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.

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.

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.

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.

Robin's Radical Relationships: Turbulent Teenagers

Some things were easier for Earth-One's Robin than for that of his counterpart, some things were not. One thing that went smoothly was the former's fine friendship with other teenage sidekicks, with whom he formed the Teen Titans. For the latter, there was no such Titans, instead there was the Blue Boys of whom Robin was not a member. However, the Boy Wonder did meet other lads who... like him... accompanied their mentors at a meeting of the All-Star Squadron. While the Titans began with four lads... Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad and Speedy... and a lass named Wonder Girl, the young All-Star quartet of Robin, Dyna-Mite, Sandy and Speedy didn't mesh quite as well (and on Earth-Two, Donna Troy never assumed the alter ego of Wonder Girl as had her twin). One parallel quite evident, however, was the fact that each Robin and Speedy immediately butted heads with one another. Still, Earth-One's pair would develop a begrudging friendship while the Earth-Two pair would find a more significant gap between them. For there, that Speedy was lost in time for decades with his Law's Legionnaires comrades, and returned in the 1970s as still a teenage, encountering a now forty-year old Robin alongside the Justice Society... a team where Robin would finally find the acceptance had that his twin found amongst the Titans!

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.