'Pinions and Rants (December 2025)

 

November 2025 has come and come, and it is now over five years since Hawkman has had his own series. Robert Venditti's series ran for 29 issues from 2018 to 2021 (cover dates) and left Hawkman and Hawkwoman in a really, really good place. They had been reunited, were completely devoted and committed to each other, and their reincarnation was over and done with. Hawkman was Dr. Carter Hall, renowned archaeologist on Earth, while Hawkwoman was Shayera Hol, Empress and Protector of the Thanagarians. They had a super awesome spaceship called the Soarship. They were members of the Justice Society. They were given an extremely long life span (as long as they don't get killed for the last time), and they were now ready to live their final life together...and then...nothing. 

Hawkman Vol. V No. 29 January 2021

Hawkgirl Vol. 2 No. 1 September 2023

We've been waiting to see what would happen next but no luck. We've seen them appear here and there in cameos and short storylines, but nothing to advance their story. We got a six-issue Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) series back in 2023. I had hopes that it would give us Hawkgirl's side of the story since her reincarnation cycle had technically ended as well. What we got was a story about an extremely angry, confused, tormented hero (still?) who had no idea where she was heading or what her purpose was in life. Her anger towards Carter and Shayera was extremely shallow and badly written, making Kendra seem as screwed up as ever. Not many Hawkfans talk or even mention the series much since it ended almost two years ago. I occasionally come across a Hawkgirl fan who appears to have enjoyed the story but they are in the extreme minority from what I've seen. May that writer never touch Hawkgirl again. Hawkgirl fans would probably be much happier. 

From Superman (2025)

Hawkgirl also made her debut on the Silver Screen in the Superman movie this year. However, it appears she has absolutely no connection whatsoever to the Hawkgirl in the comics. James Gunn basically just took the basics and rewrote the character as he saw fit. We don't know much, but she is Thanagarian or has a former life as a Thanagarian. She apparently works for Max Lord as a member of the Justice Gang (a name she despises), and she can screech like Black Canary but without the ability to destroy anything. It just scares and annoys the fans watching. Oh, she also kills gleefully without hesitation and likes popcorn. Hawkgirl actress Isabela Merced has expressed hope for Hawkgirl to hook up with John Stewart/Green Lantern who is appearing in the upcoming Lantern series. Kendra has never expressed any interest in John Stewart whatsoever, despite the fact that they have been teammates in the Justice League. So whatever happens in the movies will be a completely new version by Gunn. 

Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate

Aldis Hodge as Hawkman

Pierce Brosnan recently said that there was a chance that his Doctor Fate from the Black Adam movie will be joining the DCU, and if that happens, that means that Aldis Hodge's Hawkman could follow his path. There isn't even a sniff of a rumor of Hawkman appearing in the DCU any time soon so I wouldn't flap my wings too hard at that one. 

Nth Metal Horus
Green Lantern Corps No. 3 (June 2025

Currently, Hawkman and Hawkgirl are (for whatever reason) back together with the Justice Society, while Hawkwoman is in outer space, following a giant Nth metal Horus-Hawk creature who is in search of a new Thanagar. Carter and Kendra treat each other like brother and sister, while Shayera ran into John Stewart and a whole bunch of something between them was suggested but never answered. 

What are we doing here? Is there a senior or central editor at DC that keeps track of these things? Surely there must be, but I often wonder if they are concentrating just a tad bit too hard on the Trinity. I mean Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, but you can also be excused for thinking it's Lex Luthor, Joker and Harley Quinn. They seem to be letting all their writers just throw their Hawk stuff at the wall and move on immediately whether it sticks or not. During Venditti's run, it was interrupted by that Year of the Villain thing which kind of flopped, but Venditti masterfully worked around it. But during the run, Scott Snyder was doing his thing with Thanagar (remember Thanagar Prime?), and then Brian Bendis started throwing Thanagarians around with Superman giving his regards to Katar Hol, who had been dead at the edge of the universe for a few years. None of it really connected nor was it followed up on. Why not? 

Jan. 2018 - Feb. 2020

Aug. - Dec. 2025

As God is my witness, I love DC Comics and the amazing group of heroes and stories, but it is just all over the place. I suppose the days of a central editor who knows what each hero, planet, and storyline is taking place and how to keep it in line are gone. For a comics company that keeps trying to line everything up with series like Doomsday Clock and The New History of the DC Universe, they sure do seem to be uninterested in what is currently going on in their own comics. I may be expecting too much since they completely screwed up Prince Khufu's background and then tried to correct in the footnotes of "New History." They didn't even mention Hawkworld's Katar or Shayera once. If there is an opening for volunteer editor, I will be more than happy to apply. 

I doubt this article will ever catch the glance of a DC editor, but Hawkman (Carter Hall III), Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol II), and Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders II) are intricately tied into the history and characters of the DC Universe. Thanagar is one of DC's major planets in its universe. (Stop blowing it up.) Is it too difficult or meaningless to keep these characters on the same track? It's not like they have a dozen books a month like Batman. A writer wants to use Thanagar? Sorry, we're setting up a story for a new Thanagar, so no. A writer wants to team up Oliver Queen and Katar Hol? Sorry, Katar's been dead and gone for eight years. It's Carter Hall now. You want Carter and Kendra to tease a rekindling of their romance? Nope, Carter is tight with Shayera now. For Kendra, John Stewart or the Martian Manhunter are available. 

Seven Hells...

I realize the stories have to be fresh and shocking enough for fans to want to come back. But when you have Thangar blowing up over here, a delegation of Thanagarians in long flowing beards appearing over there, and a renegade Thanagrian who may or may not be Carter or Katar or maybe Prince Khufu of Thanagar, no wonder comic reviewers and writers always start off their articles with "Hawkman is one of the most confusing...yadda yadda yadda." At this point, you might as well start introducing Hawkman with: "Hawkman's primary power is the ability to confuse both the characters in the comics as well as the readers. He can also fly and swings a badass mace." 

Sarcasm aside, I'm saying all this because it can be better. If a senior citizen living in southern Japan who cannot access DC Universe Infinite can keep trying to give Hawkman and Hawkgirl some sort of order, I'm wondering why the editors at DC Central Command with every DC comic ever written at their disposal cannot set up a game plan for their characters besides the Trinity. As I said before, I love DC Comics and want it to be successful in every way possible. This is why I've given away almost 100 comics and trades to support Hawkman books and have kept at it for so long. I've always believed they'll get it back on track. I still believe that. Or else I wouldn't be here. 

Always hoping for DC's best. 

Note: I took "Pinions" from the title of Hawkman Vol. 2's letter column.