Hawkman 80th Celebration: Hawkman: The Flight Continues

Art by Adam Kubert

“I am Carter Hall. I am Hawkman.

I am made to soar.”

                  From Hawkman Vol. V No. 1 (August 2018), Writer Robert Venditti

Ktar Deathbringer: Hero or Genocidal Murderer

In Hawkman Vol. V No. 7, released on December 12, 2018, Ktar Deathbringer appeared for the first time. According to writer Robert Venditti, he is the very first Hawkman, the Hawkman from which all other versions ever created came from. It is a shocking story about a murderous general who committed genocide with his army on planet after planet for many millennia. In this article, I want to take a look at the character and discuss why Venditti took the bold move of giving Hawkman such a dark, evil origin.

Hawkman 80th Celebration: The Best Comic Book Series

Hawkman first appeared in the comics on November 10, 1939, in Flash Comics No. 1. Since then, Hawkman has been featured in eight regular series and several mini-series, back-up features and one-off issues. The Winged Wonder has been written and drawn by many of the greatest writers and artists in comics since the very beginning. Whenever I'm asked to come on a podcast or YouTube video, I'm always asked which series is my favorite. This question is always a tough one because it's impossible to choose just one. As comic book fans, we all have those issues that stay with us through the years. It can be for any reason; the writing, the art, or the characters. But when that special comic comes at a certain time in our lives, it stays with us and becomes a part of our own history. Comics have that kind of magic when it all comes together. As a Hawkfan, there are issues that stand out in my memory. There are series that I enjoyed more than others, and when I want to read my favorite hero again, I instinctively reach for those favorites. For this article, I've chosen the five series that have stayed with me and have remained my favorites over the years. In chronological order;

Board Review of Hawkman No. 17: Darkness Within: Black Mantle

   Hawkman has been a hero who always seems to have a rage inside of him. We've seen stories where the rage came bursting out in full force. And when it's a character who carries around a spiked mace, the end result can be brutal. In the climax of the Shadow Thief story, we see it once again.

 

Board Review of Hawkman No. 16: "Darkness Within: Old Ghosts"

   It’s DC Comics’ year of the villain, and Hawkman No. 16 brought us villains from every direction. We got Gentleman Ghost, arguably the most popular Hawk-villain in a flashback, a former villain-turned-ally in the Shade, Shadow Thief, arguably the most famous Hawk-villain all powered up, a giant shadow dragon, and the apparent arrival of the Earth-3 Hawkman Sky Tyrant. Wow, this book was fun!

Board Review of Hawkman No. 15: "Darkness Within: Shades of Former Selves"

   

   "An enemy unseen is an enemy seen everywhere." These words from Carter Hall's journal sets the stage for part two of Hawkman's battle with the Shadow Thief. After the attack by the new-and-improved Shadow Thief in the last issue, Hawkman realizes he can't fight his enemy alone, and in this issue, we get to see who he goes to for help.

Board Review of Hawkman No. 14: "Darkness Within: Shadowed"

   What makes Hawkman interesting? I often get that question, and I have many answers. His image, his weapons, his relationship with Hawkgirl, his rogues’ gallery, his relationships with other heroes, and the list goes on. In the current series, we find an immensely interesting character by writer Robert Venditti. Venditti has recreated a character by giving him countless lives and memories that stretch across time and space, and the hero’s journey of exploration and discovery to find truth and atonement. It’s been a captivating series and issue No. 14 yet again brings up several things that make Hawkman one of the most diverse and deepest characters that DC Comics has to offer.

The Hawkworld Comic Giveaway Contest

You can win a free copy of Hawkman No. 14! Since the new Hawkman series by Robert Venditti started last year, I've given away the Hawkman issues, the Hawkman TPB and the Hawkman companion to over 40 lucky winners! If you have Twitter, come over and like the tweet, retweet it and post a reply to enter the contest. On July 10 at 9 a.m. EST, I'll pick a random winner and announce it on here and on Twitter! Altered Ego Comics in Orange Park, Florida will get the book to you! If the book is already ordered, go ahead and enter and if you win, give the book to someone who you think might enjoy it! All of this is an effort to make Hawkman a long-running series, so keep supporting Hawkman! 

LINK to Twitter post 

Board Review of Hawkman No. 13: "On Common Ground"

With the first year and the origin story of Hawkman completed, we wondered where writer Robert Venditti would take us for the standalone issue. After the big climax in the last issue, it's natural to assume that this issue would be a bit of a breather, but Rob stepped up and gave us one of the best issues in Hawkman's history. Some of the standalone issues from Hawkman Vol. 4 (2002-2006) are some of the best issues of the series, and this issue is right up there with those. Over the past year, Venditti has shown us what he can do when he can build up a story gradually, and now we see what he can do with one issue. This review is full of spoilers so if you haven’t read the comic yet, don’t spoil it. Go buy the comic, read it and then come back to read the review.

Fan Theory connecting the Current Hawkman and Shayera Hol to the Savage Hawkman

One of my favorite pastimes is to tie all of the continuities of Hawkman into one character. In the current Hawkman series, Robert Venditti has brilliantly put all of the past Hawkmen on one foundation. He has made an origin that explains all the Hawkmen and why Hawkman does what he does. It changes everything about Hawkman but also leaves everything that has happened in the past intact. However, a new challenge for fans came up when Shayera Hol and the Savage Hawkman showed up in Justice League No. 14-16 (February-March 2019).

Board Review of Hawkman No. 12: "Out of Many, One"

Caution: There are some spoilers ahead so read at your own peril or come back after you've read the issue!

When we set out on a journey of exploration and discovery with Hawkman twelve months ago, we wondered how the hero we know as Carter Hall would be changed. How will his story be written this time? What kind of hero will writer Robert Venditti and artist Bryan Hitch bring us? The answer turns out to be everything and nothing, both at the same time. The core of Hawkman remains unchanged. He is the superhero of flight. He is the superhero of the sky. He carries a mace. He is from Egypt. He is from Thanagar. Shiera is the love of his life. He is an archaeologist. He remains the hero we’ve always known.

Great Venditti/Hitch Interview by Den of Geek!

Den of Geek has a GREAT interview with both Hawkman writer Robert Venditti and artist Bryan Hitch about Hawkman issue No. 12 and where the series will go from here. This is a must-read for the fans of the current Hawkman series! LINK 

Ranking the Bryan Hitch Hawkman Covers From Best to Most Awesome!

With Bryan Hitch's run on the Hawkman series ending, here's a look back at the covers from No. 1 to No. 12. I gave them a ranking of the covers from best to most awesome. There are no bad covers here. Every cover is amazing. With colors by Alex Sinclair, Bryan Hitch brought us 12 amazing covers of our favorite hero. So counting down from No. 12, here they are:

Wanted: A Hawkman/Hawkwoman Comic!

Art by Stjepan Sejic (Hawkman) and Jim Lee (Hawkgirl)

Since last summer, Hawkman and Hawkgirl have been in some great comics. Hawkman has been in his own monthly series by Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch. Hawkgirl has been a central figure in the bi-weekly Justice League series. Although the Hawkman series has been gradually dropping in sales (18k in March 2019), both series are getting great reviews. Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV are writing a new and interesting Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders, while Venditti has been reinventing the origin and character of Carter Hall.

Hawkgirl Day 2019

Art by Jim Lee

Happy Hawkgirl Day to the Hawkgirl fans all over the world! Ever since Hawkworld started a few years ago, we have celebrated April 25th as Hawkgirl Day. Today I want to look back at how my fascination with Hawkgirl started, talk about how she has evolved, and then share the reason why I am so excited about her future.

About the artists taking on Hawkman after Bryan Hitch.

Covers for Hawkman Bryan (12), Will Conrad (13), Roger Robinson (14)

With Bryan Hitch leaving the Hawkman series after issue No. 12 (release date May 8th), there has been some speculation about the artists for the following issues. We've seen the solicitations for June and July. For issue No. 13, Will Conrad is doing the artwork. We were wondering if he was going to continue but the July solicitations show us that Pat Olliffe and Tom Palmer are doing the art for No. 14. So some fans were wondering if this was going to continue; a different artist for each issue. And that sometimes means the series is in trouble.

Board Review of Hawkman No. 11: "A Cast of Hawks"

By Tim Board

We all read comics books for different reasons. To experience the joy, the horror, the suspense, the exhilaration, the madness or the silliness. We pick up a comic book in expectation of how it will make us feel while reading it. We always have an opinion about it, whether it was good or bad. Some comics books surprise us, make us gasp in surprise, laugh out loud, and even get a bit emotional. When that happens, that comic book stays in our memory, making us smile when we remember back to when we first read it.

Hawk Talk Episode #5: How I fell in awe with Hawkman

Hawk Talk Episode #4 is up! LINK

1. Contents
2. Get the Hawkman Comic! 
3. How I fell in awe with Hawkman 
4. Upcoming Hawkman and Hawkgirl comics 
5. This week in Hawkworld History: Happy Birthday, Katar!

Hawk Talk Episode #4: The Continuity of the Current Hawkman

Hawk Talk Episode #4 is up! Link 

1. Contents
2. Get the Hawkman comic!
3. The continuity of Hawkman/Carter Hall in the current Hawkman series. 
3. This week in Hawkworld History
4. Upcoming comics with Hawkman and Hawkgirl
5. Reminder for Hawkgirl Day, April 25th

Hawk Talk Episode #3: Hawkman No. 10 / Bryan Hitch Leaving the Series

Hawk Talk Episode No. 3 is up!  Link

1. Today's content
2. Get the Hawkman comic!
3. Bryan Hitch's Ideas for Hawkman's Costume and Mace
4. Review of Hawkman No. 11
5. This Week in Hawkworld History
6. Upcoming Hawkman Comics
7. Reminder for Hawkgirl Day
8. Bryan Hitch Leaving the Hawkman Series