The Kordell family laid its roots down in the fabric of hard work and determination that characterized the country at the turn of the 20th century. Their family history can be traced back to a small band of pioneering immigrants who made their way from Germany to the plains of Nebraska to begin a life of farming in the late 1800's. The effects of the Dust Bowl and the Depression drove the family west to California in the 1930's, and the family was able to start a new life for themselves in the Salinas Valley doing what they knew best. Many of the descendants remained there, carving out a name for themselves in the agricultural industry, but one of them, Ellis Kordell, the youngest of seven children and most adventurous of the bunch, made his way to nearby Santa Clara where he started a family and became one of the leading pioneers of the early Silicon Valley tech revolution. In 1968, he founded Kordell Technologies, building the company from the ground up to become one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers and not slowing down until his death in 1984, after which his oldest son Callum took control of the company.

It was into this world that Tyler and his twin sister Tess were born on January 29th, 1981. An older brother, Jason, had been born two years earlier, and all three children were considered to be prodigies in their own way. Jason had an off the charts IQ and it was expected that Kordell Tech would pass into his hands someday. Tyler possessed a seemingly natural ease with science and technology and frequently won awards at young inventor fairs throughout his childhood while Tess was a gifted classical pianist. Jason's life was unfortunately cut short at the age of 17 after a long battle with osteosarcoma, and his death would reverberate through the family for years to come.

Tragedy struck the family again in February 1998 when they received news that Jane Kordell, a physics professor, was found in her hotel room when she failed to turn up for a guest lecture she had been scheduled to deliver, having overdosed on sleeping pills. The death was officially ruled an accident, although many people at the time believed this was a tactful act of kindness on the part of the medical examiner and that she may have taken her own life, overcome with grief following her oldest son's death. At the time, Tyler was in high school and well on his way to graduating a year early. He had been accepted to a number of prestigious research universities but had no real direction in life and was considering taking time off to travel and see the world. His mother's death served as a catalyst in some ways for each member of the Kordell family. Callum was steadfast in his belief that she couldn't have taken her own life and became consumed with the idea of investigating the truth of what happened to her. The children both went off to college far from home, with Tyler deciding to pursue a career in technology at MIT and Tess opting to study art in London.

Tyler excelled in his studies at MIT while working multiple jobs in his spare time to pay his own way through college. Although the Kordells were well off, Tyler's portion of the family fortune was locked up in trusts until he turned 21, and he had not left home on the best terms with his father. The two of them had never quite seen eye to eye, but the relationship had only become more strained and distant after Jane's death. In a perhaps slightly rash and misguided display of open defiance, Tyler had declared to his father that he didn't need anything from him and would make his own way in life. For four years, he juggled school with multiple jobs at a time, often working as a lab assistant, waiter, fitness instructor, and tutor to make ends meet.

During his time at college, Tyler discovered the perfect synthesis of all his interests in the field of biomedical engineering. It allowed him to combine his talent for math, science, and technology into the practical application of designing solutions for medical problems. Inspired by the memory of his brother, he immersed himself in the world of cancer-fighting nanoparticles, tissue regeneration, and stem cell research. In 2003, he graduated with degrees in Economics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.

After graduating from MIT, Tyler had every intention of staying in Boston. He had built connections and set down roots in the city in a way that he never had in Palo Alto. In 2005, however, he made the decision to return to the West Coast after he received news that all was not well at home. Over the years Callum had become more and more obsessed with investigating his wife's death and had let his responsibilities as President and CEO of Kordell Technologies fall to the wayside. His younger brother Jasper saw this as the perfect opportunity to seize power for himself, slowly taking over the reins of the company while secretly embezzling funds and funneling them into some less-than-legal interests. Tyler set himself to gathering evidence against his uncle's financial misdealings. In doing so, he also began to take interest in the company and saw an opportunity to restructure it in a way to revitalize its role as a leader of innovation in the 21st century. With the board of directors behind him, Tyler was able to take back control.

For most of his life Tyler was not exactly a shining example of maturity and leadership and had never seriously considered the possibility that he would follow in his grandfather and father's footsteps, but he spent three years as acting CEO of Kordell Technologies, during which time he helped to steer the company on a new path towards breaking new ground in the biotechnology sector. Despite his successes, however, Tyler never really wanted to be the CEO of a company. His interests always lay in doing the actual work, immersing himself in research and innovation. Once the dust settled he handed the company back over to his father, but they decided he would continue to do the work he loved to do by heading up the company's new division in Boston as Senior Vice President of Product Development. Since the summer of 2009, Tyler has been back in Boston where he plans to stay for the foreseeable future.

Growing up, Ted was extraordinarily bright. He was good at science, business, and everything else he tried. In college, he received degrees in Physics, English Lit, and Theoretical Mathematics. He considered joining his father's business, Kord Omniversal Research and Development, Inc, of Chicago, but overall, he had no real direction. When Ted's uncle made an attempt to take over the world, Ted set out to stop him, recruiting the help of his archaeology teacher Dan Garrett - the first Blue Beetle, who could call on superhuman powers from an ancient scarab he had found in Bialya. In the course of the adventure, Dan was fatally wounded and asked Ted to carry on the legacy of the Blue Beetle, passing the scarab onto him. However, Ted couldn't get the scarab to work for him, and eventually set it aside, electing to go ahead without it. Ted trained himself to his physical peak, constructed an aerial vehicle affectionately nicknamed the "Bug", made himself a Blue Beetle costume, and set out to establish his own identity as a superhero, using his wit, agility, and a large number of gadgets to stop evildoers. Ted joined the Justice League as it was being reformed in the wake of Operation Humiliation, and often served as the pilot for the League's many vehicles. As part of the JLI, Ted met and befriended Booster Gold. The two had their differences, but served together for many years and had a bond that went beyond their wisecracks and buffoonery. Ted's mouth and sense of humor often got him into trouble with other members of the League, especially the women. However, behind his jokes was a sincerity of heart, the knowledge of his responsibility as the Blue Beetle, and a desire to make the world safer for all. Following his time on the League, Ted reasserted control of his business from his father, eventually making Kord Omniversal a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises. He retired from super-heroics for a short time but occasionally helped the Birds of Prey with funding and technology, becoming friends with members of the team. (SOURCE)

comic tie-ins » same initials and similar last name » brown hair and blue eyes » mother is deceased » distant relationship with father » conflict with uncle » has a very strong aptitude for various fields of science, technology, and business » talent for inventing and innovating » known for his sense of humor » family history of heart disease powers / abilities / equipment » Genius level intellect » Excellent athleticism » Technology & gadgetry » Acrobatics » Hand-to-hand combat » Espionage » Martial Arts » Baby-Bugs / Snoopies » Radiation Suit » The Bug » Beetle Gun memories » » » » »