Use your time wisely. While this is a good reminder for everyone, it is especially applicable in the case of a certain DC Comics superhero. This Golden Age hero utilizes the enhancing powers of a miracle vitamin to grant himself immeasurable powers…but only for an hour. Just how much do you know about this classic hero?

Throughout the character’s 80-year history, three different characters have picked up the mantle of being Hourman. Created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily, the original Hourman made his debut appearance in Adventures Comics #48 in 1940. In his first outing, Hourman was Rex Tyler, a normal, non-superpowered man working as a chemist for Bannermain Chemical. After a series of accidents, Rex created a miraculous vitamin known as Miraclo. He later discovered that concentrated doses of Miraclo would give him superhuman strength and speed, but the effects only lasted for an hour.

Deciding to use these powers for good, Rex became the costumed superhero Hourman. Soon after, Hourman became one of the founding members of the Justice Society of America before leaving to join the Freedom Fighters, and then the wartime All-Star Squadron. Hourman later served as one of the superhero world’s first cautionary tales with Rex becoming addicted to Miraclo and fighting crime. Like many other Golden Age heroes, Hourman was seemingly killed by Extant but was later saved by the third Hourman. Currently, Rex provides technical support to the new JSA All-Stars while enjoying semi-retirement with his wife Wendi.

During Crisis on Infinite Earths, Rick Tyler, Rex’s son, took over the Hourman mantle when he took some Miraclo pills to save people trapped in a burning hospital. He spent a few years on the Infinity, Inc. team, which was made of children of JSA members. Shortly thereafter, Rick became addicted to Miraclo just as his father did. After leaving Infinity, Inc. critically ill, Rick was cured of his addiction by Amazo, who was posing as the future android incarnation of Hourman. Amazo also presented Rick with an hourglass full of tachyons that produced visions one hour into the future and the ability to visit his father in an otherworldly dimension. He later joined the JSA and married speedster Jesse Chambers.  

The third Hourman, Matthew Tyler, was introduced as an android from the 853rd century modeled after Rex’s DNA. Matthew served with both the Justice League and the Justice Society with the goal to learn how to be more human. After failing to stop Extant from escaping a fight, he quit the JSA and began traveling through time. Although he would return whenever the JSA issued a distress call. Throughout his travels in time, Matthew gifted his hourglass to Rex Tyler just before he died. Rex has since made plans to rebuild the android Hourman.

Outside of comics, the Hourman has been featured in such animated series as Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, while Suits’ Patrick J. Adams portrayed Hourman in Legends of Tomorrow. DC Universe currently has plans for a new Stargirl series with Lou Ferrigno Jr. tapped to play Rex Tyler/Hourman. The series also stars Brec Bassinger, Luke Wilson, Amy Smart, Trae Romano, Cameron Gellman, Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington, Meg DeLacy, Neil Jackson, Jake Austin Walker, Christopher James Baker, and Hunter Sansone. 

Stargirl is set to premiere on May 11, 2020, on DC Universe, with each episode airing on The CW the day after it premieres on the streaming service.