History: (New Adventures of Superboy #31) - Robert Altus' father was obsessed with creating a super-hero, a protector of Earth, and put his son in an energy-chamber, but it exploded, crippling Robert and killing his father. He was determined to continue his father's work, and after having a son, Robert Altus, Junior, he tried to convince his wife Myra that he should be a guinea pig. Myra left him and took his son, but he had his agents tracked them down and kidnapped Robert, Junior. Junior was raised in the energy-chamber and molded into the superhero Pulsar, but his father was determined to have him destroy Superboy, because he didn't want his son to have competition, and he didn't want an alien as Earth's savior. He designed a satellite to bombard Superboy with red-sun energy, depleting his powers, and Pulsar stepped in to do the jobs Superboy was no longer able to perform. Pulsar stopped a number of disasters, and challenged Superboy to a fight, roundly defeating him and demanding he retire. Prodded by his father Pulsar became a tin-pot dictator, interfering in international affairs, and never giving much thought to loss of property or life when he acted as a superhero. Pulsar busted into the United Nations and told them their way wasn't working, and from now on they'd take orders from him. Superboy couldn't take this, and after building lightweight armor to block out Robert Altus' red-sun rays he challenged Pulsar to a rematch. he defeated Pulsar, who admitted his heart wasn't in being a superhero or a dictator. Robert Altus accused his son of being a failure, and threatened to destroy Smallville if Superboy didn't submit to a massive red-sun burst. Pulsar used a force field to deflect the energy beam that was intended for Smallville, and he helped Superboy apprehend his father, who he admitted was seriously ill. Pulsar left the superhero life behind and moved west to reunite with his mother.