Hardware season One #1
Dyawne McDuffie and Denys Cowan’s character, Hardware, continues to hold cultural relevance almost three decades later. In 1993, one year after the Rodney King riots, Milestone Comics launched a line of underrepresented minority heroes. Now writer Brandon Thomas (Future State: Aquaman) takes the mantle from the late McDuffie and ties the original concept of Hardware into the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement. Curtis Metcalf, framed by his mentor and financial supporter, is on the run from the law.
By: DC Comics
Written by: Brandon Thomas
Pencils by: Denys Cowan
Inks by: bill Sienkiewicz
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
The original comic had Alva the leader of a white corporation turn against its’ African American inventor and scientist, Curtis Metcalf. Alva frames Metcalf for an explosion that occurred during the relaunch of the Milestone line which provided superpowers to other previous Milestone creations, like Static. The issue is heavy on action and setup, but the framework of those in power denying minorities opportunities remains relevant. Brandon Thomas creates a solid foundation to explore cultural expectations and empowerment.
Original artist, Denys Cowan returns to the character he helped create. The character lines Cowan uses to bring a sense of continuity to Hardware. These lines along with the shadows of inker Sienkiewicz and colorist Sotomayor create a dark, hard world in which Hardware exists. The artistic team creates kinetic action with the flight and fight scenes. As a title rooted in the hard reality of the betrayal of a mentor and society, the action helps carry the cultural weight of the book.
Hardware pairs a new creative writer with the title’s original artist. This new creative pairing retains a hero as relevant and meaningful as when it was created. That is a sign of a lasting superhero.