"...'Nathan Heywood' is a grandson of 'Henry Heywood' and a cousin of' Henry Heywood III'. Formerly a football star, Nathan retired after shattering his kneecap and having his leg amputated. The incident left Nathan addicted to painkillers. While attending a Heywood family reunion, Nathan was attacked by the 'Fourth Reich', a team of 'metahumans' ordered to wipe out the bloodlines of 'Golden Age' heroes by 'Vandal Savage'. Despite the Fourth Reich's effort, they failed to completely destroy the Heywood bloodline, as Nathan and a few children managed to survive. Both Nathan's brother and mother were turned to metal statues by the villain 'Reichsmark'. Nathan jammed his crutch into Reichsmark's mouth, causing him to spit liquid metal blood onto Nathan. 'Hawkman' took him to 'Doctor Mid-Nite', who noted the metal was being absorbed by Nathan's skin. It was later revealed that the metal had grown out from the amputation scars on Nathan's leg, replacing the lost limb. The new leg was constructed of metallic analogues of bone, muscles, and flesh.
"Waking in his hospital room, Nathan was shown to have superhuman strength. Doctor Mid-Nite informed Nathan that he was now a being of living steel, due to an unknown reaction to Reichsmark's blood. He was christened 'Citizen Steel' by 'Power Girl'..."
