Who is Hawkman?

Podcast: The Hawkworld Report #001

Finally restarted my Hawkworld Podcast! Here is the very first episode. I'll be answering questions in future podcasts so post your questions about anything concerning Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Hawkgirl, or anything Hawk! I'll do my best to answer them! 

Episode #001: The Hawkworld Report LINK

Contents:
1. Opening
2. Recent Comics
3. Justice League #63
4. Justice Society Comic?
5. Justice Society WWII
6. Black Adam News
7. Taking your questions!

The Basic Foundation of Hawkman

 When I read an article, watch a YouTube video, or chat with someone about Hawkman, there is almost always the comment about how confusing he is. I don't dispute that, because there are different versions. There are the Golden Age Earth-2, Siver Age Earth-1, Hawkworld, Zero Crisis, Savage, and the current versions. They all have different origins and stories. 

When you look at Superman or Batman, the stories are relatively simple. Superman escaped the destruction of Krypton, landed on Earth, was raised by an American couple, and became a reporter for the Daily Planet in Metropolis. Batman saw his parents murdered and swore his life to avenge them and defeat evil by using his wealth and abilities in Gotham. 

Action Comics No. 1, Detective Comics No. 33

So what about Hawkman? There are different versions, and some of them have even coexisted at the same time. DC Comics really botched up a bunch of characters with their endless crisis events and reboots. They seem to try to take care of their first-tier characters, but the other characters are often swept under the rug, leaving their fringe fans wondering what is going on. Hawkman has been rebooted and rewritten several times. The TV versions have always altered his story as well. It's no wonder that everyone is confused. 
But all the versions are just layers of his story. There is a foundation to the character, just like there is for Superman and Batman. When in doubt, always go back to the beginning.

Flash Comics No. 1 (January 1940)

Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics No. 1. His name is Carter Hall. He is described as a wealthy weapons collector and research scientist. This sets up his knowledge of both weapons and science that he uses in his battles. 

In the very first issue, Carter Hall's reincarnation is brought up. This is what separates Hawkman from all the other heroes and gives us the key to tie everything together. Geoff Johns really began to expand on his reincarnation during the 2000s, and Robert Venditti took it a step further in the most recent series (Hawkman Vol. V, 2018-2021) by how Hawkman had been reincarnating across time and space. 

Reincarnation is the key to understanding Hawkman. All of the versions that we have seen, every last one of them, are connected. The current Carter Hall/Hawkman that we see in the comics today has all the memories and knowledge of the past versions. The Thanagarian version, the Savage version, the Egyptian version, all of them are his past lives. 
Venditti blew the doors open on the reincarnation and past lives of Hawkman. We know now that Hawkman has lived for millions of years, with past lives on Thanagar, Rann, Krypton, the Microverse, the Microverse, Earth-3 and even the Dark Multiverse.

Hawkman Vol. V No. 1 (August 2018)

While there are many versions of Hawkman, there is no need to be confused about who or what he is. Stay with the basic Hawkman's back story of reincarnation. If you try to fit it all together in one nice puzzle, it's not going to work. DC Comics, in all its crazy reboots and ideas, has created a character that is relatively simple and fabulously complicated and deep at the same time. 
The Basics of Hawkman is simply this: 
Hawkman is Carter Hall; an archaeologist and historian who discovered the mysterious Nth metal. The Nth metal gave him his powers of flight, super-strength, super-endurance, regeneration/healing, and many other abilities. As a homage to Horus, the hawk god of the sky, he wears wings and a winged helmet. The Nth metal also triggered the memory of his past lives, revealing his past lives in Egypt, England, the old West, and on Thanagar, Rann, Krypton, New Genesis, and many other planets. Together with his wife/partner Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol), he fights the forces of evil who would take the precious lives of others.

When you see Hawkman, don't look at him as a complicated character who is impossible to understand. There are many chapters and stories and each one is a part of one character; Hawkman. In Hawkman Vol. V No. 8, Hawkman is described as the living historical document of the universe. He has lived through the history of DC Comics. By reading Hawkman, you can discover the history of DC Comics as well. 

Hawkman Vol. V No. 8 (March 2019)

Yes, Hawkman and Hawkwoman are complicated at times. It's not always a perfect fit. But it doesn't need to be. What started in Flash Comics No. 1 way back in 1940 is still continuing. Give Hawkman and Hawkwoman a try. You might be amazed at the intricate and beautiful story of life and love that you will find in these characters. 

Check out my other articles and charts of their history!
Hawkman and Hawkwoman's Timeline
A Guide to All the Versions of Hawkman
A Guide through the History of Hawkman
The Story of Hawkwoman and Hawkgirl
The Ultimate List of All Hawkman Comics

Talking Hawkman on Phillip's Let's Talk Podcast

 I was invited to come on Phillip's Let's Talk Podcast on June 12! We talked about an hour about all things Hawkman so come over and check it out! LINK

Carter Hall Figure

Carter Hall (Hawkman) FigureI took a figure of archaeologist Daniel Jackson of the Stargate series and added a HALL name tag and Hawkman logo. Michael Shanks played this character from 1997 to 2008, and Hawkman in the Smallville series so I thought it was perfect!

Michael Shanks from the Smallville series / Panel from Dark Days The Casting

Two Giants Among Men – Kubert and Anderson (Pop Culture Squad)

 Great article by Ed Catto on two of the greatest artists ever to draw Hawkman: Joe Kubert and Murphy Anderson! Ed gave Hawkworld a mention as well! Check it out! 

Link: With Further Ado #147: Two Giants Among Men – Kubert and Anderson

Hawkman Commission by Timothy Truman

 

Comic Art Fans (Timothy Truman)

A Guide through the History of Hawkman

DC Comics’ Hawkman is a character who has been around for over 80 years. During those 80 years, he has been rewritten, rebooted, and rebirthed. He has been given several different origins and names. He has been the victim of Crisis events, crossovers and tie-in stories. For the casual reader, it’s understandable that his continuity seems confusing, crazy and convoluted. After the Metal series in 2018, Robert Venditti was given the task of writing a new version of Hawkman. Venditti set out to give us a version with a new origin, but he figured out a way to include all the other past versions as well. Every Hawkman you have ever read can be included in his new origin. As a Hawkman fan and self-appointed guide, it’s my hope that comic book fans will pick up Venditti's series and discover what a fascinating hero Hawkman is. To help other fans understand the character as easily and as quickly as possible. I have made a chart to show where all of his past stories interact. To make it as simple as possible, I have divided all of the Hawkman versions into five categories:

Hawkwoman by M.C. Wyman

 

Comic Art Gallery of MC Wyman at ComicArtFans.com 

New Justice Society Comic!

Art by Bryan Hitch

It was announced on May 25th that there may be a new Justice Society comic coming our way. Details are very sketchy. There was no release date announced. Apparently, Geoff Johns is the writer and Bryan Hitch is the artist. Hawkman appears to be in the lineup but there is no sign of Hawkwoman. More details are coming I assume. I'll add two links to the news below. Stay tuned and Wings crossed! 

CBR: Stargirl Teases a Major DC Team's Return With an Arrowverse Threat
Multiversity Comics: DC Teases New “Stargirl” and “Justice Society” Titles 
Bleeding Cool: DC Teases Justice Society Of America with Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch 
Comic Watch: Stargirl Spring Break Special #1: People and Things That Went Before

Interesting to see similar titles for the story.
Interesting to see similar titles. Maybe it was intentional?
Hawkman Vol. V No. 1: "What's Past is Prologue"
New Justice Society title: "Past is Prologue"