The Birth: A former prisoner at the Maximum Security Island Prison William Baker was one of the most incorrigible prisoners. Then one night he managed to escape through an unguarded drainage tunnel. Vowing never to be captured alive he headed the F.B.I. list of most wanted criminals as he managed to stay one step ahead of the pursuing lawmen. But as the police dragnet drew ever tighter, he hid in the one place where no one would imagine a man would hide. An Atomic Devices Testing Center. Realising it was the only place where he could have a measure of safety, he remained on the lonely,forbidden area beach. Until the fateful day that a Nuclear test explosion caught him unawares. By some incredible accident, the molecules of his body merged at that radioactive instant with the molecules of the sand under his feet. In doing so his body took on the qualities of the sand itself. He became the Sandman, who is virtually indestructable.
He debutted in Amazing Spider-Man #4.

The Legend: Sandman was a super-villain with a long criminal record and one who posed quite a problem for Spidey. Infact, his main foe had always been Spidey. Because his dual identity was publicly known, William Baker often went by the aliases; Flint Marko and Sylvester Mann. He also tangled with the Fantastic Four on many occasions. His base of operations used to the Island Prison. Sandman has also worked with various outlaw groups like the Sinister Six and the Frightful Four.

But then came the time when he decided to go straight. Since he switched sides, he's worked with Spidey, Captain America and the Avengers to thwart his former groups like the Sinister Six. He was even granted entry into the Avengers. He is currently working with Silver Sable's Wild Pack.

With his powers, he is able to transform his body at will into sand, the shape and density of which he has perfect control over. Quite often his moulded his hands into giant hammers and knocked his victims over. Like Hydroman, he often tries to suffocate his victims by pouring his transformed body over their face. And like Hydroman, he uses no weaponry except for his own body.