Simon Stagg (DC)

Simon Stagg is a major antagonist in DC Comics. He is the corrupt owner of Stagg Enterprises (also called Stagg Industries), the father of Sapphire and Sebastian Stagg, and the boss of Java. He is considered to be the archenemy of Metamorpho due to being directly responsible for his creation, and has also served as an enemy towards Batman, The Outsiders, and The Terrifics.

He was created by Bob Haney and the late Ramona Fradin.

Biography[]

Simon Stagg was outraged to learn that his daughter Sapphire was in a relationship with explorer Rex Mason, so Stagg sent Mason to Egypt to obtain the Orb of Ra. While in Egypt, Stagg ordered his bodyguard Java to beat Mason to death. However, Mason survived and turned into a shape shifting hero known as Metamorpho after touching the Orb of Ra.

Major Story Arcs[]

Justice League Europe[]

Foxy Ladies/ Worm Food[]

When Stagg took over Jason Justin's company, Justin then used the Society of St. Cholmondeley to destroy Stagg's factory in England. Stagg went to England to investigate the attacks and blamed the Justice League Europe for attacking his factory. Stagg was forced to retreat when a giant worm started to attack him.

Brightest Day: Outsiders[]

The Outsiders used a Markovian jet to fly to America, they were gunned down by Canadian jet fighters since they were passing the Canadian border. Stagg agreed to let the Outsiders stay at his Canadian estate just so he can rub it in Metamorpho's face while the Outsiders tried to prove they weren't a threat to the Canadian government. Stagg contacted the Canadian-American Embassy and an official from that place informed Stagg that since Markovia is still in the middle of a civil, the Outsiders are to be considered as war criminals. Black Lightning refused to believe Stagg's bad news and forced Stagg to find a way to get him and his team back to America. Stagg called in his new hired gun called Freight Train and Freight Train attacked Black Lightning, Owl Man, and Metamorpho. Stagg called off the attack when he felt that the Outsiders learned their lesson about disrespecting him.

Later that night, Java knocked Metamorpho out with the Orb of Ra and took him into Stagg's laboratory since he wanted to merge Metamorpho with Chemo. However, the experiment went horribly wrong and Chemo started to rampage Canada. Java contacted Freight Train to stop Chemo and Freight Train teamed up with the Outsiders to deal with the crisis. Freight Train was able to defeat Chemo by knocking its feet which caused Chemo to topple into a series of power lines. Chemo the vomited Metamorpho out since he became agitated by the electric surge. When the Outsiders returned to Stagg's estate, they found the Canadian Armed Forces waiting for them. Freight Train felt betrayed by Stagg and gave the Outsiders credit for taking down Chemo. The Canadian Government thanked the Outsiders for what they've done and allowed them to return to the United States.

Later on, Stagg had Freight Train kidnap Black Lightning so Black Lightning can use his electricity to help bring Sapphire back from the dead after merging the Black Lantern residue with some of Sapphire's DNA. Metamorpho and Sapphire were happy to be reunited, however, Metamorpho wanted to kill Stagg for making him suffer for losing Sapphire. However, Stagg left with Freight Train.

In Other Media[]

Justice League[]

Stagg appeared in "Metamorphosis" where he wanted to create the ultimate soldier referred to as Metamorpho for an oil company which wanted proof of it being safe. Stagg had Java smuggle some chemicals into Gotham, however one of the chemicals leaked causing a train wreck to nearly happen until John Stewart arrived to save the day. Stagg was jealous of Rex Mason for dating his daughter Sapphire and turned him into Metamorpho by testing the chemicals on him. Stagg manipulated Metamorpho into attacking the Justice League, however Metamorpho went after Stagg after learning he was responsible. Stagg had Java use a cold gun on Metamorpho and tried to get his men dispose of him. However, Metamorpho broke free and attacked Stagg at his company. However, Staggs' mind ended up being transplanted into Chemo's mind and went on a wild rampage in Metropolis as a result of the attack. When Chemo was destroyed by Metamorpho, Stagg woke up in the hospital screaming.

Beware The Batman[]

Simon Stagg was one of the richest industrialists who was kidnapped by Professor Pyg and Mr. Toad for participating in a shady land deal that destroyed protected wetlands. However, Stagg was saved because of Batman despite the fact that he was willing to let Alfred Pennyworth die after Alfred saved his life. Stagg later transformed Mason into Metamorpho since he was outraged that Sapphire was dating a security guard by luring him to a gas chamber while posing as an intruder and then testing an experiment on him that was called "Project Metamorpho". Batman discovered Stagg's involvement from a security footage and told Mason what happened which prompted Mason to attack Stagg at his company. Batman forced Stagg, who was fearing for his life, to help him cure Mason. However, the cure failed and Stagg tried to blame Batman for it, however Batman showed Sapphire a security footage that Stagg deleted of him turning Mason into Metamorpho. Stagg was then upset since he was going to get arrested instead of feeling guilty for his daughter's feelings. Batman later confronted Stagg in prison since he accused him of hiring thugs to wreck Old Gotham, however Stagg denied involvement even though he approved of people getting hurt and continued to plot a move to get back at Batman for doing nothing wrong that resulted in him going to prison.

Arrowverse[]

Simon Stagg appears as a minor character in the Arrowverse. He is first indirectly mentioned in Arrow, as Stagg Industries refuses to sponsor Laurel Lance's law firm. Garfield Lynns later attacks one of Stagg Industries' chemical plants, only to be stopped by The Hood.

Stagg makes his full appearance in The Flash, appearing in the episode "Fastest Man Alive", portrayed by William Sadler. Prior to the events of the episode, he stole the research of his former employee Danton Black, resulting in Black being unable to save his dying wife. After developing the ability to clone himself, Black begins targeting Stagg, although his plan is foiled by the Flash. Stagg expresses interest in exploiting Flash's powers and reveals this to a visiting "Harrison Wells", who, not wanting Stagg to interfere in his plans, stabbed him to death. Stagg's death is later investigated by reporter Mason Bridge, whom Wells also kills.

Wonder Woman 1984[]

Stagg appears as a minor character in Wonder Woman 1984, the ninth film in the DC Extended Universe, portrayed by Oliver Cotton. He is portrayed as a business investor that invests into Maxwell Lord's oil company, The Black Gold Cooperative. However, after learning that The Black Gold Cooperative is fake, Stagg approaches Lord in his office and demands to pull out, insulting Lord in front of his son. After Lord absorbs the power of the Dreamstone, he visits Stagg and tricks him into wishing that his business will boom; as a consequence, Lord declares that Stagg will be removed and he will take over his company. As Lord leaves Stagg Enterprises, the FBI arrive to arrest Stagg for tax fraud, fulfilling Lord's promise. It is unknown what happened to Stagg after Lord's defeat and the effects of his powers are reversed.

Videogames[]

DC Universe Online[]

Stagg sponsors animal killers which were why Catwoman attacked Stagg Industries in the game.

Batman: Arkham Knight[]

Simon Stagg arrived in Gotham City to do research on airborne inoculation technology and was accused of human right violations. Batman went to Founder's Island to look for Barbara Gordon who was abducted by the Arkham Knight. Batman took out the Arkham Knight's Militia and Stagg told Batman that his company was developing a clean power cell technology and that Scarecrow was on the second airship. Stagg was working with Jonathan Crane, however, Crane betrayed Stagg by using the fear toxin on him. Batman freed Stagg from his condition and threw him into another cell after borrowing one of Stagg's clean cell technologies. According to Batman, Stagg is even more deluded than the Dark Knight thought when he believed he was intend to be rescued not thrown in jail.

Gallery[]

Beware the Batman Clip Batman vs. Mr. Toad & Pyg

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