only he was spurred by the ancient globe's evil to seek out his three former protégées in Ted "Wildcat" Grant, Al "Atom" Pratt and Jim "Guardian" Harper as pawns to use again Alan "Green Lantern" Scott. Scott's green lantern and Mason's evil-globe originated from the Guardians of Earth-One's universe, each exiled to Earth-Two. When his scheme failed, Joe perished as the globe was banished into space for eternity.

While Rex's initial transformation within an Egyptian pyramid was initiated by the glowing white orb, months afterward scientist Will Magnus developed the means of reversing the process and restoring humanity to Mason. However, when a professional rival of Magnus took control of Will's Metal Men, in order to save Sapphire and her father... Rex agreed to reverse Magnus' process. This second transformation mirrored that of Sandy Hawkins when he was exposed to Wesley Dodd's experimental silicon gun, which mutated him into the Silicoid Creature for decades.

* Not to be confused with Earth-One Clark “Superboy” Kent’s classmate Joe Morgan or Earth-Two Clark “Superman” Kent’s city councilman Joe Morgan.