Richard Rory was a hippie radio disk jockey, working for the local radio station. Richard lived in Citrusville just outside of the FloridaEverglades. Like many before him, Richard's life was changed the day that he had a close encounter with the swamp creature known as the Man-Thing.
Richard began studying the Man-Thing and tracking his movements. Later, he encountered the alien child James-Michael Starling and through him, the Defenders. He also met Los Angeles attorney Jennifer Walters the later She-Hulk and struck up a brief relationship with her.