Floronic Man

Origin

The Guardian Herupa Hando Hu and the Zamaron Nadia Safir came to Earth to find ten people to propel Earth into the new millennium. The only problem is the two were very bitter about how they were treated after the Guardians abandoned them after the formation of the Green Lantern Corps. The Manhunters lay in wait centuries for this moment. They had sleeper agents all over the universe, including Earth, and they did everything they could to stop Herupa and Nadia from fulfilling their duty. Floronic Man was the last to be visited by Herupa and Nadia. Just like all of the chosen, Herupa and Nadia told in her own language that “We have chosen ten people on Earth to advance the human race, and one of the ten is you! The heroes and heroines of Earth join us in asking you to leave this life and enter the future.” Floronic Man was very happy to be chosen because he had been locked away in Arkham.

Past verbal accounts, detailed by Jason Woodrue, revealed the Floronic Man to be an other-dimensional would-be conqueror who was banished to die on Earth. Woodrue's claims seem specious at best, given his schizophrenic delusions and sociopathic nature. What is known as fact is that Woodrue taught as a botany professor at Gardner University, while working on his doctorate.  

Creation

The Flornoic Man first appeared as Jason Woodrue in The Atom  #1 dated June–July 1962, created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane. 

Character Evolution

In his original appearances in the Atom and Justice League, Woodrue called himself "Plant Master" and said to be an exile from the plant dimension Floria. In the 1976 issue of The Flash #245 Woodrue faces uses a formula on himself turning into a plant/human hybrid and began calling himself "The Floronic Man" and later joins the Secret Society of Super-Villains. 
 
Alan Moore later revived the character in his run on Swamp Thing. Woodrue was the one to discover that Alec Holland had not actually transformed into the Swamp Thing, but was instead a plant creature who believed that it was Holland. He later becomes corrupted with his experiences with "the green" and sets out to destroy all human life by increasing the oxygen in the atmosphere but is stopped by Swamp Thing and the Justice League who lock him back up in Arkham Asylum.  
Neil Gaiman's Black Orchid mini-series said that he was a botanist at the same university as Black Orchid, Alec Holland, Pamela Isley and others. 
 
After the events of Millennium, a team called the New Guardians was formed to protect the earth, including the Floronic Man, now calling himself Floro. He served as a hero for a brief time but soon reverted back to villainy. 
 
Later comic incorporated his portrayal in Batman & Robin as the one who turned Pamela Isley into Poison Ivy.  

Powers & Abilities

As a human, Jason Woodrue had an extreme knowledge of botany, the knowledge which he used to accelerate plant growth. After becoming Floronic Man, he gained the ability to merge with and mentally control plant life. He is 6'2" and weighs 210 lbs. He has red eyes and his hair consists of green leaves. His skin resembles the bark of a tree.

Other Media

Batman & Robin (1997)

Jason Woodrue is played by John Glover in the universally panned Joel Schumacher film, Batman & Robin. He's portrayed as a mad scientist of sorts that creates Bane and turns Pamela Isley into Poison Ivy while trying to kill her. Poison Ivy then kills him after giving him her signature "kiss of death". His role in the creation of Poison Ivy was later used in the comics.      

The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure 
In an Atom guest episode titled "The Plant Master", the Atom faces off against Dr. Jason Woodrue. 
 
Swamp Thing 
Although he is never seen, a Dr. Woodrue is referred to several times in Swamp Thing live action Series as a scientific rival to Anton Arcane and has the ability to grow synthetic humans.