When enemy agents stole into their laboratory and killed his father, Roy had only one priority: keep the formula away from the "other side', no matter what the cost. Probably thinking he'd either die by their bullets, or die by poisoning, he quickly ingested the one sample he and his father had managed to create.

Instead of killing him, it transformed him into a walking explosive--a Human Bomb--making anything he touched burst into flames.

He defeated the invaders (one would assume by killing them) and abandoned his quiet life of research for one fighting crime.

One of the major emotional arcs for the character--to the extent it's ever been explored--is finding a way to interact normally with people without making them explode. Were he a Marvel character, he'd surely be jealous of the Human Torch, who can turn his powers off.

Notes:
In truth, the name of the formula used has varied considerably over the years. It's been written also as QRX-27 and X-24.

First Appearance: Police Comics (1941) #1

View a chronological listing of this character's appearances

Issue Appearances:
52 (2006)