Metamorpho, Number 8, September-October, 1966, cover
©DC Comics (National Periodical Publications)

Cover

Editor:  George Kashdan
Penciler: Sal Trapani
Inker: Charles Paris
Colorist: unknown
Letterer: unknown

 "Element Man, Public Enemy"

Script: Bob Haney (Script)
Penciler: Sal Trapani
Inker: Charles Paris
Colorist: unknown
Letterer: unknown

 On the dramatic cover of Metamorpho 8, our hero faces Doc Dread. The cover image uses the fact that cobalt is among the hardest of the first-row transition metals.  As we learned from the Metal Men,<link to the other image> it is often used to harden steel.

 The story opens with Rex Mason, a.k.a. Metamorpho, and his girl friend Sapphire Stagg at Metamorpho a-go-go, the newest, hottest discotheque in town. Rex shows off by dancing "The Element Man," played by house band Trixie and Lobo.  He has revealed his non-secret identity to the crowd when the caveman Java, Simon Stagg's assistant, calls Rex and Sapphire back to his mansion.  The Governor and Police Commissioner show Metamorpho a picture of Doc Dread, a scientific genius and leader of a fantastic criminal ring that is waging war on society. The Commissioner asks Metamorpho to join, then take over Doc Dread's gang.  Metamorpho uses his elemental powers to break into Doc Dread's guarded and booby-trapped grounds. Metamorpho disguises himself as Dyna-Man, secretly foiling Doc Dread's attacks with elemental counter-attacks. The gang quickly switches its allegiance to the Element Man. Doc Dread, Dyna-Man and the gang rob a ship of its cargo of gold, camouflaged as scrap iron.  Metamorpho melts the gold, pours it down a manhole cover, then recovers it from the end of a sewer into a waiting oil-tank truck.  Later, Java is caught attempting to break into Doc Dread's mansion, then spills the beans to the Doc about Metamorpho's disguise. Doc Dread reveals his plan to steal "Smarty-Pants," the government's computer containing all of its secrets. That night, he steals the Orb of Ra, the source of the Element Man's powers, from Stagg's mansion. When the gang robs the train bearing the super-computer, Doc Dread uses the hidden Orb of Ra to weaken Metamorpho and remove his disguise. Doc makes his escape with the suitcase-sized super-computer. Simon and Sapphire Stagg, having learned about Java's treachery, arrive in a helicopter to save the day in the nick of time. Sapphire uncovers the Orb of Ra and pitches it away from Metamorpho, restoring his strength.  He catches up with Doc Dread, acting out the cover scene by using a cobalt hand to counter Doc's ion pistol.  The authorities arrive to arrest the miscreants. Doc Dread's gang goes to jail, Metamorpho and Sapphire return to the disco, and Simon Stagg and Java search for the lost Orb of Ra so that Simon can retain his control over the Element Man.

 As far as I know, this is the first and only appearance of rather faceless villain Doc Dread. His powers consist of a multi-purpose pistol that shoots out heat, cold and ion beams and a criminal mind. Metamorpho uses a wide assortment of elemental tricks to move the story along and defeat Doc's gang.