Simon Stagg
Simon Stagg is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, serving primarily as an antagonist to the antihero/superhero Metamorpho in most comic book stories and their adaptations. He is responsible for turning Rex Mason into Metamorpho out of spite after catching him in a relationship with his daughter Sapphire Stagg. The character has made several appearance in media outside of comics, such animated television series, video games, live-action series "The Flash", in which he was portrayed by William Sadler, and the live-action film, "Wonder Woman 1984", portrayed by Oliver Cotton . Publication history. Simon Stagg first appeared in "The Brave and the Bold" #57 and was created by Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon. Mark Waid, writer of the "Metamorpho" limited series, commented that "writing Simon Stagg was always a tightrope walk. On the one hand, you don't want him to be so comically evil that he's a cartoon. On the other hand, you have to remember that he's an absolute creep. The key to Stagg is not losing sight of the fact that he does most everything he does for the sake of his daughter, regardless of how  insane those actions may look to us". Fictional character biography. Simon Stagg is the unscrupulous owner and CEO of Stagg Enterprises and the father of Sapphire Stagg. Adventurer Rex Mason wanted to win the hand of Sapphire Stagg. Simon sent Rex to Egypt to retrieve a meteor referred as the Orb of Ra. Unbeknownst to Rex, Simon had his brutish Neanderthal bodyguard Java attack him and leave him for dead. Rex was near the Orb of Ra and was exposed to it leading to his transformation into Metamorpho. Sometime later, Simon Stagg tricked the Metal Men into attacking the Justice  League and had Java detain Rocket Red #4 and Animal Man. It turned out that Rex had a baby, who harmed whatever it touched. Metamorpho handed the baby over to Simon, who became convinced he would now die, harmed like Java had been moments earlier. Simon came through unharmed since something in his genetic structure protected him just as it did with the baby's mother. Simon's stance softened, and everyone was allowed to go. Doc Magnus of the Metal Men offered his services to Simon in creating new arms for Java. On the way home, Metamorpho's friends  were puzzled as to how he knew Simon would be unaffected by the child. Metamorpho indicates that he had hoped the baby would kill Simon. Java came upon Black Canary while searching for help for Sapphire. His story was that Sapphire and Joey, Metamorpho's son, had been caught in a lab explosion and merged into a single energy being who was taking revenge upon Simon Stagg's former colleagues. It is revealed that not only were Sapphire and Joey merged, but so was Simon and it was him who was directing the revenge. Black Canary realized that Java was  actually Metamorpho, somehow affected to believe he was Java (the actual Java's murder was still a secret known only to the Staggs). The three were separated once more with Simon claiming to have been overcome by the energy itself and unable to control his actions. As the comic ends, he steps away from the joyous family reunion to check on a growing clone of the murdered Java. In the one-shot "Countdown to Infinite Crisis", Maxwell Lord is seen talking with Stagg on the phone. In the "Blackest Night" tie-in "Weird Western Tales" #71 (Mar 2010), Stagg appeals  to Joshua Turnbull (great-great-grandson of Quentin Turnbull) for help in analyzing a Black Lantern ring that was found on the grave of Don Hall and transported by The Ray. He leaves before the Lanterns attack, and it is unclear whether he survived the event. During the "Brightest Day" storyline, Simon Stagg is later contacted at his Canadian estate by Metamorpho when he and his fellow Outsiders Black Lightning, Geo-Force, Katana, and Owlman (Roy Raymond, Jr.) need a place to stay during the "" storyline after accidentally being shot down. Simon Stagg later placed Java's mind into the  body of a Shaggy Man which was defeated by Freight Train. In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth", which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". Simon Stagg opened up the portal to the Dark Multiverse and was trying to use Metamorpho transmuted into Nth Metal in order to close it. This attracted the attention of Mister Terrific and Plastic Man. When Mister Terrific tries to get Simon Stagg to close the portal, Mister Terrific, Plastic Man, and Metamorpho are sucked in. Simon Stagg was present  when Mister Terrific, Plastic Man, Metamorpho, and Phantom Girl made it back from the Multiverse. Due to the effects of the Dark Multiverse energy, Mister Terrific concludes that they can't go their separate ways due to this bond. Simon Stagg threatened to sue for invading his lab, though Mister Terrific made a compromise where they would continue investigating at Simon Stagg's mansion. During the "Endless Winter" storyline, Simon Stagg is revealed to have a son named Sebastian. Powers and abilities. Simon Stagg possesses genius-level intellect. In other media. Comic strips. Simon Stagg appears in "Dick Tracy", published  in February 2018. He made a deal with Ghost Pepper to buy his restaurant Pepper's. Ghost backs out of the deal, poisons Stagg, and steals his money.