Juan Cordero, or Metallo, is a Kryptonite-powered cyborg. He is an extremely loyal servant of Lex Luthor.
Personality[]
Metallo is extremely loyal and idolizes Lex Luthor. He strongly admires and looks up to him due to the help and assistance he has provided to his family and willingly offered his services. Metallo's dedication and devotion is the point he sees Lex Luthor as a father figure and is happy to go against those he believes betrayed him, especially Superboy. He holds an incredible hatred for Superboy, seeing him as selfish and ungrateful and is determined to end his life. Metallo truly believes all his actions are done to avenge Luthor, unaware he was carefully lied to and manipulated, with Lex removing or altering parts of his history with Superboy to further convince Metallo to serve him.[1]
Physical appearance[]
Metallo has a human head and neck, with short, brown hair, brown eyes and pale skin. The rest of his body is a humanoid robot made of dark gray metal with various glowing green elements, most notably the chest which consists of a large glowing green window with three pairs of metal "ribs".[2]
History[]
Early life[]
At some point, Juan Cordero discovered he was a Meta-human with self-healing powers. He feared he would be treated as a freak, but Lex Luthor showed him kindness. Luthor gave Juan's mother a job at LexCorp and got his sisters into the best schools. Juan was extremely grateful, and when Luthor asked nothing in return, instead volunteered his services. Luthor fed him a series of lies and half truths about Superboy, Superman and Match that led Juan to see Superboy as an ungrateful and traitorous son to Luthor, and Juan determined to become the loyal son Conner was not and exact vengeance. Thus he agreed to a series of unpleasant surgeries that gave him a metal body to match the Boy of Steel, becoming Metallo. He required a power source however, and Luthor concocted a plan to acquire it for him.[1]
2020[]
On November 9, Lex Luthor's plan to intercept a large chunk of Kryptonite being given to STAR Labs by Perdita Vladek succeeded, and the rock was later implanted into Metallo's chest as a power source.[3][1]
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As the Outsiders' Gorilla Squad and Onslaught fought in the LexCorp Robotics factory, Metallo's Kryptonite radiation weakened Superboy and poisoned Match. Metallo emerged and introduced himself to Superboy.[2]
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He explained to Superboy about his history with Lex Luthor, including the lies Lex had fed him that fuelled his hatred towards Superboy.[1]
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Miss Martian arrived in time to save Superboy from Metallo, telekinetically destroying his hands. M'gann ripped out his Kryptonite heart, but Devastation interceded on Metallo's behalf, informing M'gann he needed it to live. Miss Martian left the Kryptonite behind.[4]
Powers and abilities[]
- Self-healing: Juan found out he was a Meta-human with self-healing powers.[1]
- Metal body: Juan underwent multiple surgeries to gain a metal body powered by Kryptonite to make him a match for Superboy.[1]
- Super strength[1]
- Kryptonite radiation: Metallo's body emits Kryptonite radiation, weakening and even poisoning nearby Kryptonians.[2]
Appearances[]
- Companion comics
- YJT 04. "Foreign Affairs"
- YJT 05. "Metallic Aftertaste"
- YJT 06. "Last Rights"
Background information[]
- Metallo (or Metalo) is an enemy of Superman. The Golden Age Metalo was George Grant who wore a powered exoskeleton. The first Silver Age Metallo was John Corben who was kept alive by a robotic body powered by Green Kryptonite, which he also uses as a weapon against the Man of Steel. His brother Roger Corben would later become a Metallo following his apparent death. The name Juan Cordero appears to be inspired by John Corben.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Metallic Aftertaste" Young Justice: Targets (October 11, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Foreign Affairs" Young Justice: Targets (Septmeber 13, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
- ↑ Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Cherry Gig" Young Justice: Targets (June 14, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
- ↑ Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Last Rights" Young Justice: Targets (November 8, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics