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thedcdunce · 5 years

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Hardware

“I never thought about dying before. It makes me want to live.” - Hardware

Real Name: Curtis “Curt” Metcalf

Gender: Male

Height: 6′ 1″

Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg)

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Abilities:

Genius Level Intellect

Martial Arts

Firearms

Equipment:

The Hardware

Skylark

Curtis' Personal Car

The Hardware

Custom Handgun

Universe:

Dakotaverse

New Earth

Citizenship: American

Base of Operations:

Hard Company

Alva Technologies, Dakota City

Parents:

Mitchell Metcalf; father

Denise Metcalf; mother

Marital Status: Married (Barraki Young; wife)

Occupation:

Businessman

Inventor

Scientist

Education: College graduate with seven scientific degrees

First Appearance: Hardware #1 (April, 1993)

Abilities

Genius Level Intellect: Curtis Metcalf is one of the most brilliant scientific minds on the planet. He has created breakthroughs in metallurgy, computer science, nanotechnology, and plasma weapons. Curtis is also Earth's foremost expert on Cooperative technology having studied and reverse engineered devices aboard Icon's lifepod.

Mechanical Aptitude

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Computer Hacking

Martial Arts: Curtis Metcalf is a good hand-to-hand combatant, having been trained by his father in the martial arts.

Firearms: Skilled in the use of various types of firearms of his own design.

Equipment

The Hardware: All of Curtis Metcalf's superhuman abilities derive from a sophisticated suit of armor called the Hardware. There have been several different versions, labeled 2.0, 3.0 et cetera.

Shell: The basic armor is a plasticized metal alloy of Curtis' own design. Using a device called the Shell Forge, Hardware coats his body from head to toe with this material.

Superhuman Durability: Once polarized, the shell serves as a skintight, impact-resistant foundation upon which his external armor rests. Though not bulletproof, the shell is highly bullet resistant and can easily shrug off small caliber gunfire. It also has ablative capabilities that offer protection against low-level energy attacks like electricity and laser beams.

Superhuman Strength: The shell has programmable polymers integrated into its structure. Initially, the shell amplified Curtis's strength fifty fold, meaning that he could lift 5 tons under optimal conditions. However, Hardware's battle with the SYSTEMatic Mark III indicates that Curtis has significantly increased the shell's strength augmentation abilities.

External armor: The external systems of Hardware's armor are stored within the nano-robot housing pods in his helmet and shoulder pads. These systems are constructed by nano-robots, microscopic machines that are released via main control systems in the helmet. The external armor is powered by high efficiency batteries called power packs installed in the shoulder pads.

Skylark

Curtis' Personal Car: When he became Hardware, Curtis Metcalf was initially reluctant to use his personal car for crimefighting. However, he soon realized his car would be useful in situations like undercover operations in which his other vehicles like the Skylark would be too conspicuous. To this end, Curtis made extensive modifications to the car to improve its effectiveness as a crimefighting vehicle. Curtis has owned two cars. The first was a 1992 Lotus Esprit, which was destroyed by the costumed assassin Volt in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Metcalf. The second was a 1996 Dodge Viper GTS, which first saw action when Hardware aided his father Mitch Metcalf in bringing the crime boss Top Dog to justice. This car was destroyed by a missile fired by one of Top Dog's henchmen. He did not immediately replace it with a third car.

The Hardware: The armor comes with a versatile arsenal of weapons and tools.

Omnicannon

Plasma Whip

Retractable Sword

PLASER (Plasma Laser)

Energy Field

Fluid Gun

Custom Handgun: In his civilian identity, Curtis usually has carried a traditional handgun for self-defense. However, he increasingly found himself facing superhuman foes that could not be defeated with a mere gun. So, Curt began developing high-tech, easily concealable weapons to fulfill this need. Most notable of these is his watch, whose face flips up to reveal a hidden compartment containing a miniature version of his Omnicannon shell. In weapon mode, the watch uses pressurized gas to propel the shell toward a target with enough explosive force to destroy a car. Due to its small size, the watch only has enough ammo for one shot and lacks computer targeting systems, requiring Curt to manually aim it. A pressure field of Curt's design prevents the mini-shell from being accidentally detonated if he bangs the watch against a wall or similar hard surface.

History

Curtis Metcalf, alias Hardware is a superhero vigilante operating out of Dakota City. He is a genius inventor who has designed an advanced armored exo-skeleton with an immense arsenal of technological weaponry. He wages a one-man crusade against crime by night, fighting against his former mentor, Edwin Alva, and the international syndicate S.Y.S.T.E.M.

Origins

Curtis Metcalf was a child prodigy from a working class neighborhood, born to Mitchell and Denise Metcalf. At age twelve, famous inventor Edwin Alva took notice of his gifts and developed a personal interest in him. Alva paid his way through the top schools in the country, Curt graduated from high school at age fourteen, and got his first college degree at fifteen. After completing his education on scholarship, the only requirement was that he would come to work at Alva Technologies, where he was given an enormous salary, his own staff, and the freedom to work on anything he wanted. This paid off, and his inventions made millions of dollars for the company. Throughout his life, he considered Alva to be the closest thing he had to a friend, and more of a father than his own dad had ever been. Believing he should receive a higher share of the profits he generated, Curtis asked Alva for a pay raise and found out what the old man really thought of him. Alva had absolutely no respect for Curtis as anything other than a useful servant, and regarded their relationship as dog and master.

Enraged, Curtis tried to quit his position but was contractually obliged to never work for a competing company. Instead, he turned to blackmail. Searching for a blight on Alva's record, he instead discovered that his boss was a complete monster who was also a major figure in the covert international crime network S.Y.S.T.E.M. After submitting the evidence he had found to the proper authorities, Curtis was completely ignored. The level of power and corruption Alva had achieved permeated the legal system, and made it impossible for him to be taken down by conventional means. Instead, Curtis decided to bring him down himself. Making use of the vast technological resources at his disposal, he created an advanced suit of armor that allowed him to fight against the criminal enterprises of his enemy by night, using the alter-ego Hardware. Alva struggled every night against the high-tech dreadnought, unaware that he is funding his own arch-nemesis, who operates out of his basement.

From the beginning of his career, Hardware battled with all types of villains, most of whom were hired by Alva to kill him. From the body doubling assassin Reprise to the tech-inspired Technique, none of them could best the armored avenger. Within months, Hardware relentlessly picked Alva's organization to pieces, costing him millions of dollars. However, one day Edwin Alva discovered Hardware's true identity and appeared in his hideout! Alva's original rage turned into something else. Impressed by Curtis' tactical abilities and courage to stand up to him, Alva made him a stunning offer. In return for Hardware's protection and occasional help, Curtis would be made his second-in-command and allow him to dismantle Alva's criminal organization. Curtis accepted the deal, believing he could shut down the bad parts of Alva Industries and S.Y.S.T.E.M. easier this way. But first, he would need new armor.

New Armor, New Beginnings

In the months that followed, Alva seem to be living up to his end of the bargain, divesting from his criminal operations and training Curtis in the intricacies of running a multinational corporation. Deciding to go out with a bang, Alva decided to announce his retirement at the grand opening of Utopia Park. But when riots break out, Alva decided to take the safety of Utopia Park into his own hands. Donning a new prototype armor, Alva sacrificed his life to save a group of people from being crushed.

#hardware #curtis curt metcalf #curtis metcalf #curt metcalf #hard company #Shadow Cabinet #technique #alva technologies #dc #DC comics #thedcdunce #dakotaverse

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legomocfodder · 3 years

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Black History Month 2021

Curtis Metcalf a.k.a. Hardware

One of the first titles of Milestone comics, Curt is a genius inventor who uses a variety of gadgets and weapons to fight crime. Ironically, his employer is secretly a crime boss, and he uses the resources from his employer to take down his boss. Like other Dakotaverse heroes, Hardware joined the main DC universe following the events of Final Crisis. Hardware as even appeared in media as recently as the post-flashpoint Static comics, as well as making an animated Cameo in season 3 of Young Justice

NSFW blogs do not reblog!

#lego #lego minifigures #custom minifigures #purist minifigures #dc comics #milestone comics #milestone media #dc hardware #hardware #curtis metcalf #curt metcalf #black history month 2021 #black history month

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docgold13 · 3 years

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365 DC Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…

September 10th - Hardware

Curtis “Curt” Metcalf grew up a child prodigy who excelled at academics to a degree that bordered on the uncanny. Following his graduation from college in his early teens, Metcalfe was recruited by the seemingly benevolent industrialist, Edwin Alva. Alva provided Metcalf a fully stocked laboratory and financed whatever projects the young man found himself interested in. Over the following years Metcalf came up with numerous inventions, many of which made Alva a fortune. Eventually, Metcalf came to discover that Alva was a villain and the kingpin of an expansive criminal syndicate. Alva was well connected with many of his own lieutenants working in law enforcement. As such, Metcalf decided that his only chance of bringing this villain down was to do it himself. Utilizing his acumen for robotics, cybernetics and weapons design Metcaf created a sophisticated suit of armor. Dubbing himself ‘Hardware’ he set off to take down Alva and the villain’s multiple criminal endeavors. Although Hardware primarily fights crime on his own, he has teamed up with other heroes on a number of instances, most notably The Shadow Cabinet, The Justice League, Steel and Static. The hero first appeared in the pages of Hardware #1 (1993).

#365 DC Comics Heroes #DC Comics #Hardware #Milestone Media #cut-out #paper art

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thegeekerynj · 3 years

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Milestone Returns Infinite Edition Zero (DC Comics / Milestone Imprint)

An Occasional Attempt to Read, Discuss and Review the Wonders of Comics By: John Rafferty, cranky old man, and Fan of All Things Comics

Milestone Returns Infinite Edition Zero (DC Comics / Milestone Imprint)

Writers: Reginald Hudlin, Greg Pak Artists: Denys Cowan, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, Bill Sienkiewicz, CRISSCROSS, Juan Castro, Jim Lee, Jimmy Palmiotti, Ryan Benjamin, Don Ho, Khoi Pham, Scott Hanna

‘You didn’t even give me a WARNING before you emptied your pistols at me. An UNARMED Man.

‘What’s that… What’s ON you?

The BLACKNESS that protects me? Does it scare you? I haven’t even started shooting back yet.’

———————————————————————————————————

Oh, Milestone! How I have missed ye!

What is Milestone, you ask? Wellllll, let’s set the WABAC to 1993, when a group of writers and artists decided it was time to address the underrepresentation of the minority community in Comics.

With that, Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, Derek T. Dingle, Christopher Priest and some other creative giants brought forth Milestone Media Company, LLC., or, Milestone.

Working in conjunction with DC, this talented group brought forth some amazing characters: Static, or Virgil Hawkins and the Bang Babies, victims of a chemical bath gone wrong; Hardware, Curtis Metcalf, child prodigy, and creator of the chemical which unleashed the Bang Babies on the ‘Dakotaverse’.

Then there’s Icon and Rocket, an alien trapped on Earth since 1839 and a young woman who tried to rob his home, who become heroes, in an attempt to bring hope to the downtrodden.

Hope. The message of the Milestone books.

Something there has been too little of for a while, but things are getting brighter.

Milestone Returns!

And not a moment too soon!

For a larger book (39 pages of story) this read like a travel pamphlet. Nooo, not that it had no substance, it was just that fast!

The first half read like it was ripped from the newspapers of 2020, with unnecessary, and totally over the top violence against minorities, whether peaceful protesters, or people who didn’t open their doors quickly enough.

In one part of the story, we have the beginnings of the ‘Dakotaverse’, the world of Static, Hardware and the rest. We see the beginnings of the Bang Babies, the people effected by Curtis Metcalf’s crowd suppression mist. We also see Metcalf himself, realizing he will be hung out to dry by his boss, so he has the good sense to head for home before all Hell and Police ‘Justice’ descends upon him.

As is the case, his criminal boss rolls over on him like the boulder in ‘Raiders’, and the cops bust into his home, guns blazing.

Never let it be said that the four color sequential art medium cannot be used effectively to communicate what is happening in the world. Faster than you can say Breonna Taylor, HARDWARE is born.

Yes, yes, this is a rehash of the first issues of STATIC, HARDWARE and ICON from ’93, complete with enough Social Conscience rewrite from 2020-2021 to make these characters relevant, and more importantly, alive.

The artwork in the first half of the book is pretty. No, it is majestic. it is Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz.

It is a cure for ED. Yes, it’s that good. They ALWAYS are.

The writing is wonderful, as well. Reginald Hudlin doesn’t miss a beat, bringing all these characters back to the world as if they had never gone away. Static is still a little innocent, and a lot a kid, Icon is still stiffer than REBAR, and Curt Metcalf is every bit the super mind, almost Michael Holt-ish. The only thing missing are the T-Spheres, but the rest of his gadgets and gewgaws get him through, quite easily.

Let’s face it, DC has been remiss in keeping this imprint isolated to the Infinite Universe web comics. With all the complaints over the last two years, and everything happening in the US over the last 5, they might have been smarter to get this off the ground earlier.

Thankfully, the team of Cowan, Sienkiewicz, Hudlin, CRISSCROSS, et. al., have stepped up to make this work.

Good Luck, Gentlemen! Congrats on a great start!

Out of 5🌶 🌶🌶🌶🌶

#DC comics #Milestone #DC Milestone #Milestone Returns #Milestone Returns Infinite Edition Zero #Static #Reginald Hudlin #Denys Cowan #Bill Sienkiewicz #Fandome

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multiverseforger · 3 years

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Curtis "Curt" Metcalf is a genius inventor who, in his Hardware identity, uses a variety of high-tech gadgets to fight organised crime. A central irony of the series (of which Metcalf is fully aware) is that Metcalf's employer, respected businessman Edwin Alva—who provides the resources Metcalf uses to create Hardware's hardware—is secretly the crime boss whom Hardware is trying to bring down.[1]

Metcalf was a working class child prodigy who was discovered aged 12–13 by a big-time businessman, Edwin Alva Sr., who with the blessing of Curt's parents, enrolled Curt in A Better Chance, "a program intended to get minority students into elite prep schools".[3] Curt proved to be much smarter than all the other prep school students, graduating at age 14, and earning his first college degree at age 15. Alva paid for Metcalf's whole college tuition up to six additional college degrees, in exchange for Metcalf coming to work, after graduation, in Alva Industries' "Inspiration Factory" program, with his "own lab, entirely too big a salary, and mandate to indulge [his] curiosity by investigating whatever struck [his] fancy"; Metcalf's inventions made Edwin Alva Sr. many millions of dollars.[3]

After a few years, and wanting a share of profits earned by his inventions, Metcalf asked Alva for a "royalty point or two". Alva's answer was: "Curtis let us dispense with any misconceptions you may be labouring under. You are not family. You are an employee. Neither are you heir apparent. You are a cog in the machine. My machine. You are not respected, Curtis. You are merely useful. You may go now".[3] Metcalf's first thought was to quit, but his contract forbade him from working for any competitors: "If [he wanted] to work in [his] field [of expertise], [he] had to do it for Alva".

Metcalf thought that with some advanced hacking, he could find something on Alva to use as leverage, but found that almost everything about Alva was "Stone Cold Crooked":

Metcalf: "It took me weeks to put it all together, but the evidence was clear and incontrovertible. Edwin Alva Sr. is at the center of an incredibly complex web of corruption. My benefactor and role model, the economic savior and humanitarian pillar of the city of Dakota has connections to organized crime. He launders tens of millions of dollars in drug money, he has most of the city and state government in his pocket, he illegally manufactures weapons and sells them to foreign governments".[3]

Metcalf decided to stop Alva first by anonymously sending "copies of evidence to the FBI, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the state and local police, several newspapers and, just for fun, Hard Copy and A Current Affair".[3] Then he waited a while for the fireworks, but learned that Alva was too big, beyond the reach of the law. But Metcalf decided that maybe Alva wasn't beyond his own reach; so with Alva's own equipment and resources, Curt created "Hardware - the High Tech Creature of the Night, who's been checkmating Alva's illegal operations for the last ten months is, in a way Alva's own creation".[3]

So just about every night Metcalf dons a selection of his many high tech gadgets (which he hides away in an abandoned basement/bomb shelter connected to his private lab) to track down and destroy all of Alva's illegal business operations and Alva's factories where weapons of war are manufactured: "This used to be a bomb shelter. Now it's where I keep all the stuff I've scammed from Alva. He's turned the city upside down looking for Hardware. I live in his basement".[3]

Hardware works with many other superheroes over his career, such as Blood Syndicate and Icon. He even teams up with a few that he considers fictional, such as Steel and Superman. In one instance, he assists in the evacuation of Utopia Park, a newly built theme park, which is being destroyed by riots.

DC UniverseEdit

Following the death of Darkseid (as chronicled in Final Crisis), the space-time continuum was torn asunder, threatening the existence of both the Dakotaverse and the mainstream DC universe. The being known as Dharma was able to use energies that he harnessed from Rift (upon that being's defeat in Worlds Collide) to merge the two universes, creating an entirely new continuity. Only Dharma, Icon, and Superman are aware that Dakota and its inhabitants ever existed in a parallel universe.[4]

In the revised continuity, Hardware and the other Milestone characters have apparently always existed in the DC Universe. The first non-Dakota heroes he encounters are the Justice League of America, whom he meets while aiding the Shadow Cabinet in kidnapping Kimiyo Hoshi, and stealing the remains of Arthur Light.[5]

During the mission, he defeats Red Arrow, and expresses an attraction to Vixen. After attempting to flee the Justice League Satellite with Light's shrunken corpse, Hardware is surprised and beaten into unconsciousness by Hawkman.[6] It is later revealed that, during Hoshi's brief period of captivity, Hardware gave her a new costume which can collect and assimilate light energy. Due to this new function on her suit, Hoshi is able to regain her powers and Dr. Light's identity after Curtis gives her Arthur's remains.

Soon after, Hardware teamed up with Blue Beetle in order to stop SYSTEM smugglers from selling stolen Alva Industries technology to the notorious Intergang. The pair of heroes were ambushed by one of the smugglers wearing advanced SYSTEMatic powered armor designed by the new Gizmo, an ally of SYSTEM. Hardware begrudgingly realized he needed the Beetle's help to defeat the smugglers and capture the stolen weaponry. Despite his initial dislike of Blue Beetle, Hardware and the young hero part on friendly terms after successfully rounding up the smugglers.[7]

Hardware later appears in the aftermath of the JLA's dissolution following Final Crisis. After raiding the hideout of Dakota crime lord Holocaust, he is forced into helping the remaining Justice League members track down Dr. Light, who went missing while chasing Shadow Thief and Starbreaker.[8] Using a tracer installed in her costume, Hardware is able to track Dr. Light and the others to the Shadow Cabinet's HQ, Shadowspire. There, Hardware and the League confront Starbreaker, who has transformed into a massive being made of energy after consuming Dharma's blood.

During the battle, Hardware is successfully able to persuade young hero Firestorm from killing Shadow Thief, a feat that impresses Vixen. Thanks to the energy collectors in Dr. Light's suit and some assistance from John Stewart of the Green Lantern Corps, the group is able to defeat Starbreaker once and for all.[4]

Another new beginningEdit

Following the events of Flashpoint, Hardware becomes a mentor of sorts to Static, who has now left Dakota and moved to New York City. He provides the youth with a modified flying disk and a new costume which possesses a holographic interface that allows them to communicate over vast distances. He also gets Static a job as an intern at the New York branch of STAR Labs.

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kyrun49 · 7 years

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February is Black History Month. And in honor of the month, I've decided to draw a black super hero for each day of Feb. Each drawing will drawn with pencil and ink on a 8" x 10" 80lbs sheet of paper. The sketches will be drawn in 30 minutes. The sketches are available for purchase for $20, which includes the shipping cost anywhere in the United States. So if you see one you like DM me before someone else steals it. Day 12: Hardware - From DC Comics imprint Milestone Comics. Curtis "Curt" Metcalf is a genius inventor who, in his Hardware identity, uses a variety of high-tech gadgets to fight organised crime. #Hardware #bigtreecomics #blackhistorymonth #bhm #blacksuperheroes #blackheroes #blackartist #art #artwork #artrage #artist #draw #sketch #igart #bleek #blerd #forsale #artistforhire #followforfollow #followtrain #follow4follow #commissions #commissionswelcome #comics #comicbooks #wakeupanddraw #makingcomics #comicart #makecomicsgreatagain #milestonecomics

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keycomicbooks · 7 years

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#Hardware #1 Newsstand Edition (1993) Milestone. #DenysCowan Pencils and Cover. #DwayneMcDuffie Story Teller. First appearance of Hardware (Curtis Metcalf). First comic published by Milestone Media. 'Angry Black Man' - After conducting a successful raid on the corrupt Alva Technologies, which leads to the death of multiple Alva helicopter pilots, Curt Metcalf returns to his job and broods. He remembers his first interactions with Edwin Alva, his arch-nemesis and current employer. http://www.rarecomicbooks.fashionablewebs.com/Hardware.html#HardwareNewsstand Edition

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multiverseforger · 4 years

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Metcalf was a working class child prodigywho was discovered aged 12–13 by a big-time businessman, Edwin Alva Sr., who with the blessing of Curt's parents, enrolled Curt in A Better Chance, "a program intended to get minority students into elite prep schools".[3]Curt proved to be much smarter than all the other prep school students, graduating at age 14, and earning his first college degree at age 15. Alva paid for Metcalf's whole college tuition up to six additional college degrees, in exchange for Metcalf coming to work, after graduation, in Alva Industries' "Inspiration Factory" program, with his "own lab, entirely too big a salary, and mandate to indulge [his] curiosity by investigating whatever struck [his] fancy"; Metcalf's inventions made Edwin Alva Sr. many millions of dollars.[3]

Metcalf thought that with some advanced hacking, he could find something on Alva to use as leverage, but found that almost everything about Alva was "Stone Cold Crooked":

0 notes