H. A. R. D. A. C.
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| Brynne Stephens Bruce Timm |
HARDAC (Holographic Analytical Reciprocating Digital Computer) is a fictional character that appeared in Batman: The Animated Series, voiced by Jeff Bennett. It is a HAL 9000-like self aware supercomputer with the capability of producing androids programmed to impersonate real people.
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[edit] Appearances
[edit] DC animated universe biography
HARDAC first appeared in the two-part episode Heart of Steel. A self aware supercomputer created by scientist Karl Rossum, it developed a mind of its own and started creating robotic duplicates of Gotham City's wealthy citizens so it could take over their companies to make itself more powerful. It eventually even turned on its own creator after Rossum learned the truth about his invention.
Batman found out about HARDAC's plan, but the computer almost took him prisoner, learning his secret identity in the process. Batman eventually destroyed it with help from Barbara Gordon.
Although some of HARDAC's program is saved as backup before the destruction of the main computer as well as a superior Batman android to restart the operation, both were destroyed due to a programming error in His Silicon Soul.
[edit] Design
As despicted in the sidebar picture, HARDAC is such a big computer that looks like a small art decó building. Inside it has its own factory where it created the hardware it needts to grow and improve itself (or the androids).[edit] HARDAC-Batman
After the duplicate gets wounded and automatically reapairs itself, he realises there is something wrong with himself and goes to Rossum, who explained the truth to the bewildered android. It then, finds his HARDAC backup program and resolves to destroy Batman and resurrect the HARDAC operation. Its plan failed, however, and it was finally destroyed in a confrontation with Batman in the Batcave. Ironically, the duplicate believed it had thrown the real Batman off a ledge and killed him, in violation of its programming (as a duplicate following the behavioral pattern of Batman), and committed suicide by ramming into the computer screen.
While disguised as Batman, HARDAC-Batman looks the exact same, only that once he realises he's not the real Batman but a program, his eyes turn red. His "skeleton" doesn't look like the other models HARDAC produced, probbably because he is supposed to be the ultimate android.[edit] Randa
Randa, HARDAC's main's android assistant, she is modeled after the astonishingly attractive deceased daughter of Karl Rossum. Besides filling the void in Rossum's life, she is secretly the right hand and acomplice of HARDAC in its evil operations. In order for HARDAC to create a Bruce Wayne duplicate, she is sent to date him with the real purpose of spying on him and and kidnap him. As a result, HARDAC finds out Bruce Wayne's real identity.
She is despicted as a remarcably beautiful woman with great body and a gorgeous face that easily impresses Bruce Wayne. Her appearance resembles somewhat Marilyn Monroe, with the mole and her hair color and cut.[edit] See also
- HARDAC has a striking similarity to D.A.V.E, a criminal mastermind robot programmed by Hugo Strange, that appeared in The Batman, another animated series with a non realated continuity. It was also voiced by Jeff Bennet.
- HAL 9000, from 2001: A Space Odyssey, a predecesor computer of HARDAC in fiction.
[edit] External links
- The World's Finest, a site with a complete guide to the DC animated universe. It's the source of a great deal of the related images in Pop-Cult Guides.
- DCAUResource.com, a very well documented site when it comes to DC fictional biographies.
- The Animated Batman, an Unofficial Guide, a site with a complete guide to Bruce Timm's Batman. It's the source of a great deal of the related images in Pop-Cult Guides.
