When William Tockman was told he would die in six months he turned to crime to make sure his invalid sister would be cared for after his death. As the Clock King he committed a number of crimes before being brought to justice by Green Arrow and Speedy. In prison he learned the doctor that told him he was dying had accidentally switched records with another patient, the Clock King was in perfect health. While in prison his unattended sister died, and the Clock King swore revenge on Green Arrow.

(Justice League of America I #5) - Getaway Master helped his criminal compatriots Captain Cold, King Clock, Professor Menace, Electric Man and Puppet Master escape prison using a shrink ray. After shrinking his crew they escaped prison on a matchbook tied to a helium balloon. They planned to destroy the Justice League of America, and issued a challenge to the heroes. Professor Menace built robots of himself King Clock and Captain Cold that were rigged to explode after being touched and fought Green Arrow, Flash and Wonder Woman of the JLofA. The heroes escaped Clock's quicksand clock trap, but as the heroes approached Arrow realized they were robots and detonated them with arrows from a distance. Getaway Master, Electric Man and Puppet Master attacked Aquaman, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern with deadly weather attacks, but failed to kill the heroes. The heroes approached the Master's ship, which was protected by an explosive force field, but Green Arrow activated the field from a distance to save his teammates. The League thought Green Arrow was a traitor, but he exonerated himself by explaining the villains traps and capturing the lot of them.