Comic Title: Secret Origins #16
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: July 1987
On Sale Date: April 7, 1987 Newsstand Date April 7, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #38

Newsstand Date April 9, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #113

Shipping Date March 17, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #113

Copyright Date March 17, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Newsstand Date April 9, 1987
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #692, #694, #696

Shipping Date March 17, 1987
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #692, #694, #696

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 48
Editor: Robert Greenberger

Title: "The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Hourman"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Hourman (Rex Tyler Post-Crisis)

Writer: Roy Thomas
Writer: Danette Thomas
Penciller: Michael Bair
Inker: Michael Gustovich
Letterer: David Cody Weiss
Letterer: Agustin Mas
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Reprinted In:
Last Days of the Justice Society of America TPB (2017)

Feature Character(s)

• Hourman (Rex Tyler; earliest chronological appearance; origin retold; next appearance in Secret Origins #31)

Supporting Character(s)

• Mr. Bannermain (first post-Crisis appearance; Rex Tyler's boss; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Johnny Kenton (no further appearances)
• A gang of bandits (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Beverly Bannermain (Bannermain's daughter; no further appearances)
• Jonesy (Rex's co-worker; no further appearances)
• Several circus performers (no further appearances)
• Mrs. Kenton (Johnny's mother; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Flash (in a newspaper photo)
• Hawkman (in Rex Tyler's thoughts)
• Sandman (in Rex Tyler's thoughts)
• Spectre (in Rex Tyler's thoughts)

Comments:
Portions of this story are adapted from the first story of Adventure Comics #48.

The narration of this story is a letter written by Rex Tyler to his son which Rick receives in Infinity Inc. #40.

The events in this story occur on and around New Year's Eve 1939.

Synopsis:
Meek Rex Tyler works as a chemist at Bannermain Chemical. During his off hours, Rex develops a drug that can enhance speed and strength for the duration of one hour. After testing the drug on a rat, Rex decides to try the drug himself. He gains temporary super-speed and strength, but also an addiction to the drug which he names Miraclo.

Rex decides to wait until the drug is perfected to announce his discovery. In the meantime he dons a costume and becomes Hourman, a mystery man and crime fighter. He places an ad in a newspaper and is soon contacted by Mrs. Kenton whose son has become involved with criminals. Hourman stops the crooks and sets Johnny Kenton back to an honest life.

Rex continues to fight crime as Hourman, but he is never able to overcome the side-effects of Miraclo. In the present day his son Rick has taken the name Hourman and uses Miraclo to gain super powers.