History:: Grant Halford was an inventor who developed a device called the “Geo-Locator”. With the device he can track anyone or anything on the planet. Halford decided to use the Geo-Locator to help fight crime. As the Magnet, Halford fought criminals on the home front during WWII with the aided of his cohorts Debbie and Sidi. At this time he met Lance Lewis, a man from the 22nd century who wanted to fight in the last Great War. Halford joined Lewis and enlisted in the army.

Towards the end of the war Lewis found himself unable to return to his own time. He convinced Halford to use his inventions, including the Geo-Locator, to become a science hero. Sometime after this the Geo-Locator blows up in Halford’s face granting him magnetic powers. As the Magnet he became a member of S.M.A.S.H.

In 1969 an alien menace invaded Earth. Attempting to stop the alien, some members of S.M.A.S.H. were killed while others were imprisoned in suspended animation. The Magnet was one of those imprisoned. He was freed thirty years later by Tom Strange and his counterpart, Tom Strong. Together the science heroes, including The Magnet, defeated the alien threat. Like the others, Halford had to readjust to the current time period after being away for so long. However, the adjustment period took its toll on S.M.A.S.H. and the team disbanded.

Halford then became business partners with Lance Lewis. The two of them opened The Magnet detective agency. At this time Halford's finds his magnetic powers become increasingly unreliable. Not long afterwards Halford discovered Lewis murdered on the outskirts of Las Vegas. He then set out to solve his partner’s murder. In his travels he met Betty Chance, widow of the Green Ghost, and the two formed a bond. Halford’s search next led him to another one being conducted by former members of S.M.A.S.H. He discovered both searches were one and the same. Too dangerous to continue the investigation, Halford remained behind with Betty and The Ape. The threat was revealed to be the one-time hero Mystico. Mystico had killed Lewis because he was a time traveler and his death created a time energy anomaly in which Mystico tapped into. Mytico’s plan to use his increased powers to conqueror the world was stopped by the combine might of the science heroes.

Halford joined the other science heroes and gave Lance Lewis a hero’s burial. He then married Betty Chance in a ceremony in Las Vegas. Grant Halford continues running his detective agency and is affiliated with the now reorganized S.M.A.S.H.

Powers: At first Grant Halford had no super powers. He relied on his inventions, especially the Geo-Locator. With its magnetic waves he could locate anyone or anything on the planet. When the device exploded in his face it granted him magnetic powers. Over the years these powers became unreliable except for his internalized ability to locate anyone or anything.