As an infant, young Richard (Dick) Grey Jr.
is the only survivor of an ambush in
Mongolia. Grey's archeologist parents are
among those killed. Found by a group of
wild Black Condors, Grey is raised by the
birds. Eventually he learns to fly - the golden
age version of his origin has him learn by
watching his condor "brothers," and the
modern day version adds in a glowing
meteor for good measure. Anyway, he
somehow learns to fly, and adopts the role
of the Black Condor after his friend Father
Pierre is killed. Returning to America, Grey
discovers that he looks exactly like recently
murdered US Senator Thomas Wright. Grey
adopts the deceased senator's identity and
life - including the senator's girlfriend Wendy
Foster.

. Black Condors' golden age appearances last from Crack Comics #1 to #31. His adventure are drawn mostly
by Lou Fine. Black Condor is a member of the Freedom Fighters. Aside from the power to fly, he also
possesses limited mental powers (first seen in DC's Freedom Fighters series) and carries a "black ray gun"
that is capable of smashing a wall or stunning an adversary. Black Condor is no relation to Black Condor II, but
he did act as a quasi guardian angel for the younger super hero who bears his name. The original Condor
would keep tabs on the progress of his namesake, and influence his development, through New Jersey park
ranger Ned Smith. The original Black Condor appears as a blue colored ghost and has supposedly moved on
to a "higher level of existence."