metamorpho (Earth-7)

Rex Manson, once a soldier and bounty hunter, became the elemental hero Metamorpho after a fateful expedition in Egypt exposed him to the mystical power of the Orb of Ra. Struggling between being viewed as a cursed freak and embracing his newfound gifts, Rex ultimately found purpose as a unique hero, one capable of bridging dimensions and potentially unlocking the multiverse itself.

Biography

Early Life

Rex Manson lived a life of danger and exploration as a former soldier and retired bounty hunter. During one of his expeditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, he lost part of his vision in an accident, forcing him to step back from his career. Despite his injuries, Rex still sought to prove his worth — particularly after falling in love with Sapphire Stagg, daughter of the wealthy industrialist Simon Stagg, head of Stagg Industries.

Working for Stagg Industries

Simon disapproved of Rex, considering him unworthy of his daughter and useless without his former profession. Yet, when the subject of a failed expedition to Egypt arose, Simon offered Rex a chance to prove himself. A previous team led by Urania Blackwell had gone missing while searching for a mysterious energy source believed to come from the Orb of Ra, a legendary meteorite fragment said to contain immense power. Stagg tasked Rex with investigating the site.

Rex embarked on the mission and reached the Egyptian ruins. Inside the ancient catacombs, he discovered evidence of the lost explorers but also signs that the Orb had been removed. While examining a fissure in the chamber floor, the ground collapsed beneath him, and Rex came into direct and prolonged contact with the meteorite’s raw energy.

As Metamorpho

He was eventually found and taken to a Stagg Industries facility, where surgeons attempted to experiment on his altered body. His skin had transformed into strange elemental matter, capable of shifting and breaking free of restraints with ease. With Sapphire’s help, Rex escaped, but he was left forever changed — transformed into the elemental being known as Metamorpho.

Now hiding with Sapphire in Gateway City, Rex has begun to operate as a vigilante, struggling to embrace his powers as a gift rather than a curse. His abilities allow him to alter his body into any elemental form, making him nearly indestructible and versatile in combat. Because of this, many organizations — from the Outsiders and Global Guardians and even the Challengers of the Unknown — have sought to recruit him.

One of his strongest supporters is the philanthropist and genius Michael Holt (Mr. Terrific), who believes Rex’s unique nature may hold the key to exploring the fourth dimension and the multiverse beyond.

Once seen as a broken man, Rex Manson now walks the path of a reluctant but powerful hero — a man cursed by fate, but destined to make a difference.