John Corben


 * "Here to help humanity he says. WELL HE TOOK MINE AWAY!"

- Metallo about Lex Luthor

John Wayne Corben (born 1973) was an average con man living in Metropolis until his apartment building was set ablaze and was crumbling to the ground. This event left his body scarred and he was barely alive, being put onto life support. Lex Luthor and Mercy Graves came to his room saying that they could save his life if he worked for them. As a result, Lex turned him into a host of his newest project, "Metallo". Corben's mental state began to crumble and he became insane trying to ruin Lex Luthor but was stopped by Superman.

New timeline (Post-Reign)
John Corben was born in January 1973 and became a professional con man. His childhood is unknown but it is recognized that he worked in Gotham around the time that Martha and Thomas Wayne were murdered. He eventually moved to Metropolis and lived in an apartment near the South of Metropolis, next to the LexCorp Docks.

Man of Tomorrow
Corben attended a LexCorp rally which was an event hosted by Lex Luthor to announce his newest project, "Project Metallo". John spoke to Steve Lombard about how it was an excuse for Lex Luthor to spy on Metropolis' citizens instead of being a peace-keeping operation. After the rally concluded, John returned to his apartment where it was set ablaze by an unknown cause. Fortunately, Clark Kent attended the rally and heard the cries with his super hearing. Clark excused himself and went to a telephone booth to turn into Superman. He flew to the apartment building saving as many people as he could but Corben was left behind and was dragged out of the building after being heavily harmed from the incident. He was put into an ambulance immediately and taken to Metropolis General Hospital where he was put into extensive care.

Lex Luthor and Mercy Graves approached Corben and claimed they could completely heal him if he became the host of Luthor's prototype Metallo. He agreed and woke up in a lab feeling even stronger than before.

As days and weeks pass, John Corben is being a "hero" to the public but his mind is slowly decaying and he's committing crimes such as purchasing weapons from black market sellers in the alleys of Metropolis. Eventually, Corben confronts Lex Luthor about how he's losing his sanity and that he's become even less human than before, however he's assured he will get better. After storming out the building in anger, he's roaming the city and sees a LexCorp truck shipping a load of Metallo exoskeletons heading to the LexCorp Docks. Corben was angry at Lex, his entire company. So he attacks the shipment and tears the truck apart. He murders anyone inside and outside. Guards around him tried shooting but the bullets couldn't penetrate his exoskeleton.

Superman arrives at the scene ready to stop Metallo, however, he didn't recognize his abilities. Corben punched Superman and he was sent flying. Superman acknowledged Metallo's strength and the two fought. The battle is taken to the streets of Metropolis and punches are thrown about. Civilians watch in awe and Jimmy Olsen takes multiple pictures of the fight, it was the scoop of the decade. Superman is coming out on top and is defeating Metallo, but then he punches a hole in Metallo's chest.

A green rock emitting dangerous radiation is revealed. Superman falls to his knees and Metallo uses this opportunity. Metallo starts beating Superman relentlessly, yelling about how his life is ruined, while the city watches in awe.

Superman uses the power he has left to emit a blast of heat vision as a means to get Metallo off of him. The blast burns half of Corben's skin, revealing his exoskeleton. Metallo escapes the scene and isn't found again.