Hawkman's Super Spaceship: The Soarship

   Every superhero has a lair of some sort. Superman has his Fortress of Solitude. Batman has his Batcave. Hawkman has his lair as well. It's never really been acknowledged, but it's been there since the beginning of the Silver Age. In the most recent Hawkman series, Hawkman Vol. V (2018-2021), Rovert Venditti brought back Hawkman's spaceship and made it into such a lair that even Batman would envy. 

   Ever since Hawkman entered the Silver Age as a Thanagarian, he has had a spaceship in many of his stories. These spaceships have played an important role in many of his stories. Some lasted for years, while others only showed up briefly. Before we get into the main topic, here's a quick rundown of the spaceships that Hawkman has used in the past. 

Shayera Thal: The Most Tragic Heroine in DC Comics History

   In 1989, comics fans were introduced to a new Hawkwoman in the Hawkworld series by Tim Truman. Shayera Thal was unlike any Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman we had ever seen in the 50 years since her debut in the 1940s. This Hawkman was brash, hot-tempered, and usually hit first before she thought to ask questions. She definitely kept Katar Hol/Hawkman on his toes and they often clashed over their very different ways of approaching a problem. She disappeared from comics in 1996, returned briefly in the mid -2000s before her death in the Rann-Thanagar War. Even after 20 years, Shayera remains one of the fans' favorite characters in the history of Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman.  

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. 

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.

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

How to add Hawkman and Hawkwoman to the DCU

  With Superman getting a successful kickoff to the DCU, there will probably be a lot more DCU news coming in the next few months. Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) got enough screen time to make fans want more. Currently, there is no news, rumors or anything else out there that involves the Hawks. The only thing we've seen is that Merced mentioned the desire to see Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders get involved with GreenLantern/John Stewart. What's the best way to get the Hawks involved in the DCU? 

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.

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!

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. 

CBR: This Controversial Green Lantern Corps Romance Needs to Be Avoided at All Costs

 

   The fan backlash against Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol II) apparently being paired up with John Stewart continues in another great article by Timothy Blake Donohoo. Shayera recently has appeared in the Green Lantern Corps series by Jeremy Adams and Morgan Hampton. When Shayera went to the Green Lanterns for help after Thanagar was destroyed, it was apparent that she has some sort of history with John Stewart. No details have been given, but John Stewart appeared to dread seeing her again. Shayera seemed a bit flirty with him in a couple of scenes. Donohoo focuses on John Stewart's position in the DC universe, or lack of one, but also reminds readers how great the Hawkman series by Robert Venditti was for the Hawks and how it brought them back together. 

Review of Green Lantern Corps No. 2 (Hawkwoman!)

Green Lantern Corps No. 1

Green Lantern Corps No. 2

    Hawkwoman has finally made her return to the DC Universe in the Green Lantern Corps series. As far as we know, this is still the version we saw in the Hawkman series by Robert Venditti (2019-2021, issues No. 18-29). She is Shayera Hol, the Empress of Thanagar and the eternal love of Hawkman (Carter Hall III). They were finally freed from their reincarnation curse and chose to live their last life together. We've seen them in short stories during the past few years, traveling the universe together. 

DC's Love is a Battlefield (2021)

Dear CBR, Hawkman and Hawkwoman are not over!

   DC's Lex and the City was released on January 29 and we got a bit of a surprise with a 10-page Hawkman story at the very end. I've already written my own review, but I saw a CBR article and I have to give my two cents on that article as well. 

   The CBR article is titled "DC's Most Popular Relationship Is Over" and it pretty much jumps to the conclusion that Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) and Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol) have both abandoned Hawkman (Carter Hall), leaving him alone and pining for Shiera. 

   But reading the article, it's not that conclusive. It just states where things stand now. We all know that nothing in comics is ever permanent, so the title is just a bit of a clickbait, but I have to disagree with a couple of things. 

Jeremy Adams Hints at a Relationship between Hawkwoman and John Stewart.

JSA No. 6

Green Lantern Corps No. 3

   In the current Green Lantern Corps series, Hawkwoman will be making an appearance in March. She will be fighting alongside John Stewart and some of the other Green Lanterns to save Thanagar. First, here are some comments that Jeremy Adams made about Hawkwoman in a recent interview (from Newsorama):

The Nth Anniversary of Hawkworld!

Hawkworld (Originally called Hawkman Winged Warrior) First Group Banner by Joe Prado

     January 15, 2025 is the Nth anniversary of Hawkworld! I started Hawkworld on Facebook back in 2016 and what a ride it has been. When I was a kid reading comics, I sent out a few letters to the comics, but my letters were never published. I could only dream about interacting with the creators of the characters that I loved reading about. When I began Hawkworld on Facebook, I never expected for that to change. I just wanted to start a place where I could talk about Hawkman and interact with my fellow Hawkfans. What happened is something I never expected, and it still leaves me a bit blown away when I think about all that has happened. Here are some of the highlights during the last nine years with Hawkworld. 

Predictions for Hawkworld 2025

Predictions and Hopes for Hawkworld 2025

   It's been a slow few years for Hawkman and Hawkwoman. Ever since the end of the Hawkman series in 2021 and Justice League in 2022, it's been a long run of cameos, cover art appearances, and a few sudden appearances here and there with a line or two at best. Hawkgirl has had it a bit better, with her continued appearances with the Justice League, and the announcement of her role in the upcoming Superman movie. We'll ignore that disastrous Hawkgirl mini-series and just move on like it never happened. 

   So what will we see for the Hawks in 2025? Here are a few bold predictions for 2025. 

Make Hawkman Simple?

Art by Cully Hamner

  

   DC Comics' Absolute Universe has kicked off. While none of it has caught my interest, it's impossible to avoid seeing articles and posts about what is going on with the event. I make it a point to read the articles that mention Hawkman and I came across an article that left me scratching my head. 
   In the CBR article by Timothy Blake Donohoo, the following is mentioned and suggested:

How long have the Hawks existed?

 DC's 20 Oldest Heroes, Ranked By Age

CBR put out a ranking of the top 20 oldest DC heroes, and both Hawkman and Hawkwoman are on the list. Hawkman's first life as General Ktar of the Deathbringers and Hawkwoman's first life as Shrra the Herald. It's impossible to know when they first came into existence. They both lived an incredibly long time before their reincarnation cycle of thousands of lives even began. 
 Hawkman is listed at No. 12. He appears to have been created by the Lord of the Void for the purpose of conquering planets and as Hawkman Vol. V No. 7 (February 2019) indicates, Ktar was alive and active for a very long time before he finally broke free of the Lord of the Void's control with Shrra's help/ My guess would be at least 100,000 years old but it could be even longer than that. 
 Hawkwoman comes in at No. 6 as she is probably even older. The fact that she was a herald of the god entity that appears in the issue mentioned above would indicate that she was created at the beginning of this god's existence.  
 There is no doubt that Hawkman and Hawkwoman have been arround for an extremely long time. Their knowledge of history and their expertise gathered from their previous lives is criminally underused by DC Comics writers. It would be a fascinating subject to explore and it would set the Hawks apart from most DC characters. 
 It appears that they sometimes forget some of their past lives until they come across a place or an artifact that triggers their memories and helps them remember. In Hawkman's very first appearance in Flash Comics No. 1 (January 1940), Gardner Fox set this up beautifully with the Nth metal knife that caused Carter Hall to remember his life as Prince Khufu of Egypt. Robert Venditti used the same method to help Hawkman rememeber his past lives on Krypton and other places. This would be an interesting thread for a writer to tackle someday. Even a TV show that introduces a different memory trigger each week would be very interesting. The possibilities are countless. 
 What do you think? How long do you think the Hawks have existed? Let us know what you think in the comments!  

Hawkworld News (May-June 2024)

The last two months continued to be quiet for the Hawks. The solicitations for August and September offered nothing new for Hawkman or Hawkgirl. It looks like we'll pass 4 years without a Hawkman comic since Robert Venditti's series ended in November 2024. The current event called Absolute Power has nothing to do with the Hawks. It's almost as if they have been wiped off the DC map for now. Here's to hoping it will get better soon. Here is what we got during May and June. 

Art by Alan Quah

Art by Dan Hipp