Hourman | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | JLA #12 (November 1997) |
Created by |
Grant Morrison Howard Porter |
In-story information | |
Full name | Matthew Tyler |
Team affiliations |
Justice Legion Alpha Justice League Justice Society of America |
Abilities |
Superhuman strength, speed, and durability Invulnerability Manipulation of space-time and his time ship Flight Laser vision |
Hourman (Matthew Tyler) is a fictional character and superhero who was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter. Based upon the Golden Age character Rex Tyler, he first appeared in JLA #12 (November 1997).
The Hourman of the 853rd century is an android (though he describes himself as an "intelligent machine colony") constructed by Tyler Chemorobotics (formerly TylerCo). Although he is an android, he possesses the full range of emotions and human flaws that an ordinary human does. Nonetheless, the technology with which he was constructed is far advanced beyond anything conceivable in the 20th century.
Why the android was built is unknown, although it seems likely that he was in fact commissioned by the New God Metron, who sought to make it his replacement and apprentice. Rex Tyler (the original Hourman), who served as the biological template for the android, spent some time in the future and was involved in its construction.
Shortly after its construction, Metron appointed Hourman as his heir and entrusted him with the Worlogog. The Worlogog was an ancient artifact containing a map of space/time from Creation until the End of the Universe in miniature.
The Worlogog, in form of a stone, had been lost for centuries on Earth until it was unearthed by a LexCorp requisition team, and was dubbed the Philosopher's Stone. Lex Luthor, not fully understanding the stone, used it to manipulate the alien Jemm with his Injustice Gang against the Justice League of America. The Justice League (notably Batman, Martian Manhunter and Superman) defeated Luthor and as Superman stood ready to destroy the Worlogog, a temporal split was created.