Man of Bent Steel: Morgan Strebler, a magician known for bending steel objects, will perform at Metropolis' annual Superman Celebration

Morgan Strebler feels like a kid again.

The Sikeston, Missouri, native will return to the Midwest to perform at the annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois, June 12 through the 15.

Since the magician moved to Las Vegas in 1999, he's dazzled audiences at places such as Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, toured abroad to perform in front of thousands and performed on television. But when he was asked to perform for the four-day Superman convention, he said, it was a dream come true.

"To be honest, I've never been more excited or had more butterflies about a show than I have for the chance to perform at Metropolis," he said.

A self-avowed "Superman nerd," Strebler said he's a collector who grew up watching Christopher Reeve and later the "Smallville" television series.

"I go [to the convention] every year with my sons," he said. "It's truly an honor to be able to perform there."

Strebler, also known as "The Man Who Bends Steel" -- in no way affiliated with DC Comics -- will perform five one-hour shows, showcasing his trademark Psychokinetic magic, in which Strebler bends steel objects using only the power of his mind.

"I can bend nails, keys, coins, and I do a lot of silverware, such as forks," he said.

He first made headlines by becoming the youngest magician to catch a bullet between his teeth at 19 years old. Strebler is also known for his mentalism, or his ability to read minds. In one trick he divines a person's choice of three random objects, texting the outcome to the subject before beginning.

Strebler said he is such a Superman fanatic that he has tailored his routine to accommodate the superhero motif of the convention.

"I'll bring about 30 people onstage and read their minds at one time," he said. "There'll be a lot of superhero-related material and you'll also get to see me bend metal."

In between shows, Strebler will be performing one-on-one demonstrations on the convention floor.

"When I'll be out on the floor, I'll be doing more up-close, man-on-the-street type of things," he said.

He said it was this kind of "street magic" that caught the attention of the convention organizers. They saw him performing for Michael Rosenbaum, the actor who portrays Lex Luthor on "Smallville," and were impressed. Strebler said just being able to meet Rosenbaum was an awesome experience in itself for such an avid fan of "Smallville."

"First it was 'one trick,' which led to 'one more trick,' which led to a 30-minute show right there," he said. "I freaked him out pretty bad; they saw it and wanted to book me."

The Superman Celebration also will feature special guests Dean Cain, star of the television series "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," and Billy Dee Williams, who played Harvey Dent in Tim Burton's "Batman," as well as several comic book writers and illustrators. The schedule of events includes Smallville prom, costume contests, and a fan film awards screening. Superfans can even see bent steel at Strebler's performance.

"It's going to be a real high-energy, fun show," he said.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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