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Hardware #1-8
Hardware: The Man in the Machine
This first-ever HARDWARE collection introduces inventor/engineer Curt Metcalf, who begins his adventures by breaking free of his employer, businessman Edwin Alva, who refused to share the profits from Metcalf's many creations. Discovering that Alva is tied to organized crime, and learning that no law enforcement agency would touch him, Metcalf created the high tech Hardware armor that enabled him to work against Alva.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
14 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Dwayne McDuffie
429 books71 followersDwayne McDuffie was an American writer of comic books and television. His notable works included creating the animated series Static Shock, writing and producing the animated series Justice League Unlimited, and co-founding the comic book company Milestone Media.
He co-hosted a radio comedy program, and also wrote under a pseudonym for stand-up comedians and late-night television comedy programs. While working as a copy-editor for a financial magazine, a friend got him an interview for an assistant editor position at Marvel Comics.
While on staff at Marvel as Bob Budiansky's assistant on special projects, McDuffie also scripted stories for the company. His first major work was Damage Control, a series about the company that shows up between issues and tidies up the mess left by the latest round of superhero/supervillain battles. While an editor at Marvel, he submitted a spoof proposal for a comic entitled Teenage Negro Ninja Thrasher in response to Marvel's treatment of its black characters. Becoming a freelancer in early 1990, McDuffie followed that with dozens of various comics titles for Marvel comics, DC Comics, and Archie Comics.
In 1992, wanting to express a multi-cultural sensibility that he felt was missing in comic books, McDuffie co-founded Milestone Media, a comic book company owned by African-Americans.
After Milestone had ceased publishing new comics, Static was developed into an animated series Static Shock. McDuffie was hired to write and story-edit on the series, writing 11 episodes.
McDuffie was hired as a staff writer for the animated series Justice League and was promoted to story editor and producer as the series became Justice League Unlimited. During the entire run of the animated series, McDuffie wrote, produced, or story-edited 69 out of the 91 episodes. McDuffie also wrote the story for the video game Justice League Heroes.
McDuffie was hired to help revamp and story-edit Cartoon Network's popular animated Ben 10 franchise with Ben 10: Alien Force, continuing the adventures of the ten-year-old title character into his mid and late teenage years. During the run of the series, McDuffie wrote episode 1-3, 14, 25-28, 45 and 46 and/or story-edited all forty-six episodes.
On February 22, 2011, McDuffie died from complications due to a surgical procedure performed the previous evening.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_M...
He co-hosted a radio comedy program, and also wrote under a pseudonym for stand-up comedians and late-night television comedy programs. While working as a copy-editor for a financial magazine, a friend got him an interview for an assistant editor position at Marvel Comics.
While on staff at Marvel as Bob Budiansky's assistant on special projects, McDuffie also scripted stories for the company. His first major work was Damage Control, a series about the company that shows up between issues and tidies up the mess left by the latest round of superhero/supervillain battles. While an editor at Marvel, he submitted a spoof proposal for a comic entitled Teenage Negro Ninja Thrasher in response to Marvel's treatment of its black characters. Becoming a freelancer in early 1990, McDuffie followed that with dozens of various comics titles for Marvel comics, DC Comics, and Archie Comics.
In 1992, wanting to express a multi-cultural sensibility that he felt was missing in comic books, McDuffie co-founded Milestone Media, a comic book company owned by African-Americans.
After Milestone had ceased publishing new comics, Static was developed into an animated series Static Shock. McDuffie was hired to write and story-edit on the series, writing 11 episodes.
McDuffie was hired as a staff writer for the animated series Justice League and was promoted to story editor and producer as the series became Justice League Unlimited. During the entire run of the animated series, McDuffie wrote, produced, or story-edited 69 out of the 91 episodes. McDuffie also wrote the story for the video game Justice League Heroes.
McDuffie was hired to help revamp and story-edit Cartoon Network's popular animated Ben 10 franchise with Ben 10: Alien Force, continuing the adventures of the ten-year-old title character into his mid and late teenage years. During the run of the series, McDuffie wrote episode 1-3, 14, 25-28, 45 and 46 and/or story-edited all forty-six episodes.
On February 22, 2011, McDuffie died from complications due to a surgical procedure performed the previous evening.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_M...
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 4, 2022
Collecting the first 8 issues of Dwayne McDuffie’s and Denys Cowan’s masterpiece, Hardware: The Man in the Machine is one of the best superhero origins I’ve ever read.
Throughout these issues, Hardware goes on a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery whereby the end, he will understand exactly what the difference between vengeance and justice is. He ends up dealing with villains like Reprise, SYSTEMatics, and a Punisher-like vigilante named Deathwish who targets sex criminals. Some of the character designs are a little corny, but the story and art more than make up for some of the weaker aspects. The Deathwish arc in particular is insanely dark, but also advances Hardware’s story forward in a meaningful way. I also love the letter column, and I actually whipped out my singles to check them out. They have fun bonus sections showing all of the gear in Hardware’s arsenal, which is cool especially if any of it confuses the reader.
These first 8 issues have a specific story they want to tell, and they tell it to perfection. McDuffie explores what it really means to be a hero, and specifically the notion of “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” This is one of my favorite superhero stories ever, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
Throughout these issues, Hardware goes on a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery whereby the end, he will understand exactly what the difference between vengeance and justice is. He ends up dealing with villains like Reprise, SYSTEMatics, and a Punisher-like vigilante named Deathwish who targets sex criminals. Some of the character designs are a little corny, but the story and art more than make up for some of the weaker aspects. The Deathwish arc in particular is insanely dark, but also advances Hardware’s story forward in a meaningful way. I also love the letter column, and I actually whipped out my singles to check them out. They have fun bonus sections showing all of the gear in Hardware’s arsenal, which is cool especially if any of it confuses the reader.
These first 8 issues have a specific story they want to tell, and they tell it to perfection. McDuffie explores what it really means to be a hero, and specifically the notion of “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” This is one of my favorite superhero stories ever, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
October 21, 2020
Milestone Comics was innovative for its time. Created and owned by minorities in 1992, it sought to both show another perspective to superheroes while also giving minority children some heroes. Hardware was Milestone's version of Iron Man. The difference being instead of working at his own company, he was forced to work for his scumbag owner. So in the evenings, he'd go out to shut down his employer's illegal activities as Hardware. It's an interesting but violent take on the armored superhero. The second arc is about a serial killer murdering prostitutes.
Denys Cowan is not my favorite artist. His art is too scratchy for my tastes. The costume designs are pretty awful. The first villain Hardware fights looks like a Dinobot in armor. It's very goofy, like something a child would design. Cowan does do some interesting things with Hardware's armaments though.
Denys Cowan is not my favorite artist. His art is too scratchy for my tastes. The costume designs are pretty awful. The first villain Hardware fights looks like a Dinobot in armor. It's very goofy, like something a child would design. Cowan does do some interesting things with Hardware's armaments though.
October 10, 2020
A character-driven book with a strong arc that also has lots of action. This is a really nice combination, and all the more surprising for its fairly old pedigree. Each of the two arcs in the book has a major character movement built into it.
I'd definitely like to see more of this (and the rest of the universe).
I'd definitely like to see more of this (and the rest of the universe).
February 11, 2022
4.5 *s
I believe this was one of the best superhero introduction arcs I've ever read. While there were some elements of both the art and storytelling that date this comic to 1993 (for which I have deducted half a star), these are minor and generally more charming than aggravating.
I had a couple Milestone back issues as a comics-reading kid, but I didn't get them. I recall thinking that Static and Icon were cool, but that's about the extent of the impact they made on me. I see now that, at least in the case of Hardware, these characters and their stories were perhaps too complex and socially conscious for a ten-year-old whose reading at the time consisted mostly of Harvey comics and coverless Silver Age DC comics and reprints. However, if I couldn't appreciate my few Milestone comics back then, I certainly do now.
Dwayne McDuffie aimed for the fences with this one, shattered his bat to splinters, and hit someone's car out in the parking lot with the ball. McDuffie expertly plays with comic book superhero tropes, using a few in novel ways, disregarding several others, ultimately presenting the discerning fan a satisfying, thrilling, and (most importantly) a new experience.
I loved Hardware: The Man in the Machine, and I'm excited now to have a largely unfamiliar world of characters to explore more fully in the future!
I believe this was one of the best superhero introduction arcs I've ever read. While there were some elements of both the art and storytelling that date this comic to 1993 (for which I have deducted half a star), these are minor and generally more charming than aggravating.
I had a couple Milestone back issues as a comics-reading kid, but I didn't get them. I recall thinking that Static and Icon were cool, but that's about the extent of the impact they made on me. I see now that, at least in the case of Hardware, these characters and their stories were perhaps too complex and socially conscious for a ten-year-old whose reading at the time consisted mostly of Harvey comics and coverless Silver Age DC comics and reprints. However, if I couldn't appreciate my few Milestone comics back then, I certainly do now.
Dwayne McDuffie aimed for the fences with this one, shattered his bat to splinters, and hit someone's car out in the parking lot with the ball. McDuffie expertly plays with comic book superhero tropes, using a few in novel ways, disregarding several others, ultimately presenting the discerning fan a satisfying, thrilling, and (most importantly) a new experience.
I loved Hardware: The Man in the Machine, and I'm excited now to have a largely unfamiliar world of characters to explore more fully in the future!
November 8, 2021
I enjoyed the Dakotaverse books and my favorite was hardware but then i am huge Iron man fan so that makes sense. Very nicely written book with some interesting plot ideas. Enjoyable read. Recommended
September 6, 2011
This is just one of the groundbreaking books put out by the now defunct Milestone Comics publisher, which strove to not only increase the diversity in color and sexuality of its characters, but tell stories about very well rounded characters and deal with very true to life issues.
I can't speak for the paperback in question, but I've read all of the Hardware series. While it starts off looking like a "Angry Black Man" series where a guy gets cheated out of his successes by his white superior, it really takes an interesting and breathtaking turn midseries and really drew me into it.
You just have to read up through Alva's Revenge to really see where the book goes.
I can't speak for the paperback in question, but I've read all of the Hardware series. While it starts off looking like a "Angry Black Man" series where a guy gets cheated out of his successes by his white superior, it really takes an interesting and breathtaking turn midseries and really drew me into it.
You just have to read up through Alva's Revenge to really see where the book goes.
April 25, 2022
Closer to 3.5 stars, this is a strong start to this series. It's interesting to read the Milestone Media stuff now and see where the creators were making character choices that have made this stuff age better than a lot of its contemporaries in the early-mid 90s. Curtis Metcalf is a brilliant inventor who creates the Hardware armor to fight back after finding himself under the thumb of a huge corporation. This has bold, complex characterization (for the superhero medium, anyway), and a loose, angry feel reminiscent of 2000AD (thanks in no small part to some of the most fluid penciling Denys Cowan has ever done). Definitely check this out!
June 11, 2024
Issue #1
“I like to think of it as the moral equivalent of using the office copying machine for personal business.”
Milestone comics continues to impress me every time I start a new comic, and Hardware is no exception. Going from cog in the corporate machine, to finding out his boss, and who he thought was a friend, is actually in deep with every criminal organization out of the sun, and has now broken through the glass using his own companies equipment to take down his bosses criminal organization. And the art coming from milestone continues to blow me away with its veracity, such a gold mine that deserves so much more recognition.
And one thing that continues to impress me about milestone is how real they make their characters feel. A lot of people can relate to the situation hardware has been in being denied what he feels he deserved from his boss, or anyone for that manner, and wanting to take on the world because of it. I also really appreciate how hardware is already a set character, we got introduced to the basics of who is is and why he is doing it, where milestone usually likes to leave a lot open to expand on later.
Issue #2
Right when I heard:
“One final mission.”
I knew that we were still only just getting started.
I have to absolutely applaud the art in this book again, the scenes where he is trying desperately to get out of the warehouse, tying the chain around himself, and then precisely pulling himself up whole blowing the buildings. “Chef kiss” it’s so good.
But I’m glad that Barraki came by and brought up a super valid point either with Curtis. So far he has been a vigilante that has not shred a care for others around him. From blowing up a building full of copies, or slicing a guards arm off. She brought up the point that he has put too many innocent people in danger, and hardware does agree. But this also does lead to the conclusion that to finish everything off he needs to go and kill the source immediately.
Issue #3
First off, I want to give a special shout-out to hardwares outfit design itself, because it is so perfect for his character. It’s one of the most high tech pieces of equipment in this entire world, but looks like it was pulled out of a junk pile and pieces together, I love it. And then at the end of the chapter we get a comparison to this shiny rhino looking suit that almost mimics his own, and probably uses his same tech, and I just know he is going to rip it apart.
But something else I find interesting is that after his simulations, and his discussion with Barraki, the actual fight he had to take on Alva and end it once and for all was so much more selfish. Instead of out right killing him, he has positioned himself into a slow death. Slowly taking apart Alva’s organization and promising to turn him into a beggar on the street before finally ending him. It makes me question again where Hardware’s ideals lie. Is he taking this slow approach for a personal vendetta against the man he saw as his father betray him, or is he doing it for the betterment of the people effected by all the crimes Alva has committed.
Issue #4
“A little fancy programming. I’m slaving your system to mine and freezing your robotics.”
That’s dope.
“Welcome to the nineties, loser.”
Hell yeah!!
But on another note, what an excellent ending. This entire issue provided a challenge for Hardware to grow from, but also completely expanded his entire world. Alva is a a small fry in a much bigger ocean he just started to swim in, and I’m so excited to see what he finds.
“What do I want to accomplish? I don’t know the answer yet… but I’m convinced that somehow, Hardware is the right tool for the job.”
I also love how he has decided to balance the life of hardware and the life of Curtis, while also being detrimental to continuing his double life, it’s so well written for him to decide that this is not what defines him and that he is more than his crusade.
Issue #5
I am starting to see the crossovers that intertwine the milestone comics and I am loving it, but a little lost. So somehow Hardware is also in Dakota and knows Icon? Well his lawyer persona. Did I miss a crossover or something? But legitimately don’t care, love it!
But it also seems that Hardware had gotten quite comfortable into his role as Hardware and is still wreaking havoc against Alva. And continues to boost his tech. We got a good look at his car that completely projects something else onto the windows so it looks completely different, which is really cool.
But the we take a step back to meet one of the people in his support circle: Deacon. Hardware’s resident telecommunications expert and informant. Who has a problem with a string of prostitution murders that directly affected him.
While Hardware is taking a look the issue finishes with him running into Deathwish, a character also investigating the murders but is an absolute nutcase. And honestly appears almost as what Hardware could become without Barraki to ground him. Because Deathwish even shows those tendencies to continually keep someone alive as he tears down their entire world, then at their lowest point finally kills them. This will be an interesting confrontation for sure.
Issue #6
(As Deathwish is hanging from a tall building)
DW: “this supposed to scare me?”
Hardware: “Well…Yeah.”
This issue was a fairly simplistic issue but making a good continuation from the last issue with Hardware winning the altercation against Deathwish, only to follow him back later and find that Deathwish is so deep into his obsession with solving sex crimes that he starts committing them himself. Now all that’s left to be seen is if hardware can survive Deathwish. I have a very sneaky suspicion that he can.
Lastly, this issue introduced an interesting idea on the final page depicting some of his arsenal. Specifically that the inertia-winder he uses when suiting up is alien in origin. At this point with his resources he may know how to use Icon’s equipment better than icon.
Issue #7
Wow what an amazing issue from start to finish. Starting with Deathwish. The art of him in this manic trance was so good, then having him electrocuted and slowly come to his senses and realize everything he has done, WOW.
But even more wow was how graphic deathwish’s backstory is. I was legitimately uncomfortable with the depictions of sexual assault and how well written it is.
But this comic then ended on the highest note of self reflection I’ve ever seen. Curtis made a promise to separate his life from hardware and hardware has already taken over. Then looking at Deathwish and the comparisons to hardware is something I mentioned previously. Without stopping himself and reflecting going into a position where you turn into the thing you are trying so hard to fight against may be inevitable. But the we end with these stunning moments where hardware is being haunted by the ghosts he has created. McDuffie you absolute genius, nothing is an accident and it will come back to haunt you.
Issue #8
What an absolutely phenomenal issue for character growth. The entire issues is a dream sequence with Curtis coming to head with the fighting he has done against himself. Just an absolutely wonderful character breakdown which ultimately leads to his decision at the end on how to move forward. Like Hardware says, he cannot undo the evil he committed in the name of a vendetta but he can now live up to his ideals and do better in the name of Justice.
That’s such an excellent place to start redirecting the character to solidify him to continue fighting without the aspect of personal vengeance holding him back.
Final Thoughts: give me more! Hardware is such an excellently written and drawn character and I can’t wait to see where else McDuffie takes us.
“I like to think of it as the moral equivalent of using the office copying machine for personal business.”
Milestone comics continues to impress me every time I start a new comic, and Hardware is no exception. Going from cog in the corporate machine, to finding out his boss, and who he thought was a friend, is actually in deep with every criminal organization out of the sun, and has now broken through the glass using his own companies equipment to take down his bosses criminal organization. And the art coming from milestone continues to blow me away with its veracity, such a gold mine that deserves so much more recognition.
And one thing that continues to impress me about milestone is how real they make their characters feel. A lot of people can relate to the situation hardware has been in being denied what he feels he deserved from his boss, or anyone for that manner, and wanting to take on the world because of it. I also really appreciate how hardware is already a set character, we got introduced to the basics of who is is and why he is doing it, where milestone usually likes to leave a lot open to expand on later.
Issue #2
Right when I heard:
“One final mission.”
I knew that we were still only just getting started.
I have to absolutely applaud the art in this book again, the scenes where he is trying desperately to get out of the warehouse, tying the chain around himself, and then precisely pulling himself up whole blowing the buildings. “Chef kiss” it’s so good.
But I’m glad that Barraki came by and brought up a super valid point either with Curtis. So far he has been a vigilante that has not shred a care for others around him. From blowing up a building full of copies, or slicing a guards arm off. She brought up the point that he has put too many innocent people in danger, and hardware does agree. But this also does lead to the conclusion that to finish everything off he needs to go and kill the source immediately.
Issue #3
First off, I want to give a special shout-out to hardwares outfit design itself, because it is so perfect for his character. It’s one of the most high tech pieces of equipment in this entire world, but looks like it was pulled out of a junk pile and pieces together, I love it. And then at the end of the chapter we get a comparison to this shiny rhino looking suit that almost mimics his own, and probably uses his same tech, and I just know he is going to rip it apart.
But something else I find interesting is that after his simulations, and his discussion with Barraki, the actual fight he had to take on Alva and end it once and for all was so much more selfish. Instead of out right killing him, he has positioned himself into a slow death. Slowly taking apart Alva’s organization and promising to turn him into a beggar on the street before finally ending him. It makes me question again where Hardware’s ideals lie. Is he taking this slow approach for a personal vendetta against the man he saw as his father betray him, or is he doing it for the betterment of the people effected by all the crimes Alva has committed.
Issue #4
“A little fancy programming. I’m slaving your system to mine and freezing your robotics.”
That’s dope.
“Welcome to the nineties, loser.”
Hell yeah!!
But on another note, what an excellent ending. This entire issue provided a challenge for Hardware to grow from, but also completely expanded his entire world. Alva is a a small fry in a much bigger ocean he just started to swim in, and I’m so excited to see what he finds.
“What do I want to accomplish? I don’t know the answer yet… but I’m convinced that somehow, Hardware is the right tool for the job.”
I also love how he has decided to balance the life of hardware and the life of Curtis, while also being detrimental to continuing his double life, it’s so well written for him to decide that this is not what defines him and that he is more than his crusade.
Issue #5
I am starting to see the crossovers that intertwine the milestone comics and I am loving it, but a little lost. So somehow Hardware is also in Dakota and knows Icon? Well his lawyer persona. Did I miss a crossover or something? But legitimately don’t care, love it!
But it also seems that Hardware had gotten quite comfortable into his role as Hardware and is still wreaking havoc against Alva. And continues to boost his tech. We got a good look at his car that completely projects something else onto the windows so it looks completely different, which is really cool.
But the we take a step back to meet one of the people in his support circle: Deacon. Hardware’s resident telecommunications expert and informant. Who has a problem with a string of prostitution murders that directly affected him.
While Hardware is taking a look the issue finishes with him running into Deathwish, a character also investigating the murders but is an absolute nutcase. And honestly appears almost as what Hardware could become without Barraki to ground him. Because Deathwish even shows those tendencies to continually keep someone alive as he tears down their entire world, then at their lowest point finally kills them. This will be an interesting confrontation for sure.
Issue #6
(As Deathwish is hanging from a tall building)
DW: “this supposed to scare me?”
Hardware: “Well…Yeah.”
This issue was a fairly simplistic issue but making a good continuation from the last issue with Hardware winning the altercation against Deathwish, only to follow him back later and find that Deathwish is so deep into his obsession with solving sex crimes that he starts committing them himself. Now all that’s left to be seen is if hardware can survive Deathwish. I have a very sneaky suspicion that he can.
Lastly, this issue introduced an interesting idea on the final page depicting some of his arsenal. Specifically that the inertia-winder he uses when suiting up is alien in origin. At this point with his resources he may know how to use Icon’s equipment better than icon.
Issue #7
Wow what an amazing issue from start to finish. Starting with Deathwish. The art of him in this manic trance was so good, then having him electrocuted and slowly come to his senses and realize everything he has done, WOW.
But even more wow was how graphic deathwish’s backstory is. I was legitimately uncomfortable with the depictions of sexual assault and how well written it is.
But this comic then ended on the highest note of self reflection I’ve ever seen. Curtis made a promise to separate his life from hardware and hardware has already taken over. Then looking at Deathwish and the comparisons to hardware is something I mentioned previously. Without stopping himself and reflecting going into a position where you turn into the thing you are trying so hard to fight against may be inevitable. But the we end with these stunning moments where hardware is being haunted by the ghosts he has created. McDuffie you absolute genius, nothing is an accident and it will come back to haunt you.
Issue #8
What an absolutely phenomenal issue for character growth. The entire issues is a dream sequence with Curtis coming to head with the fighting he has done against himself. Just an absolutely wonderful character breakdown which ultimately leads to his decision at the end on how to move forward. Like Hardware says, he cannot undo the evil he committed in the name of a vendetta but he can now live up to his ideals and do better in the name of Justice.
That’s such an excellent place to start redirecting the character to solidify him to continue fighting without the aspect of personal vengeance holding him back.
Final Thoughts: give me more! Hardware is such an excellently written and drawn character and I can’t wait to see where else McDuffie takes us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2021
A criminally under-appreciated superhero comic by a criminally under-appreciated creative team for a criminally under-appreciated publishing imprint.
More than any prior attempts by the big two comics publishers to develop books about non-white characters by non-white creators, Hardware and its peers at Milestone Media (Icon, Static, etc.) set a new standard for how mainstream comics tell stories and who they’re about.
The first issue is one of the strongest (if not *the* strongest outright) first issues of any superhero book I have read. The character of Hardware/Curtis Metcalf blends Batman, Iron Man, and African-American coming-of-age fiction. The art similarly blends the spectacle of superhero stories with the aesthetic touches of art cinema and literary fiction. The combination makes for one of the sharpest revisionist takes on superhero comics, one that has had an arguably bigger and more pervasive impact on present-day superhero comics than any of the higher-profile revisionist superhero books (Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, The Man of Steel, etc.).
Needless to say, I was super stoked to find this out-of-print trade collection of the first eight issues at a local shop. The full run is long overdue for trade reprints.
More than any prior attempts by the big two comics publishers to develop books about non-white characters by non-white creators, Hardware and its peers at Milestone Media (Icon, Static, etc.) set a new standard for how mainstream comics tell stories and who they’re about.
The first issue is one of the strongest (if not *the* strongest outright) first issues of any superhero book I have read. The character of Hardware/Curtis Metcalf blends Batman, Iron Man, and African-American coming-of-age fiction. The art similarly blends the spectacle of superhero stories with the aesthetic touches of art cinema and literary fiction. The combination makes for one of the sharpest revisionist takes on superhero comics, one that has had an arguably bigger and more pervasive impact on present-day superhero comics than any of the higher-profile revisionist superhero books (Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, The Man of Steel, etc.).
Needless to say, I was super stoked to find this out-of-print trade collection of the first eight issues at a local shop. The full run is long overdue for trade reprints.
February 9, 2013
I've been consistently impressed with Milestone (and proportionally more and more disappointed that all the stories have been cut short). Hardware is an intense character motivated by a shameless desire for bloody vengeance at the beginning, slaughtering grunts and soldiers in the service of said vengeance. But it's not just a bloodbath. Hardware's mindset is carefully designed and changes over time. The last few issues in this collection show him starting to get past his revenge fixation and beginning to get involved in solving other crimes.
Milestone heroes are different - more practical, maybe, if I can use that word about a supergenius who wears high-tech body armor that turns into dozens of different weapons and gadgets at the drop of a hat. Milestone heroes have interesting motivations, and you don't always know what they are. (There's also a cameo from Icon in here... I love Icon.)
Milestone heroes are different - more practical, maybe, if I can use that word about a supergenius who wears high-tech body armor that turns into dozens of different weapons and gadgets at the drop of a hat. Milestone heroes have interesting motivations, and you don't always know what they are. (There's also a cameo from Icon in here... I love Icon.)
March 18, 2021
I kind of missed out on Milestone except for Static Shock the first time around, and had only read McDuffie's other stuff; this is solid work, trying to get a message across and still be an action comic from the 90s was a hard job. When McDuffie died, I felt then that I wished I had read his stuff aside from Damage Control, a bunch of Deathlok, and XO Manowar. This is an enjoyable collection - very much of its time in narrative and art style - but has a noir feel in some aspects and deals with some seriously heavy shit for a comic book. Now that Milestone's getting a reboot/rebirth/whatever, I think I might have to go for a further swim into this river.
January 16, 2023
As I understand it, in the early 90s, Dwayne McDuffie and others started Milestone Comics as a way to represent black heroes. Hardware was one of those characters. Kind of like the later Steel, Hardware is a brilliant scientist who creates an armored suit. Like Iron Man, it has different weapons and at the start can fly, though the jet pack is destroyed.
The first four issues provide the origin: Curtis Metcalf works for Edwin Alva (obvious twist on Thomas Alva Edison) who is an evil and manipulative business tycoon. When Curtis realizes Metcalf is just using him, he creates Hardware and starts taking down his boss.
The next three issues, Hardware goes after a prostitute killer and tangles with the vigilante Deathwish, who's sort of a Punisher-type character. There's a clever twist to solve the mystery.
The final issue of this volume is a nightmare as Curtis/Hardware explores the cost of his war on crime. At the end of which he decides to be more about justice and less about vengeance, sort of like what has happened in Batman comics and the most recent movie.
The violence, language, and sexual content as well as the art is pretty similar to what was going on in comics for DC's other imprint Vertigo or Image Comics like Spawn. Some of the dialogue is a little corny 30 years later and the art is definitely 90s looking but it's not bad.
I'm not sure what they used to transfer this to digital but it's not a great transfer. It seemed kind of grainy and the colors a little off.
The first four issues provide the origin: Curtis Metcalf works for Edwin Alva (obvious twist on Thomas Alva Edison) who is an evil and manipulative business tycoon. When Curtis realizes Metcalf is just using him, he creates Hardware and starts taking down his boss.
The next three issues, Hardware goes after a prostitute killer and tangles with the vigilante Deathwish, who's sort of a Punisher-type character. There's a clever twist to solve the mystery.
The final issue of this volume is a nightmare as Curtis/Hardware explores the cost of his war on crime. At the end of which he decides to be more about justice and less about vengeance, sort of like what has happened in Batman comics and the most recent movie.
The violence, language, and sexual content as well as the art is pretty similar to what was going on in comics for DC's other imprint Vertigo or Image Comics like Spawn. Some of the dialogue is a little corny 30 years later and the art is definitely 90s looking but it's not bad.
I'm not sure what they used to transfer this to digital but it's not a great transfer. It seemed kind of grainy and the colors a little off.
March 5, 2020
Lightning round of thoughts, time!
Solid example of the revenge arc, without being trite, and even moves on to a couple of other story arc towards the end of the collection
Very violent a fact that I took too be just the style but it comes into play at the end.
I didn't care for his having to verbally ask OBIE, his onboard computer to do things. That didn't work for me.
The Deathwish story arc was brutal and not something that was expected in the early 90s;
It didn't hit the mark as closely as Icon did but the fact that it's such a different type of story makes it impressing. Mr. McDuffie came to DC with an entire universe already created, which should (and did) include different types of heroes
Solid example of the revenge arc, without being trite, and even moves on to a couple of other story arc towards the end of the collection
Very violent a fact that I took too be just the style but it comes into play at the end.
I didn't care for his having to verbally ask OBIE, his onboard computer to do things. That didn't work for me.
The Deathwish story arc was brutal and not something that was expected in the early 90s;
It didn't hit the mark as closely as Icon did but the fact that it's such a different type of story makes it impressing. Mr. McDuffie came to DC with an entire universe already created, which should (and did) include different types of heroes
January 23, 2022
I wanted to read this collection to get a better grasp on Hardware’s origins as I’ve really been enjoying Brandon Thomas’ reboot of the title. This gave me a better appreciation of the work being done with that reboot but also the original run of Hardware is still cool as hell and way ahead of its time. Especially in the final issue collected in this volume (# 8), McDuffie achieves a brilliant, haunting meditation on cultural narratives of Blackness, violence, and justice that ring just as true today.
The art is also brilliant, trading off between scenes of frantic energy and solemn power. Many pages have a sort of geometric quality to them, recalling Aaron Douglas and other touchstones of Black art.
The only complaint is that the reproductions of the issues are quite poor, lacking vibrancy and even sometimes with word balloons out of focus. The whole original run of Hardware deserves a high-quality reproduction — I know there’s a new Milestone compendium set for release soon, and I hope that does a better job than this collection.
The art is also brilliant, trading off between scenes of frantic energy and solemn power. Many pages have a sort of geometric quality to them, recalling Aaron Douglas and other touchstones of Black art.
The only complaint is that the reproductions of the issues are quite poor, lacking vibrancy and even sometimes with word balloons out of focus. The whole original run of Hardware deserves a high-quality reproduction — I know there’s a new Milestone compendium set for release soon, and I hope that does a better job than this collection.
February 17, 2023
The first Milestone comics I picked up. Didn't disappoint one bit. I love Curt, I love Barraki.
The story is written with love and care, it's obvious since issue #1. And the writing is smart - this is not a story about robot suit fights, although there are a lot of them and the choreography for the fight, how it comes to life on the page, is great.
This is a story about a young and talented black man bumping into an invisible, glass ceiling. And trying to fight this injustice, to get from under the thumb of a rich white dude who is parasitizing off of him - like a nineties version of Elon Musk but worse - he finds out about the web of corruption and crime.
Another thing I loved about this comic is the authors' notes/fake fanmail in the first four issues. How Milestone started, the idea and circumstances behind it, and their thoughts on Curtis. I am in awe of the whole Milestone collective. Can't wait to read more.
The story is written with love and care, it's obvious since issue #1. And the writing is smart - this is not a story about robot suit fights, although there are a lot of them and the choreography for the fight, how it comes to life on the page, is great.
This is a story about a young and talented black man bumping into an invisible, glass ceiling. And trying to fight this injustice, to get from under the thumb of a rich white dude who is parasitizing off of him - like a nineties version of Elon Musk but worse - he finds out about the web of corruption and crime.
Another thing I loved about this comic is the authors' notes/fake fanmail in the first four issues. How Milestone started, the idea and circumstances behind it, and their thoughts on Curtis. I am in awe of the whole Milestone collective. Can't wait to read more.
Read
March 22, 2023Some real good stuff.
Curt is a genius. But he works for a piece of shit. I know a lot of people can relate to that. And so with that he decides in his free time to create a suit of armor and destroy the illegal activates of the asshole he works for. It's very Iron Man meets Batman yet it works really well.
Mostly thanks to Curt being a solid lead. He wants to do the right thing, but he can also be brutal. Killing people who stand in his way, even people working for scum like his boss, does eventually pay a hefty toll. And I loved that. The first 4 issues is a balls to walls action set piece with a lot of fun moments. But the second story focuses on a serial killer who eventually convinces Curt to look deep inside himself and see if he's one in the same.
Overall, 90's might have been filled with garbage but there's some gems in there, and Hardware is one of them.
Curt is a genius. But he works for a piece of shit. I know a lot of people can relate to that. And so with that he decides in his free time to create a suit of armor and destroy the illegal activates of the asshole he works for. It's very Iron Man meets Batman yet it works really well.
Mostly thanks to Curt being a solid lead. He wants to do the right thing, but he can also be brutal. Killing people who stand in his way, even people working for scum like his boss, does eventually pay a hefty toll. And I loved that. The first 4 issues is a balls to walls action set piece with a lot of fun moments. But the second story focuses on a serial killer who eventually convinces Curt to look deep inside himself and see if he's one in the same.
Overall, 90's might have been filled with garbage but there's some gems in there, and Hardware is one of them.
May 16, 2024
3.5
of the early milestone comics i've read so far, this and 'icon' feature dwayne mcduffie's best writing. here it's for curtis metcalf: genius, playboy, scientist - a Black man encapsulated in a dark shell of metal, most comparable to iron man in his cyberpunk exosuit holding an array of weapons. a prodigal son with a temperamental childhood, i enjoyed how hardware's psyche and emotional unavailability were explored in his personal life. however, when your protagonist is fighting against the military industrial complex and white psychopathy, lamenting against "vengeance" gets annoying for violence that should be considered just war. the last few issues also fail in this regard with a badly rushed and unfocused rape-revenge narrative. other than that, this was a decent introductory collection for the character.
of the early milestone comics i've read so far, this and 'icon' feature dwayne mcduffie's best writing. here it's for curtis metcalf: genius, playboy, scientist - a Black man encapsulated in a dark shell of metal, most comparable to iron man in his cyberpunk exosuit holding an array of weapons. a prodigal son with a temperamental childhood, i enjoyed how hardware's psyche and emotional unavailability were explored in his personal life. however, when your protagonist is fighting against the military industrial complex and white psychopathy, lamenting against "vengeance" gets annoying for violence that should be considered just war. the last few issues also fail in this regard with a badly rushed and unfocused rape-revenge narrative. other than that, this was a decent introductory collection for the character.
March 19, 2024
Deeper Than I Thought
Well, this became something I never thought possible. Maybe it's because the modern Hardware comics are more plot focused, maybe it's because Edwin Alva shows up more even in the Static show. But now my respect for Dwayne McDuffie has reached a new height. What starts put as a payback against big business turns into a journey for redemption. All of the cool gadgets are one thing, but seeing Curtis Metcalf turn his life around thanks to equally layered characters is a delight. From Baraki setting him straight to a foil in the vigilante Death Wish. The plots to get there show just how much was put into Hardware. It's a shame that this pillar of Milestone Media isn't as represented.
Well, this became something I never thought possible. Maybe it's because the modern Hardware comics are more plot focused, maybe it's because Edwin Alva shows up more even in the Static show. But now my respect for Dwayne McDuffie has reached a new height. What starts put as a payback against big business turns into a journey for redemption. All of the cool gadgets are one thing, but seeing Curtis Metcalf turn his life around thanks to equally layered characters is a delight. From Baraki setting him straight to a foil in the vigilante Death Wish. The plots to get there show just how much was put into Hardware. It's a shame that this pillar of Milestone Media isn't as represented.
November 9, 2020
Impressive writing by Dwayne Mcduffie. Even more impressive since he edited it too. More intelligent than the average superhero comic. Great art by Denys Cowan, who has some awesome 90s-style character designs. The last issue is pretty weird and feels out of place and sometimes the villain's actions seem unbelievably stupid, but all in all a good read. Would recommend to fans of the first Iron Man movie.
July 31, 2025
On the surface, Milestone’s take on Iron Man, but far more concerned with issues of appropriation, as his hero takes on a cod-Thomas Edison and by extension the vampiric IP theft practices of the comic industry. Cowan’s art is excellent, though his character designs are waaayy too busy for my taste (an issue he shares with McFarlane). And the Punisher parody is a bit much.
February 6, 2023
Terrible
A put upon worker builds an Iron Man suit and battles the mean old boss he works for. The man's an absolute a-hole (the only redeeming factor is someone calls him out on it) - another case of it's ok to murder people if you are fairly sure that they are bad guys.
A put upon worker builds an Iron Man suit and battles the mean old boss he works for. The man's an absolute a-hole (the only redeeming factor is someone calls him out on it) - another case of it's ok to murder people if you are fairly sure that they are bad guys.
December 19, 2024
Loved this series back, still do
I purchased this series for the first came out in the 90s. It is still as good as it was then. You will not be disappointed. Dwayne McDuffie is always been and will always be a great writer.
I purchased this series for the first came out in the 90s. It is still as good as it was then. You will not be disappointed. Dwayne McDuffie is always been and will always be a great writer.
October 22, 2025
Nuanced Storytelling
I like Curtis/Hardware's inner struggle with his heart and his head. The complexity of power and its corruptible force. This entire world of Dakota City is full of these types of stories and complex characters and storylines.
I like Curtis/Hardware's inner struggle with his heart and his head. The complexity of power and its corruptible force. This entire world of Dakota City is full of these types of stories and complex characters and storylines.
January 23, 2023
Normally I like McDuffie, but this felt disjointed. Hope it Finland's itself by the second book.
Note Denys Cowan is awesome!
Note Denys Cowan is awesome!
October 21, 2020
I loved the Milestone line of comics when they came out in the nineties, and I’m happy to say they hold up well. Dwayne McDuffie was one of the best writers in the business.
March 6, 2016
Reprints Hardware #1-8 (April 1993-October 1993). Curtis Metcalf is angry. The man he put his faith in used him and treated him like a dog for his inventions and the Metcalf is forced to keep working for him. Metcalf however has created a solution in Hardware. Hardware is a power suit Metcalf has built to destroy Edwin Alva’s empire from within. Striking at Alva’s illegal infrastructure, Hardware has become a problem to Alva…and he intends to stop him.
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and illustrated by Denys Cowan, Hardware: The Man in the Machine was part of Milestone Comics line-up. Milestone was an imprint distributed by DC Comics and focused on primarily minority characters in the “Dakotaverse”. Hardware and other character were later merged with the DC Universe.
The Dakotaverse was an interesting experiment. It’s goal was to provide some diversity to the comic book market and also to the creators and artists. Hardware shows an attempt to appeal to readers by having an “angry black man” (that’s actually the title of the first issue). The comic does a good job making him attainable to all readers.
The good part of Hardware is that Metcalf isn’t necessary right in his quest. He starts out a killer and lashing out at the system and his white boss who treats him with a less than human coldness. This could have easily isolated some readers, but the comic switched directions by having Metcalf partially soften by his friend Barraki Young who felt his actions weren’t heroic. It is a quick turn but necessary to appeal to a wide array of readers.
The second half of the trade paperback involves Hardware trying to prove a friend innocent of murder. The character faces off against a man similar to Marvel’s Punisher (and not entirely unlike Hardware in the first half of the book). It helps emphasize how Hardware must change from his “angry black man” and become a man who works within the law to create change…falling somewhere between radical activism and passive resistance.
Hardware himself is very much a product of the ’90s. This also hurts the character. He looks like every Image hero complete with a weird wrestler head guard and chains hanging from his costume (the hanging chains always seemed like more of a risk of snagging than a cape).
A race based comic isn’t a bad thing, but it runs the risk of being nothing but a race based comic. It needs to make sure it develops characters, has good plots, and strong art. With a current attempt to diversify heroes, it is interesting to return to the earlier attempt to change the diversity of the comic book world. Check out Hardware and see how far comics have come in the portrayal of race from the early Luke Cage comics to Hardware and to today with characters like Ms. Marvel. I’d be interested in seeing a second volume of Hardware to see where the character goes and an ongoing series for an updated version of the character to see how he handles the current race issues in the United States.
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and illustrated by Denys Cowan, Hardware: The Man in the Machine was part of Milestone Comics line-up. Milestone was an imprint distributed by DC Comics and focused on primarily minority characters in the “Dakotaverse”. Hardware and other character were later merged with the DC Universe.
The Dakotaverse was an interesting experiment. It’s goal was to provide some diversity to the comic book market and also to the creators and artists. Hardware shows an attempt to appeal to readers by having an “angry black man” (that’s actually the title of the first issue). The comic does a good job making him attainable to all readers.
The good part of Hardware is that Metcalf isn’t necessary right in his quest. He starts out a killer and lashing out at the system and his white boss who treats him with a less than human coldness. This could have easily isolated some readers, but the comic switched directions by having Metcalf partially soften by his friend Barraki Young who felt his actions weren’t heroic. It is a quick turn but necessary to appeal to a wide array of readers.
The second half of the trade paperback involves Hardware trying to prove a friend innocent of murder. The character faces off against a man similar to Marvel’s Punisher (and not entirely unlike Hardware in the first half of the book). It helps emphasize how Hardware must change from his “angry black man” and become a man who works within the law to create change…falling somewhere between radical activism and passive resistance.
Hardware himself is very much a product of the ’90s. This also hurts the character. He looks like every Image hero complete with a weird wrestler head guard and chains hanging from his costume (the hanging chains always seemed like more of a risk of snagging than a cape).
A race based comic isn’t a bad thing, but it runs the risk of being nothing but a race based comic. It needs to make sure it develops characters, has good plots, and strong art. With a current attempt to diversify heroes, it is interesting to return to the earlier attempt to change the diversity of the comic book world. Check out Hardware and see how far comics have come in the portrayal of race from the early Luke Cage comics to Hardware and to today with characters like Ms. Marvel. I’d be interested in seeing a second volume of Hardware to see where the character goes and an ongoing series for an updated version of the character to see how he handles the current race issues in the United States.
August 4, 2012
Incredible. As always, Milestone bring it. I can't believe it's taken me this long to finish this. While they wrapped it up nicely, leaving Hardware's future adventures and justice-exaction (it's a word now) to the imagination, I am sad that this great story suffered the same tragically premature ending like every other Milestone character and Milestone itself. I think a lot of interesting could have taken off with the character Barraki, and I don't just mean as a love interest. I think my sketchbook is going to be Hardware inspired for a while now.
May 26, 2012
Really, really interesting - starts out as a revenge story but deepens and broadens; would love to see how it develops (this is only issues #1-8, mainly an origin story)... can't find any data on further collections though. Not overly keen on the artwork - bit cluttery - but certainly effective for an action-based story. Definitely interested in chasing up what happens next...
May 15, 2018
Good, good stuff. I haven't read a ton of the Milestone line, but I'm working on it, and what I've read is excellent. Just great.
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