Hawkman facts for kids

For other uses, see Hawkman (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Hawkman
Cover art for Hawkman #1 (May 2002) Art by Andrew Robinson
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Hall) Flash Comics #1 (January 1940) (Hol) The Brave and the Bold #34 (February–March 1961)
Created by	Gardner Fox Dennis Neville
Characters	List Carter Hall Katar Hol Fel Andar
Hawkman
	Hawkman #1 (April–May, 1964). Featuring the Katar Hol version of the character. Art by Murphy Anderson.
Series publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	List '(vol. 1) Bi-monthly (vol. 2–3, 5, The Savage Hawkman) Monthly (vol. 4) Monthly (1–22, 25–49) Bi-weekly (23–24)
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	List (vol. 1) April–May 1964 – August–September 1968 (vol. 2) August 1986 December 1987 (vol. 3) September 1993 – July 1996 (vol. 4) May 2002 – April 2006 The Savage Hawkman November 2011 – July 2013 (vol. 5) June 2018 – November 2020
Number of issues	List (vol. 1): 27 (vol. 2): 17 & 1 Special (vol. 3): 34 (including a 0 issue and 2 annuals) (vol. 4): 49 The Savage Hawkman: 21 (including issue #0) (vol. 5): 29
Main character(s)	List (vol. 1–3, The Savage Hawkman) Katar Hol (vol. 4-5) Carter Hall
Creative team
Writer(s)	List (vol. 1) Gardner Fox (vol. 2) Tony Isabella Dan Mishkin (vol. 3) John Ostrander Timothy Truman William Messner-Loebs (vol. 4) Geoff Johns Justin Gray Jimmy Palmiotti The Savage Hawkman Tony Daniel Rob Liefeld Mark Poulton Tom DeFalco (vol. 5) Robert Venditti
Penciller(s)	List (vol. 1) Murphy Anderson Dick Dillin Joe Kubert (vol. 2) Richard Howell (vol. 3) Jan Duursema Steve Lieber (vol. 4) Rags Morales Ryan Sook Joe Bennett The Savage Hawkman Philip Tan Joe Bennett (vol. 5) Bryan Hitch
Inker(s)	List (vol. 1) Chuck Cuidera (vol. 2) Don Heck Carlos Garzon (vol. 3) Rick Magyar Curt Shoultz (vol. 4) Michael Bair Mick Gray Ruy Jose The Savage Hawkman Art Thibert
Colorist(s)	List (vol. 2) Michele Wolfman (vol. 3) Matt Webb Buzz Setzer (vol. 4) John Kalisz The Savage Hawkman Sunny Gho Guy Major

Hawkman is the name used by several superheroes in American comic books from DC Comics. The first Hawkman appeared in 1940, created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville.

All versions of Hawkman use old-fashioned weapons and wear big, artificial wings. These wings are attached to a special harness made from "Nth metal," which lets them fly. Most Hawkman characters work closely with a partner, usually Hawkgirl or Hawkwoman.

The most common versions of Hawkman are Carter Hall, a human archaeologist who is the reborn version of an ancient Egyptian prince, and Katar Hol, a police officer from the planet Thanagar. Hawkman's story can be a bit confusing because he has been changed and rewritten many times over the years.

Hawkman has appeared in many cartoons and TV shows. He was in Justice League Unlimited and several DC Universe Original Animated Movies. In live-action TV, he was played by Michael Shanks in Smallville and Falk Hentschel in The CW's Arrowverse shows. Hawkman will also appear in the 2022 movie Black Adam, played by Aldis Hodge.

Hawkman's Comic Book History

Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in 1940. This first Hawkman was Carter Hall. He was the reborn version of an ancient Egyptian prince named Khufu.

Carter found a special "ninth metal" that could make things float. He used it to create a costume with large wings so he could fly and fight crime as Hawkman. He also had a hawk friend named Big Red who helped him. Carter was an archaeologist and used old weapons from the museum where he worked.

The Golden Age Hawkman, from Flash Comics # 71 (May 1946). Art by Joe Kubert.

Hawkman was one of the first members of the Justice Society of America (JSA). He was the only JSA member to appear in every adventure during the "Golden Age" of comics. He also fell in love with Shiera Sanders, who was the reborn version of his ancient bride. She became the superhero Hawkgirl.

In the 1950s, superhero comics became less popular, and Hawkman's adventures ended.

The Silver Age Hawkman

Years later, in 1961, DC Comics brought Hawkman back. This time, he was a new character named Katar Hol. He was an alien police officer from the planet Thanagar.

Katar Hol came to Earth with his wife, Shayera, to catch a criminal. They decided to stay on Earth to learn about human police methods and fight crime. They pretended to be human museum curators named Carter and Shiera Hall.

The Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl, from Hawkman # 3 (August–September 1964). Art by Murphy Anderson.

This new Hawkman joined the Justice League of America. In the 1960s, it was explained that the original Hawkman (Carter Hall) lived on a different Earth called Earth-Two. Katar Hol lived on Earth-One. The Justice League and Justice Society would meet every year, and the two Hawkmen would often see each other.

Changes and Reboots

In 1985, a big comic book event called Crisis on Infinite Earths changed many DC Comics stories. This made Hawkman's history very confusing. Writers tried to explain how all the different versions of Hawkman fit together.

Later, DC Comics decided to restart Hawkman's story with a new series called Hawkworld. In this story, Katar Hol was a young police officer from Thanagar who came to Earth. This created more confusion because it meant someone else had to have been Hawkman before him.

To fix this, DC said that the Golden Age Hawkman (Carter Hall) had actually kept fighting crime for many years. Also, a Thanagarian spy named Fel Andar pretended to be Hawkman in the 1980s.

Eventually, in the late 1990s, the JSA comic series finally made Hawkman's story clearer. It said that Carter Hall and Shiera had been reborn many times since ancient Egypt. Their powers came from Thanagarian Nth metal.

Hawkman got a new comic series in 2002. Later, in the Rann-Thanagar War story, his history was changed again.

Who is Hawkman?

Over the years, several characters have been Hawkman. Here are the most important ones:

Katar Hol

Hro Talak as seen in Justice League Unlimited.

Katar Hol is an honorable police officer from the planet Thanagar. He and his wife, Shayera, use anti-gravity belts and wings to fly and catch criminals. They came to Earth in 1961 to capture a criminal and decided to stay. They pretended to be museum curators named Carter and Shiera Hall.

In a later story called Hawkworld, Katar Hol was a young police officer who rebelled against his planet's unfair rules. He was sent to Earth with his new partner, Shayera Thal, and became the third Hawkman.

In DC's 2011 "New 52" universe, Katar Hol is also known as Carter Hall.

Carter Hall

In ancient Egypt, Prince Khufu and his love, Chay-Ara, were killed by a priest named Hath-Set using a cursed dagger made of Nth metal.

Thousands of years later, in 1940, Khufu was reborn as an American archaeologist named Carter Hall. Chay-Ara was reborn as Shiera Saunders, and Hath-Set became a scientist named Anton Hastor. When Carter touched the same Nth metal dagger, he remembered his past life. He realized Hastor was his old enemy.

Carter used his memories to create a belt from Nth metal that let him fly. He also made a winged costume and became Hawkman. He saved Shiera from Hastor, who was then killed. Carter and Shiera began a romantic relationship.

Carter Hall and Shiera Saunders had a son named Hector Hall. Hector also became a superhero, first as Silver Scarab and later as Dr. Fate.

Fel Andar

In the late 1980s, a Thanagarian spy named Fel Andar was sent to Earth. He pretended to be the second Hawkman and joined the Justice League. His secret mission was to spy on the League for Thanagar.

Zauriel

In 1997, a new character named Zauriel was created for the JLA comic. He was an angel from heaven who came to Earth. The creators wanted to call him Hawkman, but DC Comics did not allow it at the time because the character's history was too confusing.

Charley Parker

Charley Parker was first known as Golden Eagle, a member of the Teen Titans. He was thought to be dead but later reappeared in the Hawkman comic. He helped Carter Hall for a while. When Carter Hall seemed to die, Charley Parker took on the Hawkman name. It was later revealed that Charley was actually the son of Fel Andar. Carter Hall eventually defeated Charley and took back his Hawkman identity.

Hawkman's Powers and Abilities

All versions of Hawkman use the special "Nth metal" to fly. This metal is in their belts, boots, and wings. They can control its powers with their minds. Their large wings help them steer while flying.

Special Abilities

Flight: The Nth metal allows Hawkman to fly by making him lighter than air.
Enhanced Strength: The Nth metal also makes Hawkman much stronger than a normal human. He can carry very heavy objects.
Fast Healing: The Nth metal helps Hawkman heal quickly from injuries. Small wounds close almost instantly.
Temperature Control: The Nth metal keeps Hawkman warm in cold places and cool in high altitudes, so he doesn't need special clothing.
Enhanced Senses: The Silver Age Hawkman had senses like a hawk, allowing him to see and hear things from far away. He could also talk to birds.
Underwater Breathing: The Golden Age Hawkman could breathe underwater, a gift from the sea god Poseidon.

Weapons and Tools

Hawkman usually uses old-fashioned weapons like maces, nets, spears, and shields. He prefers these because he has memories from many past lives where he used them.

One unique weapon is the Claw of Horus. This weapon was made from Nth metal in ancient Egypt. Hawkman once used it to channel Earth's gravity to hit Superman, saying he "hit him with the planet."

The Silver Age Hawkman also had a Thanagarian police spaceship and various futuristic weapons.

Other Versions of Hawkman

During the Zero Hour event, many different versions of Hawkman from other timelines appeared and disappeared.
In the Just Imagine... comic series, a version of Hawkman was a humanoid hawk, like a bird-person.
On Antimatter Earth, Hawkman's evil counterpart was called Blood Eagle.

Awards for Hawkman

The Hawkman comics and character have won several awards:

1961 Alley Award for Best Adventure Hero/Heroine Not in Own Book
1962 Alley Award for Best Hero
1963 Alley Award for Cross-Over of DC Heroes (for The Brave and the Bold with Flash)

Collected Comic Books

You can read Hawkman's adventures in these collected editions:

Carter Hall Stories

Golden Age Hawkman Archives Vol. 1 (collects stories from Flash Comics #1–22)
Hawkman Vol. 1 Endless Flight (collects Hawkman Vol.4 #1–6 and Hawkman Secret Files #1)
Hawkman Vol. 2 Enemies & Allies (collects Hawkman Vol.4 #7–12)
Hawkman Vol. 3 Wings of Fury (collects Hawkman Vol.4 #15–22)
JSA: Black Reign (collects Hawkman Vol.4 #23–25 and JSA #56–58)
Hawkman Vol. 4 Rise of the Golden Eagle (collects Hawkman Vol.4 #37–45)
The Hawkman Omnibus Vol. 1 (collects Hawkman Vol. 4 #1–25, Hawkman Secret Files #1, and JSA #56–58)

Katar Hol Stories

Hawkman Archives Vol. 1 (collects The Brave and the Bold #34–36, 42–44; Mystery in Space #87–90)
Hawkman Archives Vol. 2 (collects Hawkman #1–8)
Showcase Presents: Hawkman Vol. 1 (collects The Brave and the Bold #34–36, 42–44, & 51, The Atom #7, Mystery in Space #87–90; Hawkman Vol. 1 #1–11)
Showcase Presents: Hawkman Vol. 2 (collects Hawkman Vol. 1 #12–27, The Atom #31, The Atom and Hawkman #39–45, The Brave and the Bold Vol.1 #70)
The Savage Hawkman Vol. 1: Darkness Rising (collects The Savage Hawkman #1–8)
The Savage Hawkman Vol. 2: Wanted (collects The Savage Hawkman #0, #9–20)

Hawkman in Other Media

Television Shows

Animated Series

Hawkman first appeared in the 1967 The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure cartoon. He was voiced by Vic Perrin.
Hawkman was a regular character in the Super Friends cartoons, voiced by Jack Angel.
In the Justice League episode "Starcrossed", a character named Hro Talak (an anagram of Katar Hol) was introduced. He was the leader of the Thanagarian forces and used Hawkgirl as a scout on Earth. He was voiced by Victor Rivers.
In Justice League Unlimited, a new Hawkman appeared. He was an archaeologist named Carter Hall (whose real name was Joseph Gardner). He believed he and Shayera were reborn Thanagarian lovers. He was voiced by James Remar.
Hawkman made a cameo in The Batman and appeared in the episode "What Goes Up...", voiced by Robert Patrick.
The Golden Age Hawkman appeared in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by William Katt.
The Katar Hol Hawkman is a member of the Justice League in the Young Justice animated series.
Hawkman appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Troy Baker.

Live-Action Series

Hawkman was in the 1979 Legends of the Superheroes TV specials, played by Bill Nuckols.
Michael Shanks played Hawkman in the TV series Smallville. His character was Carter Hall. He appeared in several episodes and eventually died saving Lois Lane. His funeral was held in Egypt.

Hawkman as he appears in Smallville.

The Carter Hall version of Hawkman appears in Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. He was played by Falk Hentschel.

Falk Hentschel as Carter Hall/Hawkman in the television series Arrow, on its fourth season's episode "Legends of Tomorrow"

Movies

Animated Films

Hawkman appears in Justice League: The New Frontier.
Hawkman appears in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, voiced by Michael Gough.
Hawkman appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League.
Hawkman makes a brief appearance in Justice League Dark.

Live-Action Films

In 2011, there were reports that Warner Bros. was planning a Hawkman film.
The Thanagarians are mentioned in the comic book prequel to Man of Steel. This means they exist in the DC Extended Universe where Man of Steel takes place.

Images for kids

Hro Talak as seen in Justice League Unlimited.