Chemo

CHEMO

Real Name: None

Class: Terrestrial construct

Occupation: Destructive force

Group Affiliation: formerly Suicide Squad

Known Relatives: Inapplicable

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile

First Appearance: Showcase #39 (August, 1962)

Powers: Chemo had superhuman strength, invulnerability, and could alter his height from 25' to over 100'. Chemo could spew out chemicals contained within his shell capable of melting through most objects, including steel. He possessed only a primitive intellect, but was always focused on causing destruction.

History: (Showcase #39)-Professor Ramsey Norton was a highly ambitious scientist who hoped to find solutions to humanity's greatest problems, including famine and disease. He dumped the results of his unsuccessful experiments into a gigantic humanoid-shaped plastic mold that he named Chemo. Chemo represented Norton's failures, and was supposed to spur him towards success. After failing to develop a plant-growth chemical, he poured the results into Chemo, filling it to the very top. Through a miraculous chemical reaction Chemo was brought to life, possessing a mild intelligence and a great need to destroy. Chemo killed his horrified creator, and then went on a citywide rampage until he was defeated by the Metal Men. Chemo has become an archnemesis of the Metal Men, and no matter how many times he is seemingly destroyed, he always resurfaces to menace the world.

(DC Comics Presents #4) - Chemo reformed, and was drawn to an observatory by I.Q.’s electropathic homing signal. Along the way he defeated the Metal Men, whose powers were on the fritz because of a magnetic cannon I.Q. had shot at the sun. I.Q. was attempting to increase his intelligence with solar energy, but a miscalculation caused the sun to flare up. He calculated that Chemo’s unique chemical composition could stabilize the sun, so he shot him into space. Superman and the Metal Men tracked I.Q. to his h.q. I.Q. explained what happened, but Superman double-checked his calculations and realized he was off by a decimal point, and that the sun would return to normal on its own, but Chemo would definitely make it go nova. Superman flew into space, intercepting Chemo, and bouncing him back to Earth, but the impact rendered him unconscious. Chemo, who resented being controlled, took the opportunity to turn I.Q. to stone. The Metal Men battled Chemo and were nearly destroyed before Superman intervened. Chemo overheated trying to destroy Superman, so the hero hurled him into the atmosphere to explode.

(Adventures of Superman #593) - Chemo was released from Stryker's Island to be drafted into President Luthor's Suicide Squad, and they required a field test against a powerful superhuman. Manchester Black suggested Superman, and Luthor supported the choice. The Squad lured superman to Area 8, an abandoned military compound, and engaged him in combat. They were defeated by Superman, with Chemo being hurled into Earth's orbit. Luthor agreed with Manchester Black that they needed to recruit Mongul and free Doomsday to complete the Squad.

(Adventures of Superman #594) - President Luthor sent Chemo and the Suicide Squad to the JLA Watchtower on the moon, and with JLAer Steel's help they used JLA teleportation technology to free Doomsday. Doomsday decimated the entire Squad except for Black, who manipulated Doomsday's mind to replace his hatred of Superman with a hatred for Imperiex.

(JSA #61 (fb, BTS)) - <one year ago> A toxic spill from Chemo leaked into a bay full of fisherman in Portsmouth City. Fortunately Dr. Mid-Nite got the men immediate treatment.

(Outsiders III #6) - The Slab, Chemo and his fellow inmates were offered transport to freedom as long as they helped Brother Blood fend off attacks while he used the Slab's GPS system to activate his cultist sleeper agents. The alternative was death if the prisoners failed to protect him. Chemo and the other prisoners couldn't stop the Outsiders from foiling Blood's plans, but in the chaos Psimon led Chemo and the others on a jailbreak, and after reaching Blood's transports they escaped scott free.

Comments: Created by Robert Kanigher & Ross Andru

Chemo received profiles in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #4 and Who's Who in the DC Universe #5.