Harlan Mook was a college student who manifested his power to teleport right after finishing his thesis, however, his power has the side effect of leaving an explosion from where he leaves. The farther his place of arrival, the larger the explosion at the exit point. This destroyed his dissertation, and to make matters worse, the next day, he was picked as one of the three new metahumans in the Draft.

Harlan took the codename Blow Out, but adjusted poorly to life in the Army. After being harassed by another recruit called Pit Bull, he teleported away to try to kill him. He failed to kill Pit Bull and was placed in solitary confinement. The stress broke his already unhealthy mind, and became delusional. He became fixated with President Ronald Regan, and teleported to him and away again in a sort of assassination attempt. Regan survived, and pardoned Mook, who received help for his delusions.