Re-Reading HARD Corps #4

[The Harbinger]

Thoughts?

[Brother J]

great cover!

[DarqueArcher]

I think H.A.R.D. Corps as a whole was under-rated

[magnusr]

Pretty solid story with some minor twists. Still a focus on character. A good read, but not very special.

/Magnus

[Torque]

Torque

Issue #4 probably has the Third Best Cover of the H.A.R.D. Corps Series. The cover is by Mike Leeke again and Tom Ryder. The cover shows an Awesome Under-Sea Action Battle Sequence, making the motion of the Spears from the Spear Guns, and inflicted wounds on the enemy soldiers come alive on paper.
This issue is an excellent story built on the plot build-up in issue number three, and the story centers around an Under-Sea mission to destroy Harada’s Cargo being transported by Ship off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, originating from shipping docks in South Carolina.
The best part of this issue is definitely in the story, where we see a planned out mission from the beginning to end.
Issue #4's name is "ThunderBrawl" as an homage to the Underwater battle that took place in the James Bond Movie "Thunderball" in the year 1963.

I’ve included below some of my random notes from re-reading this issue:

Gunslinger comes from a family of Career Military Men. Gunslinger’s dad, General Palmer now lives in a Veterans Retirement Home in New Mexico, near the H.A.R.D. Corps Operations Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Harada’s Ship’s Captain is of Asian Decent by the name of Captain “Igawa.”

During the H.A.R.D. Corps mission briefing by Seth regarding Harada’s ship they’re planning on attacking, Seth makes reference that the information gathered on the Ship cost lives to retrieve. Is Seth making reference to the Apache Helicopters that tried to attack Harada’s Ship at the beginning of this issue led by a man named Renard? Did Renard work for Omen, and when his team failed, they sent in the H.A.R.D. Corps?

We learn that Harada’s Ship caries Billions of Dollars of Gold Bars, and that the H.A.R.D. Corps explodes the Cargo Hold sending all the Gold Bars to the Bottom of the Ocean off the Coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

We also see a new Harbinger working for Harada on the ship by the name of “Static.” She has the ability to “Block Electronic Transmissions,” thus preventing Electronic Tracking of the Ship by Satellite or sensors, and preventing Softcore from controlling H.A.R.D. Corp Agent Powers. We don't find out if Static survives the explosion on Harada's ship.

H.A.R.D. Corps Director Mr. Heydrich makes reference that the Cartel or Omen’s Parent Companie”S” or Member Companie”S” interests are to see Harad’s Cargo destroyed.
See my review of Issue #1 for Cartel information (Who’s controlling the Strings?).
This makes me wonder if the H.A.R.D Corps were really created to protect the World from Harada, or to Protect the entire Cartel’s Member Companies Financial Interests. This could be why we see the Corporate Wars in the Future.

Overall very enjoyable issue, 4/5.
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[Crimebuster Deluxe]

4/5 for me as well.

This issue was a nice mix of #3's character development and #1 and #2's action.