Alex Masters is the son of a wealthy industrialist, and is the youngest person in the history of Harvard to receive the Ph.D. degree, which he obtained in 1939 at the age of 21. He subsequently became the youngest professor in the history of Penn University, where he is currently an assistant professor in the department of philosophy. In philosophical circles, he is regarded as a prodigy, having written important works in the areas of ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind prior to his 23rd birthday.
Masters began to operate publicly as the Golden Sword on August 17, 1941 ("The Day") and subsequently became a founding member of the U.S. Aces and its deputy chairman. It is unknown whether he operated prior to that time, though there is some evidence that he was involved in the "White Event" that occurred in Jerusalem in late 1940. The origin of the sword he carries and its relationship to his abilities are unrevealed at this time. He is considered to be one of the two or three most powerful American XOs.
