July 19: This Day in Hawkworld History

July 19th is the day when two significant issues in Hawkworld history were released: Hawkman Vol. 3 No. 13 and Legend of the Hawkman No.1. 

Hawkman Vol. 3 No. 13 
Cover Date: September 1994
Release Date: July 19, 1994 

Script: William Messner-Loebs Pencils: Steve Lieber Inks: Curt Shoultz Colors: Matt Webb Letters: Albert DeGuzman Editing: Archie Goodwin (credited) (group editor); Jim Spivey Cover: Steve Lieber (pencils), Rick Magyar (inks), Matt Webb (colors)  This is the famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, when Katar Hol was merged with Carter Hall and the Hawk avatar. When it first came out, it was thought that Shiera Saunders-Hall was also in the mix, but over the years, the theory has been that Shiera was actually killed at this time. This happened a few years before Kendra Saunders showed up on the scene, so it's been said that Shiera's soul entered Kendra at this time. But that's a discussion for another day.  This was DC's attempt to "fix" Hawkman, and they tried so hard that they put the same story in Zero Hour Crisis in Time No. 3 (released a couple of days later). But this only made it worse, causing DC to shut down Hawkman a couple of years later and ignore him for the next five years. A baffling, bittersweet issue.  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Legend of the Hawkman No. 1  Cover Date: September 2000 Release Date: July 19, 2000 Script: Ben Raab Pencils/Inks: Michael Lark Colors: Lee Loughridge Letters: Willie Schubert Editing: Mike Carlin Cover: Michael Lark (pencils/inks), Lee Loughridge (colors) When people ask me about my favorite Hawkman series, I always make sure I mention this one. It's only three issues, and it's a non-continuity story based on the Silver Age Hawkman, but it is truly one of the hidden gems in Hawkman's history. We get to see more of Katar and Shayera's relationship on an extremely emotional level. Thanagar's culture and religion are expanded on. And the theme of love, friendship, and faith just hits home. If you have never had a chance to pick this one up, I definitely recommend it. It's a must for Hawkfans.