Professor Emmet Vale

Origin

Vale made it his life mission to find out all about superman who he was were he came from and what was his weakness. When Vale found a fatally wounded man named John Corben he took his brain and transplanted it in a robotic body powered by a Kryptonite heart. Once Corben awoke and found out what was going on he killed Vale and then went out to kill Superman.

Major Story Arcs

Pre-Crisis

The Menace of Metallo

For more information see Action Comics #252

While Professor Vale and his housekeeper, Edith are driving home, they see a car flipped over and the driver, John Corben, is trapped underneath. Vale believes he is the only one that can save the man’s life and takes him back to his lab. When the man wakes up Vale informs him that he is mostly metal now and needs Uranium to power his heart or he will die. Vale is about to tell Corben what else will keep him alive, but a rockslide hits the house causing Vale to have a heart attack. Corben, ever the villain leaves the professor to die.

Later, Edith got Vale medical attention and when Corben returns to see Vale, the professor informs him the element Kryptonite will also keep the metal man powered forever. Lucky for Corben, Vale has some in a safe, as the professor was going to use it to find a way to keep Superman alive near the otherwise deadly material. Corben steals the Kryptonite and leaves, again leaving Vale to wonder if he did the right thing saving the stranger’s life.

Post Crisis

Body and Mind

For more information see Action Comics #648

Professor Vale is a mad doctor who is trying to kill Superman, and to this end he found John Corben’s mangled body after a car wreck. Vale rebuilds the man with a metal body and a Kryptonite heart. While Vale explains to Corben why he saved his life, Corben goes into a rage and snaps the professor neck, leaving him for dead.

In Other Media

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Emmet Vale is played by John Rubinstein in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Emmet used to work as a scientist in LexLabs with his brother Rollie Vale.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Prof. Emmet Vale will be played by Ralph Lister. Unfortunately, the movie gives no other implication but its a good chance Metallo will make an appearance soon thanks to Prof. Vale.