HARDBALL
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Extra-terrestrial
Occupation: Shi'ar Elite Guardsman
Group Membership: Shi'ar Imperial Guard
Affiliations: Astra, Earthquake, Hussar, Lilandra, Shi'ar, Smasher, Titan, Warden Daak
Enemies: Avengers, Skrulls, Starforce, Thanos
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile in the Shi'ar Galaxy
First Appearance: (Illusion) Quasar#32 (March, 1992); (real) Thor I#446 (April, 1992)
Powers/Abilities: Hardball has an unusually large, tough, stomach, and can bounce around on his stomach with remarkable resiliency.
History: (Thor I#446) - Hardball was amongst the Imperial Guardsmen sent to escort members of the Avengers who had come to petition Lilandra to not use the stargates in earth's solar system during the Kree-Shi'ar War. As Lilandra considered their request, the palace was assaulted by members of the Kree Starforce. Hardball was attacked by Shatterax, who managed to snare him inside a bubble-prison. He was set free by the Avenger Captain Marvel, and the two of them defeated Shatterax together.
(Avengers West Coast#82) - While Lilandra continued to stall in making a decision, the Avengers became testy, and when she ordered the Imperial Guard to escort the Avengers to their quarters, Thor brashly started a fight. Hardball fought the Avengers, but was easily defeated. The battle ended when Lilandra realized she was being manipulated by the Skrulls.
SECRET WARS HAPPENED (Thanos
II#2) – The Imperial Guard (Flashfire, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Starbolt,
Fang, Impulse) showed up on the Shi’ar planet, Nulla, to arrest Thanos. (Thanos
II#3) – On Nulla, the Imperial Guard (Flashfire, Starbolt, Fang,
Smasher (Izzy Kane), Impulse, Neutron, Plutonia, Manta, Hardball,
Hobgoblin, Nightside, Oracle, Titan, Gladiator) savagely attacked
Thanos, with more members backing them up. Though Thanos fought hard,
they soon realized he was bleeding and wounded, and Gladiator delivered
the final blow. Thanos was apprehended. (Thanos
II#5) – The Imperial Guard (Impulse, Hardball, Smasher (Izzy Kane),
Nightside, Manta, Titan, Fang, Neutron, Hobgoblin) delivered Thanos to a
secure Shi’ar prison, where Warden Daak saw his safe imprisonment.
Hardball first appeared as one of the illusionary Imperial Guardsmen conjured by Magique in Quasar#32.
Hardball appeared on the cover of Quasar#33, but is nowhere to be found inside.
Hardball is clearly the Imperial Guard's answer to the Legion of Super-Heroes' Bouncing Boy.
by Prime Eternal
CLARIFICATIONS:
Hardball should not be confused with:
Appearances:
Quasar#32 (March, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Greg Capullo (penciler), Harry Candelario (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Thor I#446 (April, 1992) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Patrick Olliffe (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Avengers
West Coast#82 (May, 1992) - Roy & Dann Thomas (writers), Dave Ross
(penciler), Tom Dzon (inker), Nelson Yomtov (editor)
Thanos II#2-3, 5 (February-March, May, 2017) – Jeff Lamire (writer), Mike Deodato Jr (artist), Jordan White (editor)
First posted: 10/27/03
Last updated: 04/30/2018
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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