Ten Pillars for a Great Hawkman and Hawkwoman Series

   Hawkman and Hawkwoman/Hawkgirl have the foundation any writer would need to create a great story and series. Over the last 87 years,  the story and legend of the Hawks have been greatly expanded. Many characters, places, items, and theories have been introduced, but very few have been allowed to become the rock-solid base that other major DC characters enjoy. Writers like Gardner Fox, Tony Isabella, Timothy Truman, John Ostrander, Geoff Johns, and Robert Venditti have given us many stories that are the pillars of the Hawks' legend. Here are the ten basic pillars, in my opinion, that any writer could and should expand on to create some amazing stories and adventures for Hawkman and Hawkwoman.

Hawkman / Dr. Carter Hall

Art by John Gallagher

 When DC (or what eventually became DC) began creating superheroes in the 30s and 40s, each hero had a specific superpower. Superman was strong. Flash was fast. Dr. Fate used magic. Aquaman swam. Hawkman represented the power of flight. He was the first DC hero who actually flew. Zatara levitated through the air, and Superman didn't actually fly until 1941. Everything about Hawkman symbolises flight. So naturally, he is the best aerial fighter in the DCU. His mastery of air combat, using his wings and weapons, is second to none.
   As a charter member and long-time chairman of the JSA, Hawkman is one of the great leaders in the DCU. His experience with the Justice Society, the All-Star Squadron, and the Justice League 

Dark Days The Forge (August 2017)

   Carter Hall is the antithesis of Hawkman. Hawkman is at his best when he spreads his wings in the wide open sky. But Carter does the exact opposite. He puts his wings away, goes down into cramped, dark caves to explore and discover. In the DCU, he is the well-renowned archaeologist Dr. Hall. With the knowledge and experience from his past lives, he knows more about ancient history and artifacts than anyone else. And not just the history of Earth, but of the entire universe. This man's knowledge is vast. There could be some great stories with not only Hawkman, but also Dr. Carter Hall. Just think of Indiana Jones with a mace for a whip, a Hawk helmet instead of a fedora, and a whole lot more knowledge. You can read about his complete history HERE. 

"We're (Carter Hall and his past lives) the living
Historical Document of the Universe."
Hawkman Vol. V No. 8 (March 2019)

   On a side note, it could be a good time for Hawkman to lose the bare chest harness look. The Hawkworld series introduced a full uniform (several actually), and except for the first, every live-action version has given him a full uniform or breastplate. This idea may seem radical to some, but it may be necessary moving forward. Green Lantern and Flash went through costume changes, so maybe it is time for Hawkman to make a change. One suggestion would be to go with what Michael Shanks wore in the Smallville series, or the costume Aldis Hodge wore in Black Adam. Both looked awesome. 

Michael Shanks in Smaville (2010) / Aldis Hodge in Black Adam (2022)

Empress Shayera Hol of Thanagar

Justice League No. 14 (February 2019)

 

   Shayera Hol is the partner and eternal companion of Hawkman. She was the daughter of Lord Thal Provis when Thanagar was destroyed by Despero in the Death of Hawkman series (2016-2017). She does not appear in the series, but her story was later revealed in bits and pieces through the comics and writers' interviews. You can read the details of her story HERE.
   She is the Empress and leader of the remaining Thanagarians in the universe. She supports the Justice League at times when the universe is threatened. As a reward for saving the universe from the Lord of the Void, an entity gave Shayera and Carter Hall an extremely long final life. 

   Shayera is as knowledgeable about the history of the universe as Hawkman, but while he enjoys exploring, discovering, and keeping records, she is more inclined to go into action. While Hawkman is more deliberate and cautious, Hawkwoman is more impulsive. She will strike first and ask questions later. She is one of the best fighters in the DCU, very capable with numerous weapons, an expert in Nth metal mechanics, and as skilled at flying as Hawkman, since she was also created with wings in her first life. 

Justice League No. 14 (February 2019)

   Shayera's rebuilding of Thanagar should get plenty of attention in any Hawkworld story. Scott Snyder actually had a great idea with Thanagar Prime. It was the ancestral home of the Thanagarians. There were gigantic golden wings around the planet, which kept the planet in several dimensions or planes at once. Because of the difficulty in finding it, many other civilisations kept their treasures and artifacts stored here. Horus, the Hawk-god made entirely of Nth metal, is currently searching for a new home for the Thanagarians. Why not bring this planet back? It's too good an idea to be tossed into the bin of barely used DC stories. 

Love and Partnership

   Carter and Shayera are one of the greatest and longest love stories in DC Comics history. Carter was once a murderous general who was created to serve an evil master, while Shayera was a herald angel who served a passive god who preferred not to interfere with the universe. Ever since they rebelled against their respective gods and were banished to their reincarnation cycle, they have lived countless lives at different times and on different planets throughout the universe. It has not yet been determined how long each has been alive, but it is probably safe to say that their first life was millions of years ago. Needless to say, their knowledge of the universe is vast.
   Carter and Shayera respect each other's positions and ambitions, so they spend a lot of time apart when it's necessary. However, their greatest joy and desire is to explore and discover the universe together. 

Powers

Hawkman Vol. V No. 24 (August 2020)

Hawkman and Hawkwoman have the following powers: 
Master Aerial Abilities
Flight speed that dodges bullets, lasers, and lightning
Healing 
Nth-metal enhanced sight, hearing, strength, and endurance 
Master in many Earth and alien fighting techniques 
Knowledge and experience from past lives 
Control of gravity, making things heavy or light 
Communication with birds

   Hawkman and Hawkwoman are nowhere near as strong as Superman or Wonder Woman, but they make up for it with their experience and weapons. Their primary power is flight. And with that power, they are going after their enemies with their weapons, wings, fighting expertise, durability, healing, super-strength, super-vision, vast knowledge gained from past lives, gravity powers, and their take-no-prisoners mindset. That is a pretty potent and terrifying mix. And don't forget that they are coming at you from two angles. Carter and Shayera know each other completely; their fighting styles, techniques, and temperament. They could and should be one of the most feared twosomes in the DCU. 

Nth Metal

JSA No. 24 (July 2021)

   Most of Hawkman and Hawkwoman's powers come from the Nth metal, as mentioned above.
Nth metal works slightly differently for whoever bonds with it. This metal has been mentioned quite often in DC Comics, but it has never been fully explained. It's basically been the shapeless, unidentified metal that is insanely powerful. Batman keeps some in his utility belt. Deathstroke wears some in his armour. The world of Nth metal needs to be explained. And other heroes should not be allowed to leech off it from Hawkman and Hawkwoman. 
   It is native to Thanagar. Thanagarians can master its use, while others can barely control it. This metal needs to be utilized more effectively and built up as one of the great weapons in the DCU. It can block Green Lantern constructs. It can disrupt magic. It can control gravity. It has healing powers. It has the power to give super-strength. The possibilities are endless, but DC Comics continues to treat it like a 1971 Ford Pinto while it's actually a 1966 Ford Mustang. 
   The potential for Nth metal is limitless. Let Hawkman and Hawkwoman explore and discover its powers. 

Weapons 

Art by Stjepan Sejic

   Hawkman's iconic weapon is the mace. In Venditti's series, the mace was a rod attached to his belt, and when he grabbed it, it formed into a mace, much like the lightsaber in the Star Wars movies. He also had a psychokinetic bond with his mace, so he was able to control its flight, and it flew back to him after he threw it. This makes perfect sense for a hero who flies high in the sky and throws around a heavy mace. 
   The mace should be extremely durable and one of the hardest metals in the DCU. It is also extremely heavy, so the average human would not be able to pick it up. It can disrupt magic, break through force fields, and break down power ring constructs. In the Black Adam movie, Carter was also able to change the mace into a huge axe. That would also be something that could be used in many interesting ways. 

Art by Paul Smith

   Hawkwoman's primary weapon has also been the mace, but she has been shown with many other weapons, including the spear. With her super-strength, vision, and experience, she would be able to spear a target with unbelievable force from miles away. The spear would also be made of Nth metal, so this weapon would be a devastating tool. 

JSA: Classified No. 22 (March 2007)

   One weapon that can not be overlooked is the Absorbascon. The Hawks do not need to rely on it so much, but in certain circumstances, it has proven to be a powerful tool when they need information. One idea would be for the Absorbascon to be connected to their Hawk helmets, giving them instant access whenever they need it. 

Art by Gerrado Zaffino

   Their wings have also been overlooked in their stories. These wings come from Nth metal, so they would be extremely durable and could serve as shields. They could also be used as an extra set of arms when fighting in hand-to-hand combat. In the Venditti series, Hawkman was also able to do an instant costume change by clicking on the Hawk logo on his harness. Much better than the wings popping out of a medalion or the full costume hanging in a closet in Midway City Museum! 

Superman Batman No. 4 (January 2004)

   Finally, let's not forget about Hawkman's most powerful weapon: the Claw of Horus. Forged from Nth metal by Prince Khufu (Hawkman), Teth-Adam (Black Adam), and Nabu (Dr. Fate), this weapon draws on the core of the planet to give the wearer amazing powers. It has not been used too often, but it recently showed up again in that DC K.O. thing. When Hawkman goes up against Superman-level enemies, this Nth metal gauntlet needs to be there. You can read about the weapon HERE. 

Homebase (Midway City, St. Roch, Soarship)

From the Hawkman Vol. V series by Robert Venditti (2018-2021)

   Superman has his Fortress of Solitude. Batman goes home to his Batcave. Wonder Woman's sanctuary is on Themyscira. Hawkman and Hawkwoman need a similar base. The Midway City Museum was shown in that way at times, but it is extremely open and vulnerable. The answer to this problem is the Soarship. This specific ship was introduced in the Venditti series in 2018, but it is absolutely badass. It has an Nth metal engine, can shrink down to enter the Microverse, it has a Zeta Beam transport system, and it holds all of Hawkman's weapons, the artifacts he has collected throughout his different lives, and all of the records he has kept. It could very possibly be one of the great collections of historical records and artifacts in the universe. It is hovering in orbit, cloaked and ready to beam the Hawks up in an instant. You can read more about the amazing Soarship HERE. 
   Midway City and St. Roch have also been the Hawks' home for a time. Shayera is rarely on Earth, and Carter is always away somewhere digging, so they really don't need a home, but they do have a vast amount of wealth, so it would make sense to have some place on Earth to call home. Hawkman in the Black Adam movie had an amazing mansion in St. Roch, Louisiana. This place was massive and served as a hangar for his spaceship. You can read about the mansion HERE. It has never appeared in the comics, but it wouldn't be too surprising for them to have something like that. One idea I did have was for them to have a home similar to The Eyrie in the Game of Thrones. It would be a place where it is almost impossible to get to unless you can fly, and it would easily have a place for the spaceships. 

Art by Ted Nasmith

Past Lives 

Prince Khufu and Chay-ara / The Silent Knight and Celia Pembrook / 
Nighthawk and Cinnamon / James 

   Some of the most interesting stories in Hawkman's comics history have been the short stories about his past lives. The material for these stories is limitless. Hawkman and Hawkwoman have lived thousands of lives on Earth and other planets. Something that was introduced in Gardner Fox's very first Hawkman story and then brought back in Robert Venditti's series was the memory trigger. An item, a person, and a location can help Hawkman remember his past life or even send him back in time for a short period. This idea alone could be the basis for a series. Every couple of issues, when Carter or Shayera come across an artifact, it sends them back to the time and place where they had a previous life. This would be a perfect tool to open up new stories and introduce more past lives. You can read my article about Memory Triggers HERE. 

Supporting Cast: Friends and Family (No Teams)

Surprisingly, Hawkman and Hawkwoman have a rather large family from their current or former lives.

   As you can see, the family connections of Hawkman and Hawkwoman are pretty extensive. They even include Superman and Wonder Woman. These family connections have never really been addressed in any specific way, but it would be interesting to see Superman have a chat with Hawkman about the latter being an ancestor of Jonathan Kent. 

The main family members would include:
 
Hawkgirl / Kendra Saunders
Granddaughter of Speed Saunders, Grand-niece of Shiera Saunders, partner of Carter Hall

Speed Saunders
Adventurer and detective who appeared in Detective Comics No. 1 (1937), cousin of Shiera Saunders, grandfather of Kendra Saunders 

Hector Hall / Silver Scarab 
Carter and Shiera's only son, husband to Lyta Trevor, father of Daniel Hall, god-brother of Norda Cantrell

Lyta Trevor / Fury
Married to Hector Hall, mother of Daniel Hall, daughter of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor

Daniel Hall / Dream of the Endless (Ruler of the Dreaming)
Son of Daniel Hall and Lyta Trevor, grandson of Carter Hall and Shiera Saunders

Norda Cantrell / Northwind
A Feitheran (half human, half Feitheran) who was taken in by Carter and Shiera as their godson and grew up with Hector as a brother

Fel Andar (Thanagarian spy and Hawkman imposter)
Shayera Thal's cousin

Charley Parker / C'hal Andar / Golden Eagle
Son of Fel Andar (Shayera Thal's cousin) and Sharon Parker 

Paran Katar
Father of Katar Hol, husband to Naomi Carter

Naomi Carter / Faraway Woman
A Cherokee woman who was the mother of Hawkworld's Katar Hol and the estranged wife of Paran Katar. 

Past stories of Hawkman have rarely explored the family relationships between Carter and Shayera. There could be some fascinating stories to be told here. 

As for friends, Hawkman has had more stories and interactions with them than with his actual family members. 

Ray Palmer / The Atom: Carter's best friend and confidant. You can read about their relationship HERE.
Adam Strange: Fellow archaeologist 
Richard Swift / The Shade (The cane he always carries was a gift from Carter many years ago)
Barry Allan / The Flash

Art by Ramona Fradon

Big Red: This was a sidekick of Hawkman's during the Golden Age and even appeared on some covers. He is one of the Hawks from Hawk Valley who taught Hawkman the bird language. This would be a fun addition to Hawkman's adventures. If not Big Red, then bring back Skreal from the Filmation cartoons of the late 60s! 

Other supporting characters:
Midway City Police Commissioner George Emmett
Joe Tracy, Midway City press agent
Stewart Frazier, Midway City police captain
Mavis Trent, art patron
Danny Evans, Stonechat Museum archaeologist 
Oliver Evans, Stonechat Museum curator
Andrew Grubbs, St. Roch police department detective
Tim Board, Carter Hall's assistant archivist (Hey, one can dream, right?!)

Villains 

Hath-set / The Gentleman Ghost / Lion-Mane / Byth / Onimar Synn
Shadow Thief / Count Viper / Fadeaway Man / Matter Master / Manhawks

   Hawkman and Hawkwoman's Rogues Gallery is greatly overlooked in the comics community. The Rogues Galleries of Batman or The Flash often get mentioned, but I would say the Hawks have a lineup of adversaries just as interesting and deep. Starting with Hath-set and the most recent Sky Tyrant, Hawkman has gone up against dozens of fascinating characters. I added ten of my own personal favorites in the montage above, but there are many others. Any new Hawkman writer would have a huge cast of villains to choose from.

Art by Pat Olliffe

   All heroes have their true arch-enemy. Batman has the Joker, Superman always runs into Lex Luthor and Green Lantern is always fighting off Sinestro. For Hawkman, that honor would have to go to Jim Craddock, aka The Gentleman Ghost. Many recent comic fans mistakenly think that the Gentleman Ghost is a Batman villain because of his appearances in Batman comics and TV shows, but the Gentleman Ghost first appeared as Hawkman's nemesis back in the 1940s and they have been running into each other ever since. If done correctly, the Gentleman Ghost can be an absolutely terrifying character who could star in his own horror film. 
   Hawkman and Gentleman Ghost are bound together through Hawkman's reincarnation cycle, and the Ghost must roam the Earth in ghost form until Hawkman dies. This links them together in many ways and would make for some great stories. 
   Other than the Gentleman Ghost, Shadow Thief, Lion-Mane, Byth, and Onimar Synn would round out Hawkworld's Fatal Five.  

Art by David Fitch

   Hawkman and Hawkwoman have a rich history that any writer can tap into and create some amazing stories. Robert Venditti cleared up the reincarnation storyline in his series and, as he put it, he "left the toy box full" for the next Hawkman writers. I listed ten essential things that I think would really add to any series featuring Hawkman and Hawkwoman, but I could easily expand on the list. It isn't happening now, but there is always the hope that DC Comics will someday realize the great characters they have and bring some amazing comics, TV shows, and movies for the fans to enjoy. Hawkman and Hawkwoman were created to soar. Someday they will soar again. 

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