In 1966 Reggie Morgan was a third-season starting wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, when the "notorious mad scientist" Dale Dekkar kidnapped him, along with other physically-fit human subjects, for a new treatment he was testing to create an army of super-warriors. Reggie was the only one to survive the treatment. With his newly enhanced strength Morgan broke out of his restraints and defeated Dekkar and his superhuman henchmen, Vortex and the Green Knight, and delivered all three to the police. He kept the Knight's shield as a souvenir.