What do you think?
Rate this book
Metamorpho
Metamorpho: Year One - Trade Paperback
He's changing what it means to be a Hero!
He's saved the world countless times as part of the Justice League and the Outsiders. But for Metamorpho, the Element Man, his greatest adventure was his very first - because that's when everything changed for him.
Rax Mason is no stranger to adventure. As host of the reality show "Treasure Quest," Rex has unearthed mysteries and stared down death, all in the name of rating - and to prove his love for the beautiful Sapphire Stagg. But Rex finds himself double-crossed, left for dead in a lost pyramid where he was unearthing the powerful and mysterious Orb or Ra.
But Rex doesn't die in the pyramid. Mysterious forces within it transform him into a freak of nature - more powerful than any human being, but terryfying to behold. With the ability to change his body into any element on Earth, Rex could be the greatest hero the world has ever known... But will he ever be human again?
Metamorpho's origin is retold and reinvented for a new age by master creator Dan Jurgens (THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN, BOOSTER GOLD) and artists Mike Norton (THE ALL NEW ATOM, COUNTDOWN) and Jesse Delpderdang (BATMAN AND SON).
He's saved the world countless times as part of the Justice League and the Outsiders. But for Metamorpho, the Element Man, his greatest adventure was his very first - because that's when everything changed for him.
Rax Mason is no stranger to adventure. As host of the reality show "Treasure Quest," Rex has unearthed mysteries and stared down death, all in the name of rating - and to prove his love for the beautiful Sapphire Stagg. But Rex finds himself double-crossed, left for dead in a lost pyramid where he was unearthing the powerful and mysterious Orb or Ra.
But Rex doesn't die in the pyramid. Mysterious forces within it transform him into a freak of nature - more powerful than any human being, but terryfying to behold. With the ability to change his body into any element on Earth, Rex could be the greatest hero the world has ever known... But will he ever be human again?
Metamorpho's origin is retold and reinvented for a new age by master creator Dan Jurgens (THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN, BOOSTER GOLD) and artists Mike Norton (THE ALL NEW ATOM, COUNTDOWN) and Jesse Delpderdang (BATMAN AND SON).
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2008
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Dan Jurgens
2,245 books285 followersDan Jurgens is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for his work on the DC comic book storyline "The Death of Superman" and for creating characters such as Doomsday, Hank Henshaw, and Booster Gold. Jurgens had a lengthy run on the Superman comic books including The Adventures of Superman, Superman vol. 2 and Action Comics. At Marvel, Jurgens worked on series such as Captain America, The Sensational Spider-Man and was the writer on Thor for six years. He also had a brief run as writer and artist on Solar for Valiant Comics in 1995.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 16, 2020
Rex Mason went from being a nobody to one of the greatest adventurers and TV stars. He thought it was the greatest metamorphosis of his life. But he was wrong.
The book explores Rex Mason's transformation into Metamorpho, the Element Man. While the book offers solid artwork, it lags behind in the field of writing and storytelling.
A story with great potential but with uninteresting characters that are lacking depth, leave behind a mediocre and forgettable story.
The book explores Rex Mason's transformation into Metamorpho, the Element Man. While the book offers solid artwork, it lags behind in the field of writing and storytelling.
A story with great potential but with uninteresting characters that are lacking depth, leave behind a mediocre and forgettable story.
January 10, 2014
I'm really happy I only paid the Amazon marketplace price for this one. At $16.99, I woulda been pissed off at reading this.
Metamorpho: Year One is one of the more offensive revamps, bringing Rex Mason's transformation up to the 21st Century rather than a nebulous time in the sixties. The covers by Kevin Nowlan, one of the great unsung artists of the past thirty years, soften the blow a bit. But the problem is that, with this single story, Dan Jurgens manages to destroy one very important and iconic facet of the Element Man's life.
The one important thing for Rex was that his girlfriend, Sapphire Stagg, didn't care all that much that he had been transformed into the freakish Metamorpho, and still loved him. That is no longer apparent in the tale, as Sapphire is always shrinking away from her former paramour, and takes up cavorting with a sleazy guy working for her father with ulterior motives for the last two issues. Most of Sapphire's personality is skewed; she's far more trusting of her father and way more fluff-headed (read: Paris Hilton) than Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon's character ever was in the original Metamorpho series. Frankly, I'm surprised there wasn't a little dog added to her ensemble, but I think this series came out before Paris Hilton made her justifiably short-lived pop culture waves.
Mind you, it's not as bad as that horrid Element Woman that they added to the New 52 Justice League, but it's still destroying an iconic character's history for no discernable reason other than a writer to stamp his own imprint on the character.
The artwork is excellent: Mike Norton and Jesse Delperdang manage to make things look slightly cartoony, with a bit of realism. The interior art and the covers are really the only redeeming qualities of this series.
If you have a choice, read the Showcase Presents: Metamorpho book. It's in black-and-white, but it's much more representative of a favorite character of mine.
Metamorpho: Year One is one of the more offensive revamps, bringing Rex Mason's transformation up to the 21st Century rather than a nebulous time in the sixties. The covers by Kevin Nowlan, one of the great unsung artists of the past thirty years, soften the blow a bit. But the problem is that, with this single story, Dan Jurgens manages to destroy one very important and iconic facet of the Element Man's life.
The one important thing for Rex was that his girlfriend, Sapphire Stagg, didn't care all that much that he had been transformed into the freakish Metamorpho, and still loved him. That is no longer apparent in the tale, as Sapphire is always shrinking away from her former paramour, and takes up cavorting with a sleazy guy working for her father with ulterior motives for the last two issues. Most of Sapphire's personality is skewed; she's far more trusting of her father and way more fluff-headed (read: Paris Hilton) than Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon's character ever was in the original Metamorpho series. Frankly, I'm surprised there wasn't a little dog added to her ensemble, but I think this series came out before Paris Hilton made her justifiably short-lived pop culture waves.
Mind you, it's not as bad as that horrid Element Woman that they added to the New 52 Justice League, but it's still destroying an iconic character's history for no discernable reason other than a writer to stamp his own imprint on the character.
The artwork is excellent: Mike Norton and Jesse Delperdang manage to make things look slightly cartoony, with a bit of realism. The interior art and the covers are really the only redeeming qualities of this series.
If you have a choice, read the Showcase Presents: Metamorpho book. It's in black-and-white, but it's much more representative of a favorite character of mine.
July 29, 2012
Fun and cute little story about Metamorpho and his coming to terms with his unwanted powers.
November 27, 2020
A couple of days ago, I was an ordinary guy named Rex Mason.
Heroes don't die. They morph, adapting to the temperatures. Reality TV star Rex Mason goes from zero-to-hero in this graphic novel by Dan Jurgens, searching for meaning after he was left for dead inside an Egyptian pyramid.
Looking at him closely, I can tell he's similar to the T-1000.
May 14, 2024
An updated look at Metamorpho's origin story.
From reality show host Rex Mason and his change to Metamorpho and his invitation to join the Justice League.
Good read, well written and great illustrations make for an enjoyable read.
From reality show host Rex Mason and his change to Metamorpho and his invitation to join the Justice League.
Good read, well written and great illustrations make for an enjoyable read.
August 19, 2017
This was a solid book in both the writing and art departments. Metamorpho has been one of those characters that generally is written with humour, but Dan Jurgens here gives him a decent personality and in the main plays it straight. The book follows the general origin we know, though Jurgens digs a little deeper and adds some depth. Simon Stagg especially was written well.
The art was clean and very well laid out, but I must admit to not liking the Kevin Nowlan covers, though I do like Nowlan on other stuff.
Not essential reading, but great entertainment.
The art was clean and very well laid out, but I must admit to not liking the Kevin Nowlan covers, though I do like Nowlan on other stuff.
Not essential reading, but great entertainment.
March 18, 2018
Decent, if disjointed, origin story for Metamorpho.
May 28, 2019
The lead character occasionally got a humorous line but otherwise this was pretty ho-hum.
September 1, 2022
Great Story
July 14, 2025
Surprisingly bette than I thought ??? Metamorpho you’re my new fav DC character
March 22, 2010
As someone who tends to prefer the 2nd and 3rd tier heroes of the DC Universe, I really was glad to see a "new" origin for Rex Mason (updating a origin story told by Mark Waid and Graham Nolan in an earlier miniseries from the early '90s). While Jurgens isn't generally a huge favorite of mine, his uncluttered art and storyline really convey the story of how a famous thrill seeker became one of the DCU's more unique heroes. As well as the terrible price he paid (and continues to pay).
Want to read
August 16, 2010Me suele gustar Metamorpho y me ha gustado Jurgens. No sé si algún día conseguiré esta edición pero ahí queda hasta nuevo aviso.
November 7, 2012
This was a bit of a punt. Didn't know too much about the character. Thought the artwork was decent, and they actually imbued the main character with a real sense of desperation.
Want to read
February 28, 2016Origen de Metamorfo según Jurgens y Norton.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews