Curtis Metcalf (Dakotaverse)

From DC Database

Contents 1 History 2 Powers and Abilities 2.1 Powers 2.2 Abilities 2.3 Strength level 3 Paraphernalia 3.1 Equipment 3.2 Transportation 3.3 Weapons 4 See Also 5 Recommended Reading 6 Links and References 6.1 Footnotes

History

Curt Metcalf, alias Hardware, is a vigilante operating primarily out of Dakota City. As a highly accomplished scientist and inventor, he has designed himself an advanced exoskeleton complete with a diverse arsenal of weaponry to help him combat evil.^[5] In his civilian life, he is contract-bound to the corrupt Alva Technologies corporation, led by crimelord Edwin Alva, who acted as a mentor to him for most of his life.^[6][7] He has dedicated his life to bringing Alva down, conducting all of his business from the Alva Technologies basement, and creating Hardware's equipment using the company resources available to him. While Alva is always trying to figure out who Hardware is, he is unaware that he is actually directly responsible for funding Hardware's destruction of his business. Although not a regular member, Hardware also often does work for the Shadow Cabinet.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

None

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.

Martial Artist: Curtis Metcalf is a good hand-to-hand combatant, having been trained by his father in the martial arts.^[8]

Strength level

Curtis Metcalf possesses the strength of a man of his height, age, and build who engages in moderate regular exercise. His Hardware armor increases his strength by a factor of 50.^[9]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

• On-Board Computer: Hardware's computer, nicknamed "Obie" is scattered about his person.^[10] The wafer-thin CPU is generally on his hip, and up to 6 separate hard drives are worn strapped or otherwise attached to his costume at various points. While Obie can output to practically any monitor, it traditionally displays its output to Hardware through a heads-up display in his helmet.^[11]
• Voice Synthesizer: Curt Metcalf uses a synthesizer to alter his speaking voice to Hardware's cold, intimidating tone.^[12] The device can also be used to allow Hardware to project a number of different voices, male and female. Linked to Obie's language modules, it can translate English vocal input into a number of foreign languages.

Transportation

• Skylark: Hardware's primary transport vehicle is a "flying car".^[13] The Skylark has vertical take-off and landing capabilities and travels at up to 400 MPH.^[14] It has bulletproof windows and chassis.^[15] The Skylark is equipped with state-of-the-art, on-board crime-fighting gear and is often modified to interact with additional equipment.^[16]
• Jet-Pack: Hardware's Jet-Pack is a collapsible, personal short-range propulsion rig with turbine thrusters that gather the surrounding air, then expel it in a continuous stream.^[17] At maximum thrust, the Jet-Pack has only about three minutes of fuel. Because of the heat and thrust generated, Hardware must replace most of the unit every two or three uses, which allows him to experiment with new designs regularly.

Weapons

• Neural Net: An electrical field that painfully disrupts the nervous system of anyone it touches, fired from a forearm-mounted cannon.^[18] It paralyzes its victim completely for at least 4 minutes, although the average human will require an extra 20 to recover.
• Plasma Whip: Hardware's expandable whip is actually a telescoping metal chain, 10 inches long when collapsed, up to 15 feet long when fully extended.^[19] It can be charged at its tip with high-energy plasma.
• Retractable Sword: Hardware carries an 18-inch wrist-mounted blade, and a 30-inch blade mounted to the outside of his forearm.^[20]

See Also

• Discuss Curtis Metcalf (Dakotaverse) on the forums
• Appearances of Curtis Metcalf (Dakotaverse)
• Character Gallery: Curtis Metcalf (Dakotaverse)
• Quotations by Curtis Metcalf (Dakotaverse)
• Images featuring Curtis Metcalf (Dakotaverse)

Recommended Reading

• Hardware (Volume 1)

Links and References

• Hardware (comics) at Wikipedia.org
• Hardware at International Hero
  

Footnotes

1. ↑ Comic Book Who's Who, August 1994, p.86
2. ↑ Hardware #16
3. ↑ Comic Book Who's Who, August 1994, p.86
4. ↑ Hardware #16
5. ↑ Hardware #1
6. ↑ Hardware #1
7. ↑ Hardware #8
8. ↑ Hardware #8
9. ↑ Hardware #16
10. ↑ Hardware #1
11. ↑ Hardware #1
12. ↑ Hardware #1
13. ↑ Hardware #1
14. ↑ Hardware #16
15. ↑ Hardware #16
16. ↑ Hardware #16
17. ↑ Hardware #1
18. ↑ Hardware #3
19. ↑ Hardware #1
20. ↑ Hardware #1

Milestone Media This article is related to Milestone Media, a sub-division of DC Comics, that published the self-contained "Dakotaverse" under its own logo. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Milestone Media" category. Related Articles Featured Hardware • Blood Syndicate • Icon • Rocket • Static • Shadow Cabinet • Xombi • Kobalt • Heroes Blood Syndicate Tech-9 • Wise Son • Aquamaria • Boogieman • Brickhouse • DMZ • Dogg • Fade • Flashback • Kwai • Masquerade • Third Rail Shadow Cabinet Dharma • Iron Butterfly • Donner • Blitzen • Iota • Sideshow • Twilight • Plus • Starlight • Payback • Mechanic Villains SYSTEM • Edwin Alva • Holocaust • Harm • Star Chamber • Deathwish Titles Static | Icon | Hardware | Blood Syndicate | Shadow Cabinet | Xombi | Kobalt | Heroes | Deathwish | My Name is Holocaust | Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool | Wise Son: The White Wolf Events Big Bang | Shadow War | Worlds Collide | Long Hot Summer Founders Dwayne McDuffie | Denys Cowan | Michael Davis | Derek T. Dingle | Christopher Priest This box: view • talk • edit