Toyo Harada

Origin

Valiant Entertainment

Toyo Harada was born in 1933 in Hiroshima, Japan. His father went away to fight for the Japanese army during World War 2 and never returned. Harada's near unlimited psionic powers where activated when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. His mother didn't survive. Harada spent his early days using his power to steal food and heal the victims of the atomic bomb explosion. As he grew so did his powers and eventually a young Harada made his way to Tibet to find the Bleeding Monk. The psychic monk has acted as Harada's advisor since and helped him make his fortune as the head of Harada Global Conglomerates (HGC).

In the public eye, HGC is a corporation that provides food and medicine to the world's poor. Behind the scenes however, Harada has assembled a private army called the Harbinger Foundation, a secret academy built to activate and train young telekinetics like himself.

Valiant Universe (VH1) - Pre-Unity

The most powerful psionic on Earth, Toyo Harada is living proof that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. One of two known Harbingers to possess the "Omega Power," Harada commands the full spectrum of psionic abilities, including telepathy, telekinesis, mind-control, and many other deadly talents. Fearing that humanity may eventually destroy itself, Harada decided early in his life to preserve the planet by clandestinely conquering it. To this end, he established the Harbinger Foundation to recruit others with paranormal abilities, whom Harada refers to as “Harbingers" of the next step in human evolution. He seldom confronts his enemies directly, preferring to leave such dirty-work to his elite Harbinger warriors, the Eggbreakers." With tremendous economic and political clout, Harada seems close to achieving his goals, and is ready to destroy anyone who stands in his way. The great irony is that Harada truly feels he was born to save the human race. But, in his haste to eliminate any opposition to his grand scheme, Toyo Harada has lost his own humanity.

Creation

Toyo Harada was created by David Lapham and Jim Shooter. For the Valiant Entertainment relaunch, Harada was re-imagined by Joshua Dysart and Khari Evans.

Major Story Arcs

Omega Rising

Harada recruited a powerful young psiot called Peter Stanchek into his Harbinger Foundation. The Bleeding Monk had advised Harada that Peter holds the key to the future. However Peter was resistant to settling in to the foundation and escaped with the aid of Livewire. Harada then resorted to under handed methods to keep Peter at the foundation, eventually murdering Peter's friend Joe. This led Peter on a path of revenge and destruction ultimately leading to his defeat by Harada.

Renegades

After his complete defeat at the hands of Harada, Peter Stanchek is on the run and recruiting other teenage outcast psiots like himself. Peter and his Renegades plan to take Harada and his foundation down once and for all.

Harbinger Wars

The "Psiot Killer" Bloodshot attacked Project Rising Spirit - a long time enemy of Harada. The attack led to the release of a number of super powered psiot kids known as Generation Zero. On hearing this Harada, the Renegades and P.R.S. are all on the trail of Bloodshot who has sworn to protect these kids. The culmination is an all out war in Las Vegas that ultimately sees Harada take control of Generation Zero as well as capture Bloodshot and the Renegades.

The H.A.R.D. Way

After the events of Harbinger Wars, Harada is in possession of Bloodshot. Harada has his scientists extract the nanites from Bloodshot's blood and perform experiments on him. Meanwhile Project Rising Spirit have begun rebuilding and have formed a new H.A.R.D. Corps team to take on Harada and "rescue" Bloodshot. The mission is successful and Bloodshot joins H.A.R.D. Corps himself.

Perfect Day

Toyo Harada is over taxing himself by trying to run his business, battle Bloodshot and the H.A.R.D. Corps while simultaneously controlling the minds of the Renegades. Evntually Harada's over tired mind regresses and he suffers from a massive "mind squall" that eradicates numerous members of his own foundtion and allows the Renegades to escape.

To Kill A King

Toyo Harada formed a team of his most powerful psiots to take on X-O Manowar when he invaded Bucharest. This team, known as Unity was decimated within minutes of confronting X-O Manowar. The powerful psiot then formed a new team including himself, Ninjak, Livewire and Eternal Warrior. This team was successful in defeating Aric and taking his armor. However when the rest of the team learned Harada was planning on using the armor himself for world domination, they retaliated and defeated their former leader. The armor was returned to Aric who then joined the Unity. The team is now led by Livewire.

Powers and Abilities

Toyo Harada is an omega level psiot with near limitless powers of telekinesis and telepathy. The true extent of his powers are unknown to this day. Harada also possess a high level of intellect that he has used to great effect to become a billionaire industrialist.

Weaknesses

Toyo Harada must rest for 24 hours during a 30-day period or the weight of his lack of sleep will create "mind squalls", devastating psychic-energy explosions.
Toyo has also demonstrated an ego that demands complete control and rarely gives up power in any regard.