The Universe of Hawkman: Single or Multiple Timelines

The Hawk Universe by Tim Board

   "Hawkman is confusing." "Hawkman is complicated." "Hawkman is convoluted." The three Cs of Hawkworld continuity. Each statement has become a tiring cliche but articles about Hawkman often start with one of the three statements. Over the years, DC has tried (and failed repeatedly) to streamline their universe for whatever reason. Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinte Crisis, New 52, Flashpoint, Rebirth, Dawn of Dc and on and on it goes. 

   As a Hawkman fan, I have fully gotten on board with this idea of everything having to be continuous and connected. "Less important" heroes and other characters have often gotten the short end of the stick in these fix-it crisises, and stories like "The Last Days of the Justice Society," Zero Hour Crisis in Time," and "Metal" have been used as quick fixes to plug the holes that the Trinity-favored crisises left behind. 

Hawkman Covers: A Showcase of Motion Frozen in Time

Hawkman Vol. 1 No. 12 (Feb-Mar 1966) / Art by Murphy Anderson

Hawkman {May 1964 - September 1968, 27 issues}

Article by Chris Gia 

In comics, judging a book by its cover is not only natural, it’s the business model. The cover must command attention instantly, with a distinguishing image on a crowded newsstand.

A powerful cover communicates tone, genre, and urgency before the first panel is even turned. Hawkman’s covers, with their sweeping wingspans and mythic staging, exemplify this principle, demanding the reader not only notice but commit, convinced that what waits inside will soar just as high.

The Modern Comic Age begins in June 1961, when Marvel publishes its first title under the new corporate banner. And it’s one of the greatest artists of all time, Joe Kubert, who reinvented Hawkman for this new, exciting era on Brave and the Bold. However, it was Murphy Anderson, firmly ensconced in DC’s bullpen, who produced 44 covers in total and got the reins to start Hawkman.

How to tell the difference between Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) and Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol).

Kendra Saunders (Hawkgirl) and Shayera Hol (Hawkwoman)

   The differences between Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) and Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol)! Some fans appear to be confused by which is which so here are the basics. Side note: The Superman movie version has absolutely nothing to do with either of them. Completely unrelated Gunn version. So...sorry DCU fans. That's a whole unrelated matter entirely. It could have been, but the movies decided to go with a version completely new and unrelated to anything in the comics.

Featured Articles on Hawkworld

The Complete Guide to the History of Hawkman and Hawkgirl (1940-2025) 

The Ultimate List of Hawkman/Hawkgirl Comics

The History of Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol) and Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) 

The History of the Live-Action Hawkman and Hawkgirl 

The Hawkworld Art Gallery (Over 300 pictures and growing!) 

Hawkgirl Movie News and Updates

Hawkworld Social Media Links 

Use the search bar (top right of the desktop version) to find what you are looking for! Over 500 articles!

Video Short of Hawkworld Collection!

Collecting is one of the joys of a superhero/comics fan! 
 I've been a fan of Hawkman since 1977 and I've been collecting Hawkman-related stuff ever since. I recently had to downsize my collection to make some room but I hope to pull everything out of storage and put it back up again soon! 

Hawkgirl in Superman (2025) News and Updates

   It's official! It's been announced that Hawkgirl will be in DCU's Superman. The movie is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2025. This post will follow all the news and updates about Hawkgirl's role in the film. The newest posts will be on top. Come back often to check up on the movie's updates for Hawkgirl! 

Here are Isabela Merced's Instagram, IMDb, and Wikipedia pages! 

DC Universe Wiki  

Caution: Now that the movie is out, there are spoilers ahead, so watch the movie first! 

Click here for the Hawkgirl/Isabela Merced Gallery!

July 12: Hawkworld (Tim Board) Review of Superman　

August: Superman star says she'd instantly say yes to a solo Hawkgirl movie with James Gunn, who's "prioritizing" quality over "the most money": "And I'm not just saying that to get my own movie"

July 27: Shots of Hawkgirl from the movie! After some searching over the last few days, I found these shots of Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) from Superman! 

Have a Question about Hawkman or Hawkgirl?

Have a question about Hawkman or Hawkgirl?
Ask me anything about Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Hawkwoman, or anything else related to Hawkworld! I’ll do my best to answer and post the question and answer here on Hawkworld.org!

Benjamin Thomas: How do the wings work? I know there are Nth-Metals symbols on the chests, but how the Hawks fly with wings? How do they make them move?

Over the years it's changed a bit, but basically the Nth metal is in the helmet, harness and belt. Currently, it's also in the wings and mace. The Nth metal appears to work differently for the user, but it basically negates gravity, increases strength, and gives healing powers. The wings are more for speed and agility in the air. If Hawkman lost his wings, he could still fly, just not as fast or controlled. The Nth metal is controlled by the mind of whoever is wearing it. So Hawkman can just think, and his wings pop out of his harness or his mace will fly back to him.
The wings are a bit differnt for Hawkman/Hawwoman and Hawkgirl. While Hawkman and Hawkwoman's wings come out of their uniform or harness, Hawkgirl's is more organic and come right out of her back when she needs them. Here's my article on Nth metal. Discovering Nth Metal

New History of the DC Universe No. 2: Thanagar Vanishes

 Hawkworld Review of New History of the DC Universe No. 2 

After a pretty poor effort in explaining the Hawks in the first issue, I was a bit afraid to go into the second issue that covers the silver and bronze issues. But I took the plunge and found just a few references about Hawkman and Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman. 

Hawkgirl Articles From Various Sites: Beef up your Hawkgirl knowledge before the upcoming Superman movie!

 

Lots of Hawkirl articles are starting to come up before her debut on the silver screen in the Superman movie. Here is a list of Hawkgirl articles. I'll keep adding to the list for all the Hawkgirl fans interested in keeping up with her! 
Of course you can always go to "The Complete History of Hawkman and Hawkgirl" and "The Story of Shayera Hol/Hawkwoman and Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl" articles by some crazy Hawkfan. 

Comicbook:  Hawkgirl Has a Complicated History (But This is the Best Version of the Character)

Comicbook: All of the Versions of Hawkgirl, Ranked 

MSN: The Strange History Of DC Comics' Hawkgirl 

MSN Article on Hawkgirl

With Hawkgirl appearing in the upcoming Superman movie, she is starting to get a lot of attention from comics and other entertainment sites. MSN just put out an article titled "The Strange History Of DC Comics' Hawkgirl." 

It is broken into 13 chapters so go check it out

Hawkman among Worst Ever Retcons

Hawkman Vol. 3 No. 13

Zero Hour: Crisis in Time No. 3

Retcons in comics are as common as fleas on a dog. They've been doing it forever and it seems like they need to do it once every two or three years lately. Hawkman has been a part of, and often a victim of that process. He has been retconned numerous times over the past few decades and it takes a comics book fan with a doctorate in Hawkology from the University of Thanagar to sort it all out. Seven hells, that's part of the fun of being a Hawkfan. 

The Story of Shayera Hol/Hawkwoman and Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl

By Tim Board

   Since the release of the Dark Nights Metal series in 2017-18, Hawkfans have been wondering when Hawkman and Hawkgirl were going to get back together. The current Hawkman series kicked off in June 2018, but Hawkgirl was not a part of the series. We saw her in some of her past lives; Chay-ara, Shayera Thal, and Sherra, but we never saw her as Hawkgirl in the first 18 issues. That all changed in the final 11 issues. We also saw Hawkwoman and Hawkgirl face off in the Justice League series (#14-16). This article is to explain who Hawkgirl and Hawkwoman are and their connection to Hawkman.

DC Comics August 2025 Solicitations for Hawkman and Hawkgirl

DC Comics' solicitations for August 2025 are out. I managed to find three comics with the Hawks. If I come across more, I'll add them to the list.

  

JSA #10 Variant Cover by Jorge Corona

JSA #10 Cover by Leonardo Romero

JSA No. 10 
Release Date: August 6 

DC's 45 Strongest Chracters: Where Does Hawkman Rank

   CBR recently put out a list of DC's 45 strongest characters in the DCU. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to see Hawkman ion this list but he just snuck in at No. 44. That's pretty impressive, considering all the powerhouses that the DCU has. The Nth Metal added with Hawkman's expertise with the metal is a pretty potent mix. The article doesn't even mention his ultimate weapon; the Claw of Horus. If you add that, he would probably move up even a few more spots. We recently saw Hawkman give Black Adam (No. 6 on the list) a good fight in the latter's movie, and Hawkman also sent Superman hurtling into a mountain back in Superman Batman Public Enemies (2009). Let's hope we get to see Hawkgirl showcased just as well in the upcoming movie. 

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever (Hawkman Comics)

 Doing some spring cleaning and decided to line up most of my Hawkman Comics for a group photo before putting them back on the shelf. A thing of beauty is a joy forever! 

Back on the shelf! 

Trades, too! 

Bonus! Signed Hawkman Vol. V issues 1-29! (Gift from Robert Venditti!)

 

The Greatest Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman Stories

By Tim Board

Art by Ed Coutts

On April 25, 1941, in All-Star Comics No. 5, Shiera Sanders became Hawkgirl for the first time, and so began the story of one of the most famous and recognizable characters in the history of DC Comics. Hawkgirl may have been a sort of sidekick to Hawkman in the beginning, but she is no man's sidekick now. She is one of the most interesting and powerful characters in comics, with her own set of powers, abilities, and history. I could have gone into her history to celebrate Hawkgirl Day 2020, but this year I thought I would list my favorite Hawkgirl stories. I'm sure every Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman fan has their own favorites, so my apologies in advance if they aren't on the list. I also tried to do a countdown of best stories, but that proved to be difficult since I like them equally. So here are my favorite Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman stories in chronological order. Let us know which is your favorite in the comments!

DC Comics Solicitations July 2025

 The solicitations for DC Comics' July 2025 were released. Hawkman and Hawkgirl show up in four releases. One new issue and three trades. 

Review of Green Lantern Corps No. 3 (Hawkwoman!)

    

   Green Lantern Corps No. 3 came out on April 9 and Holy Horus. I wasn't expecting something like this to happen out of nowhere in a non-Hawkman book, but seeing how things how gone in DC Comics lately, I wasn't all that surprised. Short-term gain, long term chaos seems to be the road map for DC now. This review of GLC No. 3 will be full of spoilers, so go read the first three issues of the series before you scroll down. By the seven hells, you've been warned. 

DC Finest: Hawkman - Wings Across Time

 News for another trade for Hawkman Comics! The Silver Age Hawkman will get a collection of his earliest stories from 1960-1966! It will include the following:
The Brave and the Bold #34-36, #42-44
Mystery in Space #87-90 
The Atom #7 (Hawkman and Atom's first meeting) 
Hawkman Vol. 1 #1-16 (of 27 issues) 

It will be 560 pages and cost a reasonable $39.99!  It comes out on August 19, 2025!  Here's an announcement about the book on Penguin Random House.

Check out the other trades that are available for Hawkman here!  

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DC Comics Solicitations June 2025

Art by Scott Knoblish

   DC Comics June 2025 solicitations are out! Hawkman and Hawkgirl continue their run in the JSA series, but there is no mention or sighting of Hawkwoman in the Green Lantern Corps this month. There is a new series by Mark Waid called The New History of the DC Universe. It appears to be the history or DC through the eyes of Barry Allan, at least the first issue is. Not expecting much from this, but we'll see what happens. Here are the details for the three comics, including Green Lantern Corps.