In an attempt to boost sales of the comic book, the characters underwent vast changes. The Metal Men assumed human alter egos, while Doc Magnus became a fugitive scientist dedicated to global conquest. His personality change was credited to having been kidnapped, reawakened, and brainwashed by a mad dictator. Sales plunged instead and the comic was not printed for a few years. Eventually, Metal Men was picked up again with Doc's sanity restored and he returned to assist his Metal Men.