Hardball (comics)
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| Hardball | |
 Cover art for Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1. Hardball is in the center. Art by Jim Cheung. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Avengers: The Initiative #1 (March, 2007) |
| Created by | Dan Slott Stefano Caselli |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Roger Brokeridge |
| Species | Human (empowered) |
| Team affiliations | The Initiative |
| Abilities | Ability to create a variety of energy balls, normally originating from his hand, including "hard energy" and electro-magnetic energy. |
Hardball (Roger Brokeridge) is a fictional character, an American comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Roger Brokeridge[1] (a.k.a. Hardball) is one of the new Initiative recruits who arrives with Cloud 9, MVP, Trauma, Komodo, and others. He appears to have a very outgoing personality, hitting on Thor Girl on the bus ride in and cracking a joke about not having a cape when receiving his fatigues[2]. He also tries to convince Komodo and Cloud 9 to go out to a bar with him, even though he is two weeks short of his 21st birthday[3]. During the training mishap with Armory he exhibits the ability to create an energy ball that deflects the lethal blasts from Armory's Tactigon. He attempts to capitalize on his new position by wearing a costume and flaunting his abilities at a bar in Stamford. Understandably, the patrons are less then happy to see a "grandstanding kid superhero", and are on the verge of attacking him, until a man in a suit rescues him.[4] In return, the suited man has Hardball steal a S.P.I.N. Tech dart magazine from the weapon stores for him and replace it with a facsimile. Ironically, that same magazine is the one Iron Man attempts to use to defeat the Hulk during the events of World War Hulk[5]. Upon realizing what he has done, Hardball is overcome with guilt[6].
It is later revealed that Roger was given his powers by the Power Broker, who then sold his "contract" to HYDRA, whose commander is the man who saved him in the bar, congressman Woodman, which means Hydra has a double-agent within the Initiative.[7]
Roger has since entered into a romantic relationship with Komodo.
When he completed his training, Hardball was assigned to Nevada's Initiative team.[8]
[edit] Powers and abilities
The full extent of his powers is unrevealed. Appears to be able to create balls of energy that he can use as a defensive shield (presumably they can also be used offensively). These energy balls can be quite powerful, since they managed to deflect energy blasts from Armory (which previously had pierced through Ultimo's armor). He can also create electro-magnetic balls of energy that can momentarily scramble electronic locks and cameras. He has not told The Initiative the full extent of his powers.
