After a young acrobat loses his parents to a broken trapeze, the boy is raised by circus strongman Hercules and dwarf the General. They helped him recover from his injuries and become physically fit. Years later, he took on the title of Strongman and used his strength and skills to be a crime fighter who wore a standard circus strongman costume. He was said to be the strongest man alive and also was taught judo, stage magic, lariat-throwing, and possessed an encyclopedic memory.