Hancock is over 3,000 years old. He is unable to remember anything prior to 1928 due to suffering a bout of amnesia. When the nurse of the hospital he was being treated in asked for his John Hancock (signature) he mistook that for his name and used it as his alias ever since. At the beginning of the story, Hancock does not care about his public image and he often causes more damage than he prevents while performing heroic acts. He is often drunk or hungover which results in the public he attempts to help distrusting and disliking him. After saving the life of public relations spokesman Ray Embrey, Hancock works with Embrey to attempt to repair his tarnished public image and eventually Ray helps Hancock to become a respected hero. Hancock is currently located in New York.