Hal used to work as a cameraman for Roxanne Ritchi, Metro City's new reporter. Hal always tried to get a date with her but she always avoided him. He later accompanies Roxanne to Megamind's lair when she decides to find out what Megamind plans for the city. While Roxanne fights with Megamind over the Defuser Gun which contains Metro Man's DNA sample, the gun is accidentally fired and the serum is injected into Hal. Megamind, disguised as Hal's "space dad" convinces Hal to become a superhero named "Titan" (although he later changes it to "Tighten") but he only accepts when Megamind claims that the hero always gets the girl (Roxanne).