Captain Metropolis was a lieutenant in the U.S. Marines who turned to crimefighting when it became a rage.. He began correspondence with the first Silk Spectre and her agent, Laurence Schexnayder. The result was the publicity and notoriety of the Minutemen.

He enjoyed the sense of being a leader, but how effective he was as any kind of a leader is questionable. After the Minutemen dissolved and the younger generation of vigilantes came on the scene, he attempted to form a new "justice fraternity"--"The Crimebusters"--but it never happened due to the Comedian's disheartening appraisal of such a "trivial" endeavor in the era of Cold War politics, government corruption, and the real threat of nuclear holocaust.

He still tries to take on his leader roll, but the team seems to only head his advice when it is the same as their own wishes.