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Milestone Returns
Hardware: Season One
Brilliant scientist Curtis Metcalf was framed by his boss—now he's out to clear his name and fight back! One of the most popular Milestone characters returns, reimagined for the 21st century!
Curtis Metcalf was the brightest shining star of Alva Industries, a brilliant scientist mentored by Edwin Alva since childhood...until the failures of Alva technology at the "Big Bang" disaster threatened to destroy the company, and Alva needed a scapegoat.
Now Curtis is on the run from the Dakota police department...but a man as smart—and paranoid—as Curtis takes precautions. With a nearly indestructible suit of armor and remarkable inventions that he never handed over to Alva, Curtis stands determined to do much more than clear his name...he's going to take the fight back to Alva himself!
Writer Brandon Thomas (Future State: Aquaman, Excellence) is joined by Hardware co-creator and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, alongside comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz, to open a legendary new chapter in the story of the Milestone Universe's most complicated man! Is a better world on his mind? Or just a world built for him?
This volume collects Hardware: Season One #1-6 and Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0.
Curtis Metcalf was the brightest shining star of Alva Industries, a brilliant scientist mentored by Edwin Alva since childhood...until the failures of Alva technology at the "Big Bang" disaster threatened to destroy the company, and Alva needed a scapegoat.
Now Curtis is on the run from the Dakota police department...but a man as smart—and paranoid—as Curtis takes precautions. With a nearly indestructible suit of armor and remarkable inventions that he never handed over to Alva, Curtis stands determined to do much more than clear his name...he's going to take the fight back to Alva himself!
Writer Brandon Thomas (Future State: Aquaman, Excellence) is joined by Hardware co-creator and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, alongside comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz, to open a legendary new chapter in the story of the Milestone Universe's most complicated man! Is a better world on his mind? Or just a world built for him?
This volume collects Hardware: Season One #1-6 and Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Thomas
221 books37 followersBrandon Thomas is the writer and co-creator of critically-acclaimed comics series EXCELLENCE (Skybound/Image), HORIZON (Skybound/Image) and THE MANY ADVENTURES OF MIRANDA MERCURY. Previous work includes the comics series NOBLE (Lion Forge), VOLTRON (Dynamite), and FANTASTIC FOUR TALES (Marvel).
NOBLE #1 was awarded the Fist Award for Best International Comic by the 2017 Lagos Comic-Con, in recognition of best usage of characters/stories based on persons of African descent. NOBLE was also nominated for 2019 Glyph Comics Awards in six categories: Story Of The Year; Best Cover (winner); Best Writer; Best Artist (winner); Best Male Character (winner); and Best Female Character.
Since 2003, Brandon has written comics for several publishers, including Marvel, Lion Forge, Arcade, Dynamite, and DC Entertainment, and has published over 300 original columns as part of the Ambidextrous series. His first creator-owned project THE MANY ADVENTURES OF MIRANDA MERCURY shipped from Archaia Entertainment to widespread critical success, leading to his biggest comics projects to date — the sci-fi conspiracy thriller HORIZON (co-created with artist Juan Gedeon), and the action fantasy series EXCELLENCE (co-created with artist Khary Randolph) — both published by Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment.
Brandon also hosts The Two Brandons podcast with Eisner-Nominated writer Brandon Easton (Transformers: War For Cybertron, Star Trek: Year Five, Vampire Hunter D: The Series).
He lives and writes in Southern California with his wife and son.
NOBLE #1 was awarded the Fist Award for Best International Comic by the 2017 Lagos Comic-Con, in recognition of best usage of characters/stories based on persons of African descent. NOBLE was also nominated for 2019 Glyph Comics Awards in six categories: Story Of The Year; Best Cover (winner); Best Writer; Best Artist (winner); Best Male Character (winner); and Best Female Character.
Since 2003, Brandon has written comics for several publishers, including Marvel, Lion Forge, Arcade, Dynamite, and DC Entertainment, and has published over 300 original columns as part of the Ambidextrous series. His first creator-owned project THE MANY ADVENTURES OF MIRANDA MERCURY shipped from Archaia Entertainment to widespread critical success, leading to his biggest comics projects to date — the sci-fi conspiracy thriller HORIZON (co-created with artist Juan Gedeon), and the action fantasy series EXCELLENCE (co-created with artist Khary Randolph) — both published by Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment.
Brandon also hosts The Two Brandons podcast with Eisner-Nominated writer Brandon Easton (Transformers: War For Cybertron, Star Trek: Year Five, Vampire Hunter D: The Series).
He lives and writes in Southern California with his wife and son.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 18, 2022
“I made you Curtis Metcalf—son of a nothing father, son of a nothing mother, and without me forever destined to be...nothing. You will be that again son...if you keep this up. And your anger? It’s tired, it’s empty, and it’s all you have.”
This review marks the end of the first wave of Milestone titles, and I think overall this relaunch has been pretty okay, but something always just feels off about these books, and Hardware makes sure to keep up that trend. Hardware Season One is a reboot/relaunch of the titular character, who last had an ongoing series back in 1993 that lasted until 1997. Hardware was barely used by anyone other than Dwayne McDuffie after his ongoing was canceled—well until now.
After a measly 13 appearances in the span of over 2 decades, Curtis Metcalf is back, and just like in the original run, he is very angry after being screwed over by his former mentor Edwin Alva. Alva has somehow managed to frame Curtis for the Big Bang, a recent incident where the Dakota PD fired tear gas into a BLM crowd that proceeded to kill the protestors or turn them into superhumans. Now Curtis is on the run, and must prove his innocence before his name is slandered any further.
Brandon Thomas handles the scripting while Denys Cowan, the original Hardware artist, returns to pencil the character. He is joined by inker Bill Sienkiewicz and colorist Chris Sotomayor, who each do a fantastic job. This creative team does sadly have a sore thumb though, and it’s none other than the veteran, Denys Cowan. This is some of his worst work yet. He even did 5 horrible variant covers before being replaced by Canaan White on the last issue, and that cover makes me wish White was given the reigns to this book. It would legit be 5 stars if that had happened, because Cowan’s art is straight-up fucking dogshit, and the script is the only thing saving this book from getting scored lower. I usually can excuse an older artist's work, and I kinda get bringing him back for this relaunch, but holding this season's first issue side by side next to 1993’s Hardware #1 is like night and day. The ‘90s action scenes are easy to follow and kinetic, while the ones in here are a total fucking mess and confusing to follow at best.
This is a total fucking shame too, especially considering how solid Brandon Thomas’ script is. Thomas, unlike most of the Milestone Returns writers, actually understands the character he is writing and treats them with a level of respect that none of the other Milestone Returns leads got frankly. Curtis feels updated, but not like a completely different person like Icon & Static do in their books. Static is less of a nerd and more of a hypebeast in his series, while Icon is less soft-spoken and more aggressive and violent. Hardware is thankfully still his bright and caring self, while still held back by his temper. I also love that Thomas brings back both Barraki Young and Tiffany Evans, as they are some of my favorite supporting characters from the OG Hardware run, and they are written amazingly here. Their roles in the final issue were absolutely stellar and I really enjoyed their overall inclusion in the book.
Honestly, if the art was done by literally ANYONE else, I would have liked this a lot more. Sadly, as it stands, it’s a pretty great reboot of Hardware dragged down by some truly terrible art. These Milestone books all have potential, and each one has had all of the elements that could make for a fantastic book, but each title also has had at least one element dragging the final product down. Static was missing a moment where he worked to overcome adversity, even if the art and character work was amazing. Icon & Rocket was missing everything that made the characters special in the first place, even if the art was stunning. And Hardware had dreadful pencils, while pretty much everything else around it was solid.
I’m not going to judge Blood Syndicate & Duo until they wrap completely, but I really wish I was more into this Milestone relaunch. I fucking love the original Milestone comics so goddamn much, like it's probably my favorite superhero universe ever, but this sadly hasn't lived up to that original even if some of the books are admittedly fine. I can’t give this story anything lower than 4 stars because I really did enjoy Thomas’ script, but that is being mighty generous. Would still recommend it to those interested in Hardware, but honestly, you should just go read McDuffie’s OG run instead.
This review marks the end of the first wave of Milestone titles, and I think overall this relaunch has been pretty okay, but something always just feels off about these books, and Hardware makes sure to keep up that trend. Hardware Season One is a reboot/relaunch of the titular character, who last had an ongoing series back in 1993 that lasted until 1997. Hardware was barely used by anyone other than Dwayne McDuffie after his ongoing was canceled—well until now.
After a measly 13 appearances in the span of over 2 decades, Curtis Metcalf is back, and just like in the original run, he is very angry after being screwed over by his former mentor Edwin Alva. Alva has somehow managed to frame Curtis for the Big Bang, a recent incident where the Dakota PD fired tear gas into a BLM crowd that proceeded to kill the protestors or turn them into superhumans. Now Curtis is on the run, and must prove his innocence before his name is slandered any further.
Brandon Thomas handles the scripting while Denys Cowan, the original Hardware artist, returns to pencil the character. He is joined by inker Bill Sienkiewicz and colorist Chris Sotomayor, who each do a fantastic job. This creative team does sadly have a sore thumb though, and it’s none other than the veteran, Denys Cowan. This is some of his worst work yet. He even did 5 horrible variant covers before being replaced by Canaan White on the last issue, and that cover makes me wish White was given the reigns to this book. It would legit be 5 stars if that had happened, because Cowan’s art is straight-up fucking dogshit, and the script is the only thing saving this book from getting scored lower. I usually can excuse an older artist's work, and I kinda get bringing him back for this relaunch, but holding this season's first issue side by side next to 1993’s Hardware #1 is like night and day. The ‘90s action scenes are easy to follow and kinetic, while the ones in here are a total fucking mess and confusing to follow at best.
This is a total fucking shame too, especially considering how solid Brandon Thomas’ script is. Thomas, unlike most of the Milestone Returns writers, actually understands the character he is writing and treats them with a level of respect that none of the other Milestone Returns leads got frankly. Curtis feels updated, but not like a completely different person like Icon & Static do in their books. Static is less of a nerd and more of a hypebeast in his series, while Icon is less soft-spoken and more aggressive and violent. Hardware is thankfully still his bright and caring self, while still held back by his temper. I also love that Thomas brings back both Barraki Young and Tiffany Evans, as they are some of my favorite supporting characters from the OG Hardware run, and they are written amazingly here. Their roles in the final issue were absolutely stellar and I really enjoyed their overall inclusion in the book.
Honestly, if the art was done by literally ANYONE else, I would have liked this a lot more. Sadly, as it stands, it’s a pretty great reboot of Hardware dragged down by some truly terrible art. These Milestone books all have potential, and each one has had all of the elements that could make for a fantastic book, but each title also has had at least one element dragging the final product down. Static was missing a moment where he worked to overcome adversity, even if the art and character work was amazing. Icon & Rocket was missing everything that made the characters special in the first place, even if the art was stunning. And Hardware had dreadful pencils, while pretty much everything else around it was solid.
I’m not going to judge Blood Syndicate & Duo until they wrap completely, but I really wish I was more into this Milestone relaunch. I fucking love the original Milestone comics so goddamn much, like it's probably my favorite superhero universe ever, but this sadly hasn't lived up to that original even if some of the books are admittedly fine. I can’t give this story anything lower than 4 stars because I really did enjoy Thomas’ script, but that is being mighty generous. Would still recommend it to those interested in Hardware, but honestly, you should just go read McDuffie’s OG run instead.
November 18, 2022
In comparison with the other Season One reboot collections, Hardware is the one that stands apart. Static and Icon & Rocket both felt very polished and suitably updated, while Hardware feels stagnant and relatively old-fashioned. Part of this is probably due to Denys Cowan's scratchy artwork; Mateus Mahanini's covers seem to be more in line with the brighter, cleaner art of the previous collections. Brandon Thomas's writing really sets the tone and is the highlight here; I'm excited to find more from him. As with the other books, I like the crossover vibe going on here and I look forward to seeing how it all pans out.
August 12, 2021
I'll read anything Cowan draws. A great feel, like 90s vertigo stuff.
July 2, 2024
This has been the strongest book within the Milestone reboots. Thomas is a fantastic writer and not once did I feel myself rolling my eyes or pulled out of the story, unlike with Hudlin's writing. The art is reminiscent of the original run and has me wanting to read a Vol. 2. I'm hesitant to get Hardware Vs. Icon though do to Thomas not writing it. Thomas earned himself a fan. Only complaint about the book (which is probably an editor's choice) is for the relationship between Curtis and Alva to be developed a little further before the betrayal. Allowing for that father-son relationship to develop a little would have allowed the turn to hit so much harder. I've read the original run and this stays true to character; however, if I didn't, the relationship between these two foes wouldn't be as big of a deal when Alva betrays Curtis. I recommend this run. Grade: B+
February 26, 2023
This was fine. It's pretty much a rehash of the original Hardware series from the 90's with Hardware getting blamed for the mistakes of Alva, the founder of the company. Denys Cowan, penciller of the original series returns for this miniseries. His action sequences in this are difficult to follow. I'm not sure what happened to his penciling skills these days but it wasn't great. the script was OK. The pacing was way off, probably because they tried to condense everything down to 6 issues. If you found this series at all interesting, I'd suggest going back to read the original series. I liked the original better.
March 17, 2023
A gritty iron man type who faces real life issues.
December 9, 2023
Out of all the Milestone reboots, this is probably the one that has changed the least. A solid story with some great artwork by Cowan and Sienkiewicz.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews