It's time to honor that walking perodic table...Rex Mason, Metamorpho. Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon combined to give us the Element Man in The Brave and the Bold #57 (Jan, 1965). Rex was a soldier of fortune employed by crooked businessman Simon Stagg. He was hired to find the Orb of Ra in the ruins of Egypt. In addition to his work, he found time to fall in love with Stagg's daughter Sapphire. Stagg's caveman bodyguard, Java, was jealous of Mason, and left him to die in a temple. But, Rex had been exposed to the orb's energy, and altered into a bizarre new form. Now, he could transmute himself into any element. Metamopho proved to be quite popular, and was soon awarded his own solo series. He became an ally of the JLA. He even turned down League membership (though he would belong to other incarnations of the team in the future). At the peak of his popularity, Filmation created a Metamopho cartoon series in the 60's. Unfortunately, only six episodes were made, and they were never aired.
In the decades ahead, Rex would switch teams (Outsiders, Justice League International branches, Doom Patrol) as often as he changed shape. But, nothing mutated as much as his relationship with Sapphire. Over the years they have been married with a son, and single with no offspring (depending on the whims of the writer). He has also died, and come back, on many occasions. One time he broke apart, and a piece of him developed into a separate individual. This entity became a new hero Shift, though he was later assimilated back into the real Rex.
Tomorrow, the ROOTIN' TOOTIN' story of the Big Apple's greatest cowboy hero...
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