The H.A.R.D. Corps (July 28, 1992) This Day In Comics

The H.A.R.D. Corps (July 28, 1992) This Day In Comics – Harbinger #10

The H.A.R.D. Corps, Harbinger Active Resistance Division, was a corporate strike team (representing Omen Enterprises) dealing with Toyo Harada and his goal of controlling all Harbingers. They first appear in Harbinger #10 (July 28, 1992).

They were normal humans who were comatose and revived with an experimental brain implant that also enabled them to access an assortment of artificial Harbinger super-abilities via an operator named “Softcore.” Capture or death caused the implants to explode, killing the Corps member if he or she was still alive. The original team was composed of former fighter pilots and went by call signs in the field, starting a Corps tradition of using codenames. Each member of the H.A.R.D. Corps could utilize one Harbinger power at a time. To switch powers, an operative had to radio Softcore and request she make the switch while at headquarters. They are often seen using a defensive power and firearms for offense, but switching powers is a quick enough process to be accomplished in combat. Needing to communicate to switch their powers sometimes becomes a weakness: Corps operatives who lose their headset cannot switch powers, and sometimes their opponents will jam or disrupt communications with their base, knowing that “microbeams” are used to alter the mimicked powers.