It's time for the MAN of the hour, okay joke out of the way but time to talk about the history and legacy of one of DC's more UNDERRATED heroes Hourman. All three get the spotlight here for now.

Hourman goes back to the dawn of Superheroes, the 1940's. His gimmick is simple, he takes a drug called Miraclo this drug gives him powers for one hour, giving his series a unique twist that adds a little suspense.

Hourman first showed up in Adventure comics, becoming a regular feature and even getting a cover spotlight for his first issue, a unique feature of his strip is that he listed the time in panels to keep track of the time. This would be a recurring gimmick in later stories.

Rex was added to the Justice Society becoming a founding member. This helped him in the long run and an hourman has been in most every incarnation of the team. Besides that he had few recurring elements, but he married his Girlfriend and fadded for a long time.

But you can't count him out just yet, the Justice Society was brought back, unlike other characters he did not get a silver age counterpart. He like the other JSA were on Earth 2 and it took DC a while to figure out a concept for an ongoing for them.

Rex like many Golden Age heroes at DC ended up in two places, the All Star comics Justice Society stories by Paul Levitz and All Star Squadron. Now as we get closer to the modern age this sets the standard for the character teachers to the next gen of heroes.

Soon they got a spin off infinity INC which was about the CHILDREN of the Jsa, and we are introduced to his son Rick, Rick would introduce the modern problems of Miraclo....it being a addictive drug.

Small tangent, I really don't LIKE THIS costume, it's a little too boring compared to the classic and it's kind of like if someone was like "draw generic superhero" this look feels so throwaway.

Rick's drug issues became a primary factor of his character, and this character would bounce back to his father. After this drama aspect of his power became part of it, later incarnation of Rex would have this be a major aspect of the powers.

Rick would ditch the costume and then take a look more close to his Dad, now at the time the JSA was kind of gone, stuck in a time portal because of this once his Dad showed up again he got sideline for a while.

Rick would develop cancer, it was changed later but we will get to that. Rick father was rocking with the Justice Society as a member but the editor Mike Carlin thought no one would want to read about the JSA and well...thinks did not go well for Rex.

Rex was killed off IN ZERO hour, with other JSA member while this was bad at the time it did lead to a weird fallout of them becoming more IMPORTANT for storylines going foreward with there legacies and the eventual JSA series but Hourman was gone...or so we thought.

Were going to go to a little side thing here, the Golden Age elseworlds mini series, it's one of the most important Elseworlds for a couple reasons, many of it's idea made it to canon. This series would add several facets to many characters from then on.

The addictions issues made it back to a father making it kind of trait shared between both. It also made Hourman one of the heroes who never gave up on it, he fought to the bitter end. This would make it over to his mainstream incarnations.

Still with both Hourman sideline it was time for a new one and one did in Grant Morrison conceptual crossover DC one Million. Grant Calculated when the one millionth issue of action comics would see publication and created the JLA of the 853rd century and Hourman was a member.

Hourman was a living machine with the DNA of the original Rex, he was a apprentice of Metron who gave him the world log a piece of tech that gave him perfect control of time. After the crossover and many events he stayed in the present which leads us to the only Hourman ongoing.

Hourman by Tom Peyer is a 25 issue series, TAKEN BEFORE IT'S TIME, but ends well. This series is actually about two character Hourman and Justice League sidekick Snapper Carr. Hourman wants to become human and Snapper is the one to show him the way.

*wait Justice League sidekick?
Back in the Silver age the Justice League had a collective teen sidekick Snapper Carr, forgotten more or less now, he was HATTED being seen as the Scrappy Doo of the legaue, he left after betraying the team and bounced around in obscurity.

The focus on their friendship is a true highlight of the series and exploring forgiveness, while the Justice League want Snapper back because their his friend it takes him a while to accept himself, and Hourman learning to be human helps him to come to that.

Hourman is a good series and if your an Amazo fan from JLU I would seek this series out, if you can find each issue for about one dollar or even two Amazo becomes his ARCHENEMY and goes in many different directions.

One of the best subplots in the book is Amazon stealing humanity from people, and him starting to want to be human like Hourman pulling in so many different darker directions. I'm not going to spoil what happens but honestly it's a good twist.

Rick comes back and in this series HE becomes cured. Not right away though, after some serious issues caused by new Hourman trying the original version of Miraclo they end up in conflict and curing him become a subplot of the book.

A good reason to read is the supporting cast, from mad scientist Dr Togg, to the demon that came from a crossover Torture, and ex wife of Snapper and Hourman love interest Bethany. This series was a good fun time one of the many great DC late 90's books

Issue 16 is the highlight issue showing the betrayal of the League through Snapper's eyes, this issue shows many famous Justice League moments and events and is a great art showcase and a good friendship story.

While this was going on, Hourman was added to the JSA and made a member of the team, he was slotted out after his series ended though. But this is just to set up some of the next phases for the characters. He got some good moments before he left.

I could go over the Hourman series in a lot more detail, but the truth is not a lot of people have read it. Matthew the name Hourman takes make a heroic decision in the end so really make a difference for the future and I can't recommend this series enough.

But with him gone for a bit....it left room open for someone else to come back. Rick being cured of his condition stepped back up for the new JSA and stuck around for the rest of the modern run getting one of the best subplots in the series.

But before I get to that, and since I might not get to Snapper again(never say never but hey) Peter David and Tom Peyer gave them a little connection to the Marvel Universe, see he and Rick Jones would talk about there adventures and have some cheeky fun about it so.....

This make the hourman series a kind of Sister series to the Genis Captain Marvel run which I did some coverage of here. So if you read one I would go out and read the other for contrast and just plain good comics. https://twitter.com/Exalted_Speed/status/1303037405088415744?s=20

But the Hourman subplot in JSA Matt found a solution to maybe save Rex's life pulling him from the time stream the problem though was that he could only be there for an hour before going back, Rick would go there for advice and a chance to see his Dad again.

One of the best stories during the JSA era was Rick in the JSA all stars mini, the mini was made of self contained stories about various JSA characters. Hourman issue was one of the best.

The issue focuses on Rick talking about his issues, realizing that he has an addictive personality and trying to find an outlet was hard for him. He helps saves a man. This issue is very good and shows how far he has come since Infinity Inc.

He would later later marry Jessie Quick. For a bit the held the record for DC comics most sickeningly sweet couple ever. Seriously. They would develop a freindship with Damage aka the most fucked family tree in the DCU. Jokes aside this was also a good period for him.

But like many good things he was taken out by FLASHPOINT........the New 52 was so...not worth it.

Hourman did get a version for the series Earth 2 which I will not talk about lest I turn into a hack like film critic hulk and start typing in capitals to show my rage at this series. Seriously WHAT A FUCKING WASTE OF TIME.