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The Metal Men Archives #1
The Metal Men Archives, Vol. 1
Created in the laboratory of the brilliant Dr. Will Magnus, the Metal Men were a most unlikely group of heroes � a team of robots outfitted with a revolutionary device that (unintentionally) gave them human emotions.
Assembled in this hardcover volume are the earliest escapades of Doc Magnus and his robot friends: flirtatious Platinum, shy Tin, hot-headed Mercury, dull-witted Lead, powerful Iron and brilliant Gold, reprinted as they originally appeared in the 1960s.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2006
About the author
Robert Kanigher
589 books8 followersSee also as Bob Kanigher
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
One of the most prolific writers in comics, particularly in the Silver Age. He took over scripting duties on Wonder Woman after William Moulton Marston's death, and handled the character's transition from the Golden to the Silver Age. He also created Barry Allen, the second Flash, for editor Julius Schwartz's superhero revival of 1956, as well as writing and editing DC's pioneering war titles.
His creations include Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, Barry Allen, Ragman, the Losers, Black Canary, the Metal Men, Poison Ivy, Enemy Ace, the Suicide Squad, and Rex the Wonder Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 11, 2007
More Silver Age loonyness.
The Metal Men are robots created by the pipe-loving super-scientist Dr. Magnus. Each robot is named after and has the properties of a specific metal. Mercury, Lead, Iron, Gold, Tin and Platinum (Tina) routinely throw themselves in harm's way to protect Magnus only to be melted into slag and rebuilt by the next issue.
The relationship between Dr. Magnus and the lone female robot Tina is odd but static. He claims she acts too much like a real woman and threatens to "repair" her. She moons after him.
Although the robots have shape changing abilities they aren't used in very interesting or inventive ways. I did kind of like the way the robots would interject random "facts" about themselves during fights. "I can do it Doc, my atomic weight is XXXX!" "Oh no, Lead's boiling point is XXX.X he's going to be destroyed!"
The Metal Men are robots created by the pipe-loving super-scientist Dr. Magnus. Each robot is named after and has the properties of a specific metal. Mercury, Lead, Iron, Gold, Tin and Platinum (Tina) routinely throw themselves in harm's way to protect Magnus only to be melted into slag and rebuilt by the next issue.
The relationship between Dr. Magnus and the lone female robot Tina is odd but static. He claims she acts too much like a real woman and threatens to "repair" her. She moons after him.
Although the robots have shape changing abilities they aren't used in very interesting or inventive ways. I did kind of like the way the robots would interject random "facts" about themselves during fights. "I can do it Doc, my atomic weight is XXXX!" "Oh no, Lead's boiling point is XXX.X he's going to be destroyed!"
April 14, 2008
One of the woefully lesser-known combos from DC during the Silver Age, the Metal Men were a group of robots representing the strongest metals.
You had handsome Gold, spartan Iron, thick and slow Lead, and my favorites: short-tempered Mercury, timid Tin, and the lithe, sexy Tina aka Platinum, who was always wrapping her supple arms around Doc Magnus, their creator. She was always deliriously proclaiming her love for him!
Robert Kanigher always kept the action going pitting our heroes in exciting situations. Ross Andru and Mike Esposito drew the robots in such animated, funny and sexy poses (for the early Sixties, even!)The Metal Men were one of the greats DC left behind, but you don't have to: check this wild action.
You had handsome Gold, spartan Iron, thick and slow Lead, and my favorites: short-tempered Mercury, timid Tin, and the lithe, sexy Tina aka Platinum, who was always wrapping her supple arms around Doc Magnus, their creator. She was always deliriously proclaiming her love for him!
Robert Kanigher always kept the action going pitting our heroes in exciting situations. Ross Andru and Mike Esposito drew the robots in such animated, funny and sexy poses (for the early Sixties, even!)The Metal Men were one of the greats DC left behind, but you don't have to: check this wild action.
March 21, 2012
I love the Metal Men. Love them. But these stories are creaky in the way lesser stories from the 60's tend to be. They honestly haven't held up that well. I still love reading them though. And still great for young comic book readers.
February 13, 2024
The plots are your typical outlandish 60s superhero nonsense, what makes this title stand out from the ridiculousness of others is the metal men themselves, you have their unique metallic properties used to solve the problem of the month, and their personalities add a nice touch, timid tin, mercurial mercury, loyal lead, Gold Leader.
March 2, 2012
I don't know why I enjoyed this so much. It's pretty silly, and very lightweight, but it moves well and is a lot of fun. It's so bizarre to see casual sexism in the depiction of Platinum, the only female robot in the Metal Men crew. I guess the only thing the writers could think of was to have her fawn over the professor who created the Metal Men and cry when her feelings are hurt. It comes off as whimsical compared to how women are depicted in today's comics. Its oddness adds to the entertainment value.
March 23, 2018
I jusr don't really see what the Metal Men cult of fans sees in this stuff. Decent art by Andru and some decent plot twists, but the only appeal seems to be seeing how the Metal Men will be killed this time, only to be rebuilt by Doc Magnus. Lead and Iron have no personalities. At all.
December 9, 2018
I believe my first encounter with the Metal Men was in the John Byrne run on Superman, and I have them come across them here and there as supporting cast in various other DC titles. I had, however, never read any of their own adventures, and so it seemed only logical to check this first DC Archives edition volume out from my local library, since it was there.
So, the verdict then? Well, the characters are interesting, albeit not very deeply developed, as can be expected from a DC comic of that era, perhaps. More annoying is the typical gender stereotypes of that era that Platinum, in her infatuation with Doctor Magnus (the Metal Men's maker), and his constant bumbling refusal to admit that she is anything but a robot (certainly not a real woman), while simultaneously mistaking her for one time after time. And the other Metal Men only reinforce this in their treatment of Platinum as well.
Nevertheless, while it is a child of its time that certainly requires the occasional squinting, it is also a highly imaginative comic, which runs with its primary premises in all kinds of fun and crazy ways. And it is good to see this background and where the characters come from too.
All in all, it was an enjoyable reading experience, squinting aside.
So, the verdict then? Well, the characters are interesting, albeit not very deeply developed, as can be expected from a DC comic of that era, perhaps. More annoying is the typical gender stereotypes of that era that Platinum, in her infatuation with Doctor Magnus (the Metal Men's maker), and his constant bumbling refusal to admit that she is anything but a robot (certainly not a real woman), while simultaneously mistaking her for one time after time. And the other Metal Men only reinforce this in their treatment of Platinum as well.
Nevertheless, while it is a child of its time that certainly requires the occasional squinting, it is also a highly imaginative comic, which runs with its primary premises in all kinds of fun and crazy ways. And it is good to see this background and where the characters come from too.
All in all, it was an enjoyable reading experience, squinting aside.
November 8, 2012
The Doc creates Metal Men and 1 Metal Woman. They become a team frequently sacrificing themselves for the good of man kind against various threats. The Doc has come up with a way to rebuild them after once trying to unsuccessfully replace them.
This book was way more educational then expected. The metal men would spout out facts about themselves (atomic weight, strength, characteristics etc) fairly frequently. It also seems to have originally been very consumer driven. There are many issues that ended requesting letters to DC if readers wanted more stories about the Metal Men. Tina and Doc have the weird relationship that seems prevalent in early comics w/ the women being madly in love and doing anything for the guy and the guy loving them but feeling it's inappropriate ergo being mean. (Although I was happy to see that she wanted to be a part of the team and treated like one of the guys.)
All in all I enjoyed. It has a nostalgic feel and loved the tin man. The only thing is that since they mimiced their metals traits there wasn't a ton of room for growth (what can I say I'm a character growth nut).
This book was way more educational then expected. The metal men would spout out facts about themselves (atomic weight, strength, characteristics etc) fairly frequently. It also seems to have originally been very consumer driven. There are many issues that ended requesting letters to DC if readers wanted more stories about the Metal Men. Tina and Doc have the weird relationship that seems prevalent in early comics w/ the women being madly in love and doing anything for the guy and the guy loving them but feeling it's inappropriate ergo being mean. (Although I was happy to see that she wanted to be a part of the team and treated like one of the guys.)
All in all I enjoyed. It has a nostalgic feel and loved the tin man. The only thing is that since they mimiced their metals traits there wasn't a ton of room for growth (what can I say I'm a character growth nut).
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews