#onwp

Prior to Kirby's work on Who's Who, this was the last time Metron was drawn in a published work. Given the design on his chest, his posture (those legs are SPREAD), the lines on the back of the chair creating those onion-esque layers, and the weird little emblem on the center of the chair's base that literally had never existed in any appearance prior to this, I can only assume that there was a decision to base the Who's Who entry directly on Hunger Dogs, except for making the chair the traditional green that it always had been (if we ignore the JLA appearances and X-Men/NTT crossover).

I'm calling this out just as a little bit of a history lesson so you know why the Who's Who portrayal looks like it does. It didn't just spring out of nowhere unjustified, and I mean, it came from Jack Kirby so who are we to argue.

That isn't the point of this post.

The point is that other artists are maybe taking things a bit too literally sometimes? I understand staying on model. I understand not wanting to upset purists. I understand going by a guide when you aren't familiar with the character you're tasked with drawing. But goodness. Am I seeing double?

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History of the DC Universe (1986)

It sure didn't take long, did it? Later the same year that Who's Who came out, so did this. The image is blurry because it's a very small part of a huge two page spread featuring a battled between the Fourth World denizens. And oh, what is this? A VERY familiar chair? And posture? And chest design? It lacks that little emblem on the base, and the circle on Metron's chest isn't filled in with black, but everything else is spot on. But hey, that's fair. Same year, another reference style book. Editorial is staying on brand.

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DC Challenge #12 (1986)

Still fairly soon after, it looks like some people wanted to really use that Who's Who as an art reference. I will point out that I blame it for the whole Metron-has-white-eyes thing. But there's that symbol at the base of the chair. No mistaking it this time. Clear as day. What does it represent? What does it mean??

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Warlord Annual #6 (1987)

When the artists who did the Warlord Annual were told to put the New Gods into this scene, they must've been like "The Whomst?" Their style was particular and so that's why Metron looks how he does, so yknow, don't blame them for that. But the red gloves? Fascinating. At least they did something creative, because that was decidedly not in the Who's Who. And interestingly, neither was the under side of the Mobius Chair, so I recon the penciler actually referenced Hunger Dogs, especially with the more bullet shape of the back of the chair. Just a theory though.

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Justice League International #11 (1988)

Alright, this one is a partial. Obviously the base is totally simplified, but the Patterning on the back and the chest is very much Who's Who-esque. So I'm still counting it. I will say though, later panels that show more detail on the face and design of the hood thing are hmm. The little cut out thing is well, small.

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Then there were other eras of chairs for a while. Chairas, if you will. Until...

JLA/Avengers #1 (2003)

Smash cut to 2003 where Metron is talking to Captain America, yeah that's my secret, Cap, I'm always using Who's Who as a reference even in the new millennium. You know it. But interestingly, the back of the chair having cut outs like that harkens way back to Justice League of America #183 (1960) that came out in 1980! Staying true to their roots for JLA!!

Edit: A correction! Though it's true the chair did have cut outs in early League appearances, the true first time was in original New Gods #4. So that's about as legit as you can get.

(Another interesting thing I'm noticing just now is that this particular chest design, and therefore likely others that it's based on, have some striking similarities to what's in the current New Gods run.)

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JLA-Z #3 (2004)

We're starting to take liberties here, but the arms of the chair and the base still have some resemblances so I'm including it.

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Countdown #45 (2007)

I'm running out of interesting things to say here. The onion layers of the chair's back are tighter. And it's teal this time. That's new!

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Final Crisis Secret Files (2009)

Aaaaand we've finally made it to the reason this whole post exists in the first place. The most egregious fucking example. Look how spread eagle he's sitting! This was an artistic choice!!! When I was going through all of Metron's appearances and reading each one a couple years ago, this was the one where I consciously realized that I had seen that pose before. Then that symbol on the base before. Then hey wait a minute, this whole thing looks awfully familiar (well, except jeez).

Edit: Forgot to mention. What's so fucking hilarious is that in Final Crisis he notably does not even look like this!!! He's a whitish silver instead, which I think Morrison's notes (pretty sure it's their notes) it's described as an "enamel" look. Why? Just for funsies? Not the point of this post at all, but I mean, I'd be remiss to not say something.

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Bug! The Adventures of Forager #3 (2017)

This one is a bit of a gimme since it's meant to be a flashback of sorts. Forager is seeing a reference to Metron, so it kind of fits that he's being shown an actual image of him in action. This one in particular is posed nearly identical to the Hunger Dogs image, but the chair is green. Look at the leg and hand placement, it's like spot on, but in Allred's art style of course. So I think this one's intentional and not just "I don't know what Metron looks like so I'll draw from a reference", especially if you read this mini series.

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Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Vol. 2 #11 (2020)

This one's also blurry because it's freaking tiny, but hey wait that's not even Metron! That's Jimmy Olsen!!! This is from a montage where Jimmy's day dreaming about being different heroes, and I guess one is ...Metron for some fucking reason (idk I didn't read it, I was just there for the reference). But yeah, there's no doubt about the chair and the pose. Who's Who strikes again. It's made its way into the 2020's.

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Danger Street #3 (2023)

This one's a REAL spot on reference to the Who's Who. All the elements are there, even the black circle on the chest. C'mon guys. It's 2023 at this point. Metron has literally appeared in multiple DC Encyclopedias in the past decades. Why are we still going back to 1986 for our references? I'm legit asking. Like, is it because this is the internal DC-Approved Look™? Did Tom King specifically ask for this version when he gave the artist notes? Genuinely would love to know.

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Batman/Superman: World's Finest #22 (2023)

Okay this one is obviously Very Different AND YET would you look at that. What's that at the base of the chair? Front and center? The god damn symbol that literally just showed up one day in Who's Who and meant licherally nothing and never has and yet people keep using it for no reason other than the person before did?? And no there it is in Kingdom Come lore. Hilarious. Do fans realize how meaningless that symbol is? They probably don't really care. Also this chair is bunk.

Edit: And I didn't even say anything about the Worlogog, another Kirby creation that has strong ties to Metron. Not this post, not this post.

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And last, but certainly not least, you thought that 2023 was going to be the final entry? You thought that surely there couldn't possibly be another more recent appearance that could reference this same freaking 1980's ass design? You Thought Wrong!

The New Gods #1 (2024)

That's right! Even the very, VERY new New Gods run has the Who's Who Mobius chair in it! Of course Metron is redesigned, but take a gander at that chair. The onion layers. The blocky and angular arms. Oh yeah. I told you that you wouldn't have to commit it to memory at the very top of the post, you'd know it well enough by the end, and I bet you do. Now, don't get your hopes up too much because this particular instance was done by a guest artist, so most of the chair's appearances aren't going to look like through the new book's lifespan. But it did make me kind of giggle to excitedly read the first New Gods story in a very, very long time and see this same exact chair for what seems like the millionth time. 😂

Edit: In an interview with Sktchd back in August, Ram V and Evan Cagle touched briefly on the chair's design and only kind of jokingly revealed that it was a topic of discussion. Now seeing that they did ultimately go with a new (cushy) design, it looks like they chose to lean on fresh takes, which is fair. But I think having/letting (?) guests break from that is interesting. Could be confusing to a new audience but also sort of in a way nice throw back for the older crowd. Just my 2 cents.

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So what's the moral of the story? What have we learned?

2. New Gods (1995) #2

[Image: Comic panel of New Genesis guards struggling to hold onto Metron, who has been pulled off his chair and is on his knees leaning forwards towards the ground. One guard says, “Got him!” The other says, “Look! The energy dissipates!” /End]

3. Superman (1987) #65

[Image: Comic panel of Metron being telekinetically pulled from the Mobius chair. His arms are out and he is yelling. Braniac’s face is superimposed behind him to indicate this is his doing. Braniac says, “--So too are you.” Metron yells, “Yaggh!” /End]

4. New Gods (1995) #12

[Image: Comic panel of Metron laying unconscious and sprawled out in a dirty alley as viewed from a balcony above. The Mobius chair is on its side and steaming a green aura. The alley has a lot of trash and debris. /End]

5. Swamp Thing (1982) #62

[Image: Comic panel of Metron being flung forward out of the Mobius chair where it has crash landed in the dirt. The chair has a vapor trail behind it with sound effects, “KOF sput sput sput sput KREEASH” and Metron yells, “What the?” /End]

6. Justice League #42

[Image: Comic panel of Metron being pulled from the Mobius chair by the Lasso of Truth. Waves of bright energy exude from where he sat in the chair as he is lifted up by his chest with his arms and legs back behind him. /End]

7. JLA: The Nail #1

[Image: Comic panel of Darkseid blasting Metron with Omega beams from his eyes. Darkseid is smiling and has one hand in a fist and says, “Hold your prattle, pawn of Izaya. This was no accident.” Metron is forced out of the chair upwards and looks to be unconscious or in pain with the sound effect, “TZAM” /End]

8. Justice League #40

[Image: Comic panel of Metron in pain, lifting out of the Mobius chair chest first. His chest is illuminated and the chair has many cracks and broken pieces floating upwards. His head is thrown back and he yealls, “Aaaaarrhhh!” /End]

9. Super Team Family #15

[Image: Comic panel of Metron grabbing his chair by the arms, as he has been tipped out of it by a large yeti-like creature in space. He thinks, “A most extraordinary event. Ice weirds have a notably fierce temper -- But they also possess a completely passive nature! They attack only if attacked --” /End]

10. New Gods (1977) #13

[Image: Comic panel of Slig, an Apokoliptan foe, punching Metron who has been flung out of the Mobius chair. Metron is sprawling in pain and the chair is tilting away from the two. Slig is green with a fish-like face, and says, “That’s right, scientist! Think your worthless thoughts, and while you do, your destruction approaches -- And strikes! Triumph is mine! Slig has outwitted you all!” /End]

Plus some bonus honorable mentions from the Young Justice Cartoon:

Season 4 Episode 20

[Image: Screenshot of Metron and the Mobius chair being zapped by the Kaizer Thrall while Lor Zod and Mantis watch from the background. Metron is on is knees and holds his hands to his head in agony. In the background are many towers and chests. /End]

Season 3 Episode 20