Niels (Earth-616)

Hairball
Name	Niels
Current Alias	Hairball
Aliases	Codenames: P-Cat the Penitent Puss Editorial Names: Bouncing Cat Nicknames: Speedball's Cat Other Aliases: Neils (misspelling)
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	Pet Avengers, Formerly Hammond Labs
Relatives	Jim Hammond (owner) Robbie Baldwin (former owner) Dr. Nicholas Benson (former owner)
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	1′2″ (35.56 cm) at shoulder
Weight	10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Eyes	Irises: Yellow
Hair	Orange
Unusual Features	When transformed, Niels is surrounded by a display of multi-colored bubbles. Typical attributes of a cat, including a tail, fur, and claws.
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Cat exposed to extra-dimensional energy during an experiment at a lab with Robbie Baldwin
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Birth	Springdale, Connecticut
Personal Information
Identity	Secret
Occupation	Domestic housecat Formerly research laboratory cat
Base of Operations	Camp Hammond, Stamford, Connecticut; formerly Infinite Avengers Mansion; Thunderbolts Mountain, Colorado; Manhattan, New York City, New York; Hammond Research Lab, Springdale, Connecticut
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Roger Stern, Steve Ditko
First	Speedball #1 (June, 1988)
First	Speedball #1 (June, 1988)

History

Robbie learning that he and Niels developed similar powers

Origin

Niels originally belonged to Dr. Nicholas Benson, a scientist at the Hammond Research Lab.

After high school, Robbie Baldwin began working under Dr. Benson at his Hammond Labs. An accident occurred while the scientists were investigating an energy source originating from another dimension. Numerous energy bubbles shot out of the dimension and started to engulf Niels and Robbie, granting them both kinetic superpowers. Robbie Baldwin decided to use his newfound powers to become the superhero "Speedball".

The Speedball Revenge Squad was hired by the villainous Clyde in hopes of taking the feline's powers for himself. They were easily defeated by Speedball.

Penance and P-Cat

After the tragic events of Stamford, Connecticut, Robbie Baldwin transformed from the happy-go-lucky Speedball to the regretful Penance. Penance explained to Squirrel Girl that Niels was now P-Cat, the Penitent Puss.

Penance showing Squirrel Girl P-Cat, the Penitent Puss

While recovering from Norman Osborn's brainwashing, Trauma was able to get a hold of Niels and gave him to an amnesic Penance for use as a therapy animal.

Avengers Academy

When Speedball decided to join the staff of the Avengers Academy, he and Niels moved into the Infinite Avengers Mansion. During the attack of Greithoth and Skirn, Niels survived the destruction of Infinite Avengers Mansion and was found bouncing around Lincoln Park by Quicksilver.

Jim Hammond bonding with Niels

S.H.I.E.L.D.

Niels eventually ended up in the custody of S.H.I.E.L.D., who kept him in captivity and began experimenting on him to study his powers. With the experimentations having ended, Niels was scheduled to be euthanized because he was seen as too dangerous. However, Jim Hammond took pity on him for being different and decided to save Niels' life by adopting him.

Niels deflecting bullets

Attributes

Power Grid

Powers

Similar to Speedball, Niels has kinetic powers due to accidental exposure to extra-dimensional energy during a lab experiment. His powers include:

• Kinetic Energy Field: Niels has the super ability to create a kinetic field of unknown energy around himself, which absorbed all kinetic energy directed against him. This absorption could vary from resisting the effects of physical objects such as bricks and rocks to resisting that of energy and fire and even explosions. Within his kinetic field, it was nearly impossible for him to be hurt, and he instead bounced harmlessly from object to object, with no loss or transference of momentum. When transformed he is surrounded by a display of multi-colored bubbles.

See Also

• 29 appearance(s) of Niels (Earth-616)
• 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Niels (Earth-616)
• 4 minor appearance(s) of Niels (Earth-616)
• 1 mention(s) of Niels (Earth-616)
• 21 image(s) of Niels (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Niels on Marvel.com