METRON
Real Name: Metron
Class: Extradimensional?
Occupation: Scientist, seeker of knowledge
Group Affiliation: New Gods
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Supertown, New Genesis
First Appearance: New Gods I #1 (February-March, 1971)
Powers: Metron was a scientific genius armed with incalculable depths of knowledge, facts, and information that he has gathered over a lifetime. Metron has invented technological wonders too numerous to mention here. Metron’s most famous invention was the Mobius Chair, a vehicle which allowed him to travel through time, space, and other dimensions at will. The Mobius Chair was equipped with tractor beams powerful enough to pull a planet from its’ orbit.History: (New Gods I #7 (fb)) - Metron is the supreme explorer, scientist, and inventor of the New Gods. His mission is the unraveling of the mysteries of the universe. His credo is: “Who runs the universe matters not! What makes it run is my prime objective!” The mysteries of his own origins have yet to be revealed, save that he is not a native of New Genesis or Apokolips, but comes from another place altogether. Metron was linked to the New Gods, but was not one of them, he was something unforeseen and different. Although he allied himself with the New Gods, he is truly neither good nor evil. His main reason for helping the New Gods in battling Darkseid of Apokolips is fear of being made subject to Darkseid’s tyrannical rule. This would surely hinder Metron in his search for knowledge.
(New Gods I #7, New Gods III
#3 (fb)) - Darkseid discovered the x-element, and Metron wanted it to
build his Moebius Chair that would move through time and space. Darkseid said he
could have it if he agreed to build weapons of war for Apokolips’ battle with
New Genesis. Metron agreed, and used the x-element to create the Matter
Threshold that could instantly transport troops across space. Metron’s curiosity superseded any moral considerations, and as a result he was partially responsible for the ensuing war between New Genesis and Apokolips.
Metron had no ties to either side of the
war, so he felt no guilt in making weapons of mass destruction for Apokolips
while secretly aiding New Genesis.
During the great clash with Apokolips, giant biological mutants were released on
New Genesis. The Council of Five responded by developing biological mutant Bugs,
although Metron voiced his disapproval. The Bugs escaped and ravaged New
Genesis, so the Council blamed their creation on Apokolips, beginning the
unending conflict between God and Bug. The war ended when Darkseid and
Highfather made a poact to exchange sons, with Scott Free growing up on
Apokolips, and Orion being raised on New Genesis.
(New Gods III #22 (fb)) - Highfather watched the children of Supertown at play, supervised by Desdemona. He observed Orion and told Metron that he believed the future of New Genesis depended on overcoming his heritage, just as he believed Apokolips would win if Darkseid swayed Scott Free to the dark side. The newly resurrected Steppenwolf led a raid on New Genesis, and Desdemona led the children to a fortress while New Genesis soldiers turned away the attack. Metron almost had his Mobius Chair finished, but the power of the x-element destroyed the chair, and he needed more, so he contacted Darkseid. Darkseid exchanged more of the x-element for Boom Tubes, and while Metron successfully finished his chair and toured the cosmos Darkseid sent Steppenwolf to reclaim Orion from New Genesis. Many children were killed, but Orion himself turned the tide and sent Steppenwolf retreating. Desdemona once loved Metron, but she saw that he was unaffected by the massacre and told him she never wanted to see him again.
(Martian Manhunter II #33, 34) - Metron came to Mars and blamed the Martians for giving Darkseid the idea of the Anti-Life Equation, and J’Onn J’Onzz volunteered to go on a mission to Apokolips with Metron to halt Darkseid’s plans and free those Martians already abducted to Apokolips. Metron brought J’Onn to Apokolips and told him he had to leave, but promised him he’d find an ally in Himon.
(New Gods III #9) - Metron and Himon kept Scott Free’s spirits high while Granny Goodness tried to break him in her orphanage. When Scott was ready to escape they provided him with a Boom Tube to Earth. Scott’s escape gave Darkseid an excuse to resume hostilities with New Genesis. Metron always claimed to be merely an observer in the events of New Genesis and Apokolips, but he often acted as a catalyst.
(Blood of the Demon #10) - <1885> Metron and Scott Free investigated the American frontier to see if Darkseid had mae his influence felt on Earth yet. They found no signs of Darkseid, but helped the Demon destroy a demonic force hiding under a frontier town’s mine.
(New Gods I #1) - Highfather summoned Orion to New Genesis, and they read from the Source Wall, which predicted that Orion would go to Apokolips, then Earth, then to war. Metron wanted to aid them, and hinted that Darkseid was Orion's father, but Highfather told him to be quiet. Orion accused Metron of being willing to aid the devil to gain knowledge, and Metron reminded him that he only cared how the universe operated, not who ran it. Orion went to Apokolips and battled Para-Demons, Darkseid’s dog cavalry and Kalibak, but found the tyrant absent. A mass-director unit transmitted all of Darkseid’s orders, and Metron appeared to Orion, letting him know that Darkseid was on Earth searching for the anti-life equation. He’d broken the pact by bringing humans to Apokolips to scan their minds for the equation, and setting up base underground in Earth. Orion freed the humans on Apokolips and came to Earth, telling Darkseid they were at war.
(New Gods I #3) - The Black Racer, the Source’s personification of death, chose Lightray as his target, and they battled across space until Metron appeared and used a Boom Tube to redirect the Racer to Earth. Metron told Lightray to think logically when his life was at stake, and he hoped his experience with the Racer humbled him.(New Gods I #4) - Metron
continued his education of Esak, bringing him to a primitive planet and telling
him that it was that population's time to fight for survival, but that one day
they would dream and grow. He hoped the sight of himself flying above them in
his Mobius Chair would one day inspire them.
(New Gods I #5) - Metron explored the Promethian Galaxy, where titans who tried to penetrate the Source were petrified.
(Forever People I #7) – Highfather honored the New Genesis custom of listening to their youths by holding the Council of the Young. Metron learned through his Mobius Chair’s monitoring of cosmic events that the Forever People had brashly left New Genesis for Earth to combat Darkseid. The youths begged Highfather to save their friends. Highfather considered his next action, and Metron implored him to forget about the Forever People, who brought their troubles on themselves. Metron’s apprentice Esak asked Highfather to show the temperance and nurturing he was known for, and that was his very nature. Highfather told Esak that he was a very wise young man. Esak replied that the youth had to be wise to deal with the foolishness of their elders.
(DC Graphic Novel #4) - Metron left in search of an ultimate object, and left inexperienced Esak in charge of his side-projects. Esak found the extradimensional realm of the destructive Micro-Mark technology, but the machines he was using blew up in his face, horribly disfiguring him. He turned to Darkseid, and gave him the Micro-Mark, enabling Darkseid to obliterate New Genesis. The New Gods fled in a satellite city in search of a new home. Metron, who’d gained much knowledge and grown as a being, brought an unspoilt paradise planet to them using his Mobius Chair to serve as a new homeworld.
Metron then went back to his research, interfering only rarely in the affairs of the New Gods. During one journey through another dimension, Metron discovered the Anti-Life, an extradimensional creature of infinite power. The sight of the creature temporarily damaged Metron’s mind and he lapsed into a comatose state. The Anti-Life sent a portion of its’ energy into Earth’s dimension, and it took the combined might of the New God’s and Darkseid’s forces to banish it forever, but not before countless lives were lost. Recovering from his coma, Metron continued to wander the universe, oblivious to the carnage his quest for knowledge has often unleashed. Such matters are beneath his concern, he exists only to discover ultimate truth.
(New Gods III
#1-3) - Metron entered a coma, paralyzed by the amount of knowledge he
possessed. His wide-ranging mind sought out Earth, and observed a confrontation
between the gods of New Genesis and Kalibak and a horde of Para-Demons.
Highfather kept a watch on Metron, knowing the gods of New Genesis needed his
intellect. During peace talks between the New Gods and Bugs Metron awoke from
his coma and revealed to Orion that the Bugs were created by the New Gods as
biological weapons against Apokolips, but when they escaped and ravaged New
Genesis they blamed Apokolips for their creation. Metron felt the New Gods were
indebted to their creation. Orion felt betrayed and told Highfather he was not
as righteous as he seemed. He struck Highfather and left New Genesis.
(New Gods III #9, 11, 12) - Metron made his first trip to the lair of the Dreggs that contained machines that held the history of the Third and Fourth Worlds. He met Lightray, who was trying to spiritually save Orion, currently bent on Darkseid’s destruction. Metron used the Dregg’s archive to show him Orion’s life story, and warned him that Orion’s unthinking love of war could bring him to the dark side. Orion explored the world of the Dreggs and found a cocoon of the mightiest of the Old Gods, attempting to resurrect himself using the positive energy of New Genesis. Metron assumed it was futility, but he watched the god be reborn before his eyes. The positive energy of Highfather’s re-election on new Genesis allowed the rebirth, and more Dreggs were revitalized. Metron reflected that the Old Gods could one day pose a major threat to Darkseid’s reign.
(New Gods III #16) - Metron and Fastbak explored the Caverns of the Old Gods on Apokolips and Fastbak was eager to learn about their history and how they perished from Metron. They came across a broken sword that thrummed with energy. Metron told Fastbak that it was too dangerous to leave on Apokolips, and told him to take it to Highfather.
(New Gods III #19-21) - Metron learned that Yuga Khan had escaped the Promethian Galaxy. He reflected on Khan’s past, from power-mad ruler of Apokolips to prisoner after attempting to pierce the Source. He thought Khan’s story would be a lesson to Darkseid about overreaching power, but as much knowledge as Darkseid had he rarely learned anything from it. On New Genesis Highfather and Metron discussed the hubris of Khan for attempting to upset the balance that defined Apokolips and Genesis, and they consulted the Source. Khan took control of Apokolips, and Commander finally had the excuse to invade. Metron told Highfather his refusal to go to war gave him the greater authority, and he would, as ever, observe. Metron watched the invasion and thought that war was inevitable and engaging in it meant you’d already lost. Commander’s forces were devastated by Khan and Commander was killed. Metron continued his observations as Khan tried to pierce the Source Wall for a second time and was once again imprisoned in the Promethian Galaxy.
(New
Gods III #22) -Metron made his yearly sabbatical to the memorial for the
children killed by Steppenwolf, a tragedy he played a part in. Desdemona visited
the site as well and told Metron the reason he would never let her in or express
his sorrow for the tragedy was that he’d seen so much that he was afraid to
open his eyes.
(New Gods III #26) - Metron studied the Dreggs’ Cavern and argued with Necromina, telling her the heritage of the Old Gods was not the exclusive property of Darkseid. They witnessed the rebirth of an Old God, who used his hammer to restore the Cavern to its old glory.
(New Gods III #27, 28) - Lightray tried to save Earthwoman Anne Flaherty from Darkseid, who sought her for her piece of the anti-life equation, but by the time he reached her she was dead, killed by drunk driver John Elliot. Lightray was shocked that Elliot showed no remorse for taking the life of a woman highly regarded by her friends for charity. In an effort to understand he sought out Metron, who showed him his micro-cosmic miniature replica of Earth, and let him touch the liferock that contained the memories of everyone on Earth, so he could experience Anne’s life. Disarmed by all the good she’d done in her life he asked if Metron understood the technology Darkseid used to resurrect his minions. Metron did, and although it was forbidden to use it on New Genesis he thought it would be an interesting experiment. Highfather forbade it, but in the end Lightray had a change of heart on his own. Highfather expected Metron to show some regret, but he had none, telling Highfather all scientific experiments contained a measure of risk. Highfather told him to join the forces of Darkseid and be done with it, and Metron pondered the idea.
(Superman II #65, Superman: The Man of Steel #10, Superman II #66, Adventures of Superman #489) - Metron sensed a tragic event unfolding in the universe, and investigating he discovered that Warworld had destroyed the planet Almerac. He sensed Brainiac’s presence, and the madman’s plan to invade Earth. Metron sent a warning to Lightray and Orion, but Brainiac removed Metron from the Mobius Chair and imprisoned him. Metron’s warning allows Superman to assemble an army of superheroes to defend Earth. When Metron was freed and reunited with his Mobius Chair, he shows a rare sign of emotion…anger. Metron assisted in Brainiac’s defeat, and later imprisoned him on New Genesis, despite an outcry from several heroes.
(JLA #15) - An evil alternate timeline version of Metron sent members of the JLA through time and space to ensue the destruction of the Worlogog that would lead to the birth of his timeline. The JLA prevented the destruction of the Worlogog, a miniature version of all spacetime, and the evil Metron was erased from spacetime. The mainstream Metron claimed the Worlogog and implied to the JLA that Earth would one day be the cradle of the next generation of gods. Metron traveled to the year 85271 and gave the Worlogog to Hourman of Justice Legion A, hoping to groom Hourman as his successor. He warned Hourman that another turning point that could radically alter the timeline for the worse was coming, ad it would be his job to prevent this.
(New Gods Secret Files #1) - The Source Wall revealed to Metron and Takion that Mageddon, a doomsday weapon of the Old Gods, was set to reawaken and attack Earth. They agreed to have Orion and Big Barda join the JLA in order to combat this threat to the universe.
(JLA
#24) - Metron came to New Genesis to watch Takion communicate with the Source
Wall and learned that Mageddon would contact Earth in under two months.
(JLA
#36-38, 40, 41) - With Mageddon approaching Earth, Metron brought Big Barda and
Wonder Woman of the JLA to check on Wonderworld, home of the Theocracy, the
first line of defense against Mageddon. Wonderworld was decimated and Mageddon
had killed the Theocracy. On their way back to Earth the heroes saw other
civilizations cut down by Mageddon. Mageddon visited Oracle in Gotham City, gave
her a Mother Box, and said he was offering his help against Mageddon because
humanity was the forerunner for a new race of gods. He then saved Green Lantern
Kyle Rayner from an encounter with Queen Bee’s drones and told him he would be
essential in stopping Mageddon. The JLA built an anti-war ray, a device that
gave all of humanity the ability to resist Mageddon’s urgings for them to
destroy each other, as well as temporary superpowers so that they could all help
fight Mageddon, and the final blow was delivered when Superman absorbed the
anti-sun that powered Mageddon.
(JLA #114) - Metron observed the growth of a budding new universe inside Krona’s cosmic egg, and wanted to ensure no one interfered with its growth.
Comments: Created by Jack Kirby
Metron received profiles in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #15, Who's Who in the DC Universe #2, JLA-Z #3 and New Gods Secret Files #1.
There was a pin-up of Metron in the Fourth World Gallery.
Metron had cameos in Action Comics #650, JSA #75, New Gods II #13 and New Gods III #8. Green Lantern III #101 had a flashback of Metron's battle against Parallax during Zero Hour.
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