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John Corben, also known as Metallo, is an assassin-turned-cyborg weaponized by Lex Luthor to fight Superman.[1]
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Not much is known about John Corben except that at some point in his life he became a highly skilled assassin, executing contract kills for members of the criminal underworld. His precision, efficiency, and discretion earned him a formidable reputation, allowing him to bypass international law enforcement for years while becoming a trusted name among wealthy and powerful criminals.[1]
Becoming a Cyborg[]
Hired by Lex Luthor[]
As part of his scheme to create a weapon powerful enough to eliminate metahumans, Lex Luthor devised a plan to fuse cutting-edge robotics with a human subject. He chose John Corben as the ideal candidate due to his lethal efficiency and "killer instinct." To lure him in, Luthor anonymously placed a contract on his own life, sending Corben a specially prepared handgun as part of the assignment. When Corben approached Luthor outside the LuthorCorp building and attempted to carry out the hit, the booby-trapped weapon exploded in his hand, severely injuring his body while leaving his brain intact. Luthor’s men immediately retrieved the unconscious assassin and transported him to a hidden lab, where Corben’s remains were integrated with advanced LuthorCorp weaponry.[1]
First Confrontation with Superman[]
Following his programming, Corben—now known as Metallo—launched a violent rampage through the streets of Metropolis, declaring the city his own. Amid the chaos, Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane bravely attempted to interview him, but Metallo reacted aggressively, seizing photographer Jimmy Olsen after destroying his camera. At that moment, Superman—newly arrived in Metropolis—intervened, rescuing Jimmy and confronting Metallo in battle.
Despite Superman's strength and heat vision, Metallo's armored body proved highly resistant to damage. The tide of the fight shifted when Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner arrived on the scene to contain the destruction and assist the Man of Steel. Taking advantage of the distraction, Superman lured Metallo away from the crowded park to a nearby construction site. There, he used his heat vision to weaken metal girders and his super speed to bind them around Metallo, finally hurling the bound cyborg into the harbor in an effort to neutralize the threat.[1]
Upgrade and Second Battle[]
Later, Lex Luthor, accompanied by his right-hand man Otis Berg, recovered the damaged Metallo from the harbor, who had already broken free from the steel girders. Upon recognizing Luthor, Corben’s instincts kicked in and he immediately tried to kill him for transforming him into a monster. Luthor quickly deactivated him using a remote override.
Back at the LuthorCorp lab, Corben was reactivated and once again attempted to attack Luthor. This time, the CEO deceived him, blaming the explosion that disfigured him on Superman. Though Corben was confused—has he and Superman have never met before—Luthor fabricated a story suggesting that a relative of one of Corben's past victims might have hired Superman to eliminate him. Convincing the cyborg that Superman was his true enemy, Luthor offered Corben an upgrade: a Kryptonite power core, capable of weakening and killing the Man of Steel.
Now equipped with Kryptonite and seeking revenge, Metallo launched a second assault in downtown Metropolis, hoping to draw Superman out. When Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner arrived to stop him, Metallo easily overpowered them, warning Gardner he wasn’t there for them. Concerned for the safety of bystanders, Superman lured Metallo out of the city to the nearby marshlands.
There, Corben activated the Kryptonite core, severely weakening Superman, and confronted him with the false belief that the Kryptonian had tried to kill him. Just as Metallo was about to finish him off, Hawkgirl and Gardner intervened, pulling him away. Realizing his powers returned when away from Metallo, Superman instructed the team to combine an attack supposed to keep the enemy at a distance. Together, they unleashed a powerful blast that hurled Metallo into a rocky cliff, shattering his mechanical body.
Unseen by the heroes, one of Luthor’s drones retrieved Metallo’s still-functioning head. Though disappointed by the defeat, Luthor became increasingly intrigued by Kryptonite’s effect on Superman—and the potential it held.[1]
Personality[]
Even before becoming a cyborg, John Corben was a cold, calculated assassin who showed no remorse for his victims. He approached his contracts with a high level of professionalism, going to great lengths to remain anonymous—such as using gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints when handling weapons.
After being transformed into Metallo, Corben’s mental state deteriorated rapidly. He became unstable, megalomaniacal, and violently aggressive, attempting to take over Metropolis during his first public rampage. His cruel nature intensified, as he showed a willingness to harm innocent civilians—nearly breaking Jimmy Olsen’s arm simply for taking a photo of him. Consumed by a desire for revenge against those he blamed for his transformation, Corben became emotionally volatile and easily manipulated. Lex Luthor took advantage of this by falsely convincing him that Superman was responsible for the explosion that led to his cybernetic condition, despite the two never having met prior.
Despite his ruthlessness, Corben retained a small degree of discernment. During a battle with the Justice Gang, he chose to spare Guy Gardner and his teammates when he could have easily killed former, clarifying that his conflict was solely with Superman.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Cybernetic Enhancements: Following an explosion orchestrated by Lex Luthor, Corben's body was rebuilt by integrating parts of a massive combat robot previously developed by LuthorCorp scientists to eliminate metahumans. The majority of his body was replaced with advanced metal components, leaving only his head retaining Corben’s original facial features—aside from his now glowing red eyes.
- Superhuman Strength: Metallo possesses immense superhuman strength, making him a formidable opponent even against powerful metahumans. He can effortlessly overpower normal humans, as shown when he restrained Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen with ease. Prior Corben's integration to the machine, the original robot also knocked out Luthor’s bodyguard Murphy—a physically imposing individual—with a single punch. Metallo has demonstrated the ability to lift and hurl heavy artillery, tear through reinforced structures, and break free from molten steel girders. His strength enables him to stand toe-to-toe with metahuman heroes like Hawkgirl and to physically interact with constructs created by a Green Lantern’s power ring, showcasing the sheer force behind his cybernetic body.
- Superhuman Durability: Metallo’s metal body grants him exceptional durability, making him highly resistant to physical and energy-based attacks. He is impervious to Superman’s heat vision, which not only fails to damage him but can also reflect off his armor. He can endure powerful blows from Superman and withstand repeated strikes from Hawkgirl’s mace without showing significant damage. Even after being submerged in the Metropolis harbor, Metallo remained fully functional—Luthor confirmed that his body was specifically engineered to resist corrosion and cannot rust.
- Superhuman Stamina: Now a cyborg, Metallo no longer experiences fatigue or physical exhaustion. His mechanical body eliminates the need for food, water, or rest, allowing him to operate continuously without pause. This enables him to fight relentlessly, run long distances, and pursue targets without the limitations of a human body. His endurance gives him a distinct advantage in prolonged confrontations and high-intensity combat situations.
- Superhuman Speed: Metallo is capable of running at incredible speeds, fast enough to catch up with a moderately flying Superman when the latter attempted to lure him away from Metropolis.
- Superhuman Leap: To compensate for his inability to fly, Metallo uses his enhanced speed and strength to leap great distances, allowing him to keep pace with Superman during pursuit.
- Kryptonite Empowerment: To fight Superman more effectively, Metallo's body was upgraded with a Kryptonite power core, enabling him to generate intense radiation that weakens the Kryptonian when in close proximity. This Kryptonite can be activated on command, allowing Metallo to catch his opponent off guard, with his red eyes turning green during activation. However, its effectiveness is limited by distance—if Superman is too far away, the radiation has no impact.
Abilities[]
- Expert Combatant: Due to his background as an assassin, Corben was implied to be a proficient combatant, though he typically favored swift and discreet eliminations using firearms. After his transformation into Metallo, his superhuman strength and durability enhanced his effectiveness in hand-to-hand combat. With these upgrades, Corben became a formidable opponent, capable of simultaneously battling seasoned heroes like Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and Mister Terrific—and even defeating them during their second encounter. His tactical acumen allows him to time evasions precisely and exploit weaknesses in his enemies' powers. Nevertheless, despite his advanced combat capabilities, he remains outmatched by Superman's superior strength, speed, and resilience.
- Expert Marksman: When working as an assassin, Corben was presumed to be highly skilled in the use of firearms, relying on precision and discretion to eliminate his targets without drawing attention. His success rate earned him a fearsome reputation in the criminal underworld, with it being confirmed that he never failed to complete an assignment.
Equipment[]
- Kryptonite Power Core: Manipulated by Lex Luthor, Corben upgraded his cyborg body with a Kryptonite-fueled power core to increase his effectiveness against Superman. When activated, the Kryptonite causes Metallo’s eyes to glow green and emits powerful radiation that weakens and depowers Superman in close proximity.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
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Enemies[]
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Trivia[]
- In the comics, Metallo is a frequent enemy of Superman and is mostly known for his cybernetic body parts as well as the green Kryptonite he uses as an energy source.
Behind the Scenes[]
To be added
References[]
External Links[]
Metallo on Wikipedia- Metallo on DC Database
