METOXOMETOXO
Real Name: Metoxo
Identity/Class: Terrestrial sub-species (Lava Men)
Occupation: Unrevealed
Group Membership: Lava Men (see comments)
Affiliations: Beast (Hank McCoy), Iceman (Bobby Drake)
Enemies: Formerly Beast, Iceman
Known Relatives: Kratar (wife), Maggam, Volkon (sons)
Aliases: Metoxo the Lava Man
Base of Operations: A subterranean cavern, beneath the bedrock of New York City
First Appearance: (Mentioned) X-Men I#48
(September, 1968); (Seen) Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (1994) (see
comments)
Powers/Abilities: Metoxo is composed of a rock-like material, granting him superhuman strength and durability, and the ability to generate heat and flame
History: (Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (fb) - BTS) -
Metoxo was a member of one of the Lava races, and his family's only
contact with the world was via a vent-shaft for air to release steam.
When a construction company began plugging the shaft, Metoxo assumed it
to be an effort to drive out or destroy his family
(Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (fb)) - Around Christmas
time, Metoxo went on a rampage in the streets outside of Greenwich
Village's Coffee-A-Go-Go, threatening to destroy all those who inhabited
this foul, freezing land and drawing the attention of the Beast and
Iceman. When the crowd decried them all as mutants, Beast and Iceman
took Metoxo away from the crowd with an ice sled. The two mutants
explained to Metoxo that the "assault" on his people had been
unintentional, and that humanity had families of its own. They further
shared information about Christmas, though Metoxo was most confused by
the stories about "elves, flying reindeer, and a fat man in fire-colored
clothing." Iceman and Beast then located an abandoned subway station and
diverted Metoxo's vent-shaft there, where it wouldn't be disturbed.
For this generous "Christmas gift," Metoxo gave Beast
and Iceman gifts from his realm--a pair of rare geodes (rocks with
crystal-filled interiors)--which they, being broke, gave to their
girlfriends Vera
and Zelda
for Christmas.
(Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (fb) - BTS) - Metoxo returned to his home and taught his family to celebrate Christmas as well.
(Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (fb) - BTS) - Years later, Metoxo's sons began to doubt the existence of Santa Claus and questioned the value of Christmas.
(Marvel Holiday Special 1994A) - Metoxo became extremely frustrated and traveled to the surface world again, then he went on a rampage, striking out against everything with Christmas decorations. He began kidnapping a number of department store Santa Clauses, intending to take them to his home to show his sons. Beast and Iceman arrived to stop him, but initially, Metoxo didn't recognize their now-different forms and struck out at them. They subdued Metoxo with two-pronged attacks, and then explained who they were. Embarrassed, Metoxo apologized, and the two X-Men followed him back to his home, with the Beast posing as Santa Claus and Iceman as an elf. Since all surface men looked alike to them, the children were easily fooled, and they enjoyed their presents.
Comments: Initially conceived (presumably) by Stan
Lee.
Brought to life by Kurt Busiek, James Fry, and Neil
Volkes.
The next-issue blurb of X-Men I#48 promised the Beast and Iceman against Metoxo, but X-Men I#49 instead featured the Demi-Men, Mesmero, and Polaris, with no Lava Men to be seen. The Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (Graphic Album style) #3 references that the story to be told would be an appearance of the Lava Men between Avengers I#5 and Marvel Team-Up I#26. Avengers I#5 overlaps with Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes#2.
Thanks to Kurt Busiek for finally telling the tale of Metoxo after nearly 30 years. I'm still waiting for the untold story of the Sky-Walker, though.
Straight from Kurt himself:
Metoxo was only a Next-Issue blurb in X-Men#48. I didn't consult with
anyone; I just wanted to tell a story of Hank and Bobby meeting Metoxo
for years, so when the opportunity arose, I took it.
kdb
There were two Marvel Holiday Specials with the 1994 date. This was the second of the two, hence the "A" added to the issue date.
Marvel Holiday Special 1994A came out
after Inferno, when many of the Lava Men (including Jinku)
evolved into golden forms following the death of their patron god/demon
Cha'sa'dra. I'm not 100% positive that this story was meant to
chronologically follow those events, but regardless, Lava Men in their
original molten forms have been seen since, so it doesn't really matter.
In fact, Metoxo states "I am of the many Lava Races
that live beneath Earth's crusts," so it's quite possible that Metoxo
and his brood were unrelated to the race of Lava Men associated with
Cha'sa'dra.
Perhaps
Metoxo had some connection to the Sub-Earth
Man (whose real name was apparently "Volcan")--maybe Metoxo
named his son "Volkon" in honor of him.--Ron Fredricks
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Metoxo has no known connection to:
Wife of Metoxo
--Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (1994A (fb) - BTS, 1994A
Son of Metoxo
--Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (1994A (fb) - BTS, 1994A
Son of Metoxo
--Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (1994A (fb) - BTS, 1994A
images: (story pages only)
Marvel Holiday Special 1994A, part 1
p6, panel 2 (attacking)
p12, panel 2 (earlier form)
p18, panel 3 (unmolten face)
panel 4 (Kratar body)
p19, panel 1 (Volkon + Maggam)
panel 2 (Kratar)
Appearances:
X-Men I#48 (September, 1968) - Stan Lee (editor)
Marvel Holiday Special 1994A (1994) - Kurt Busiek (writer), James Fry
(pencils), Neil Volkes (inks), Sarra Mossoff (editor)
First Posted: 06/11/2005
Last updated: 06/13/2005
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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