Man o’Metal
(Pat Dempsey)
Context
The Eastern Color Printing company once printed large comics runs. From the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s they also published their own fare, in a variety of genres.
Their Golden Age super-heroes fare is a good example of lesser-known, less influential 1940s material. Here are notes about a character who’s C-list event among that roster.
Background
- Real Name: Pat Dempsey.
- Marital Status: Presumed single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile
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History
Originally a steel worker, Pat Dempsey gained superhuman abilities when he was accidentally covered in white-hot molten steel in Heroic Comics no.7. In an “unexplainable chemical reaction of the skin-texture,” Dempsey was not killed. He was instead given the power to burn “his way through the thickest barriers.”
Dempsey became a “famous independent operator”. He assisted the government in fighting crime and spies as the Man O’ Metal. Whenever Dempsey was exposed to flame or electrical current, his skin turned blue and flames would shoot from his body. As the Man O’ Metal, he was bulletproof and had the “strength of an elephant.”
Man O’ Metal was created for the seventh issue of Heroic Comics by legendary Wonder Woman artist H.G. Peter . The feature ran through issue no.28.
Description
He tends to wear a suit in human form, but always takes off his coat and shirt whenever he’s going to change into Man O’ Metal… I guess so he can show off his muscles.
Also, you would think that his clothes would burn off, but no, that’s not the case. His pants and shoes are always fine.
Quotes
“Fella, you asked for it !”
DC Universe History
He could easily fit into the overcrowded DC Golden Age, though as an “independent operator,” he might be unlikely to participate with the All-Star Squadron.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Man O’ Metal
| Dex: 05 | Str: 09 | Bod: 09 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 | Occupation: “Independent operator” |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 035 |
Powers:
Jumping: 04, Molecular chameleon: 09, Heat Being: 12
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Molecular Chameleon is Always On and is reflected in the stats above.
- Molecular Chameleon does not require touching an object.
- Molecular Chameleon only allows Man O’ Metal to be a man of metal, in fact, only a particular strange blue metal.
- Heat Being is Always On, though apparently only on his exposed flesh.
- Heat Being is a variant of Flame Being, and only occasionally causes small bursts of flames to erupt from Man O’ Metal’s skin.
Drawbacks:
Alter Ego (Uncontrollable, sort of). When fire or lightning strikes Pat Dempsey, he automatically changes into Man O’ Metal. He can change back to normal whenever he wants, though. Diving into the ocean also seemed to change him back, though this may have been a coloring error. Man O’ Metal looks exactly like Pat except for skin color.
Alter Ego: Pat Dempsey
| Dex: 05 | Str: 05 | Bod: 05 |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 05 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 035 |
Skills:
Thief (Stealth): 04
Source of Character: Golden Age comics published by the Eastern Color Printing Company.