Hardware is Milestone character that doesn't get a lot of credit. I mean, there's a ton of other heroes that basically fill his role. Ironman, Cyborg, Prodigy, Toyman II and so on and so forth. He's also a name that can get lost when talking about Milestone behind people like Static, Icon and Rocket. But, I maintain Hardware is a great character because he's a great guy, that had one bad day at work.
Hardware's real name is Curtis Metcalf and at at 12 years old he was discovered by Edwin Alva. Alva recognized his genius and groomed Curtis to be great. Curtis became one of the world's greatest inventors working with Alva. He made Alva millions and Curtis simply asked for a cut of the profits. Alva laughed at the notion. Curtis did what most people who hate their jobs do, he planned to find a new job. Alva let him know he couldn't even leave because he had a non-compete clause in his lifetime contract.
What did Curtis do? He became Hardware and started tackling his bosses criminal empire. We've all wanted to do that to at least one boss before. Find some way to become a thorn in their side and watch as they don't suspect it's us. The difference is, he did it. He became Alva's number one enemy and Alava didn't even know Hardware was on his payroll. Then Alva found out.
What did Alva do? He made Hardware work for him as an enforcer. You ever feel like you have a boss or coworker singling you out? Hardware knew he did. Alva was working him and he couldn't really do anything about it. Hardware is you, working at a job you hate. You're there, your boss hates you, but can't fire you. You'd like nothing more than getting fired but you know you kind of need the job so you keep going. That's Hardware.
Static gets a lot of love for his secret identity of Virgil being the average black teenager. We need to give Hardware his credit for being the average black adult. Hardware drives a nice care, he probably gets pulled over by Dakota Police all the time. He complains about HR shorting him on his paychecks and when they don't want to hear it all he can do is say "bet."
Hardware is you rolling into the office at 7:05 and your boss is staring at you smiling, like they just know they've caught you. You can't say anything but "good morning," and mumble "asshole," under your breath. That's because you know it'll be brought up in your employee evaluation. On top of that he had Curtis build Technique's suit. That's like when your company has you train your replacement.
Every time you hate your job think about Curtis. He couldn't win, and even when he did win there was a catch. If Static is your teenage years, Hardware is your adult years. Working away, making pennies on the dollars for a company you're making billions for. You want a raise and they laugh in your face. Hardware is all of us on a Monday morning.
You should buy Darrell's Book, watch him on the Blerds Online YouTube Channel or The CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts.
