Hancock adopted his name after a nurse asked for his "John Hancock" upon his release from the hospital, providing him with an alias when he had no memory of his own.
The Origin of Hancock's Name
The character known as Hancock gained his unique name through a distinctive circumstance related to his amnesia. His first recollections of life trace back to 1931, when he awoke alone in a hospital with no memory of his past or identity.
How He Got His Alias
Upon his eventual discharge from the hospital, a pivotal moment occurred that would define his future identity:
- Amnesia and Awakening: Hancock's earliest memories are of waking up in a hospital in 1931, completely unaware of who he was or where he came from.
- The Nurse's Request: During the process of his release, a duty nurse, presumably needing a signature for his discharge papers, casually asked him for his "John Hancock."
- Adoption of the Name: Lacking any personal name or memory of one, he adopted "Hancock" as his alias. This term is an American idiom for a signature, stemming from the famously bold and large signature of John Hancock on the United States Declaration of Independence, making it synonymous with one's personal mark.
This incident provided the amnesiac individual with a practical name, which he subsequently used as his identity.
