Happy Hogan

Origin

Harold Joseph Hogan, or Happy, was a former boxer with a losing record. He got his nick name from him never smiling. He eventually ran into Tony Stark and saved his life by pulling him out of a car wreck. He was then hired as a personal assistant and bodyguard for Tony, sometimes giving him moral advice. Being close to Tony, Happy is attacked numerous times due to Tony’s alter ego. Despite all the troubles he remains loyal to Tony. He did not know Tony Stark to be the Invincible Iron Man until many years later.

Creation

Happy Hogan was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck and first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45 in September 1963.

Major Story Arcs

In love

While working for Tony Stark, he soon met with his lovely secrateris, Miss Pepper Pots. He imidiately fell in love with her and tried to get her attention. He however failed to do so, since Pepper was far more interested in Tony Stark himself. This posed a bizare love triangle for the three friends, whom offten worked together, both in the workplace, and when Happy and Pepper assisted Iron Man on missions (not knowing Iron Man to be Tony Stark). Eventually Happy managed to win Pepper for him, and the two started a fragile relationship.

The Freak

During an attack by the Titanuim man, Happy was struck by one of his laser-blasts and was left barely alive. Tony used experimental cobalt rays to save his life. This worked, however it had mayor sideaffects for him, when Happy’s body ended up mutating. It turned him into a creature known as the Freak. As the Freak, Happy went on a rampage but he was eventually stopped by Iron Man and cured using the Enervator to reverse his condition. Happy went on two more rampages as The Freak but in the last one, which involved him posing as Iron man for Tony’s sake, he was completely cured.

Happy and Pepper

Happy had an ongoing relationship with Pepper Potts. The two dated for awhile and eventually got married. Their relationship was strained due to Stark’s alter ego and happy sensing Pepper having feelings for Tony. Their relationship had its ups and downs until Pepper had an affair with her High School sweetheart. She thought Happy was cheating on her but it was false and the two divorced. They later remarried but problems arise when Pepper had a miscarriage that she kept secret from Happy. He found out through Tony. Angered he stormed out and was shot by snipers. He survived the shot.

Civil War and Death

Happy served as a huge moral support for Tony during the Civil War. During one of Tony’s moments of discouragements he tells him “You, my friend, are the only cape in the bunch [of superheroes] that’s both one of us [that is, human] and one of them. Who else can see both sides the way you do?” Happy is eventually attacked by the Spymaster and is placed in a coma due to head trauma. Pepper convinces Tony to pull the plug on Happy and Happy seemingly dies.

Powers and Abilities

Happy possesses no super human attributes. His strength, speed, and intelligence are that of a normal person. He did wear the Iron man armor twice granting him the powers of Iron man for a short period.

Happy was a boxer so he is skilled in unarmed combat. He also has extensive knowledge of Stark Industries and its inner workings.

Characteristics

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 221lbs

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brown

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel:

Happy makes numerous appearances next to Iron man in the Ultimate Universe. He is mostly seen in the lab alongside Pepper and Tony.

Amalgam:

In the Amalgam comics crossover happy is an Amalgam with Thomas Kalmaku and is known as Happy Kalmaku. He is Hal Stark‘s chief mechanic and is also in love with Pepper Ferris. Unfortunately she loved Hal and was also the super villain Sapphire.

Marvel Zombies:

In the Marvel Zombie universe Happy is changed into a zombie by Giant Man. He then leads him in the industry spreading the virus until he is shot and killed by War Machine.

Media

MCU

• Happy Hogan appears in the 2008 Iron Man film and stays close to the source material, portrayed by Jon Favreau (who also directed the first two movies and played Foggy Nelson in the 2003 Daredevil film). He did not have a large role in the first film, showing up mainly as Tony’s bodyguard.
• Happy’s role is beefed up in the sequel, Iron Man 2, where he plays a more comic relief role and acts as Tony’s trainer. During the finale, he and Black Widow infiltrate the Hammer Industries facility to try and shut down the Hammer Drones that are attacking Iron Man and War Machine, though Black Widow proves to be the much more effective fighter.
• Happy returns in Iron Man 3, where he has been promoted to the head of security at Stark Industries. He is badly injured in an Extremis-triggered explosion while tracking down Eric Savin, who seemingly works for the Mandarin. He remains comatose for most of the film, but awakens at the end.
• Happy appears in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where it is revealed that he was sent to recruit Peter Parker for the Berlin airport fight seen in Captain America: Civil War. He is tasked with keeping tabs on Spider-Man at the behest of Tony Stark, and overseas the transport of material from Avengers Tower to the new Avengers Compound in upstate New York. The shipment is attacked by the Vulture, who is subsequently defeated by Spider-Man.
• Happy appears in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. At the end of the latter film, Happy is one of the many guests at the the funeral of Tony Stark, who sacrifices himself to stop Thanos. A grieving Happy is last seen bonding with Tony’s daughter Morgan, which seems to lift his spirits.
• In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Happy shows up to give a check from Pepper to May Parker, Peter’s aunt. He flirts with May and it’s heavily implied that the two have a mutual attraction between them. He is also the one who lets Peter know that Nick Fury is looking for him for help with a situation in Europe. Happy later shows up in Europe to rescue Peter and provide him with the material to create a new suit after he is injured by Mysterio, and helps out MJ, Flash, Betty and Ned during the final battle. At the end of the film, it’s revealed that May and Happy are indeed in a relationship, though May describes it as more of a fling.

TV

• Happy appeared in the Iron Man segments of The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Tom Harvey.
• In Iron Man Armored Adventures, the cast is portrayed at a much younger age and are in high school. Happy serves the role of a dumb jock and sometimes bully. He is a huge fan of Iron Man and believes him to be a cyborg. He momentarily wore the Iron Man armor after Rhodey misplaced the suit. He eventually saves the day and Tony has to trick him in giving up the suit. He was voiced by Alistair Abell.
• Happy appears in several episodes of What If…?, with Jon Favreau reprising his role.

Video Games

• Happy Hogan appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel’s Avengers, voiced by Chris Cox.

Merchandise

• Happy Hogan was featured in the HeroClix figure game.
• Happy Hogan was featured in Diamond Select’s Marvel Minimates line as part of a two-pack with Iron Man. An earlier two-pack featuring Happy and a Hammer Drone was also released for Iron Man 2.
• Happy Hogan was featured in Funko’s Pop! line of bobbleheads.
• Happy Hogan was featured in the Stark Jet and the Drone Attack Lego kit based on Spider-Man: Far From Home.
• Happy Hogan was featured in Hasbro’s Marvel Legends line as part of a two-pack with the Midas armor Iron Man. The set was part of Hasbro’s commemorative Infinity Saga series.