Lemar Hoskins was once a wrestler who had been giving superhuman strength through a treatment administered by the Power Broker. Hoskins became one of the Bold Urban Commandos, or "Buckies," who wore variations on Captain America's costume and claimed to be supporters of Captain America's rival, John Walker, the Super-Patriot. The Buckies pretended to attack the Super-Patriot at a Central Park rally as a public relations stunt. The Buckies also conducted a campaign of intimidation and even physical attacks against foreigners as part of an anti-terrorist campaign. (No evidence has been recorded that the Buckies' targets were in fact guilty of terrorist activity.)

The federal Commission on Superhuman Activities eventually selected Walker to replace Steve Rogers in the role of Captain America. Rogers had quit the role rather than serve directly under government supervision. The new Captain America, Walker, agreed to take orders from the Commission. Walker asked to be allowed to continue to work with the Buckies, but the Commission approved only of Hoskins. In the 1940s the original Captain America had a young partner known as Bucky. Thus, Hoskins became the fourth person to take the costumed identity of Bucky.

Hoskins and Walker underwent a rigorous program of training under the supervision of Commission member Dr. Valerie Cooper. In their new costumed identities, Hoskins and Walker went on missions for the Commission under the direction of Commission member Adrian Sammish.

Another black man convinced Hoskins that using the identity of Bucky was demeaning inasmuch as first, the original Bucky was a boy subordinate to the original Captain America, and second, "buck" was an offensive term applied to blacks in some parts of the country. As a result, Hoskins took on the new costumed identity of Battlestar.

Following the return of Steve Rogers as Captain America, Battlestar left federal empoy to return to his native Chicago.