Walter Hardy

Last updated

The Cat
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (July 1979)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoWalter Hardy

Walter Hardy is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Contents

Publication history

Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (July 1979). [1] He is a world-renowned cat burglar and the father of Felicia Hardy, a.k.a. Black Cat.

Fictional character biography

Walter Hardy is a well-known cat burglar who was arrested at some point. Years later, the thief known as Black Cat steals precinct papers on the prison holding him. Peter Parker also conducted his own research, learning that Walter Hardy had been locked up in New York Prison for the past few decades and is now terminally ill. At the prison, Spider-Man fights Black Cat while her accomplices Boris Korpse and Bruno Grainger blast the wall to Walter Hardy's prison cell, the rubble of which buries Spider-Man. [2]

With Spider-Man unable to get out of the rubble, the prison officers are unable to stop Black Cat, Korpse, and Grainger from making off with Walter Hardy. At his home, Black Cat reveals that she is his daughter, Felicia Hardy, and mentions that her mother Lydia purposefully hid his past from her. Walter then leaves to spend his final moments with his wife. After Black Cat falls into the river, Spider-Man goes to meet up with Lydia Hardy as she weeps over Walter's death. [3]

At the time when Black Cat is in the hospital following Spider-Man's battle with Doctor Octopus, she claims to Peter Parker that she was visited by the ghost of Walter Hardy. [4]

Powers and abilities

The Cat had a miniature grappling hook device, which enables him to swing from buildings in a manner similar to Spider-Man, though not quite as fast. He could also use the cable from this device as a tightrope, wall scaling device, swing line, and/or as a weapon in combat. He had photographic memory as well.

Other versions

The Ultimate Marvel version of the character is identified as Jack Hardy and is seen on a list of known cat burglars in the Daily Bugle database. [5]

In other media

Television

John Hardesky in Spider-Man: The Animated Series Walter hardy.png
John Hardesky in Spider-Man: The Animated Series

Video games

Walter Hardy appears in Marvel's Spider-Man 's "The Heist" DLC, voiced by Daniel Riordan. This version previously operated as the Black Cat twenty years prior to the events of the game, before he supposedly died and his daughter Felicia Hardy took up the mantle. During a side quest, Spider-Man is contacted by NYPD Detective "Mackey", who tasks him with tracking down paintings stolen by Walter. As Spider-Man looks for them, Mackey relays Walter's backstory to him, explaining that because of his skill as a thief, the Maggia sought to recruit him. Walter refused and allowed himself to be arrested before supposedly drowning in a failed escape attempt from Ryker's Island, though many suspect that he faked his death to protect his family from the Maggia. After collecting all of the stolen art pieces, Spider-Man discovers that Mackey is actually Walter, who adopted an alias to retrieve all the stolen paintings and use them to finance his retirement. Before he leaves, Walter asks Spider-Man to look after Felicia.

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References

  1. Comic Vine, Walter Hardy first appearance.
  2. The Amazing Spider-Man #194. Marvel Comics.
  3. The Amazing Spider-Man #195. Marvel Comics.
  4. Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #78. Marvel Comics.
  5. Ultimate Spider-Man #53. Marvel Comics.