Who's Who: Chemoids

Chemoids
by Russell & Siskoid

Super-Power(s): Counter Legionnaires' powers
Planet of Origin: N/A

Relationship to Legion: Villain's army of artificial henchmen

Legion Log
The original Chemoid was Gorn, an android lab assistant and bodyguard for Dr. Mantis Morlo. A creation of Dr. Morlo, it could alter its chemical composition in various ways, such as turn metallic when Invisible Kid tried to punch it.

At that time Dr. Morlo was attempted dangerous scientific experiments that threatened to poison Earth. When the Legion arrived at his lab in order to stop him, he sicced Gorn on them. Cosmic Boy, Light Lass, and Star Boy were able to work together to incapacitate it. Sun Boy and Brainiac 5 then stopped Dr. Morlo's experiments. He vowed revenge.

Several months later Dr. Morlo returned with a "legion" of Chemoids, all specially programmed to defeat specific Legionnaires. Although they came close to killing or wounding several Legionnaires, Light Lass and Karate Kid were eventually able to defeat their assigned assassins and then begin to turn the tables on the rest of the Chemoids. 

The last time Dr. Morlo faced the Legion he was trying to control the chemical sludge present in Metropolis' sewer system. Gorn was again his body-guard, but no other Chemoids were re-activated. Brainiac 5 was able to disintegrate Gorn and the animated chemical waste, then capture Dr. Morlo.

The Chemoids do not appear after the Reboot or Threeboot, but their creator Mantis Morlo does appear in the former as a Vyrdan terrorist who, inspired by fellow Vyrdan Gates, mutated himself - gaining super strength rather than teleportation powers, and used modified Proteans in an attempt to make a fusion core melt down on Earth, then later to attack the Vyrdan government. He was defeated by the Legion.

After Infinite Crisis, the Chemoids' original history has presumably been more or less restored.

Only Chemoid stories:

Adventure Comics #362
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 7
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 3 )

 The Legion stops Gorn, the first Chemoid

 
Dr. Morlo sics a legion of Chemoids against the Legion

Adventure Comics #363

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 7

and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 3 )

 

The Legion defeats the Chemoids and (eventually) capture Dr. Morlo

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #249

Brainiac 5 destroys Gorn, the last of the Chemoids

Legionnaires #45

The Reboot's Mantis Morlo is a mutated Vyrdan terrorist who uses Proteans, not Chemoids