- You may be looking for Hawkman (Earth-Two, JSA Member).
SuperFriends / Justice League of America Team Member
Hawkman was a Thanagarian superhero, who swore to protect the Earth from evil.
Background Information[]
Continuity from Earth-One[]
Earth-One Continuity |
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In the parallel-universe of Earth-One, Katar Hol[9] was the imperial prince of his home planet of Thanagar. His father was Paran Katar, renowned ornithologist and inventor. When Katar Hol was eighteen, an alien race called the Manhawks invaded Thanagar and began looting the planet. Paran sent young Katar Hol to infiltrate their nest and bring back information on the aliens. Using this information, Paran created a hawk-like battle suit containing advanced technology like his "Nth Metal". Katar used this hawk-suit and Paran's advanced weaponry to drive the Manhawks away from Thanagar. That, however, was not the end of the problem. Some Thanagarians had learned the concept of stealing from the Manhawks. Due to the amount of crime, the Thanagarian government created a police force. In honor of Paran Katar and his achievements, the new police force began using his hawk-suit and equipment. Paran headed this new police force, named the Hawk-Police (or Wingmen), and his son became one of the first recruits. Katar soon became one of the most skilled of the Hawk-Police. [10]
When a group called the Rainbow Robbers began committing crimes, Katar was teamed up with rookie Shayera Thal to track and apprehend the criminals. During the case, Shayera saved Katar's life, and the two soon fell in love. A few weeks later, Katar proposed to Shayera and the two got married, working together as partners-for-life in the Hawk-Police.[11] A few years later, commanding officer of the district police, Katar Hol is summoned to catch a thief who broke into an optics lab and stole a ‘lightwave detection module’ that is vital to the Thanagarian space program. Discovering that the felon used a space warp to gain access to the lab, they are able to use using residual energy to recreate the portal and find the thief’s point of origin. Meanwhile, on earth, our villain is Dr. Arthur Light (P.H.D. in Optics), who is adapting the stolen technology for his own nefarious purposes. With the new-found technology, he dons a costume and calls himself ‘Doctor Light.’ Not long into his first villainous crime-spree, Hawkman arrives. They fight but Doctor Light escapes, through his portal. Katar is able to retrieve the stolen tech, but knows that Doctor Light has already adapted it for his own purposes. Hawkman returns to Thanagar through the portal.[12] After eight years of marriage and in the force, Shayera and Katar were sent to Earth to capture the shape-shifting Thanagarian criminal Byth Rok (circa 1972 in the Earth-1A universe). Katar and Shayera use the electric brain on their ship to learn about Earth's cultures and languages. During their mission, they meet George Emmett, commissioner of the Midway City Police Department. They explain that they are alien police officers and that they need his help and a base of operations. This fascinates Emmett, who uses his influence to provide them with Earth identities. With Emmett’s help Katar and Shayera take the names Carter and Shiera Hall and become the new curators for the Midway City Museum. After capturing Byth, and sending him back to Thanagar, they elect to remain on Earth to work with authorities to learn human police methods. The two acted publicly as the heroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl. At first, no one on Earth but Emmett was aware of the Hawks' extraterrestrial origins.[13] Not long after Byth was sent back to Thanagar, they battled a fantastic earth criminal known as the Matter Master.[14] Then their study of earth police methods brought them into contact with a modern day sorcerer[15] and then the strangest criminal ever – the Shadow Thief.[16] Shayera and Katar would be on earth ‘more than half a year’ before returning to their home planet to take some time off from fighting-crime. They of course can’t escape conflict. Together with Thanagarian global police chief Andar Pul, they engage in battle with the Dragonfly Raiders and discover that their old foe Byth has recently escaped from prison. It doesn't take long before the Hawks realize that there is a connection between Byth and the Dragonfly Raiders. Naturally they succeed in defeating Byth, who is taken back to prison.[17] A few months later, the Earth is being attacked by the Manhawks, giant alien birds that wear special human faced masks that shoot eye beams that displace matter. These are of a same species of Manhawks who once plagued planet Thanagar years ago. Getting a distress call from Commissioner Emmett in Midway City on Earth, Hawkman and Hawkgirl leave planet Thanagar to help their adopted planet. Arriving on Earth, Hawkman and Hawkgirl try their new offensive against the Manhawks, however, they find that the weapons that were developed to stop them on Thanagar have no effect on these ones on Earth. Further, the Manhawks manage to escape when they use their powers to make Hawkgirl's wings disappear. Coming up with a solution to stop the Manhawks, Hawkman and Hawkgirl track them to a hidden base in northern Canada. Using make-shift Thermite Bombs and dumping coal dust into rainclouds is enough to not only force the Manhawks out of hiding, but obscure the blasters built into the eye slits of their masks. Hawkman and Hawkgirl then easily defeat them and turn them over to Commissioner Emmett.[18] Over the next few years, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, would meet and work with the Atom,[19] Aquaman,[20] Adam Strange,[21] and Zatanna.[22] In the Filmation continuity, Hawkman's adventures take him into outer space in his Hawkship, where he meets strange new creatures and has to save their planets and his own from evil doers! Joining Hawkman on his missions is his trusty sidekick hawk, Skreal.[23] Eventually Hawkman was invited to join the Justice League of America,[24] (circa 1975 in the Earth-1A universe). Later that same year, shortly after the Martian Manhunter had left Earth,[25] the Justice League, believed that (as Superman stated), "the best way for us to combat crime and be prepared for world-wide emergencies is to work together. From now on, we'll be the SuperFriends."[26] The heroes on hand for this historic occasion were Aquaman, Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Black Vulcan and Samurai.[27] SuperFriends History Coming Soon! About two years after Katar was inducted into the Justice League, he threatens to resign if they don’t vote in Shayera as an active member. After the League's battle with a reborn Construct and saving the Red Tornado, the League has an impromptu vote, and formally admits Shayera in to the League, despite the rules.[28] |
The Equalizing Plague and the Reign of Hyathis[]
The Equalizing Plague and the Reign of Hyathis |
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On one noteworthy mission, the Hawks are ordered back to Thanagar. In the wake of this order, Hawkman decides to resign from the JLA.[29] Their home-planet had fallen victim to an alien plague unleashed by a being called the Equalizer that caused all Thanagarians to become ‘average’ – in physical strength, intellect, and even imagination.[30] With the JLA’s aid, Hawkman and Hawkgirl defeated the Equalizer, but the ‘equalizing plague’ persisted, taking a devastating toll on Thanagarian society.[31] This was the last communication the Hawks would have with their home world for few years until they are contacted by Adam Strange. He informs them that his adopted home-world of Rann is under attack. They soon learn that Thanagar received a partial cure for the plague thanks to the exiled alien monarch Hyathis. With her newly found prestige, she took advantage the Thanagarians, and claimed dictatorial control of Thanagar. From her throne, the Queen waged a war against the planet Rann, then under the domination of her old foe Kanjar Ro. The conflict between Rann and Thanagar was finally stopped by Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Adam Strange. Even though Kanjar Ro was removed as a threat to the Thanagarian people, Hyathis still remained in power, forcing the Hawks to accept exile on earth.[32] A few years later, after defeating an army of flying Bee-Creatures, Hawkman leaves Shayera with the National Guard to round up the Bee-Men horde, and returns to their Hive for one last sweep of their lair hoping to find their leader. He begins to feel dizzy and realizes that he is being affected by a sting he received from a spider-creature a few months before.[33] He is then easily captured by Lord Insectus. Hawkgirl arrives and defeats Lord Insects and finds Kator incapacitated. Realizing there is no cure on earth, she heads to Thangar, despite Katar’s protest and the exile imposed by Queen Hyathis. On Thanagar, they learned that Hyathis was about to launch an armada to conquer Earth.[34] After Katar is cured, he and Shayera stop the attack force by trapping it in hyperspace. During the Hawks victory in deferring the armada, Shayera changed her superheroine name from Hawkgirl to Hawkwoman, declaring, "The connotations of the word 'girl' on Earth do not please me.[35] In anger, Queen Hyathis reaches out to the Hawks who are in deep space. She tells them that although the armada may be diverted, her agent on earth is already wreaking havoc! The Hawks realize that he spider-creatures and Lord Insectus and his Bee-Men were all agents of the Queen. This is why Hawkman needed Thanagarian cure. Upon arrival on earth, they find out that the prelude to the invasion (which was defeated by the Hawks in space) was spear-headed by Byth Rok, who has no idea the Thanagarian armada is not coming. He is easily defeated by the Hawks. After the defeat, Hawkwoman asks Katar what they are going to do about the trapped armada and Queen Hyathis. He says that he’ll think about that later. Right now he wants time alone with his wife.[36] The following morning Katar awakens to find Shayera gone and note on her pillow. She tells him that although she still loves him and wants to be his wife, she has been having what earth-people call a ‘crisis of identity.’ She is struggling with his slow reactions and leadership. She asks him to respect her decision to leave as a fellow hero. She takes the Hawkship and heads out to help free the Thanagarian fleet from hyperspace. Hawkman heads to the The Justice League Satellite for help in tracking her. But in the end, after a short debate, Superman and Green Lantern agree with Hawkwoman.[37] Not quite a year after Hawkwoman had left earth, Hawkman receives a message that civil war had broken out on Thanagar between the ‘resistance’ and the forces of Hyathis. He solicits the help of both Superman and Batman to help him overthrow Hyathis and turn her over to the resistance.[38] Hawkman is then offered to become the ‘new’ ruler of Thangar,[39] but refuses and instead searches for Shayera. After a lengthy search the two were reunited. Hawkwoman had succeeded in helping the lost Thanagarian fleet find their way home.[40] |
Justice League Detroit[]
Justice League Detroit |
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The Justice League Satellite is destroyed during the Earth/Mars War. With the Justice League splintered, Aquaman addresses the general assembly of the United Nations, announcing that they cannot protect the Earth without complete commitment from all of their members. This new team will be based on earth, in Detroit. The Hawks decide to resign from the League, unwilling to make the full-time commitment Aquaman demanded.[41] |
The Shadow War[]
The Shadow War |
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They Hawks return to the Midway City Museum and resume their guises of Carter and Shiera Hall. About three years later, Katar and Shayera discover that not all Thanagarians had given up loyalty to Hyathis and her ambitions of conquest. A group of Thanagarian infiltrators led by former soldier Fell Andar, attempted to neutralize the Hawks to pave the way for a new invasion of the Earth. A group of Thanagarian shadow agents raided the Central City Museum in search of Katar and Shayera's anti-gravity belts. Thanagarian Rab Mekir mistaking Mavis for Shayera, turned their weapons against her disintegrating her on the spot.The Hawks are forced to destroy their own starship to prevent Fell Andar's men from crashing it into the city of Detroit. Katar and Shayera escaped via a relativity beam. Then, inside the caves of Grinder's Bluff, Rab kills Andar. This is Rab's revenge upon Fell for his betrayal. Rab dies immediately after, his body partially fused against the wall of the cavern. Two weeks after the Shadow War, Katar and Shayera are back at the Midway City Museum. The Museum has hired a new art patron to replace Mavis Trent – Ms. Shilak. Little do they know however that Ms. Shilak is actually Corla, second in command to Fell Andar. And so, the Shadow War continues![42] Unable to sleep peacefully after Katar had to destroy his own starship, killing his fellow Thanagarians in his ship, he dreams of a nether-world in which they and the Gentleman Ghost reside. Soon after, He and Hawkwoman are called to the museum by Frazier to investigate a weird manifestation inside, which turns out to be a portal to that same dimension. The Hawks returns to Grinder's Bluff, where the Ghost appears to Shayera, imploring her to follow her husband who has just entered the netherworld. While inside, they are able to relieve the souls of his fallen comrades.[43] Even though Fell Andar was defeated, the Hawks know that the Shadow War still continues and knowing that the rouge Thanagarians, had a secret weapon which was capable of reading even the subconscious thoughts of almost any non-Thanagarian (aka the Absorbacon); they opt to keep the "shadow war" a secret for fear their human friends may become compromised. That decision put the Hawks at odds with their former JLA comrades, who were puzzled by Katar and Shayera's sudden evasiveness.[44] |
Crisis on Infinite Earths[]
Crisis on Infinite Earths |
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It is July 1985. The skies overhead have turned red. Weather around the world is out of whack. All the signs point to the coming of Armageddon. The Harbinger, the agent of the Monitor has gathered a selected handful of heroes and explains their mission and the need to protect the cosmic tuning-forks.[45] The Hawks learn of the cosmic tuning-forks and are on hand to protect them and save everyone from the coming Armageddon.[46] Hawkwoman, her husband and their allies find themselves aboard a strange satellite. The heroes have been summoned by Alex Luthor Jr. of Earth-Three, Pariah and Harbinger. This trio has brought together a massive congregation of heroes from Earth-One and Earth-Two – against their will. Together the three explain that a being called the Anti-Monitor is consuming all positive-matter realities, but also explain that in order for things to correct themselves, the Multiverse must be folded back upon itself and become a single universe – the way it was intended, or else all worlds will be destroyed.[47] On Earth-X, Hawkwoman and Tin fight Lightning Lord.[48] As the earth enters the anti-matter universe, the Anti-Monitor's visage is seen in the skies all over the globe. He explains that thousands of universes have perished without resistance, but you have refused. He then applauds their willingness to live, then tells them that it ultimately doesn’t matter nor do the deaths of both Supergirl and the Flash – because they will all die! Before he disappears and the skies turn black, he tells them that his Shadow Demons are ravaging the earth as he speaks. Hawkwoman, Hawkman and heroes from all over the globe battle the Shadow Demons.[49] This is the last we see of Hawkman and his wife, Hawkwoman. |
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Alien Physiology: He has no special powers. As a Thanagarian, Katar Hol possesses several gifts that are common to members of his race, but set him apart from normal humans. A Thanagarian's life span is significantly greater than that of a normal human being. In the prime of his life, Katar was actually older than many of Earth's senior citizens. A Thanagarian is also physically heartier than the average Earth human. They are stronger, with greater stamina and a greater resistance to pain. Thanagarians also possess enhanced senses.
- Enhanced Vision: Katar's eyesight is more acute than a normal human and his range of vision is similar to that of a bird.
- Enhanced Hearing: His auditory senses are also particularly acute and he can perceive sounds with greater clarity than the average human.
- Above Average Strength level: Katar Hol is several times stronger than a normal human in Earth gravity.
- Hawk Instinct: Hawkman and his wife Hawkgirl both have hawk-like instincts, with a strong "gut-feeling," that lets them no when something doesn't seem quite right.[50]
Abilities[]
- Master Combatant
- Archery: A talent that Katar rarely employs, but nonetheless he is considered an expert in the field of archery. Though his skill with a bow and arrow is impeccable, his precision is nowhere near as accurate as that of fellow Justice Leaguer Green Arrow.[51]
- Historiography: Katar Hol is an expert in many of Earth's cultures, particularly those pertaining to medieval Europe and the Roman Empire. This is part due to the use of the Absorbascon, as well as the resources available to him at the Midway City Museum.
- Multilingualism: Katar Hol is fluent in many Earth languages, thanks to the use of the Absorbascon. This also allows him to communicate with birds.
Weaknesses[]
Mortality
Equipment[]
- Nth Metal Wings: Without these wings made of Nth metal, Hawkman could not fly. Katar Hol's father, Paran Hol, had developed the wings to allow study of Thanagar's bird species.
- Nth Metal Belt and Boots: Hawkman flies in space by way of an anti-gravity Belt and boots. Its abilities are controlled mentally.
- Hawk uniforms Manhawks, bird-like aliens who wore human-faced masks that emitted blinding flashes of light, had invaded Thanagar. Katar managed to capture one of the masks and gave it to his father to analyze and learn a defense. They created helmets shaped like hawk's heads that shielded them from the flashes. The subsequent defeat of the Manhawks led to the formation of the Thanagarian police force and its distinctive uniform.
- Medieval Weaponry
- Laser Bow
- Thanagarian Mace
- Absorbascon
Vehicle[]
SuperFriends Team Members[]
Members of the Justice League |
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Justice League: Comic Book JLA Team Members: Other Known Justice Leaguers: SuperFriends Founding Members: Other Known SuperFriends Members: Junior SuperFriends: Mascots: |
Episode Appearances[]
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Notes[]
- Gardner Fox teamed up with artist Dennis Neville to create Hawkman / Carter Hall in 1940 who first appeared in Flash Comics, #1 (January, 1940).
- This Golden Age Hawkman was an archeologist who was the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian prince, Khufu. He and Hawkgirl used the same tools displayed in his museum to fight crime.
- In 1961, Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert re-created Hawkman as Katar Hol. This Silver Age (and Bronze Age) Hawkman first appeared in The Brave and the Bold, #34 (February/March, 1961).
- In the Silver Age, DC introduced new versions of several characters. The new Hawkman and Hawkgirl were police officers from the planet Thanagar who stayed on Earth to help human police forces, and the Justice League, deal with supervillains.
- This Silver Age Hawkman was quite similar to the Golden Age version in his appearance, powers, and methodology. His origin was changed, and his new identity was that of Katar Hol, a member of the winged police force on Thanagar. Unlike other character reinventions of the same era, his suit went largely unchanged.
- “Ninth Metal” was now called “Nth Metal.”
- In 1967, he made his television debut in the Filmation series The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967-1968). He has a pet bird named Screel.
- He appeared again a few years later in 1977 as part of the regular line-up for Hanna Barbera’s Super Friends series (1973-1985)
- In the 1985 series Crisis on Infinite Earths, Hawkman’s history became muddled with several new versions of the character appearing throughout the years, some associated with ancient Egypt and some with Thanagar. These versions of the character have starred in several series of various durations.
- In the comics, Hawkgirl is Hawkman's wife, this is never actually stated to be the case on the show, but it is implied somewhat. It is at least evident that they are partners in the way that Batman and Robin are.
External Links[]
- The Hawkman disambiguation page at the DC Database.
- Hawkman (Katar Hol) at Wikipedia
- Hawkman at Don Markstein’s Toonopedia Website
- Hawkman at the Comic Vine
- The Hawkman FAQ
Appearances in Other Media[]
Live Action[]
Animation[]
References[]
- ↑ As revealed in the SuperFriends Comicbook: issue SuperFriends, #7 (October, 1977).
- ↑ In the opening monologue of the Filmation cartoons The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967 to 1968), Hawkman is referred to what sounds like 'Carter Hall'. It is revealed in The Brave and the Bold #34 (March, 1961) to be his earth-alias.
- ↑ His species was not mentioned in series.
- ↑ His home planet is not mentioned in series.
- ↑ The fact that Hawkgirl is his wife is not mentioned in the series.
- ↑ Vic Perrin did the voice of Hawkman in the Filmation series.
- ↑ Jack Angel did the voice of Hawkman throughout the entire animated Super Friends franchise.
- ↑ Bill Nuckols played Hawkman in the Legends of the Superheroes television series.
- ↑ The version of Hawkman used on the cartoon is probably the Silver Age version, a native of the parallel-universe Earth-One.
- ↑ As revealed in Brave and the Bold, #43 (September, 1962).
- ↑ As revealed in the ‘Flashback’ portion of Brave and the Bold, #42 (June/July 1962).
- ↑ As revealed in DC Super-Stars, #14/3 (May-June 1977).
- ↑ As revealed in The Brave and the Bold #34 (March, 1961).
- ↑ As revealed in Brave and the Bold, #35 (April/May 1961).
- ↑ As revealed in Brave and the Bold, #36 (June/July 1961).
- ↑ As revealed in Brave and the Bold, #36/2 (June/July 1961).
- ↑ As revealed in The Brave and the Bold, #42 (July, 1962).
- ↑ As revealed in The Brave and Bold #44 (November, 1962).
- ↑ As revealed in Atom, #7 (June/July 1963).
- ↑ As revealed in Brave and the Bold, #51 (December 1963/January 1964).
- ↑ As revealed in Mystery in Space, #87/2 (November 1963) and #90 (March 1964).
- ↑ As revealed in Hawkman,#1 (April/May 1964) and #4 (October/November 1964). This was Zatanna’s grand debut into the DC Universe.
- ↑ As revealed in Filmation's DC Superheroes Adventures (1967-1968), the Hawkman segments. These shorts mark the Hawkman’s first appearance.
- ↑ As revealed in Justice League of America, #31 (November 1964).
- ↑ The Manhunter's departure from earth is found in an Earth-One story found in the following comics: Justice League of America, #71 (May, 1969); World's Finest Comics, #212 (June 1972) and DC Comics Presents, #27 (November, 1980). In the SuperFriends Comic Book, writer E. Nelson Bridwell ties this Earth-One story to the SuperFriends Universe (aka Earth-1A) in the 'wrap-around sequence' in the debut SuperFriends Comic: Limited Collectors' Edition #C-41 (December 1975 / January 1976).
- ↑ As quoted in the Season 3 episode: History of Doom.
- ↑ The formation of team and members depicted in History of Doom.
- ↑ As revealed in Justice League of America, #146 (1977).
- ↑ As revealed in Justice League of America, #109 (January/February 1974).
- ↑ As revealed in Justice League of America, #117 (April 1975).
- ↑ As revealed in Justice League of America, #119 (June 1975).
- ↑ As revealed in Showcase, #101 (June 1978); #102 (July 1978) and #103 (August 1978).
- ↑ This battle with the spider creatures is revealed in World's Finest Comics, #266 (January, 1981).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics,#268/4 (April/May 1981); #269/3 (June-July 1981); #270/3 (August 1981).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics, #272/3 (October 1981).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics,#273/4 (November, 1981).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics #274/4 (October 1981).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics, #278 (April 1982).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics, #279/2 (May, 1982).
- ↑ As revealed in World's Finest Comics, #282/3 (August 1982).
- ↑ The ‘Earth-Mars Conflict’ and the creation of the JL Detroit is chronicled in Justice League of America, #228 (July 1984) - #230 (September 1984) and Justice League of America Annual, #2 (October, 1984).
- ↑ As revealed in The Shadow War of Hawkman, #1 (May 1985) thru #4 (August 1985).
- ↑ As revealed in Hawkman Special, #1 (1986).
- ↑ As revealed in DC Comics Presents, #95 (July 1986).
- ↑ As revealed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, #2 (May, 1985).
- ↑ As revealed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, #4 (July 1985).
- ↑ As revealed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, #5 (August, 1985).
- ↑ As revealed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, #10 (January, 1986).
- ↑ As revealed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, #12 (March, 1986).
- ↑ As seen in Revenge of Bizarro.
- ↑ As revealed in The Brave and the Bold #34 (March, 1961).
- ↑ Name given in the Filmation cartoons The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967 to 1968).