Hour-Man was given to the world during the era when comic books were considered the ‘real deal.’ He is frequently linked with the Justice Society, and we first see him in 1940, making him one of the earliest comic book heroes.
Rex Tyler as the original Hour-Man may have faded from readers’ memories since then, but it does not change the fact that he was a pivotal figure in the comic-book world. He battled heroically and did his duty as a member of the Freedom Fighters to the point that newer heroes took control and he began to appear more infrequently in more recent series.
Today, we are going back a few years to the golden age of comic books to look at one of the most beloved characters of the time.
HOUR-MAN: First Appearance
Rex Tyler – a Bernard Baily and Ken Fitch creation from Issue 48 of Adventure Comics – was a young chemist who lived in New York, and loved his little bubble where he could experiment with chemistry and biochemistry. It was on one of his little adventures as an employee of Bannerman Chemical Company doing research on hormones, that he discovered a chemical compound that gave its user heightened senses, superior strength, and the ability to match the speed of light or even outdo it. The catch? Oh, none at all! Okay, maybe one.
Miraclo, as the compound was called, was what Tyler used to transform himself into the beloved superhero Hour-Man, and help people as much as he could in that time. He was truly enthusiastic about the ‘helping others’ part of it – he went as far as to publish an advertisement in the Metropolitan Daily, asking people to contact for help at a specific mailing address. If they truly were burdened and in need, the Hour-Man promised to show up. He was mainly distressed by the evil and exploitation he saw in society once his finding became publicly popular and earned him millions.
One time, an individual by the name of Mary Kennedy writes to him, seeking his help in bringing her husband out of the crime scene. The husband had lost his job and then found ‘easy money’ in that lifestyle. The Hour-Man does turn up, but in disguise and finds out that the husband is a sleep-talker and has probably hinted at his next crime being at the expense of one Mrs. Van Shelton – it was about stealing some expensive pearl jewelry off of her.
The event is later that night, and right about an hour before it, the Hour-Man dons his attire, adding a tear gas concentrate in his ring. He hopes he wouldn’t have to use it, but as per plan, Mr. Kennedy does show up at the event with two goons by his side, ready to put his own plan into action. Hour-Man gives Mr. Kennedy a chance to abort the mission and go back to his family, but when persuaded by the goons accompanying him, Kennedy ignores that.
The theft is successful as lights go out and the pearls go missing soon after. Hour-Man chases the thieves’ car down as he has the powers from Miraclo now, and ends up chasing them into their hideout. Some adrenaline-pumping action later, Hour-Man’s powers are about to run out but he just about manages to escape before that ensuring that Mr. Kennedy and the pearls both reach their homes and families. As a catch at the end, Tyler’s boss is seen chiding him for being a coward and telling him he would go places otherwise.
HOUR-MAN: Rick Tyler and the Legacy Carried Forth
The magic of Miraclo did not end with Rex Tyler, oh not at all! To make sure that the world never moved on, or rather, felt the absence of a super-hero at their absolute service, Rick Tyler continued his father’s journey. First seen in DC’s Earth-Two era, he was next a part of the limited series Crisis on Infinite Earth’ during the mid-1980s, and the time following it. There were some edits and alterations in the character sketch to suit continuity, and that is the part that no longer applies.
He too used Miraclo and found membership in Infinity, Inc. as well as the Justice Society of America while on that mission to help as many people as he possibly could. He did leave JSA at one point to be more directly involved in the All-Stars team led by Power Girl, but once they parted ways, he came back to being an important member of JSA. In his personal life, he married Liberty Belle and had a child with her, having quit upon Miraclo for that duration. In a heart-warming similarity and attempt to connect the past and the present, both Rick and Rex wear hourglasses around their necks – a giving of the Hour-Man Android. Time in its primal form – energized tachyons – were enclosed therein.
HOUR-MAN: in ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold’ and other Animated Series
In the setting of World War II, Rick Tyler’s Hour-Man is seen as one of the members of the Justice Society of America who fought off Per Degaton. In his capacity in this episode of the animated series, he is also shown as a guide and mentor to Batman and the new Black Canary. Word is about in the comic verse, that it was Tyler who taught Batman the whole “Hit ‘em with a good one-liner” attitude.
Later on, in the same episode, years after the JSA has already defeated Degaton in WWII, they are having a reunion of sorts. Meanwhile, evil Professor Zee breaks into the place where they had stored Degaton’s power tool ‘The Spear of Destiny’ and manages to steal it. With that in hand, he resurrects Degaton and provides him with an army to attack the JSA and the country again.
As hard as the JSA tries, their age has caught up to them and they are about to be defeated when Batman uses the power tool belonging to Degaton on our beloved heroes. They go back to their respective ages as were during World War II, effectively giving them an upper hand in this new battle. Hour-Man marks his presence and does treat Black Canary and Batman-like his future and places faith in them to carry on the deeds of justice.
Rick Tyler as Hour-Man also played parts in Justice League Unlimited, making frequent background appearances. As discussed earlier, Rick carries with him a legacy, and he too is a member of the Justice League, albeit an expanded and relatively new one.
HOUR-MAN: His Incredible Powers
Apart from the persistent characteristics of the effects of Miraclo, Rex taught himself to rise above and beyond the direct use of the stimulant and would attempt to reinstate the effects of its remnants in his body by using a black light or reciting a mantra. Miraclo is described as a vitamin supplement of sorts, made out of phosphorous in a special form. Its consumption leads to the phosphorous forming bonds with the ATP in Rex’s – and later on, Rick’s – muscle cells, forming an energizing compound.
Miraclo was truly a genius invention of Rex’s, giving a good ol’ regular chemist the powers to fly and travel at insane speed, apart from, of course, invulnerability and amplified stamina coupled with insane physical strength. The whole process of wearing off began right as 60-minutes would expire, and there’d be a release of toxins in the body, expelled into his blood-circulation system over the next twenty-four hours. As all drugs could be, Miraclo was an addiction hard to get out of. Rex was a victim too, and that affected his relationship with his son Rick throughout the latter’s years of growth.
HOUR-MAN: Closing In
We can see a picture being painted here, of Hour-Man’s resultantly complex feelings towards his own abilities coming from something he himself powered on. The reader is also eventually made aware of the need for rest despite the ability to do without it for short periods of time.
Justice Society of those early years may have seen more famous members, but Hour-Man was the most human, one of the smartest and kindest characters to have graced the position of membership. Rex Tyler set the scene for the Hour-Man characters that followed, and their gain of prominence following the ‘Crisis On Infinite Earths’ limited series can be almost wholly attributed to the legacy of prominence that Rex Tyler left behind. For the longest time, it was assumed that Rex Tyler and several others from the JSA were no longer alive, however, they did come back to resume their positions and give back a little more to us Earthlings!
Matthew Tyler was the third version of Hour-Man, as is known. This individual combined Miraclo and Rex’s DNA, making him a hybrid clone of Rex’s, in a way. The one good thing associated with Matthew is that after Rex met a tragic fate post-battle with an enemy, the former managed to rescue the latter and reunite Rex with his son. Rex was last shown as what can be considered ‘retired from comicverse, and it remains to be seen if those pieces will be picked up. Matthew was additionally powerful in a way – and less limited – it makes for a great chapter in the history of Hour-Man.
Having already made an appearance in several live-action portrayals of the comics, Rex Tyler seems to deserve quite a bit more. The live-action appearance in CW’s ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’ series is quite remarkable, followed by a close second ‘Stargirl’ – the latter was highly anticipated. We hope that the silver-screen reserves him a few weeks of portrayal as well, because as old as the comic is, it might be a wonderful idea to revive some memories and educate the new enthusiasts about the days of the glorious past!