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When DC All In begins in October, it’s the start of a new age for DC’s comic book universe(s): one that will be more thrilling, more dangerous, and more… ginchy? As unlikely as it might seem, that last word might be the most appropriate for what could be the most unexpected (and most fun) of DC’s new title launches. Get ready to spend some time with Metamorpho: the Element Man, courtesy of creators Al Ewing and Steve Lieber.

"It's such a joy to work on this book with these collaborators,” Lieber said in a statement provided by the publisher. “Al Ewing's scripts are an absolute delight, and Lee Loughridge's color is impeccable. And as a long-time fan of Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon, I can't believe I get to follow in their footsteps."

The new series is very much a throwback to the earliest days of Rex Mason’s wacky superhero career, as created by beloved creators Haney and Fradon in the midst of the self-consciously swingin’ ‘60s. (He first appeared in 1965’s The Brave and the Bold #57, before headlining his own series for 17 issues starting later that year.) As Ewing puts it, “This is 100% fun comics, delivered with total confidence, visceral joy and absolutely no winking to the camera. It’s a love letter to Bob Haney, Ramona Fradon and the spirit of superheroes at their wildest and weirdest — we're aiming to catch the essential fab-freakiness of Metamorpho like lightning in a bottle and get groovy with it in our own special way.”

What kind of way is that? Ewing, known in the US for his Marvel work on titles including The Immortal Hulk, USAvengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy, promises “done-in-ones that’ll satisfy discerning Metamaniacs month by month as they build up to something so far out that it might just be a one-way ticket to nowheresville for a certain freak of a thousand changes! Who is the menacing Mister 3? What's the sinister secret of Sugar Sweet? Who's the target of Vandal Savage's million-year revenge? All these way-out mysteries and more will be answered in the New Age of Metamorpho—it's our Xmas gift to you!”

Xmas gift? That’ll be because the new Metamorpho series launches on December 25 (Yes, really), with covers for the first issue from series artist — and one of the few artists who can live up to the inspiration of character co-creator Fradon — Steve Lieber, as well as Erica Henderson, Ian Bertram and Steve Beach. Check out Lieber, Henderson, and Bertram’s covers — as well as some interior art for the first issue from Lieber and colorist Lee Loughridge, in the gallery below.

(Oh, and if you're wondering why now is the right time to bring Metamorpho out of comic book retirement, I should probably remind you that the character is slated to show up in 2025's big screen Superman reboot from James Gunn...)

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