Hardware: Curtis Metcalf Appreciation Thread 2021

[lemonpeace]

Created by: Dwayne McDuffie (writer), Denys Cowan (artist)

First appearance: Hardware #1 (February 1993)

Abilities: Curtis Metcalf is an exceptional genius, considered one of the most brilliant scientific minds on the planet. He has created breakthroughs in metallurgy, computer science, nanotechnology, and plasma weapons, and is also an highly dangerous hand-to-hand combatant, having been trained by his father in the martial arts. While he possess no superhuman abilities on his own, all of Curtis' incredible feats as Hardware are derive from a sophisticated suit of armor called Hardware Version 2.0. Arguably his greatest invention, the suit successfully integrates cutting edge human technology with that of the incredibly advanced alien civilization, the Cooperative.
The suit consists of two layers, the basic interior armor and the external armor.

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 dark material. Once polarized, the shell serves as a second skin and an impact-resistant foundation upon which his external armor rests. though not completely bulletproof, the shell is highly bullet resistant and can easily shrug off small caliber gunfire as well as protection against low-level energy attacks like electricity and laser beams. The shell's most formidable feature is the programmable polymers integrated into its structure. These polymers enable the shell to stretch and contract like human muscle, but with considerably greater force, which increases Hardware's natural strength to superhuman levels. Initially, the shell amplifies Curtis's strength to the point he can lift (press) several tons. The polymers in the shell can also "remember" movements that Curtis programs into them that he can trigger at a later time. Curtis has programmed complex martial art katas into the polymers that when activated enable him to unleash a high-speed combination of blows. It is due to this feature that Curtis refers to his basic armor as his "smart suit". The drawback to the basic armor is that while wearing it Hardware cannot eat or drink.

The external systems of Hardware's armor are stored within the nano-robot housing pods in his helmet and shoulder pads and is powered by high efficiency batteries called power packs installed in the shoulder pads. The helmet includes a Multi-Optics Display Unit (MODU) with wide-range spectral scanning capabilities, enabling Hardware to see in wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum including infrared, ultraviolet, and magnetic resonance imaging. The MODU is fully integrated into the tracking and target sub-system.The target sub-system determines target acquisition by following Hardware's eye movements and then fires on verbal command. Hardware also uses the tracking system to send hands-free visual commands to his onboard computer, DOBIE. Besides the input systems, his helmet contains a wide-band radio receiver capable of scanning radio traffic, a chronometer, radar (early warning and ground penetrating), a chemical residue analyzer, and other sensor instruments.
Housed in the chin guard of Hardware's helmet is his speech synthesizer which gives him a unique and chilling voice while in the suit. The synthesizer also enables him to reproduce other voices, which is useful for undercover missions. The synthesizer can also translate foreign languages thanks to a built-in Omni-Linguistic Communicator (OmLinC). the OmLinC can analyze and translate any unfamiliar language, human or alien, in seconds.
The aforementioned nano-robots replicate themselves into pre-programmed forms. When released from their pods, the robots begin rapidly constructing Hardware's external armor from the shoulder pads down.Hence, he can don his armor in seconds. Once empty, the nano-robot pods can be used by Hardware for other storage.
Hardware's external armor is highly resistant to damage. If the armor is breached, the nano-robots composing it are programmed to replicate themselves to repair the damage. The armor is equipped with defense mechanisms to repel anyone who tries to remove it. these defenses is a high voltage electric charge generated by the armor's surface. Hardware's armor also comes equiped with jet boots that enable him to fly




Essential Reading

• -
• -
• -

[stay militant my friends...]


-----

At the end of the year, all Appreciation threads are closed and new threads for the coming year are put in place.

Appreciation threads are for just that - Appreciation. Not for debate, not for slamming and not for bringing other characters down by comparison.~

Commence appreciating! :-)

[John Venus]

[Besouro]

I just came here to state for the record that HARDWARE was using nanotech many years BEFORE Ironman.

[SecretWarrior]

I just came here to state for the record that HARDWARE was using nanotech many years BEFORE Ironman.

Well, McDuffie had a notable science/engineering background, so he was always good at incorporating that stuff in the projects he was involved with.

[Besouro]

Well, McDuffie had a notable science/engineering background, so he was always good at incorporating that stuff in the projects he was involved with.

Thank goodness for that

I am just glad that Hardware has that one fact that puts him ahead of Ironman.

[Robotman]

Hardware’s first appearance in April 1993 just barely predates Steel’s first appeared in The Adventures of Superman in June 1993. I wonder if it was just a coincidence or if DC somehow learned about Hardware beforehand.

[Besouro]

Anyone else think they need to get rid of that chain-hook thing?

Shouldn't he have a tractor beam instead?

[Rac7d*]

I’m afraid people might dismiss him as black Ironman or cyborg retread

[Common Writer]

I’m afraid people might dismiss him as black Ironman or cyborg retread

My response to that would be that Tomy Stark and Curtis Metcalf are two completely different people with different sets of goals and motivations.

Tony Stark was a product of nepotism while Curtis had to earn his way up another white man's company. Until he found a glass ceiling.

[lemonpeace]

Anyone else think they need to get rid of that chain-hook thing?

Shouldn't he have a tractor beam instead?

nah, I think Hardware's chain and overall aesthetic works because it's looks more primal warrior than robot tank suit, which not only works thematically for his character but it also sets him apart from an Iron Man type.