Along with Ted Grand and Tim Moore,, Nat Tyron made up one of the TNT trio which worked for Luthor. While carrying out a job for him which involved wrecking a nuclear reactor, Nat was caught under some lead shielding and nearly crushed. Superman saved the reactor from meltdown and arrested Grant and Moore; but they insisted they were alone, and as Superman could not see through the lead, he missed Tyron.

Nat managed to free himself and get to Luthor's Lair #16, where the arch-villain himself found that Tyron was afflicted with radioactive poisoning. Luthor placed him under a special ray he claimed would cure him. In fact he planned to change and use Tyron.

Soon, Luthor was captured by Superman and as a result, Tyron remained under the ray for a year. It was Superman's battle with the Mole that caused the vibrations which eventually freed Tyron, who awoke to find himself a walking human bomb - and fast turning into pure energy. Calling himself Neutron, he set out to wreak vengence on the three men he blamed for his plight; Grand, Moore and Superman. Grand was killed, but Superman thwarted Neutron's other plans and sent him to a special prison.

Before long a sharp lawyer had convinced a parole board to free Tyron. This was orchestrated by Vandal savage in order to make Superman look bad. Neutron was spotted wrecking a building. Although Tyron struck the first blow in the ensuing fight, Superman was blamed. Neutron was able to claim he was wrecking the building for its owner - Savage - legally and above board.

However, Neutron's radiation remained a threat to Metropolis, so in time he was placed in suspended animation in a mechanised life- supporting coffin designed by STAR labs. Later, Psimon forced Doctor Janet Klyburn to free Neutron and made him a member of the Fearsome Five. His freedom was short lived though as the five met defeat at the hands of the New Teen Titans.