TITLE: Hardcase vol. 1, Issue 1
YEAR: June 1993
COMPANY: Ultraverse/Malibu Comics
Writer: James Hudnall
Penciller: Jim Callahan
Letterer: Tim Eldred
Inker: Norm Breyfogle
Editor: Chris Ulm
If there was a comic book that really introduced the Ultraverse world to new readers back then, “Hardcase” issue #1 was like a swift kick in the arse that no doubt was bold and a reminder, this is not Marvel, this was not DC, and more than enough for me to want to give all Ultraverse series a try!
The opening sequence was enough to shock readers with its brutal and bloody introduction.
Hardcase who has been beaten by this robotic, alien? weapon has cut the limbs off members of The Squad.
Member DJ Blast tells Hardcase to take the knocked out Starburst and leave, as he will sacrifice himself to detonate and destroy the monster alien.
While Hardcase and Starburst survived, Starburst suffered from serious brain damage from the blow that she is unlikely to recover.
Fastforward a year later, Hardcase is now a action moviestar, no longer wanting to get involved in superhero business after what happened to The Squad.
One day, a bank is being robbed by a Ultra villain known as Head Knocker.
A police officer which was asking for an autograph from Hardcase for his son, was among the police who responded to the call of the robbery and when Hardcase hears shots, he leaves the movie set to find the cop he met earlier, killed.
Not wanting for innocents to die, Hardcase knows he must do all he can to take Head Knocker out and possibly give him the answer of whether or not he wants to become a superhero once again or to pursue his movie career.
Needless to say, this comic had a lot of action, a lot of decapitations and death. It’s nothing major for today’s comic books but back then, “Hardcase” was a comic book that portrayed superhero life with tragedy, heartbreak and pain, not always a happy ending like what you see from other comic books. No doubt a bold way to kick off a flagship title for Ultraverse by showing a superhero team murdered in cold blood. It’s probably how I’ll remember “Hardcase” the most.