As the original Nite Owl, Hollis Mason relied primarily on physical prowess and spent most of his free time working out in the police gym to give himself an edge over the criminals he fought.

Hollis Mason's father moved their family from Montana to New York and became a mechanic, a profession Hollis eventually took up as well in his retirement.

Inspired by the first costumed hero, Hooded Justice, Hollis Mason decided he could do more good off-duty than he was able to do on the job as a police officer. He devoted himself completely to this second life.

The original Nite Owl was a member of the Minutemen. In his autobiography, Under the Hood, he wrote openly of the time he spent with that group, and his allegiances and prejudices are clear; he is no fan of the Comedian, and he described the attack on Sally Jupiter that led to the Comedian's ejection from the group. Despite Sally's clear discomfort with his frank sharing of her story, the two remained friends long after the group disbanded.

After Hollis retired and went public with his identity, he was contacted by a young man named Dan Dreiberg who wanted to carry on the name of Nite Owl. The men became fast and close friends.

• Hollis took his hero name from a sarcastic remark made by a fellow police officer who was irritated by Hollis' constant working out rather than hanging out with the guys