Walter Hardy

Walter Hardy is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (July 1979). He is a world-renowned cat burglar and the father of Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.

Fictional character biography
Walter Hardy is a well-known cat burglar who got arrested at some point. Years later, the thief known as Black Cat steals precinct papers on the prison holding him. Peter Parker also conducted his own research, learning that Walter Hardy had been locked up in New York Prison for the past few decades and is now terminally ill. At the prison, Spider-Man fights Black Cat while her accomplices Boris Korpse and Bruno Grainger blast the wall to Walter Hardy's prison cell, the rubble of which buries Spider-Man.

With Spider-Man unable to get out of the rubble, the prison officers are unable to stop Black Cat, Korpse, and Grainger from making off with Walter Hardy. At his home, Black Cat reveals that she is his daughter, Felicia Hardy, and mentions that her mother Lydia purposefully hid his past from her. Walter then leaves to spend his final moments with his wife. After Black Cat falls into the river, Spider-Man goes to meet up with Lydia Hardy as she weeps over Walter's death.

At the time when Black Cat is in the hospital following Spider-Man's battle with Doctor Octopus, she claims to Peter Parker that she was visited by the ghost of Walter Hardy.

Powers and abilities
The Cat has a miniature grappling hook device, which enables him to swing from buildings in a manner similar to Spider-Man, though not quite as fast. He can also use the cable from this device as a tightrope, wall scaling device, swing line, and/or as a weapon in combat. He has photographic memory as well.

Other versions
The Ultimate Marvel version of the character is identified as Jack Hardy and is seen on a list of known cat burglars in the Daily Bugle database.

Television

 * The Cat appeared in the Spider-Man: The Animated Series episodes "The Cat" and "The Black Cat", voiced by John Phillip Law. This incarnation's name is changed to John Hardesky, but retains similarities to his comic counterpart. As a boy, he was tricked by the Nazis into spying on Captain America's creation using his photographic memory. When John found out who the real Nazis were, he was hunted by a group sent by the Red Skull, but managed to evade them. Years later, he fell into protective S.H.I.E.L.D. custody until the Kingpin had the Chameleon replace him to get the super-soldier formula. Upon discovering it, the Kingpin arranges a "family reunion" by having Doctor Octopus kidnap his daughter Felicia Hardy as a test subject for the formula and transformed her into the Black Cat. Spider-Man follows Black Cat to the Kingpin's hideout and rescues the father and daughter after the former destroys the super-soldier serum before it could be replicated. With the Kingpin's plan thwarted, John shared his goodbyes with his family and willingly returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
 * Walter Hardy appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Jim Cummings (in "Intervention") and James Remar (in "Opening Night"). This incarnation is an amalgamation of Hardy's comics depiction and the Burglar. In the episode "Intervention", a flashback accessed by the alien symbiote Parker was bonded to at the time depicts Spider-Man seeking revenge on a burglar who broke into his home and killed his Uncle Ben, only to discover he was the same robber he allowed to escape earlier that day. After Spider-Man subdues him, the burglar is arrested by the police. In "Opening Night", Hardy is depicted as an inmate of the Vault while Spider-Man is there to test its security system and Black Cat infiltrates the prison to break her father out. After encountering Spider-Man and his daughter amidst a prison break, the former recognizes Hardy as the burglar who killed Ben. Hardy expresses his regret over taking the man's life, and offers to make amends by staying behind to release knockout gas to subdue the other escaped inmates and allow Spider-Man and Black Cat to escape.

Video games
Walter Hardy appears in the "The Heist" DLC for the 2018 Spider-Man video game, voiced by Daniel Riordan. During a side quest, Spider-Man is contacted by NYPD detective Mackey, who tasks him with tracking down paintings stolen by Walter, the original Black Cat. As Spider-Man looks for them, Mackey relays Walter's backstory to him, explaining that because of his skill as a thief, the Maggia sought to recruit him. Walter refused and let himself be arrested before supposedly drowning in a failed escape attempt from Ryker's Island. However, many suspect that he faked his death to protect his family from the Maggia. After collecting all of the stolen art pieces, Spider-Man returns to the precinct and discovers that Mackey is actually Walter, who adopted an alias to retrieve all the stolen paintings and use them to finance his retirement. Before he leaves, Walter asks Spider-Man to look after his daughter.