Set Description:
Synopsis: This is a complete set of 60 books with a minimum grade of 9.0. Highlights of the set are 45 highest graded examples with 12 single highest graded books, including Showcase #37. Building this set really takes the patience of Job, as for the most part the books aren’t expensive, just impossible to find. We would not have finished the set except for my buddy, WxMan Slaw, telling me the whereabouts of a copy of an Issue #47 we needed. Thanks Steve! Our goal is to upgrade our three slot fillers to a minimum grade of 9.4, which may take years LOL.
Background: The Metal Men are liquid metal robots made from various elements each with almost limitless shape shifting abilities. They were created by the brilliant robotics expert and Elementical genius Dr. William Magus. The Metal Men consist of six robots: Gold, Platinum, Mercury, Iron, Tin and Lead.
Doc Magnus was a student of super-villain T.O. Morrow and became the world's foremost authority on the new science of Elementics, a synthesis of chemistry and robotics. Doc Magnus developed the Responsometer, a small microcomputer capable of animating pure metals into humanoid robots capable of independent thought, initiative, and emotions.
Together, the Metal Men embarked on a variety of adventures, their specialty fighting monsters spawned from weird science. Perhaps their most unusual and deadliest for is Chemo a walking stew of chemical waste in gigantic humanoid form. Among their other foes are the Missile Men, the Gas Gang, B.O.L.T.S., Doctor Yes and the Plastic Perils.
Eventually, the Metal Men travelled to Gotham City to be part of a worldwide robot convention, but they were framed for the uprising in criminal robots. They were locked away by the local vigilante, Batman, but their names were soon cleared and they helped Batman fight the hordes of crazed robots and capture the criminal responsible for the evil plot. After this, the Metal Men worked with Batman on several occasions and they were even summoned to replace the Dark Knight as Gotham City's protectors, although they failed. Over the years, the Metal Men have been destroyed many times, but Magnus has always been able to salvage their Responsometers and rebuild them. Due to their shape shifting ability the robot can combine into a giant robotic form known as Alloy. Alloy has the combined might of all the robots along with their thoughts and skills, making him a formidable opponent.
Tin later created a robot himself an unofficial member of the team dubbed "Nameless". Shy and withdrawn, Nameless was Tin's "girlfriend" until her destruction in battle.
Our Collection: I always liked Metal Men as a kid, yes I know I am dating myself with that comment, and have long owned a #1 9.6. I started picking up a few Metal Men after completing our Flash and GL sets; however, of all the books we collect, Metal Men has turned out to be the most difficult to find in high grade. Most of our books were bought when two other collectors sold their sets. While we have now climbed to the top of the registry, the set still has numerous holes. And unlike many sets where we have just been outbid, we have never seen copies of many of the books we covet here.
Many of the later issues are scarce because so few issues are graded. Again, it’s the problem with extended sets where the later books are sometimes not worth submitting because the CGC fees are too high for such inexpensive books. Also, there are two completed sets in the registry, and those books are out of circulation. Finally, there are a few people who own the Metal Men Showcases as part of Showcase collections and those books also never come on the market.
The big recent news with this set was our acquisition in 2022 of the single highest graded copy of the first Metal Men tryout issue in a private transaction. Otherwise, it was another year of never seeing a book we need coming to market. Generally speaking, completing most Marvel sets just takes lots of cash, as the books are there. But completing some DC sets really takes the patience of Job, as I have spent years never seeing copies of some books in sets like Aquaman, Metal Men, Wonder Woman, etc.
2024 Update: We finally made a little progress on this one, as we filled the slots for Issues #44, #45, #48, #51 and #54 this year. We still need to upgrade two books and fill one more slot, but at least we can see the finish line on this one.
2025 Update: OK, confession time, we cheated. We just decided we were tired of looking everyday for a nice #47 and compromised, filling the slot with a 9.2. One good thing is that it really did not lower that bar for the set as we still have been unsuccessful in upgrading our Showcase #39 and boy have we looked. Also, it only cost us $27; obviously, whoever sent that book to CGC lost money. Upgrading this set is not a high priority, primarily because the books just aren’t out there and we still have open slots in many other sets. Still, we would like to upgrade the three books that are only third and fourth highest graded in the census if the opportunity ever arises.
Current Stats:
60/60 Books
32 9.8s-All Highest Graded
17 9.6s-9 Highest Graded
9 9.4s-4 Highest Graded
2 9.2s
1 9.0
36 WP
18 OW/W
5 OW
1 Cr/OW
12 Single Highest Graded
45 Highest Graded
13 Second Highest Graded
2 Third Highest Graded
1 Fourth Highest Graded
22 Pedigrees
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