An adventurer and soldier of fortune, Rex Mason was hired by businessman Simon Stagg to retrieve the ancient artefact known as the Orb of Ra from Egypt. Around this time he became involved in a romantic relationship with Sapphire Stagg, Simon Stagg's daughter. Leaving on his trip, Mason locates the Orb, but is double-crossed by Stagg's bodyguard Java and abandoned, unconscious, in an ancient pyramid. There, he becomes accidentally irradiated by the mysterious meteorite that was used to create the Orb of Ra. As a result of the radiation, he gains superpowers. Returning home, he finds himself to be easily controlled by Stagg, due to the detrimental impact the Orb of Ra has on his transformed body. Stagg manipulates him to his own ends. He is able to break the control. He escapes after he has done bad things being controlled by Stagg. He must stop Stagg.
