Hardcase
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hardcase | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Hardcase is a comic book series written by James Hudnall for Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse imprint, which lasted 26 issues. The series was about Tom Hawke, who became one of the first publicly known Ultras.
Contents |
[edit] Character history
[edit] Origin
A struggling actor, Tom Hawke's luck drastically changed after being struck by the "Jumpstart Effect", a burst of energy from the Entity, the ancient alien spaceship responsible for most of the world's super-beings. Gaining superhuman strength and durability, Tom realized that he wanted more than short term success. He met with Linda Warren, Jamal Blass and Carlos Jimenez, who had also gained abilities, and proposed that they become an Ultrahero team, helping people while bolstering their careers. The other agreed and formed the Squad, each taking code names; Starburst, D.J. Blast, Forsa and Hardcase.
[edit] Prior to issue #1
For six months the Squad achieved great success, fighting crime, aiding the police and performing acts of charity. they became celebrities and media darlings. Their good fortune was not to last though. Attacked by the creature NM-E, the heroes were overcome. In a last ditch effort, D.J. Blast focussed all his power on NM-E, causing a massive explosion. Only Hardcase and Starburst escaped, but not without cost; Starburst was comatose. Grief stricken by the tragedy, Hardcase retired from heroics. He would later learn that Rex Mundi was responsible for the attack.
[edit] Return to activity
During his retirement, Hardcase became an action movie star, portraying himself on the screen. He came out of retirement to battle Headknocker, an Ultrahuman with incredible strength, who outmatched the police. Defeating the villain, Hardcase announced his return.
Soon afterwards, he was visited by the ultraheroine Choice, who asked for his help. Hardcase agreed and allowed her to stay with him. The two soon began a relationship, though Hardcase was reluctant at first. Choice and he had several adventures together. Once, teamed with The Strangers, they invaded Aladdin's Groom Lake facility, where Hardcase discovered that the government agency was using the Squad's genetic material. Later, the heroes worked for a person known only as the Alternate, and traveled to the moon to discover the source of the "Jumpstart Effect". Alongside other ultraheroes, they protected the Entity, a crashed starship which was causing the "Jumpstart Effect", from attack and allowed it to return home.
As payment, the Alternate told Hardcase and Choice, that Choice’s origins lay back at Groom Lake. Confronted by the Aladdin Assault Squad, their plans to invade the facility were aborted. They then asked Tech of the Solution to obtain the information they sought. The information revealed that Choice was given her abilities by using the genetic material from the brains of Forsa and Starburst. Moments later, Choice was teleported away to the Godwheel.
[edit] Ultraforce
Hardcase and several heroes formed Ultraforce soon after to stop the subterranean warlord Atalon's plans for world conquest. Successful, they stayed together to police other ultras.
Hardcase faced his greatest challenge when NM-E returned. Outmatched by the creature, he would have died if not for Prime’s intervention. Though unable to stop the creature himself, Prime’s attack allowed Hardcase to recover, with help from the Alternate. Renewing his assault, Hardcase savagely attacked NM-E, who was drained from its fight with Prime. Fueled by vengeance, Hardcase reduced the creature to debris.
[edit] Godwheel
The god Argus then teleported Hardcase and other ultras to the Godwheel to recover the keys to the Crucible of Life for him. Rebelling, the ultras fought Argus and managed to banish him. Hardcase had discovered that Choice was on the Godwheel and was briefly reunited with her. During this short time, he learned she was pregnant.
Returned to Earth, Hardcase sought out the man responsible for his misfortune, Rex Mundi. He met with ultras formerly employed by Mundi to extract Mundi’s location. To hinder Hardcase, Mundi framed him for murder.
[edit] Time Gem and Loki
Inadvertently, Hardcase discovered the Time Gem, one of the Infinity Gems, and using it tried to prevent the Squad’s death. He failed, but his actions created an alternate timeline. The trickster god Loki then stole the gem from him.
On information from Death Dance and Meathook, Hardcase confronted Mundi in his underground lair. Capturing Hardcase, Mundi revealed that he was, like himself, composed of nanotech. His true nature somewhat explained to him, Hardcase willed himself back in time to undo the damage he had done. He reappeared and witnessed a confrontation between Mundi and the Alternate. Dismissed by the combatants, Hardcase returned to Hollywood where he was reunited with Choice.
[edit] Black September
When the Black September Event struck the Ultraverse and rewrote reality, Hardcase was shunted into a limbo dimension, erased from reality. He reappeared only one more time to battle the Demonseed, a being he had created as a companion. In the end, with Prime’s help, he banished himself and Demonseed back to limbo to battle for all eternity.
[edit] Powers/Abilities
Incredibly strong, Hardcase is able to throw a car over 50 yards with little effort. His legs muscles allow him to leap nearly a mile. Nearly invulnerable to damage and changes in temperature, only extreme temperatures effect him. When he is hurt, Hardcase can heal quickly, though the process is sped up if he drinks seawater. His senses are enhanced, allowing him to hear and see over long distances.
Hardcase later learned that the Jumpstart effect that changed him, had converted him into a nanotech being, composed of organic nanotech. As such, Hardcase learned he had many untapped abilities, such as not needing to breathe.
[edit] Appearances in other media
Hardcase appeared in the short lived Ultraforce cartoon show as the team's leader.
Hardcase was one of the action figures produced for Galoob's Ultraforce line
