Rick Tyler was born in the late 1960's on Earth-Two, the son of chemical industry magnate Rex Tyler and actress Wendi Harris Tyler.  The Tylershad become acquainted during a case in 1965 involving the Psycho=Pirate and Tyler's heroic alter-ergo, Hourman.  They wed shortly thereafter and Rick was the first (and evidently only) son.

Rick's relationship was his father was tumultuous with the senior Tyler viewing his son as impetuous and irresponsible and the younger Tyler viewing his father as absentee and over-bearing for someone so consumed by his responsibilities outside of the family.  The mid-1980's found Rick vagabonding around Europe, returning home in July of 1985.  His first encounter with individuals that would unknowingly shape his future occurred on a lunch visit between he, his father and one of his father's colleagues, Dr. Charles McNider, also known as Dr. Mid-Nite.  Along with McNider were a childhood friend of Rick's Albert Rothstein now operating as the adventurer Nuklon and McNider's protegee Beth Chapel.  Rex Tyler spent most of their meal arguing that Rick should attend medical school, oblivious Rick's obvious disinterest. 

As their conversation deteriorated, the hospital  cafeteria was shaken by a powerful earthquake.  As Rex Tyler sprang into action, he dropped a miraclo pill which Tyler quickly snapped out.  Hourman advised his son to avoid the false euphoria afforded by miraclo but cries for help caused him to abandon his argument to help those trapped in fires started by the quake.   With the assistance from his colleague Dr. Mid-Nite, most of the patients were rescued before the realized that Dr. Chapel remained behind.  With Nuklon and Hourman dealing with the structural damage of the collapsing hospital, Rick popped the miraclo and sprang into action.  He ultimately rescues Dr. Chapel, but not before she is rendered permanently blind.  Rick is energized and inspired by his experience and decides to pursue the Hourman legacy, to which father strenuously objects (Infinity Inc. #20).

The original Hourman's objections become moot when he, the Justice Society and Infinity Inc. are caught up in the Crisis on Infinite Earths and Rick dons an original Hourman costume to become a hero of the same name.  Racing to South Carolina where Beth Chapel is recovering, he is witness to a shadow demon attack the reveals or embues that Chapel has the same ocular "handicap" as Charles McNider - blind in daylight but superlative vision in darkness.  With Tyler's encouragement, she also adopts an alter-ego as the new Dr. Midnight (Infinity Inc #21).  The two headed back to Los Angeles but before they could escape, they were waylaid but a time-tossed troop of Civil War soldiers and a monstrous reptile (Infinity Inc #22).

While the second Hourman was largely on the periphery of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, he became a regular member during the interim period of instability before the timeline of Earth-Two was largely lost.  His later activities on Earth-Two have yet to be recorded.