Metron (character)

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Metron
Metron (New Gods character).png
Metron as depicted in New Gods #5 (November 1971), art by Jack Kirby (pencils) and Mike Royer (inks).
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance New Gods #1 (February–March 1971)
Created by Jack Kirby
In-story information
Team affiliations New God
Abilities
  • Immortality
  • Superhuman physical attributes
  • Super intellect
  • Universal knowledge
  • Undefined god-like abilities
  • Utilizing Mobius Chair

Metron is a fictional antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. A member of the New Gods, he is an amoral and neutral collector of knowledge. He is commonly seen in the Mobius Chair, which can travel across time and space.

Contents

Metron has been adapted into various works featuring the New Gods. He is voiced by Daniel Dae Kim in Justice League Unlimited and Phil LaMarr in Young Justice .

Publication history

Metron first appeared in New Gods #1 (February–March 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series. [1] He was based on Leonard Nimoy's portrayal of the Star Trek character Spock and designed as a character who "would frequently change sides (between New Genesis and Apokolips)". [2] The Metrons in Star Trek serve a similar capacity in the episode "Arena", seeking to settle a conflict in their star system by pitting Kirk against a Gorn captain.

Fictional character biography

Although he possesses the powers of a god, Metron is typically depicted as a passive observer in the DC Universe rather than an active participant. He wanders in search of greater knowledge beyond his own, riding on his Mobius Chair, [3] which can traverse time and space instantaneously. Metron is of neither New Genesis nor Apokolips, and usually avoids the struggle between the two worlds. Metron invented the "Boom Tube" technology used by the New Gods to teleport vast distances. [4]

In 1989's Legends mini-series, Metron confides in Darkseid about the Anti-Life Equation. Apparently, Metron holds the key to the Anti-Life Equation. However, he is a seeker of knowledge, therefore he will tell no one of his knowledge. In the 1982 DC/Marvel crossover The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans , Metron tells Darkseid that Dark Phoenix is a part of the Anti-Life Equation. In the 2007 "Death of the New Gods" miniseries leading into Final Crisis , the Source explains the origin of the Anti-Life Equation to Metron.

Metron helps contact most of Earth's superheroes to gather them during the Zero Hour crisis. During Extant's return, he battles alongside the Justice Society of America after Extant gains control of the omnipotent Worlogog.

In Kurt Busiek's JLA/Avengers miniseries, Metron observes the events in that story, and gives Iron Man a Mother Box to balance the power given to the Justice League by Grandmaster. He observes and investigates Krona's actions, refusing to deviate from his non-involvement at the end when Krona demanded his aid. At the end, Metron watches over the newly formed cosmic egg.

In Mister Miracle , Metron contacts Mister Miracle during a stunt gone wrong, making him aware of the Fourth World. In his first appearance in the book, he looks like he has before, but later he disguises himself as an epileptic man in a wheelchair.

During the events of Death of the New Gods , where the mysterious deaths of the entire Fourth World accelerated, Metron learns that the murderer is the Source, who has been trying to reacquire its original powers and reunite with its other half: the Anti-Life Entity. Rather than stop the Source, Metron stands by the Source's side to watch as the Fourth World comes to an end. After the death of Mister Miracle at the hands of the Source, Metron grows disgusted and demands to be killed, with the Source complies with. [5] Superman later uses Metron's Mobius Chair to gain the precious Element X needed to power up the Miracle Machine enough to restore the multiverse and undo all damages brought by Darkseid. It is revealed that Metron and every other denizen of Apokolips and New Genesis, except for Darkseid, is fated to be reborn. [6]

The New 52

In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. Metron consults with Highfather about the various uses of the Lantern rings. About twenty members of the interstellar police force, the Green Lantern Corps confront Highfather and his military forces. They are trying to recover the power ring belonging to the sentient planet Mogo, who needs it to remain sentient and viable. Highfather leaves the matter to his subordinates, who slaughter most of the Lanterns. [7]

Metron confronts the Anti-Monitor on Earth-Three an attempt to divert a war between the Anti-Monitor and Darkseid. A conversation between Metron and the Anti-Monitor suggests that he once sat on the Mobius Chair himself prior to Metron. Metron is struck from behind by Darkseid's daughter Grail, who leaves him for dead. [8]

Metron returns to confront the Justice League and warn them that they should evacuate Earth, as it is impossible to win against the Anti-Monitor and Darkseid. Diana uses the Lasso of Truth to make Metron admit that they can find the answers if they take the chair from him, prompting Diana to pull him off the chair and Batman to sit in it, giving him access to all of Metron's accumulated knowledge. [9]

After the Anti-Monitor and Darkseid are destroyed in battle, Metron appears on the moon and trains Owlman, who now controls the Mobius Chair. As Owlman demands to know the secrets of the universe, he and Metron are vaporized by a mysterious entity. [10]

During the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline, an omniversal being called the Chronicler watches the battle between Perpetua and the Darkest Knight. The Chronicler resurrects Metron, who notes that they have similar motives in life, like wanting to observe and save the multiverse. Metron allows the Chronicler to look into his mind. [11]

Powers and abilities

As a New God, Metron possesses superhuman physical abilities and is nigh-immortal. He is a skilled inventor and wields the Mobius Chair, which enables him to travel through time and space.

Other versions

In other media

Television

Film

In Justice League: Gods and Monsters , the crippled and apparently paralyzed Lex Luthor (voiced by Jason Isaacs) turns into a version of Metron via Boom Tube technology provided by Wonder Woman.

Video games

Metron appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure . [17]

Merchandise

Metron received an exclusive action figure through Mattel's online DC Universe Signature Series line.

References

  1. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 201. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. Ro, Ronin. Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2004)
  3. Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 39. ISBN   978-1605490564.
  4. The DC Comics Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2004. p. 202. ISBN   0-7566-0592-X.
  5. Death of the New Gods #7 (May 2008)
  6. Final Crisis #7 (March 2009)
  7. Green Lantern (vol. 5) #35 (October 2014)
  8. Justice League (vol. 2) #40 (April 2015)
  9. Justice League (vol. 2) #42 (July 2015)
  10. Justice League (vol. 2) #50 (May 2016)
  11. Dark Nights: Death Metal: Rise of a New God one-shot (December 2020)
  12. Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle #4 (May 2006)
  13. Rich Fogel & Bruce Timm (writers); Dan Riba (director) (1998-02-14). "Apokolips...Now! (Part 2)". Superman: The Animated Series. Season 2. Episode 26. The WB.
  14. 1 2 "Metron Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved June 8, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  15. Matt Wayne (writer); Dan Riba (director) (2006-05-06). "Alive!". Justice League Unlimited. Season 3. Episode 12. Cartoon Network.
  16. Dwayne McDuffie (writer); Joaquim Dos Santos (director) (2006-05-13). "Destroyer". Justice League Unlimited. Season 3. Episode 13. Cartoon Network.
  17. Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN . Retrieved June 8, 2024.