Happy Hogan

Happy Hogan
	Marvel Cinematic Universe character
First appearance	Iron Man (2008)
Based on	Happy Hogan; by Stan Lee; Robert Bernstein; Don Heck;
Adapted by	Mark Fergus; Hawk Ostby; Art Marcum; Matt Holloway;
Portrayed by	Jon Favreau
Information
Full name	Harold Hogan
Nickname	Happy
Occupation	Bodyguard and chauffeur to Tony Stark; Head of security at Stark Industries;
Affiliation	Avengers; Stark Industries;
Nationality	American

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Harold Hogan, better known as Happy Hogan, is a fictional character initially portrayed by Jon Favreau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

As of 2021^[update], the character has appeared in six of twenty-three MCU films, beginning with the first MCU film, Iron Man, in 2008, and most recently appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home, in 2021.

Concept and casting[edit]

Created by writers Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein and artist Don Heck, Happy Hogan first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45 (September 1963).^[1]

Characterization[edit]

Hogan was Tony Stark's constant companion. He also acted as Stark's "pre-screener" when Stark was womanizing. An example of this was when he described reporter Christine Everhart as "cute." A brooding disciplinarian, Hogan initially ignored Peter Parker out of annoyance by not replying to his messages and being rude to him even when Parker was serious about Adrian Toomes' actions. He later apologized to Peter for not taking him seriously and thanked him for saving his job, explaining it was all he had.

Appearances[edit]

In Iron Man (2008), Happy is introduced in a minor role as Tony Stark's bodyguard and chauffeur.
In Iron Man 2 (2010), Happy has more of a substantial role, as a close friend of Stark's and assists Natasha Romanoff in raiding Hammer Industries, where he struggles in his fight with one of the security personnel.
In Iron Man 3 (2013), Happy is the head of security for Stark Industries, he witnesses the side-effects of an Extremis enhanced Jack Taggart and gets into conflict with Eric Savin. He is rendered comatose when Taggart explodes, prompting Stark to go after the Mandarin. He later regains consciousness.
In Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Happy is assigned by Stark as head of Asset Management for the Avengers, overseeing the transition of the Avengers moving from the Avengers Tower to the Avengers Compound. He is assigned by Stark as a point of contact for Peter Parker.
In Avengers: Endgame (2019), Happy attends Stark's funeral and comforts Morgan Stark.
In Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Happy continues to look after Parker and helps him deal with Stark's loss which brings them closer. He rescues Parker from the Netherlands and takes him to London, where he helps aid Peter's classmates who are targeted by Mysterio's drones.
In What If...?, two alternate timeline version of Happy appears.
In Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), after Peter's identity as Spider-Man is exposed, Happy allows Peter and May to live with him at his apartment. His apartment is later destroyed by the extramidensional villains and May is killed. Peter is later erased from everyone's memory including Happy's due to a spell by Stephen Strange.

Fictional character biography[edit]

Tony Stark's bodyguard[edit]

Harold Hogan is a former boxer who received the nickname of "Happy" ironically as he rarely smiles. Towards the end of his boxing career, he was hired by playboy, entrepreneur and industrialist, Tony Stark. For many years Stark employed him as his personal bodyguard and chauffeur, later becoming a long-time friend of Stark's. On New Year's Eve in 1999, Happy accompanied Stark to Bern, Switzerland on his first and only date with scientist, Maya Hansen. During the party, Hogan tried and failed to keep an eccentric scientist named Aldrich Killian away from Stark as he attempted to gain Stark's investment for A.I.M..

Years later, after Stark admitted to being the superhero Iron Man on live television, Happy's job became more difficult as Stark gained mass popularity, and developed a vast fan following. In 2010, during the Monaco Grand Prix, Happy risked his life trying to get the Mark V suitcase armor to Stark (while Stark was being attacked by Ivan Vanko on the race course). Later, Vanko attacks the Stark Expo with his remote-controlled drones, he was accompanied with Natasha Romanoff. He stood by Romanoff as she hacked into the Hammer Industries computer and returned control of the War Machine Armor to James Rhodes so they could join forces and fight back against Vanko. Happy was granted a new position as the head of security in the management complex of Stark Industries.

Head of Security at Stark Industries[edit]

After being granted a new position as the head of security in the corporate headquarters of Stark Industries, a role which Hogan took great pride in despite causing staff complaints to rise due to his unrelenting insistence on following protocol. It was in this capacity that Hogan encountered Savin and his boss, Aldrich Killian, when they visited Stark Industries for a meeting with acting CEO Pepper Potts. Hogan checked Killian's credentials and recognized him from the Bern in 1999. He received a call from Stark and revealed to him that Potts was meeting with Killian. Later, Hogan took a picture of Killian and Savin's vehicle in order to run their plates.

Suspicious, Hogan investigated and later followed Savin to an exchange with another man at the TCL Chinese Theatre. He decided to interfere and gather evidence upon noticing some of the man's flesh glowing in an amber hue. Hogan covertly took one of the capsules the man had been given. Before he could leave, Hogan was confronted by Savin, who tried to steal back the device. Hogan attempted to defend himself and is violently attacked by Savin. Their altercation was interrupted when the other man exploded, killing several people and severely injuring Hogan.

Hogan was rendered comatose and admitted to a hospital. This incident prompted Stark to publicly threaten the Mandarin, who was responsible for the attack. Hogan ultimately woke up, days after the explosion.

Asset Management[edit]

In 2016, Stark recruited Peter Parker who is secretly the vigilante, "Spider-Man" to assist in the fight between his team and Steve Rogers's team, Hogan was tasked with bringing Parker to Germany. Once in Berlin, Hogan took Parker to their hotel and introduced him to the new suit designed for him by Stark. The next day, Hogan drove Parker to the Leipzig-Halle Airport and picked him up shortly after the battle between the two teams. Hogan and Stark, then took Parker back to New York City, back to Parker's apartment complex.

Two months later, Hogan had been promoted to asset management as requested and was assigned to oversee the removal of all items and technology from Avengers Tower after Stark sold the building to move to the New Avengers Facility in upstate New York. Hogan was also Parker's primary contact relaying all of Parker's messages to Stark. On moving day, Hogan oversaw the loading of all of the items due to be moved onto the cargo plane. He was contacted by Parker's friend Ned Leeds, who tried to warn him that the plane was in danger, but he brushed off the warning. After seeing it off, the plane was eventually hijacked by the Vulture and subsequently intervened by Spider-Man, the plane eventually crashed on Coney Island.

Days later, Hogan appeared at Midtown School of Science and Technology and took Parker on a ride to the New Avengers Facility where Stark intended to announce Spider-Man as an official member of the Avengers. However, Parker humbly declined the invitation and left the building to wait in the car for a ride home. As he left, Stark asked Hogan if he was still carrying an engagement ring, Hogan tossed the ring to Stark. However, Potts was somewhat confused by the tactic and assured the two that she would think of something better. Stark and Potts then enter the room full of press expecting an announcement and Stark proposes to Potts.

The Blip[edit]

In 2018, Happy survives the Blip along with Stark, Potts and Rhodes when Thanos collected all six Infinity Stones and used them to wipe out half of all life in the universe. During the five year period, Hogan was present during Stark and Potts' wedding and the birth of their daughter, Morgan. Following the Blip and the Battle of Earth in 2023, a funeral was held for Stark after he died sacrificing himself to destroy Thanos and his army. Happy, along with Potts, Morgan Stark, Rhodes, Peter, the remaining members of the Avengers, and their allies were in attendance.

Europe and Peter's identity[edit]

In 2024, Happy traveled to a charity event hosted by Peter's aunt May, presenting her with a large check and telling Peter that Nick Fury was calling for Peter.

During Peter's vacation in Europe, Happy spends his time in a potential relationship with May. However, the machinations of former Stark Industries employee Quentin Beck forced Peter to contact Happy for help. After picking up Peter from the Netherlands, Happy went to London, where Beck was staging his ultimate illusion to kill Peter's classmates. Peter made himself a new suit and left Happy's plane to fight Beck, while Happy flew down to ground level to aid Peter's classmates Ned Leeds, Michelle Jones, Betty Brant, and Flash Thompson. One of Beck's drones destroys Happy's plane and chases Peter's classmates and Happy to the Tower of London, but Peter defeats Beck and disables the drone. Happy travels back to New York along with Peter and his classmates and continues his potential relationship with May.

May and Happy end their relationship inside of May's apartment, but Happy is unable to leave the building due to Peter's identity being exposed. Happy allows Peter and May to take refuge in his apartment. Later, he observes security footage of May leading a group of extramidensional villains through his front door. He drives home to find the apartment destroyed and Peter weeping over May's dead body. Later all memory and knowledge of Peter is erased from everyone's memories including Happy's due to a spell conjured by Stephen Strange. Though Happy only remembers working with Spider-Man throughout the years.

Alternate version[edit]

Several alternate versions of Happy appears in the animated series What If...?, with Favreau reprising the role.

Zombie outbreak[edit]

In an alternate 2018, Happy is one of the sole survivors of Earth following a quantum zombie virus outbreak caused by Janet van Dyne's return from the Quantum Realm. After leaving their base in New York City and en-route to Camp Lehigh, Happy also becomes infected.

Killmonger deception[edit]

In an alternate 2010, Happy is Tony's bodyguard, and is actively disappointed when the position of chief of security instead goes to Erik Stevens. After Tony is killed, he expresses surprise that there was no footage of it.

Reception[edit]

References[edit]

↑ Wells, John (2015). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 978-1605490458. Search this book on

External links[edit]

Happy Hogan at the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
Happy Hogan on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki

This article "Happy Hogan (Marvel Cinematic Universe)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Happy Hogan (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

[1] Wells, John (2015). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 978-1605490458. Search this book on

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