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Quote1 So long boss! You need me again... just call! Quote2
Happy Hogan[src]

History

His sad-faced demeanor in the ring earned amateur wrestler Harry Hogan the ironic nickname of "Happy" Hogan.[1] Happy retired on the argument that he was getting "too good at losing;" in fact, his nice guy attitude often cost him when it came to trying to knock out an opponent.[5] He also became sparring partners with Eddie March until Eddie's own retirement.[6]

Harold Hogan (Earth-616) from Marvel Legacy The 1960's Handbook Vol 1 1 0001

The Freak (Happy Hogan)

After abandoning his boxing career, Happy worked various odd jobs. One day at a racetrack, a new experimental car crashed. Ignoring the risk, Happy ran over and pulled the driver out. The man was the rich industrialist Tony Stark, who offered Happy a monetary reward for his heroic act. Happy turned it down, instead asking Stark to hire him. Stark agreed, and Happy became his chauffeur and bodyguard.[1] However, since Tony was secretly the armored super hero Iron Man, Happy barely had to drive Stark anywhere because most of Stark's business trips were an alibi to keep a low profile as he suited up.[7]

As soon as he started working at Stark Industries, Happy laid his eyes on Tony's secretary Pepper Potts. However, to his chagrin, Pepper was infatuated their boss. Happy and Pepper's relationship was built on banter, which originated mostly from Pepper rejecting Happy's early advances.[1][5] Pepper started warming up to Happy after he tried to take on the super villain Unicorn to protect Stark Industries and was heavily injured.[8] Not long afterwards, Stark revealed to Happy that he was Iron Man after Hogan was injured by the super villain Titanium Man.[9]

An accident with Stark's experimental 'enervator ray' turned Happy into the Freak. He was stopped although Stark had to repair damaged armor.[10]

On one occasion when the Mandarin attacked, Happy put on the armor to help Stark. Although he was successful, the armor was damaged beyond repair and Stark had to scrap it for a new model.[3]

Happy often donned the Iron Man suit to double for his employer Stark. This put him into conflict with Iron Man's opponents several times,[11] often causing him severe injuries.[12] These injuries caused him to transform into the Freak again, pitting him against Iron Man[13] who managed to siphon off his energy and return him to human form.[14] Fearing that they would always be pulled into Iron Man's battles as long as they were near him, Pepper quit her position with Stark International and took Happy to a clinic near Chicago to recuperate.[15]

Years later, Happy was one of the few with Iron Man armor experience and was asked by James Rhodes to help him against Ultimo. Happy's suit was damaged to where it was risky for him to continue to engage in combat, but he was able to carry Force and Eddie March to safety for medical attention.[16]

Financial difficulties and other troubles eventually caused Happy and Pepper to divorce while Stark was believed dead after battling Onslaught. Happy began to feel that he was 'just a useless old bum'.[17] After Stark's return, Happy went back to work for him, and Doreen, a fellow worker, took advantage of his fragile state to acquire Stark Solutions' secrets attempted to take advantage of him during this time.[18]

Pepper seemed to be growing closer to Tony, which did not help Happy's feelings of self-doubt.[19][20] After seeing them kiss one night, Happy finally confronted Pepper and, after realizing he still cared deeply for her, he took a chance and asked her to have dinner with him, which she happily accepted.[21]

Like his employer, Happy was in favor of the Superhuman Registration Act. While en route to meet Pepper for dinner, Happy was attacked by the Spymaster (Sinclair Abbott), who wanted to use him as bait. Although he managed to knock Spymaster from a balcony overlooking where he had been left, Happy succumbed to his injuries. He was rushed to a hospital and placed on life support. Pepper told Stark a story of how Happy didn't want to end up brain damaged, and asked him to turn his machine off using his Extremis-abled abilities. Stark refused, saying he didn't want to kill his best friend. It is hinted that Tony later deactivated Hogan's life support, after a confrontation with Sue Richards.[22]

Attributes

Power Grid[24]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Master: Single Form of Combat:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/Single Type: Long Range:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/None:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Bulletproof:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Superhuman (25-75 ton):Category:Power Grid/Strength/Peak Human:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Slow or Impaired

Powers

Happy Hogan has no powers of his own but they are derived from the Iron Man Armor.

Abilities

Happy Hogan is a former professional boxer. He also has experience in a number of other jobs.

Weaknesses

The Freak possessed limited intellect and went on violent rampages.

Allergies: Happy was allergic to flowers.[8]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Formerly Iron Man Armor Model 1 and later versions of the Iron Man armor.

Weapons

Formerly Iron Man internal weapon systems.

Transportation

Conventional automobiles, formerly flight using Iron Man armor.

Notes

  • In their earliest interactions, Pepper would often compare Happy to Bela Lugosi.[1][5]
  • "Happy" Hogan appears to be of Irish decent. He had a grandfather that lived in Ireland whom he has visited.[4]
  • "Happy" shares some similarities with Joseph "Crusher" Hogan, with both being former fighters and sharing the same surname.

See Also

Links and References

References

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