Art by Prentis Rollins (2017, Commissioned by Tim Board)

Nov 16, 2023

Now Just a Hawkworld Minute #004: Friend or Foe

 

   The friendship of Hawkman and Atom (Ray Palmer) is well-known among DC Comics fans. Ever since they first met back in Atom #7 in 1963, the heroes' friendship has been one of the strongest in the DCU. Hawkman values his friendships greatly. We have seen it in his friendships with Adam Strange and Barry Allen as well. But something very unexpected was revealed in Hawkman Vol. V #16 (Nov. 2019). 

   Through reincarnation, Hawkman is practically immortal. He has lived life after life through thousands, possibly millions of years. He has had to say goodbye to countless friends and family, again and again and again. That much loss has to take a toll, even if he is Hawkman. 

   In the issue written by Robert Venditti, Carter Hall teamed up with The Shade (Richard Swift) to defeat the Gentleman Ghost. After their victory, Carter presents Richard with a gift, a cane with a handle that looks like a Hawk. At first, Richard refuses, but Carter insists he take it and calls him a friend. 

   Venditti mentioned in an interview that Carter desired a friend who wouldn't die on him. A friend that would be around as long as he will be. When they defeated the Gentleman Ghost, Carter sensed some good in Richard, and here was someone who could be a friend whom he would not have to say goodbye to. Carter's desire to have a long-lasting friendship and his gift to Richard Swift is an unexpectedly endearing moment in the long history of Hawkman. 

Hawkman Vol. V #16
(November 2019)


Nov 14, 2023

Now Just a Hawkworld Minute! #003: It's All in the First Story

#003: It's All in the First Story   

   Hawkman and Hawkgirl first appeared in Flash Comics No. 1 (released on November 20, 1939), and they have evolved in many ways over the years. Yes, their costumes, weapons, and even origins have changed in some ways, but if a comics fan ever wants to understand the basics of the characters, they can go to the very first story by Gardner Fox. In this very first story, we can find the origin and keys to every Hawkman story. Carter Hall (Prince Khufu) and Shiera Sanders (Chay-ara) appeared together and reincarnation was introduced as a focal point of their story. A variation of similar-sounding names has continued to connect them to the silver age of comics and beyond. Carter Hall was introduced as a wealthy research scientist and archaeologist who owned a huge collection of ancient weapons and artifacts. We were also introduced to the origin of Hawkman's costume, powers, and weapons. Hawkman was the first DC Comics hero to fully have the power of flight, even before Superman or Green Lantern. The Nth Metal (Ninth Metal) which gives Hawkman his powers also made its first appearance in the very first story. It served as a memory trigger that would later be used in future stories. Their very first villain made his debut here as well. Hath-Set (Anton Hastor) would continue to show up and battle the Hawks over the years. Seeing how the foundation of Hawkman has remained mostly intact throughout the decades, you can see the genius of the creator.

Flash Comics No. 1 
(January 1940)

Golden Age Archives Hawkman No. 1
(February 2006)


Famous First Edition
(August 1975)

Secret Origins No. 11
(February 1987)

Nov 13, 2023

Now Just a Hawkworld Minute: Wings!


#002: Wings! Strap-On or Organic?
   Hawkman's wings have been different over the years. From 1939 -1994, they were strapped on his back. the Golden Age Carter Hall I, Silver to Bronze Age Katar Hol I, and Hawkworld's Katar Hol II all had strap-on wings. When Katar Hol II merged with Carter Hall I and the Hawk avatar, he had organic wings that emerged from his back for the first time. New Earth's Carter Hall II (Geoff Johns' version, 2001-2011) also had strap-on wings. The New 52 Katar Hol III (2011-2017) had the Nth metal in his body, much like Venow in Marvel Comics, and his wings, costume, and weapons automatically came out whenever it sensed that he needed it. 

Nov 12, 2023

New Feature! Just a Hawkworld Minute!

Read up on a Hawkman/Hawkgirl fact in one minute! This is a new feature for the Hawkworld blog. Let me know what you think in the comments!


#001: The Origin of Hawkman

Hawkman Vol. V No. 7
(February 2019)

Hawkman Vol. V No. 25
(August 2020)

#001 Ktar the Deathbringer and Shrra the Herald 
Millions of years ago, the Lord of the Void (LOTV) existed in another dimension. He desired to enter other dimensions and rule over them, so he created an army of winged soldiers called the Deathbringers. Ktar was also created at this time. He was the general of the LOTV's army and served the entity without question. For millions of years, Ktar and the Deathbringers would conquer planet after planet, sacrificing the people to the LOTV, which gradually gave the entity the power to enter other dimensions to conquer and destroy. 

Hawkman and Hawkgirl News and Info (November 5-11)

The updates on Hawkman and Hawkgirl during the week of November 5-11!


Ranking the Best and Worst of the Total Justice and JLA Action Figure Lines (Batman News) 
The Hawkman figure of the line comes in at No. 23 and No. 9. The No. 23 version is everywhere. I've never seen the No. 9 version. 

No. 23!

No. 9!


8000 members! (Hawkworld Facebook)
Hawkworld Facebook reached 8000 members a few days ago. Hawkworld has several groups on multiple sites, but this is the first group of Hawkfans to reach 8000 members! It took eight years, but the group is as active as ever. 


November 10 was the third anniversary of the final issue of Robert Venditti's Hawkman series being released. There has been very little for the Hawks in the last three years. Click the link to see where they have appeared during the last three years. 


Hawkman Day (Hawkworld) 
Hawkman Day was started back in the first year that I started Hawkworld (2016), and many sites have acknowledged November 20 as Hawkman Day since Hawkman appeared for the first time in the comics on November 20, 1939. Hawkman Day has even been mentioned in the biography of Gardner Fox by author Jennifer DeRoss. DC Comics has yet to acknowledge it in any way shape or form. While numerous DC heroes and villains have received a 20th, 75th, or 80th-anniversary issue to celebrate the special day, Hawkman and Hawkgirl have not. I doubt DC even realizes that it passed them by.  Click the link for the article I posted on the 80th anniversary 4 years ago. Also, the collage is what I put together to celebrate the event. 


That's it for this week. There have been some sites going over the same James Gunn Hawkgirl news but right now, the pickings are slim for Hawkfans. However, there are always back issues! Here are the series I definitely recommend for you to dive into if you haven't yet. Good luck in finding them! 

Hawkman Vol. 1 (27 issues)
1964-1968

The Shadow War of Hawkman 
and Hawkman Vol. 1 (22 issues)
1985-1987


Hawkworld Vol. 1 (3 issues)
1989

Legend of the Hawkman 
3 issues (2000)


Nov 11, 2023

Three Years Ago: The Hawkman Vol. V Run Came to an End

    

   On November 10, 2020, Hawkman Vol. V by Robert Venditti came to a close. It started in June 2018, ran for 29 issues, and gave Hawkman (Carter Hall III) and Hawkwoman (Shayera Hol II) a fantastic reunion and a wonderful future. It expanded on Hawkman and Hawkwoman's origins, their relationship, Hawkman's friendship with Atom and even The Shade, and gave new abilities and even a new ship. It has become many Hawkfans' favorite Hawkman series of all time. So what has happened during the last three years? 

Nov 8, 2023

Hawkworld Facebook Reaches 8000 Members!

 

It all started on Facebook on January 15, 2016. I started Hawkworld Twitter (currently 7600 members) and it just...took off. I was expecting/hoping for 500 members, but the Facebook site reached 8000 members today. It's great for characters like Hawkman and Hawkgirl to see that much support while DC is practically ignoring Hawkman while putting out what is arguably the worst Hawk series in their 84-year history. Hawkfans are resilient if nothing else. There have been many highlights over the last eight years. Many thanks to all the members, Hawkfans, creators, and even the family members of the creators (GardnervFox, Joe Kubert, etc.) for such an amazing flight. Let's keep soaring! 

Nov 5, 2023

Hawkman and Hawkgirl News and Info (October 29-November 4)

 Here are the articles and sites that Hawkman and Hawkgirl showed up last week! 

Art by Stjepan Sejic

10 Most Powerful Weapons Used In The Justice League Comics, Ranked (CBR) 

Here are my articles on Hawkman's Nth metal mace and for a bonus, my article on Hawkman's other weapon, the Claw of Horus. 
Nth Metal Mace 
Claw of Horus

And...that's it for this week. It's been extremely quiet for the Hawks. Here are some review videos on Hawkgirl #4. Caution: The comic doesn't get good reviews. 

Weird Science Comics

Thinking Critical

That's it for the week. Hopefully, we'll have some more during this week.