Rick Tyler is the son of Rex Tyler, the original Hourman, and the president of his own chemical company. rex Tyler wanted his son,who is inhis late teens to make a career in profiatble fields like medicine or the chemicals industry. But Rick, despite his intelligence, seemed uninterested in applying himself to a career. His only interest was in becoming an artist, despite his father's disapproval.

Rex and Rick were living in LA when the city was struck by earthquakes as a result of the upheavals wrought by the Crisis on Infinite Earths. It was during this time that Rick first took one of the Miraclo pills that belonged to his father, giving him super powers for the period of one hour. Thus he became the second Hourman.

Meanwhile the eathquakes had caused an explosion, blinding one of Rick's fellow interns, Beth Chapel. Chapel discovered she could see in the dark still, but even with special glasses she could not see in the light - thus she became the second Doctor Midnite.

Shortly thereafter, all of the heroes on Rick's world disappeared, having been summoned by the Monitor. Rick and Beth became the new heroes of their world and along with others, formed Infinity Inc.