Origin

Joe Higgins (The Shield) discovered Dusty as the sole survivor of a plane crash while his father died. Dusty was subsequently taken on as a ward by Joe Higgins. The saboteurs of Dusty’s plane attack Joe’s girlfriend Betty. Dusty was given a costume and secret identity as the Shield's partner to help the defend Betty. He later became part of a two-boy team, the Boy Buddies, with the Wizard's partner the Super Boy. Dusty later left the Higgins family mysteriously after graduation, and was not found until much later.