“ | It really galls me to see technology used so thoughtlessly! Wait -- No, it doesn't! I do it all the time! | „ |
~ Hourman (Rex Tyler). |
“ | If there's one notion I could pass on to you-- A single idea I could distill it all down to--that'd be the one. I love you, Rick. | „ |
~ Rex speaking to his son, Rick. |
Hourman is a fictional character and superhero from the DC comics, and has had two iterations. He is the legacy of a masked vigilante who uses a drug named Miraclo to give him incredible super-powers for exactly one hour. Rex Tyler is the original version, a scientist who created the chemical and fought crime during the Golden Age. Rick Tyler is his son and successor, the second Hourman. Matthew Tyler is a super-intelligent android created in the 853rd Century who traveled back into the modern era and held the position for several years. The character has been involved with the Justice Society.
Hourman was created by Ken Fitch and the late Bernard Baily, first appearing in Adventure Comics #48 in March of 1940.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Rex Tyler was born around 1913 to unnamed parents, and was raised in New York, finding himself being interested in chemistry and biology. In 1919, a young Rex was visited by his future self, and the older version gave him an hourglass to hold onto until he needed it.
Becoming Hourman[]
After graduating from high school, Rex went off to college and managed to get a job at Bannerman Chemical, where he did research on vitamins and supplements. During his research, Rex discovered the vitamin that was named "Miraclo", and found that controlled doses gave him superhuman abilities. However, Rex could only take small portions of the vitamin for an hour since his body couldn't handle much of it. Deciding to use the vitamins to help those in need, Tyler created an ad for the public that stated "The Man of The Hour". After helping a housewife and stopping a robbery, Rex found a costume and became the superhero "The Hourman".
Eleven months after aiding the public, Hourman became a member of the Justice Society of America, and started to increase the doses of his vitamins when he saw his teammates have powers. The extra doses affected Tyler's body, and during one case, Rex's heart gave and his system was poisoned with side effects. He was cleansed by Doctor Fate, but Rex decided to retire from being a hero and left the team. Though Rex would occasionally assist the Justice Society, he devoted most of his time into taking over Bannerman Chemical and renaming it the Tyler Chemical Company. Rex would eventually met and fall in love with Wendi Harris, and the two later married and had a son named Rick.
Rex looked forward to giving his legacy to Rick, but found that his son had no interest in academics, and was more interested in sports. A friction entered Rex's relationship with his son, but decided to secretly create a Miraclo formula for his son or descendants if they wanted to become superheroes. Rick would soon take on the mantle of Hourman during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and went on numerous adventures with the Justice Society. During the Zero Hour storyline, Rex was presumably killed when they fought Extant, but he was rescued from his fate by his clone, Matthew Tyler.
Incarnations[]
Rex Tyler[]
Main article: Rex Tyler
Rick Tyler[]
- Main article: Rick Tyler
Rick Tyler is the second Hourman, and is the son of the original, Rex Tyler, and Wendi Harris. Though Rick didn't take his father's interest in academics, he would take on the mantle of the Hourman during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Matthew Tyler[]
Matthew Tyler became the third Hourman, being an android from the 853rd century.
Portrayals[]
Film[]
- In Justice Society: World War II, he will voiced by Matthew Mercer.
Television[]
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, he was voiced by Lex Lang.
- In Legends of Tomorrow, he was portrayed by Patrick J. Adams.
- In Stargirl, he was portrayed by Lou Ferrigno, Jr.
[]
![]() | ||
Comics Main Secondary Movies |