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Chemo
Chemo as depicted in Infinite Crisis #4 (March 2006). Art by Phil Jimenez.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Showcase #39 (July–August 1962)
Created by	Robert Kanigher Ross Andru Mike Esposito
In-story information
Species	Robot
Team affiliations	Injustice League The Society Suicide Squad
Abilities	Superhuman strength and durability Self-magnification Regeneration Toxikinesis Power mimicry

Chemo is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has appeared in both comic books and other DC Comics-related products such as animated television series and trading cards.

Publication history

The character first appeared in Showcase #39 (July–August 1962) and was created by writer Robert Kanigher and artists Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Chemo debuted in a story called "The Deathless Doom" in Showcase #39-40 (July–August & September–October 1962), being the adversary for DC Comics' new superteam the Metal Men. The character returned in Metal Men #14 (July 1965); #25 (May 1967) and #46-47 (July & September 1976).

Chemo reappeared in DC Comics Presents #4 (December 1978); Superman #342 (December 1979) and #370 (April 1982); Crisis on Infinite Earths #9-10 (December 1985-January 1986) and Action Comics #590 (July 1987). Writer Len Wein said in a 2006 interview: "I realized after doing that first story that here was a villain that was a physical match against Superman, so I kept bringing him back".

The character was reimagined in Supergirl (vol. 4) #5 (January 1997) and then appeared briefly during the Our Worlds At War storyline in The Adventures of Superman #593-594 (August–September 2001) and in Birds of Prey #36 (December 2001) and Joker: Last Laugh #2 (December 2001).

Chemo featured as a major villain in the limited series Infinite Crisis #1-7 (December 2005-June 2006) and appeared in multiple forms in Superman #663 (July 2007). The character also appeared in Outsiders - Five of a Kind: Nightwing/Captain Boomerang (October 2007); Salvation Run #1-7 (November 2007–June 2008) and in Booster Gold (vol. 2) #13 (December 2008).

Writer Mike Conroy noted "where would comic books be without those flukes, those accidents of fate which, although inexplicable to science, result in innocuous materials having a far-reaching impact on the world outside the laboratory?".

Fictional character biography

Chemo is a plastic vessel used by scientist Ramsey Norton to contain chemical by-products from his experiments. When Norton places the remnants of a failed growth formula in the vessel, it accidentally brings the vessel to life as "Chemo". After killing Norton, Chemo becomes an enemy of the Metal Men.

In Crisis on Infinite Earths, Brainiac and Lex Luthor unleash Chemo on Earth-4, where he destroys New York City and kills Aquagirl. It is defeated when Negative Woman shatters its plastic shell.

In Infinite Crisis, Chemo assists the Secret Society of Super Villains and the Brotherhood of Evil in attacking Blüdhaven. It covers the city with toxic waste, killing hundreds of thousands of people, before being defeated by Superman.

In Salvation Run, the Joker and Gorilla Grodd retrieve and weaponize Chemo while on a prison planet. Rogue New Gods visiting the city of Metropolis capture three miniature versions of Chemo. Superman follows the true Chemo and discovers it to be a LexCorp project.

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Chemo is created when a thief throws Will Magnus' prototype responsometer into a vat of chemicals.

Powers and abilities

Chemo has very limited intelligence coupled with immense strength and durability. It can alter its mass, generate corrosive acid, and regenerate after being destroyed. On one occasion, Chemo is augmented after absorbing Superman's DNA, gaining strength comparable to his.

In other media

Television

• Chemo appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.
• Chemo appears in the "Metal Men" segment of DC Nation Shorts.
• Chemo appears in the DC Super Hero Girls episode "#SuperWho?". This version was created by unlicensed toxic chemicals.
• Chemo makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Creature Commandos episode "Chasing Squirrels". This version is an inmate of Belle Reve Penitentiary.

Film

Chemo appears in Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants.

Video games

• Chemo appears in DC Universe Online.
• Chemo appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• Chemo appears as a playable character in DC Legends.

Merchandise

An action figure based on Chemo was released as part of the "Collect and Connect" line in Mattel's DC Universe Classics 6-inch line.

References

1. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
2. Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 140. ISBN 9781893905610.
3. Conroy, Mike (2004). 500 Comicbook Villains. Collins & Brown. p. 250. ISBN 184340205X. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
4. Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
5. Metal Men #39-40 (July–August & September–October 1962)
6. Metal Men #14 (July 1965); #25 (May 1967) and #46-47 (July & September 1976)
7. Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 56–57. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
8. DC Comics Presents #4 (December 1978)
9. Superman #342 (December 1979) and #370 (April 1982)
10. Crisis on Infinite Earth #9-10 (December 1985-January 1986)
11. Batman #649 (January 2006),
12. Infinite Crisis #1-7 (December 2005-June 2006)
13. Salvation Run #1-7 (November 2007–June 2008)
14. Superman #663 (July 2007)
15. Justice League (vol. 2) #28 (April 2014)
16. Showcase #39 (July 1962)
17. Action Comics #590 (July 1987)
18. ^ "Chemo Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 23, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
19. Erdmann, Kevin (December 19, 2024). "Creature Commandos Episode 4 Easter Eggs And DC References Explained". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
20. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 23, 2024.

External links

• Chemo at Comic Vine

• Metal Men
• Characters created by Robert Kanigher
• Characters created by Ross Andru
• Comics characters introduced in 1962
• DC Comics characters with accelerated healing
• DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
• DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
• DC Comics robots
• Robot supervillains
• DC Comics shapeshifters
• DC Comics supervillains
• DC Comics male supervillains
• Fictional characters who can change size
• Fictional characters with nuclear or radiation abilities
• Fictional giants
• Superman characters
• Suicide Squad members