Rex Tyler was born in Ithica, New York on July 13, 1934. Throughout high school, Rex was not terribly popular. He was of average height and weight (5’ 10”, 165 lbs), and not in terribly good physical condition. His parents instilled in him a strong sense of good manners and the importance of showing respect to one’s elders, and the importance of timeliness. Combined with wearing glasses and his general meekness, he was a tempting target for bullies. His saving grace was his mind, and
his love of the sciences, specifically chemistry. His facility for chemistry won him a scholarship to Empire State University, where he first worked with Dr. Reed Richards.

It was while working on his undergraduate thesis that Rex first began working with Miraclo. He believed that if there were chemicals that could assist the human body in muscle building or to repair damaged tissues, that there must be chemical combinations which could provide an immediate transformation into a superhuman. One month before he received his Bachelor’s degree, Rex tried Miraclo out on himself.

He was astonished at the effectiveness of the drug. For a single hour, he had incredible strength and speed, increased resistance to physical harm, and the ability to leap great heights. Miraclo would build up toxins in his system, and he realized that he would have to wait for those toxins to disperse from his body before taking another dose. He would take the time to travel away from the city to practice his powers, and it was during one of these experiments that he first found his costume. While practicing his leaping abilities, he inadvertently came too near a traveling carnival. Fearing for his identity, he snuck within a tent, and took an acrobat’s costume. He performed a few stunts for the crowd, and then snuck away.

He kept the costume as a continued means of concealing his identity. As he continued to practice with his powers, he decided to emulate the heroes he saw in the news, and to be a costumed crimefighter. He has stopped some minor crimes, robberies, muggings and the like, and is beginning to feel ready for larger things.

He is considering talking to Dr. Richards about the Miraclo drug, and his intentions to continue to operate as a crimefighter, but has not yet done so. As his body has built up a resistance to Miraclo’s side effects, allowing him to take multiple doses a day, so long as an hour passes between doses, he has become more daring about operating as Hourman. As yet, he has not noticed any side effects to his personality, beyond simple feelings of increased confidence.

He is now in his second year of his Masters program, working towards his doctorate in Pharmeceutical Technology. As Rex Tyler, he has begun to work out, and has taken up an athletic routine in addition to his studies. He feels that the world is finally ready for Hourman, and that he is ready for the world.