iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Do you think that when they stopped caring about card games they made this place?

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

This the type of literature we're denied.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

The Atomic Age of sci-fi was Superman's bread and butter. The looming anxiety of what will become of us as seen in far off fantastical worlds. Twilight Zone cautionary tales, a call to act - and Superman heeds the call from a phone box.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Even to this day, the Men of Steel upload the backed up consciousness of John Corben. They live by the manifesto he recorded as 'Superman'. And they sought to create a war brotherhood of steel in his honor. They believed everything he said. All of them did. Ironic, for he himself didn't.

A menagerie of Metallos haunt the streets of Metropolis as they fire their grappling hooks up at the roof of the time honored newspaper, The Daily Planet.
One of the grappling hooks fires into the offices as the inside reporters respond in shock. They are under attack. Perry is startled, "Great Caesar's Ghost! What's HAPPENING?"
Looking outside, Jimmy Olsen sees the Metallos scaling upside the building. He shouts: "We're being BOARDED by METALLOS".
The lead Metallo shouts out, "We're COMING, friends of Clark Kent! We're coming to KILL you, the way Kent killed my BROTHER! Prepared to be MASSACRED, for we have no PITY!"
Punctuating it with, "WE have no HEARTS!"

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Ultimately, what destroyed Corben was him ignoring Lois's warning that his magnetic-heart is broken. He died crushed by his own armor. Lois gets her victory over her father. But sadly, Metallo's memory lives on as a martyr aspiration for many insecure men. 'The Men of Steel'.

During Superman's altercation with a war-suitted John Corben, a rogue bullet ricochets off Superman's forehead - and fires into the Kryptonite heart that powers the suit.
The resulting attack causes the Kryptonite to overload the armor as a confused Corben responds, "No. What-?"

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Televised at General Lane's facility, the working 'Super Force' project to push America into the space race, Superman clashes with Corben - who gives up the ruse, allowing himself to morph fully into his Metallo design; Men of Steel at war

BA-BOOM! An explosion in Superman's face.
"Superior Man" shambles out of the flame, walking towards Superman.
But Superman sees him quite clearly. He reacts, "Great Scott! Metallo!"
Superman's POV as his doppleganger 'Superior-man' has been exposed - the 'skin' is melted away, revealing his mechanical foe: Metallo. Metallo is looking to his hands, confused - as if awakening from a trance.
Metallo: M-Metallo? Yes, that's right. John Corben. The killer with the kryptonite heart. Where... where am I, Superman?
On Metallo's confused face, wondering: Did Luthor do something to my head?

Armadrillo, a Ben 10 alien. A construction designed alien. Personally, I love the piston arms and would love to use that for a Metallo design. Also he skips leg day. Also ideal for Metallo.

Superman is caught off guard as John Corben sucker punches him from behind. Corben is piloting a hulk-like mechanical war suit designed in green and orange hues. He leans in with a wicked satisfied grin, "Nice suit. How do you like MINE?"

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Catching Corben when he's at his most vulnerable, Lois has to essentially escape from his lair with only her wits and any prototype weapon she can find. Making her way into freeing Superman. Naturally Superman taps on Corben's shoulder, "Excuse me sir, she said she's not interested".

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #2 COVER
Lois Lane holds a sci-fi blaster in her hand, hiding behind the corner, afraid of Superman hunched over in a brutalist looking mad science room - what dastardly thing is he creating? And does it spell certain doom for our intrepid reporter?

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

She is playing him. No one can outfox Lois Lane. So she makes him trip over himself. And feeling caught off guard perplexes him - a better man would be all about it, Corben however takes offense to it. It agonizes him. Lois uses him to get information on how to save Superman, the real deal.

In a moment of vulnerability, Corben's shirt is pried open as his chest mechanism is open. He holds up a drained battery that has ran out. He is hitting rock bottom.
Caption: Shortly after, as Corben gets his first assignment and ducks into an empty office on his way out...
Corben, thinking: I-I feel weak... And no wonder! My supply of uranium's used up! The professor gave me just this one extra capsule! Enough to keep my metallic heart beating till TOMORROW! I need more uranium - real FAST!

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

His gospel catches on, but for the most part, he keeps running his mouth. Feeling like everything he does is now undermined by feeling like an imposter; the world only loves him for Superman, not himself, and he cracks under the pressure. But Lois sticks around him, why?

Lois makes her move, pulling a nervous John Corben in closer.
Lois: Don't bother to cover up the bullet holes in your suit, darling! You're SUPERMAN, the man I love! And stupid me... I was brushing you off! I'll make it up to you from now on!
Corben gulps, sweating bullets; he thinks: "Wow! Am I on the spot! SUPERMAN and I ever show up at the same time, she'll know I'M a fraud!

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

As Superman is locked inside General Lane's facility, Corben reaps the benefits of being a Superman a little too much - becomes embolden and starts going to press, spewing his manifesto about how the world tried to belittle him. "Emasculate" him. Him against 'the machine'.

"Superior-man", a Superman-like copy in a red suit, mugs in front of the assembled press as he lifts a powerless Parasite up by his throat.
"Superior-man": Take all the pictures you want, boys and girls. Just be sure to catch my best side for the ladies.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Settled on the idea that Metallo doesn't really need to be a mainstay villain in my SV setting. Jon Corben is basically an investigator who takes jobs to get closer to Lois Lane; feels offended that she rejects him; he works with General Lane to become a Metallo to 'get rid of the competition'.

Panel 1: John Corben driving in a car. Listening to a crime radio show. "Once again, a criminal must learn... there is no perfect crime". Corben chuckles as he grips his cigarette, "Bunk! I committed the perfect crime!"

Panel 2: Corben is driving through a narrow, dangerous valley; in the distance, a small house can be seen. The radio show keeps playing, "You made one mistake, Preston! You forgot to wipe the finger prints off the murder gun!"
Corben thinks aloud: "The killer in that radio show forgot, but not I!"

Lois is shocked to find a man who resembles Superman, albeit in a red suit and a pencil-thin mustache named John Corben, is seemingly withstanding the rapid-fire of a gun.
Lois: Good heavens John! Those bullets bounced off your body! Now I know you're SUPERMAN, the man I love!
Corben, thinking: Wow! Am I on the spot! If SUPERMAN and I ever show up at the same time, she'll know I'm not the MAN OF STEEL -- but METALLO, THE METAL MAN!
Off to the side Superman flies in, clearly startled by this scene.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

"Developed in the outlying cliff side of Binder Mountain, the newly developed district 'New Thanagar' has took Metropolis by storm as conspiratorial human focused advocates theorize that Superman is intent on replacing humans from human spaces..."

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Alright, I'm game. Slott is good with big ideas and fun characterizations, so him evolving Superman's world is the right play.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Johns is the inverse of that scene from Flex Mentallo

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

That's funny because I hear Backstreet Boys when I see this:

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Who do I have to bribe to make this Weather Wizard's permanent look?

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

I ate too much protein and my tummy hurts.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

I think they could've used the insanely cooler clone, if they were brave enough.

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Reskeet with your top 4 Johto Pokémon

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Duke Sadder Write @dukesadderwrite5.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Drawing from my own experience, I think my Superman run would probably pose the question: Does Superman struggle with feeling unfulfilled in his life? That for everything he does, will it ever fill the emptiness in his divided self? Will he ever be WHOLE? Or just the sum of his experiences.

Superman mournfully looking at Pa Kent's grave. The text says, "I'm so proud of you", it's Pa's words. The art is by Daniel Warren Johnson.

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