Borrowed Time for the Hourglass Heroes

“Borrowed time" refers to living longer than expected, especially after a point of crisis, or the continued existence of something precarious. It is a metaphorical concept indicating that the time is not one's own and could end at any moment. The phrase is often used to describe situations where survival, success, or stability is tenuous, such as a person recovering from a serious illness or a project that has faced repeated setbacks.

Such was the case for the Hourglass Heroes known as the Challengers of the Unknown, and Hourman with his Minute-Men. Originally normal men, these courageous crusaders relied on their tenacity and technology to combat various threats from sinister scientists and fierce foes.

This first occurred for the Challengers while flying aboard pilot Ace Morgan’s private airplane, which crashed due to sabotage. Along with Ace, chemist / oceanographer Prof Walter Haley, mountain climber Red Ryan and professional boxer Rocky Davis tracked down the man behind to their near-death experience, a gangster named Bernie planting a bomb in Red’s luggage meant for a friend of his instead. The fantastic four vowed to use their borrowed time to discover mysteries that plague mankind and protect the innocent. After bringing the culprit behind their attempted murder to justice, of course.

Later in Rex “Tick Tock” Tyler’s career, after he had already pointed a group of young boys known as the Minute-Men to lives of good works on behalf of others, he nearly lost his own life. This happened when Rex as Hourman confronted Tricky Dick Arnold in the Tyler Vault, as the thief was stealing top secret blueprints. During their brawl, Arnold’s Metalizer gun which he used to vaporize metal irradiated Hourman’s body with a death dealing burst of energy.  Although his Miraclo medicine, which augmented his body to superhuman levels, briefly kept Rex alive for his hour-of-power… only by retrieving the Metalizer was he able to reverse the process and restore his life. After bringing the culprit behind his near-death to justice, of course.