METAL MASTER

Real Name: Molyb

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Astran) paranormal

Occupation: Former would-be world conqueror

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Absorbing Man (Carl Creel), Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon), Blinky, Monsteroso, Raava the Un-Skrulled;
    formerly Pelyn;
    former inmate at unidentified interstellar prison;
    one of the aliens sent to Earth during Maximum Security;
    uses robots of his own design

Enemies: Conclave of Seven Planets, Hulk (Bruce Banner), Intergalactic Council, Pelyn, Rom, Jailer, Spyder, Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)

Known Relatives: Pelyn (husband, deceased)

Aliases: None

Place of Birth: The planet Astra in the Mu Cephi star system

Base of Operations: Currently unknown; formerly some intergalactic prison; the planet Astra, second planet from the sun in the Mu Cephi star system, Milky Way Galaxy

First Appearance: Incredible Hulk I#6 (March, 1963)

Powers: The Metal Master possesses the ability to animate and control virtually all known forms of metal. He can manipulate metals on an atomic level and across planetary distances. He can alter the shape and form of metals at will, liquefying them, forming complex objects out of them, levitate them, etc. One notable exception is Plandanium, the metal from which the armor of the Spaceknights of Galador is made (at least the cyborg armor, which is fused with his living cells is resistant, anyway). He could affect this Plandanium to some degree, but he could not control it as with other metals. He's also got this major obsession with metal.
    As an Astran, he is hairless, has four lungs and two hearts, and he has special excretory glands on his stomach. 

Height: 5'6"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Eyes: Black
Hair: None
Skin: Yellow

History:
The origins of the Metal Master are unknown. He comes from the planet Astra which is ruled by a theocracy. The source and nature of his abilities remain unrevealed, though they may be native to his race.

(Black Bolt#5 (fb) - BTS) - Molyb once loved Pelyn, a male sculptor, but Molyb was obsessed with power and Pelyn conspired against Molyb. Molyb later had Pelyn executed in front of the palace.

(Incredible Hulk I#6 (fb) ) <By his own account> - Of all the Astrans, only Molyb was judged a criminal; he was sentenced to eternal exile for wanting to use his great power to conquer all.

(Incredible Hulk I#6 (fb) ) <By his own account>- "For time beyond measure," Molyb roamed the galaxies, seeking a planet that was rich in metal that he could rule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Incredible Hulk I#6) - Molyb's ship arrived on Earth, and he used his powers to melt an experimental space probe rocket at Desert Base (Los Diablos Missile Base). After introducing himself as the Metal Master, he detailed his abilities and history, he announced his intent to conquer Earth, at which point General Ross ordered his troops to attack. Molyb easily overcame the defenses the military sent against him by controlling their metal weapons and vehicles. The Metal Master even defeated the Hulk in their first encounter (although the Hulk did have some weird, Ditkoesque deal going on where he had Banner's head on the Hulk's body, and he was wearing a Hulk mask, and...ahh, go read it!).

    The Metal Master then traveled the Earth, demonstrating his power and destroying various forms of technology, etc., such as oil drills in the Middle East, construction in Africa, shipping in the Mediterranean, and bridges he uprooted in the heart of Europe.

    The Hulk later returned, armed with a big gun designed to destroy the Metal Master (who failed to realize it was plastic). When the Metal Master couldn't affect the weapon, he was caught off guard long enough for the Hulk to grab him. The Hulk threatened to squish him, and the Metal Master agreed to repair all of the damage he had caused; casting his powers across the planet, he reversed all the changes almost instantly. He left the planet in his starship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Rom#30 (fb) - BTS) - Upon returning to Astra, Molyb realized he had been duped. Nonetheless, he feared that Earth might have developed a metal not subject to his control.

(Rom#30) - The Metal Master returned to Earth, this time claiming to be attempting to procure large amounts of certain types of metals, which his race, the Astrans, thrive on. Wishing to determine whether there was some type of metal he could not affect, he created a number of spider-like drones to scour the Earth and gather samples of all types of metals. He began his quest in Clairton, West Virginia, and his drones incapacitated Clairton Scrap Iron and Junk owner Bernie Tarpin and his dog, Alice.

    The Metal Master soon discovered he Spaceknight Rom, and Molyb wondered whether Rom's metal armor might be such a super-metal as he had sought. After a brief struggle (in which Rom overcame both the drones and a Molyb-animated monster crane), the Metal Master pitted his metal controlling powers against Rom's armor. Rom fought his control, and knocked him from his hover-disc. Although he was not injured, the Metal Master was driven to the brink of madness by the fact that he had again found a metal he could not control. The Metal Master wandered off into West Virginia (no good can come from that!), muttering mindlessly to himself.

 

 

 

 

BTS - The Metal Master apparently ended up an inmate in some intergalactic prison.

(Maximum Security#1 - BTS, 2, 3 - BTS) - During the events of Maximum Security, the Metal Master was one of the many aliens sent to Earth as part of a plot to prevent the heroes of Earth from interfering with the actions of other races. The Metal Master briefly tangled with the Scarlet Witch.

    It is unrevealed whether the Metal Master escaped, or if he was returned to prison, after the events of Maximum Security.


(Black Bolt#3 (fb) - BTS) - After being exiled from his home planet, Molyb swore off his love of power.

(Black Bolt#2 (fb) - BTS) - Molyb was apprehended and then sentenced by the Conclave of Seven Planets to spend the rest of his life being tortured in the Jailer's jail. The Jailer tortured, killed, and resurrected him multiple times. Molyb soon met fellow captives Raava, the Absorbing Man, and Blinky. They learned to avoid Spyder, another prisoner who allied himself with the Jailer.

(Black Bolt#1) - Raava, Molyb, and Creel found new captive Black Bolt trying to rescue Blinky, who had just been killed by the Jailer. Creel challenged Black Bolt to a sparring match, one that Black Bolt soon won. Molyb recognized Black Bolt from his time on Earth, and Raava wondered if he would join their group. Black Bolt confronted the Jailer and was killed.

(Black Bolt#2 (fb) - BTS) - Jailer spent weeks torturing and killing Black Bolt before moving on to another prisoner. Molyb and the others worried about him. Molyb began wondering if Black Bolt might be their best way to escape.

(Black Bolt#2) - Molyb, Creel, and Blinky saw Black Bolt awaken, and Molyb helped him realize that his super-powers weren't working, meaning Black Bolt could speak freely now. Spyder entered and tried suffocating Creel with a web before Black Bolt forced Spyder to release Creel.

(Black Bolt#3 (fb) - BTS) - Molyb and Blinky discovered a way to blind the Jailer temporarily, then Molyb used the majority of his remaining powers to free Black Bolt, Absorbing Man, and Raava from their cells. They launched a plan to try and escape the Jailer.

(Black Bolt#3) - Black Bolt incapacitated Spyder, returning the prison control device to Molyb, who then used it to restore the super powers of the others. Molyb used his powers to throw open a metal door, and they found the alien Monsteroso, who they allied with. They soon found a combustion engine that seemed to feed upon the pain of the prisoners and Molyb furiously sought to tear the engine apart with his control over metal. The Jailer approached and Black Bolt was able to repel him with a series of blows. They stepped into the next room, where they found several giant body parts in containment units. Black Bolt screamed as he launched himself at the giant telepathic head, overcome in the psychic energy.

(Black Bolt#5 (fb) - BTS) - Molyb and Blinky were bound together for several days, slowly suffocated and revived repeatedly.

(Black Bolt#5) - Molyb was telling Blinky about Pelyn when Black Bolt and Absorbing Man freed them, their powers having fully returned. Molyb felt his power return, though he was depleted. Black Bolt forced Spyder to show them where Raava was, then Molyb freed her from her chains. When Spyder sent robot drones against them, Molyb easily defeated them, but Spyder shot Lockjaw, Black Bolt's faithful dog, and Black Bolt lashed out at Spyder in retaliation. They soon discovered the truth about the Jailer, who had initially been a prisoner before taking over the prison and feeding off the criminals there for centuries.

(Black Bolt#6) - The Jailer assaulted the prisoners with images of their dead loved ones, and Molyb saw Pelyn there, believing he was real. When the others tried shaking Molyb out of it, he lashed out at them with his powers, and Raava had to stab him through the middle to stop him. Raava predicted that Molyb would live, as members of his race had four lungs and two hearts. After the Jailer was defeated, Molyb awakened. He apologized to the others, then went off on his own into space, determined to make amends for his lifetime of evil actions.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

    The Rampaging Hulk (volume 1, the magazine) #3, features "The Return of the Metal Master." Using a robot called the Ferronaut, the Metal Master returns to attack the Hulk, but loses his powers in the process. The "original" Hulk stories in the first nine issues (after which the title became HULK!) were originally set to be occurring immediately after Incredible Hulk I#6. However, all of these stories have since been revealed to have actually been fictional movies created by the Krylorian Techno-Artist, Bereet. If the stories get ret-conned back into existence, this story will be added to this profile ASAP.

    In Hulk#6, the Metal Master speaks as though his abilities are native to all those of the planet Astra (images of his world and his people using such abilities are seen as he describes his abilities and his past.. No such abilities were mentioned in the Astrans entry in the original or Deluxe Edition Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#1: Appendix to Alien races.
    In that same issue, the Metal Master states that Astra is "many, many galaxies away." The narrative text in the same issue refers to the "the endless power of the menace from another galaxy." The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe entries identify Astra as being in the Milky Way galaxy.
    His original stories describe him as megalomaniacal criminal on a world of peaceful artists. In Rom#30, in which he is decidedly more human and less Ditko-esque/Grinch-like, he plots to conquer Earth for himself so that he would not have to signal an invasion of Earth or call other Astrans to enter the battle...he further notes that he returned to Earth to save face and that such a conquest would lead him to be proclaimed his planet's greatest hero.
    He has also claimed that he traveled to Earth to procure types of metals which his race thrives on. No reference to them "thriving" on metal in the handbook entry. The truth is out there...

    Metal Master is never seen out of uniform that I recall. The original OHotMU added the information about the secretory glands (though they note them as present on the stomach, but the art makes it clear the glands are in the skin over the abdomen. A lot of people don't know the difference between the stomach (the internal organ in which your food is digested) from the abdomen (the cavity that contains the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, etc; the abdomen is divided from the thorax/chest by the diaphragm).
    That handbook entry also added the information about 4 lungs and spatulate feet. The four lungs were referenced in-story in Black Bolt#6, and the

    I'm sure if the Metal Master had a last name, it would be Denum.

The Metal Master has averaged about 18.5 years between appearances, not including the Rampaging Hulk non-continuity story. So look for him again in 2018!
    He came early this time around in 2017.
--Markus Raymond

Profile by Snood. Update (Black Bolt) by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connections to:








Conclave of Seven Planets

(Black Bolt#2 (fb) - BTS) - Molyb was apprehended and then sentenced by the Conclave of Seven Planets to spend the rest of his life being tortured in the Jailer's jail.

--[Black Bolt#2 (fb)]

Pelyn

(Black Bolt#5 (fb) - BTS) - Molyb once loved Pelyn, a male sculptor.

(Black Bolt#6 (fb) - BTS) - They got married at some point.

(Black Bolt#3 (fb) - BTS) - Due to his obsession with power Molyb lost the love of his husband.

(Black Bolt#5 (fb) - BTS) - Pelyn conspired against Molyb and Molyb later had him executed in front of the palace.

(Black Bolt#5-6 - BTS) - Molyb saw an image of his former husband created by the Jailer and felt guilty.

--Black Bolt#5 ([Black Bolt#5 (fb)], [6 (fb)], [3 (fb)], [5 (fb)], [5-6]

Note: Molyb called Pelyn Meryn in Black Bolt#6.

images: (without ads)
Rom#30, p3, pan3 (Metal Master main image)
Black Bolt I#2, p6, pan2 (face)
Incredible Hulk I#6, p6, pan6 (Metal Masters wearing red)
Incredible Hulk I#6, p5, pan6 (Metal Master's first ship)
Incredible Hulk I#6, Cover (Metal Master vs. Hulk)
Rom#30, Cover (Metal Master spider-like drones)
Rom#30, p3, pan5 (Metal Master's second ship)
Maximum Security#2, p4, pan5 (Metal Master vs. Scarlet Witch)
Incredible Hulk I#6, p5, pan9 (Metal Master the Grinch?)
Black Bolt I#6, p1, pan1 (Pelyn/Meryn image)

Appearances:
Incredible Hulk I#6 (March, 1963) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Steve Ditko (artist)
Rampaging Hulk I#3 (June, 1977) - meta-fictional - Doug Moench (writer), Walt Simonson (pencils), Alfredo Alcala (inks)
Rom#30 (May, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Maximum Security#2 (December, 2000) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Jerry Ordway (pencils), Will Blyberg, Paul Ryan & Walden Wong (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Black Bolt#1-3 (July, 2017) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Christian Ward (artist), Wil Moss (editor)
Black Bolt#5 (November, 2017) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Frazer Irving, Christian Ward (artists), Wil Moss (editor)
Black Bolt#6 (December, 2017) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Christian Ward (artist), Wil Moss (editor)

First Posted: 03/27/2002
Last updated: 09/27/2020

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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