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Hardball (comics)
Encyclopedia
Hardball is a fictional
comic book
superhero
in the Marvel Comics
universe
. He was created by writer Dan Slott
and artist Stefano Caselli
, and first appeared in Avengers: The Initiative
#1 (June 2007).
, MVP
, Trauma
, Komodo
, and others. He appears to have a very outgoing personality, hitting on Thor Girl
on the bus ride in and cracking a joke about not having a cape when receiving his fatigues. He also tries to convince Komodo and Cloud 9 to go out to a bar with him, even though he is two weeks short of his 21st birthday. During the training mishap with Armory
he exhibits the ability to create an energy ball that deflects the lethal blasts from Armory's Tactigon. He attempts to capitalize on his new position by wearing a costume and flaunting his abilities at a bar in Stamford
. Understandably, the patrons are less than happy to see a "grandstanding kid superhero"
, and are on the verge of attacking him, until a man in a suit rescues him. In return, the suited man has Hardball steal a S.P.I.N. Tech
dart magazine from the weapon stores for him and replace it with a facsimile. Ironically, that same magazine is the one Iron Man attempts to use to defeat the Hulk
during the events of World War Hulk
. Upon realizing what he has done, Hardball is overcome with guilt.
It is later revealed that Roger was given his powers by the Power Broker
. Hardball was then forced to work for the Power Broker, and was ordered to rob an armored car. He used his new powers to knock the car down while coincidentally a little girl entered the street at that time, in the path of the car. Wonder Man
, who just happened to be flying by misinterpreted this as an act of heroism, and swiftly recruits him into the Initiative. The Power Broker then sold his "contract" to HYDRA
, whose commander is the man who saved him in the bar, Congressman Woodman, which means HYDRA has a double-agent within the Initiative. When SHIELD agents were investigating the attack on Gauntlet, they found the Capekiller armor Hardball used to infiltrate the labs at Camp Hammond to steal the SPIN Tech dart. Hardball steers them away from discovering his mission by leaving a note hinting that they should take a look at the labs. Fear that the SHIELD agents would find out about the MVP clones made Gyrich call off their investigation and leave the base.
Roger enters into a romantic relationship with Komodo.
When he completed his training, Hardball was assigned to Nevada
's Initiative team. He appears with the Heavy Hitters
, including Gravity
, Nonstop, and Telemetry, helping the Skrull Kill Krew
and 3-D Man deal with a Skrull
posing as an unnamed team member during the Secret Invasion
. He then leaves with Komodo, 3-D Man, and the Krew to help the other Initiative teams.
At the start of the Dark Reign
storyline, Hardball's status as an agent for HYDRA led to a confrontation against the rest of the Heavy Hitters and a visiting Komodo. Hardball kills Congressman Woodman, effectively becoming the new leader of Woodman's HYDRA cell
. This ends his relationship to the Initiative and to a saddened Komodo as well.
Hardball is revealed to be running a HYDRA training camp in Madripoor
and became the lover of Scorpion. The Shadow Initiative arrived in Madripoor to capture him, only to be caught off guard with enhanced S.P.I.N. Tech darts that drain Komodo's powers. The Shadow Initiative briefly retreats, returning and claiming they wish to switch sides, allowing them to gain access to the HYDRA base's weapons, and take them down from within. During the fight, it is revealed that Hardball only joined HYDRA because he had no alternative. He willingly surrenders to Constrictor
, and is incarcerated in the Negative Zone
prison. Hardball is conscripted by Blastaar
to serve him when he invades the prison, but Hardball aids the Shadow Initiative when they arrive to liberate the prison. He was then placed on the Shadow Initiative as a result of his efforts, prompting Komodo to quit the team. Hardball gets involved in the 3-way battle between the forces of Camp HAMMER, the Avengers Resistance, and Nightmare. During the battle, Nightmare gives Hardball visions of his brother calling him a liar and threatening to cripple him.
When the Avengers Resistance invades Camp HAMMER, Hardball and Cloud 9 walk in on a depowered Komodo holding Baron Von Blitzschlag at gunpoint. They take her gun away but only so she doesn't shoot Hardball before he can inject her with something that inhibits the SPIN Tech in her bloodstream. Cloud 9 then gets Komodo to listen to Hardball explain his actions by mentioning how Hardball aided the Shadow Initiative. Before they talk, the Baron surrenders and offers to give the three heroes a flashdrive containing records of every illegal order Osborn gave at camp HAMMER in exchange for leniency.
storyline, Hardball is one of the many guests invited to the Avengers Academy
"prom night". After seeing Komodo flirting with Reptil
, he threatens him to stay away from her. When Speedball
steps in to break it up, Hardball attacks him and he retaliates by sealing him inside an energy bubble. Hardball cools down shortly afterwards using his powers to join in the festivities.
Hardball appears at a meeting held by Prodigy
regarding magical hammers that have crashed into the earth.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. He was created by writer Dan Slott
Dan Slott
Dan Slott is an American comic book writer best known for The Amazing Spider-Man, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and She-Hulk. He is the current writer of the twice monthly The Amazing Spider-Man.-Early writing:...
and artist Stefano Caselli
Stefano Caselli
Stefano Caselli is an Italian comic book artist best known for his work on the Marvel Comics title Avengers: The Initiative, the mini-series Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways and Secret Warriors...
, and first appeared in Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
#1 (June 2007).
Fictional character biography
Roger Brokeridge (a.k.a. Hardball) is one of the new Initiative recruits who arrives with Cloud 9Cloud 9 (comics)
Cloud 9 is a fictional teenage comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She was created by writer Dan Slott and artist Stefano Caselli, and first appeared in Avengers: The Initiative #1 ....
, MVP
Michael Van Patrick
Michael "Mike" Ian Van Patrick is a fictional comic book character created by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. Although the character himself is deceased, and in fact died in the issue he first appeared in, the character is said to have been cloned after his death, with his clones continuing to play...
, Trauma
Trauma (comics)
Trauma is a fictional comic book character. He is a teenage superhero in Marvel Comics' shared universe, the Marvel Universe...
, Komodo
Komodo (comics)
Komodo is the name of two fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe.-New Men:The first Komodo is one of the New Men, creatures evolved by the High Evolutionary from a lizard. He accompanied the Ani-Men on their clean-up mission at the Jackal's laboratory and fought the Scarlet Spider...
, and others. He appears to have a very outgoing personality, hitting on Thor Girl
Thor Girl
Thor Girl is a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Dan Jurgens and artist John Romita, Jr., she first appeared in Thor vol...
on the bus ride in and cracking a joke about not having a cape when receiving his fatigues. He also tries to convince Komodo and Cloud 9 to go out to a bar with him, even though he is two weeks short of his 21st birthday. During the training mishap with Armory
Armory (comics)
Armory is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. Armory was one of the new Initiative recruits that arrived at Camp Hammond with Cloud 9, Hardball, Komodo, MVP, Trauma and others.-Fictional character biography:...
he exhibits the ability to create an energy ball that deflects the lethal blasts from Armory's Tactigon. He attempts to capitalize on his new position by wearing a costume and flaunting his abilities at a bar in Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
. Understandably, the patrons are less than happy to see a "grandstanding kid superhero"
New Warriors
The New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
, and are on the verge of attacking him, until a man in a suit rescues him. In return, the suited man has Hardball steal a S.P.I.N. Tech
S.P.I.N. (Super-Power-Inhibiting Nanobots) Technology
S.P.I.N. Technology or S.P.I.N. Tech is a fictional type of nanotechnology found in Marvel Comics.-History:...
dart magazine from the weapon stores for him and replace it with a facsimile. Ironically, that same magazine is the one Iron Man attempts to use to defeat the Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
during the events of World War Hulk
World War Hulk
"World War Hulk" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self titled limited series and various other titles published by Marvel Comics in 2007, featuring the Hulk....
. Upon realizing what he has done, Hardball is overcome with guilt.
It is later revealed that Roger was given his powers by the Power Broker
Power Broker
Power Broker is the name of two characters in Marvel Comics.Power Broker, Inc. is a fictional criminal corporation in the Marvel Universe which provides individuals with superhuman physical abilities for a price...
. Hardball was then forced to work for the Power Broker, and was ordered to rob an armored car. He used his new powers to knock the car down while coincidentally a little girl entered the street at that time, in the path of the car. Wonder Man
Wonder Man
Wonder Man is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Avengers #9 .-Publication history:Wonder Man debuted in the superhero-team title The Avengers #9 Wonder...
, who just happened to be flying by misinterpreted this as an act of heroism, and swiftly recruits him into the Initiative. The Power Broker then sold his "contract" to HYDRA
HYDRA
HYDRA is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe.Despite the name's capitalization per Marvel's official spelling, the name is not an acronym but rather a reference to the mythical Lernaean Hydra...
, whose commander is the man who saved him in the bar, Congressman Woodman, which means HYDRA has a double-agent within the Initiative. When SHIELD agents were investigating the attack on Gauntlet, they found the Capekiller armor Hardball used to infiltrate the labs at Camp Hammond to steal the SPIN Tech dart. Hardball steers them away from discovering his mission by leaving a note hinting that they should take a look at the labs. Fear that the SHIELD agents would find out about the MVP clones made Gyrich call off their investigation and leave the base.
Roger enters into a romantic relationship with Komodo.
When he completed his training, Hardball was assigned to Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
's Initiative team. He appears with the Heavy Hitters
Heavy Hitters (comics)
Heavy Hitters is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The group of heroes first appear as the official Nevada Fifty State Initiative team and were created by Christos Gage and Stefano Caselli.-Fictional history:...
, including Gravity
Gravity (comics)
Gravity is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Gravity #1 and was created by Sean McKeever and Mike Norton.-Publication history:...
, Nonstop, and Telemetry, helping the Skrull Kill Krew
Skrull Kill Krew
The Skrull Kill Krew are a fictional group from Marvel Comics who first appeared in their own limited series published in 1995. They were created by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Steve Yeowell.The group are humans modified by eating Skrull-infected beef...
and 3-D Man deal with a Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
posing as an unnamed team member during the Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
. He then leaves with Komodo, 3-D Man, and the Krew to help the other Initiative teams.
At the start of the Dark Reign
Dark Reign (comics)
"Dark Reign" is a 2008–2009 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics. It deals with the aftermath of the "Secret Invasion" storyline, which led to a shift of power in the Marvel Universe toward Norman Osborn. The title "Dark Reign" refers to Osborn's rise to national power and the...
storyline, Hardball's status as an agent for HYDRA led to a confrontation against the rest of the Heavy Hitters and a visiting Komodo. Hardball kills Congressman Woodman, effectively becoming the new leader of Woodman's HYDRA cell
Clandestine cell system
A clandestine cell structure is a method for organizing a group of people in such a way that it can more effectively resist penetration by an opposing organization. Depending on the group's philosophy, its operational area, the communications technologies available, and the nature of the mission,...
. This ends his relationship to the Initiative and to a saddened Komodo as well.
Hardball is revealed to be running a HYDRA training camp in Madripoor
Madripoor
The Principality of Madripoor is a fictional island located in Southeast Asia in the Marvel Comics universe. Based on illustrations, it is in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore.-Publication history:...
and became the lover of Scorpion. The Shadow Initiative arrived in Madripoor to capture him, only to be caught off guard with enhanced S.P.I.N. Tech darts that drain Komodo's powers. The Shadow Initiative briefly retreats, returning and claiming they wish to switch sides, allowing them to gain access to the HYDRA base's weapons, and take them down from within. During the fight, it is revealed that Hardball only joined HYDRA because he had no alternative. He willingly surrenders to Constrictor
Constrictor (comics)
Constrictor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain, but is often portrayed as a redeeming anti-hero. Constrictor first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol.1 #212 and was created by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.-Publication history:Constrictor...
, and is incarcerated in the Negative Zone
Negative Zone
The Negative Zone is a fictional setting, an antimatter universe depicted in publications from Marvel Comics, most frequently in Fantastic Four and Captain Marvel. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it first appeared in Fantastic Four #51 .-Fictional description:The Negative Zone in the Marvel...
prison. Hardball is conscripted by Blastaar
Blastaar
Blastaar, sometimes called the Living Bomb-Burst and Blasstaar, is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Blastaar is an opponent of the Fantastic Four and lives in the Negative Zone...
to serve him when he invades the prison, but Hardball aids the Shadow Initiative when they arrive to liberate the prison. He was then placed on the Shadow Initiative as a result of his efforts, prompting Komodo to quit the team. Hardball gets involved in the 3-way battle between the forces of Camp HAMMER, the Avengers Resistance, and Nightmare. During the battle, Nightmare gives Hardball visions of his brother calling him a liar and threatening to cripple him.
When the Avengers Resistance invades Camp HAMMER, Hardball and Cloud 9 walk in on a depowered Komodo holding Baron Von Blitzschlag at gunpoint. They take her gun away but only so she doesn't shoot Hardball before he can inject her with something that inhibits the SPIN Tech in her bloodstream. Cloud 9 then gets Komodo to listen to Hardball explain his actions by mentioning how Hardball aided the Shadow Initiative. Before they talk, the Baron surrenders and offers to give the three heroes a flashdrive containing records of every illegal order Osborn gave at camp HAMMER in exchange for leniency.
Heroic Age
During the Heroic AgeHeroic Age (comics)
"The Heroic Age" is a 2010 comic book branding that ran through a number of books published by Marvel Comics. It began in May 2010, marking a major change in the status quo of the Marvel Universe after the events of the "Siege" crossover event, much as "The Initiative" and "Dark Reign" dealt with...
storyline, Hardball is one of the many guests invited to the Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy is a Marvel Comics comic book series that debuted in June 2010 as part of the "Heroic Age". The series is written by Christos Gage, with artwork by Mike McKone and tells the story of a group of young super-powered persons who were selected to join a training academy for the...
"prom night". After seeing Komodo flirting with Reptil
Reptil
Reptil is a character from Marvel Comics. He is best known as a supporting member on The Super Hero Squad Show and a member of Avengers Academy in the comics.-Fictional character biography:...
, he threatens him to stay away from her. When Speedball
Speedball (comics)
Robert "Robbie" Baldwin is a comic book superhero character, appearing in books published by Marvel Comics.Originally known as Speedball, the character was created by artist Steve Ditko and writer Tom DeFalco, initially as a candidate for Marvel's separate New Universe imprint.Baldwin first...
steps in to break it up, Hardball attacks him and he retaliates by sealing him inside an energy bubble. Hardball cools down shortly afterwards using his powers to join in the festivities.
Hardball appears at a meeting held by Prodigy
Prodigy (Ritchie Gilmore)
Prodigy is the name of a superhero in Marvel Comics.-Fictional character biography:Ritchie Gilmore is a typical jock, captain of his college wrestling team, and one of the most popular guys in school. But Ritchie wants more from life; he wants to be stronger and more powerful...
regarding magical hammers that have crashed into the earth.