Richard Grey Jr. lost his parents during an archeological expedition to Mongolia, where they were killed in an ambush. Richard was raised by giant black condors native to the region, and after studying his condor foster parents, he learned to fly. Later, when he reached adulthood, he befriended a hermit monk named Father Pierre who convinced him that he should use his unique attributes to do good. Father Pierre died soon afterward. Inspired by the monk's teachings, Richard adopted the costumed persona of Black Condor.