365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs
Hourman
Three different heroes have operated under the mantel of Hourman. Rex Tyler, a gifted biochemist, was was the original Hourman. He had developed a super-vitamin that he called ‘Miraclo.’ This supplement bestowed superhuman strength, speed and durability, but only for one hour at a time. Fearing that his discovery could be misused, Rex chose to keep Miraclo a secret and used it himself so to become the crime fighting superhero known as Hourman.
Hourman would go on to become a founding member of the first iteration of the Justice Society and he later served among The All-Star Squadron, fighting against the Axis Forces during the Second World War. Rex ultimately retired from super heroics turning his attentions to a highly successful career in manufacturing.
Rex’s son Rick grew up feeling overshadowed by his father’s lofty achievements. Wishing to prove himself, Rick used the Miraclo to become the second Hourman. Rex was dismayed by his son’s decision, concerned that Rick did not appreciate the addictive properties of Miraclo. Rick would not be dissuaded and he continued to use the substance, acting as a member of the team of young superheroes known as Infinity Inc.
Before Rick and his father could reconcile their differences, Rex perished at the hands of the super villain known as Extant. Not long thereafter, Rick’s girlfriend and teammate Beth Chapel died in battle against the villainous Eclipso. These tragedies caused Rick to fall into a severe depression. He attempted to stave off his despair by using more and more of the Miraclo, leading him to become addicted; an addiction that ultimately resulted in a rare form of blood cancer. Rick was eventually able to beat his addiction and he retired from his role as Hourman.
The Third Hourman is a sophisticated android from the distant future whose cyber-gentic template is based on Rex Tyler’s genome. This new Hourman traveled into his past to aid the Justice League in an adventure. While in the modern era, the android sought out Rick Tyler and he was able to use their genetic similarities to cure Rick of his leukemia. The android additionally used his time-manipulation powers to create a one-hour time-pocket where Rick could be with his father plucked out of the time-stream moments before his death. The two used this time to reconcile their differences.
Before departing to return to his own era, the android Hourman provided Rick with a new, non-dangerous and non-addictive variant of the Miraclo. Rick would go on to use this new version of Miraclo to resume the mantle of Hourman and he became a member of the new The Justice Society.
Both Rex and Rick Tyler appeared in the Stargirl television series, portrayed by actors Louis Ferrigno Jr. and Cameron Gellman respectively. The first Hourman originally appeared in the pages of Adventure Comics #48 (1940). The second Hourman first appeared in Infinity Inc. Vol. 1 #20 (1985). While the third first appeared in JLA #12 (1997).
