History Comicbook / Hawkman

Hawkman is one of the oldest of Creator/DCComics' superheroes, having been created in 1940, during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. He's also one of the most infamous cases of ContinuitySnarl in the world of comics.

Hawkman's feature in Flash Comics ended when that book was canceled in 1949. He continued to appear in All-Star Comics until that book was cancelled in 1951, bringing DC's Golden Age of superhero comics to an end. During UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, he was reinvented, this time as Katar Hol, a law enforcement agent from the planet Thanagar (conveniently inhabited by HumanAliens) who came to Earth (along with his partner and wife Shayera) to study Earth's crimefighting techniques, and they assumed the identities of museum curators Carter and Shiera Hall. They also acted as superheroes (using their Thanagarian uniforms) and became known as Hawkman and Hawkgirl (later renamed Hawkwoman). They soon joined the ComicBook/JusticeLeague, the modern version of the Justice Society, and even met the ''original'' Hawks during the League's team-ups with the Society (which was established as having existed in the [[AlternateUniverse parallel universe]] called Earth-2.)

Up to this point, there was no real confusion over the Hawkman characters. It all started after DC decided to {{Retcon}} their universe with the CrisisCrossover called ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. All of DC's titles were supposed to undergo a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] afterwards; but due to poor editorial overseeing, some titles were rebooted but others were not. More specifically, the original Silver Hawkman was initially still around after the Crisis, even having his own ongoing series again. However, in 1989, Tim Truman and John Ostrander wrote a miniseries called 'Hawkworld'; the idea was not to remove or retcon UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} Hawks as they were now, but rather to give their origin a more modern update. However, [[ExecutiveMeddling for whatever reason,]] it was decided that Hawkworld would turn out to have taken place in the present day, thus completely rebooting the Hawks, despite such a change occurring 4-5 years after Crisis. In the end, Silver Age Hawkman was reinvented as a DarkerAndEdgier character who had only recently arrived on Earth--but due to this change happening several years after the Crisis instead of right after it, Hawkman was ''still'' supposed to have been a member of the League for years! They explained this by claiming that the winged heroes in the League were actually the Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl (since all DC characters now existed in one universe) and, later, that a Thanagarian spy had joined the team as Hawkman.

* FashionBasedRelationshipCue: During the comic's [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] era, as a Thanagarian Hawkgirl wore earrings to signify her status as a married woman. Mavis Trent believed that since Hawkgirl didn't wear a wedding ring, Hawkman was single, and often flirted with him.

* StrawCharacter: During UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}}, the ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague'' writers, who were staunch liberals, used Hawkman as a somewhat thuggish conservative counterpoint to ComicBook/GreenArrow.

* DropTheHammer: Hawkgirl's primary weapon is a mace.

%%* HeroesWantRedHeads: Though Hawkman wants her even when she's not a redhead.

* ArcWelding: In the 2018 series, it was revealed that Carter Hall and Katar Hol are in fact the same person, Katar being one of Carter's many past reincarnations from throughout space and time.

* TheRez: Paran Katar met Faraway Woman in one.

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: To Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[ComicBook/TheFalcon Falcon]], or arguably Angel from the ComicBook/XMen.
** In the Golden Age, Marvel's predecessor, Timely, published a similar hero named Red Raven.

* BrotherSisterTeam: [[spoiler:Hawkboy and his sister in ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''.]]

* CanonWelding: In the 2018 series, it was revealed that Carter Hall and Katar Hol are in fact the same person, Katar being one of Carter's many past reincarnations from throughout space and time.

* CatchAFallingStar: Or a falling ''Batmobile!'' (In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman''.)

* DoingInTheWizard: Reinventing Hawkman as a SciFi hero instead of a supernatural one.

%%* EnemyWithout: The Shadow Thief, in the DCAU version of Hawkman.

** In recent continuity there was a bit of a triangle between Carter, Kendra and Roy Harper (Red Arrow).

* PercussivePrevention: Hawkgirl does this to Hawkman in the animated series.

* RomanticFalseLead: Hawkman is reduced to this in the animated series.

* SpotlightStealingSquad: Hawkgirl receives far more attention and exposure than Hawkman himself, given her prominence in the ExpandedUniverse including her role in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'', the DCAU, and ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow''.

* SwissArmyWeapon: DCAU Hawkgirl's energy mace. Aside from just hitting stuff and people with it, it also serves as a anti-magic weapon. It’s put to great use in piercing barriers and damaging villains that even Superman can’t break through/damage.

* WildChild: [[spoiler:Hawkboy and his sister, ever since they were left alone in the rainforest of Costa Rica after their parents were killed.]]

*** [[spoiler:They actually consummated their relationship after being resurrected in the finale of Blackest Night, as Shayera now has memories of all of her past lives, like Carter had always had in his current incarnation. Then she died again.]]

** [[spoiler:In ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'', Hawkboy and his sister have real wings on their backs.]]

* YouCantGoHomeAgain:
** Katar and Shayera (pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}}), as a result of helping Rann and Earth from Thanagar trying to take over the planets on separate occasions.
** Shayera (DCAU) was exiled from Thanagar for betraying them when she learned Earth will be destroyed in the process.

** [[spoiler:In ''The Dark Knight Strikes Again'', Katar and Shayera were killed by Lex Luthor. Hawkboy and his sister want revenge.]]

*** [[spoiler:[[TheyDo They actually consummated their relationship]] after being resurrected in the finale of Blackest Night, as [[strike:Kendra]] Shayera now has memories of all of her past lives, like Carter had always had in his current incarnation. Then she died again.]]

When DC decided to fix its post-Crisis mistakes with ''another'' reality-changing crossover (ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime) somebody came up with the idea of having the various Hawks... ''merged'' into a single being, known as the "Hawk-god". This idea was poorly received and his series was soon cancelled. DC was so desperate over the mess that they actually ''forbade'' anybody from using the character for years. (Which is why Creator/GrantMorrison was forced to create/sub in [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Zauriel]] when he was writing [[Comicbook/JusticeLeague JLA]].)

Back in the comics, DC tried to exploit Hawkgirl's post-cartoon popularity by introducing a version of her in the new ''JSA'' book. This was Kendra Saunders, the niece of Shiera who was not a reincarnation but had been posessed by her aunt after attempting suicide. Hawkman was ''finally'' brought back later in ''JSA'', with a new origin that explains that both Khufu and his mate have reincarnated many times. Carter's new incarnation was born on Thanagar with some aspect of Katar Hol's soul, the latest attempt at tying the two Hawkmen together. The reborn Carter got his own book, which lasted until ''Comicbook/InfiniteCrisis'', at which point he got caught up in the ''Rann-Thanagar War'' and his unavailability for Eath-based stories meant Kendra got her own ''Hawkgirl'' book continuing the numbering, until it was cancelled sixteen issues later.

In 2011, the entire DC Universe was rebooted, erasing all the history (good or bad) of most characters including Hawkman. Hawkman had his own self-titled book which established him as Carter Hall... before Rob Liefeld came on as writer and retconned him into being Katar Hol. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders again) is featured in James Robinson's ''[[{{ComicBook/Earth2}} Earth-2]]'', but isn't connected to the Hawkman mythos, being neither a reincarnation or alien. Katar would eventually die in the ''Death of Hawkman'' miniseries. The ComicBook/DCRebirth event ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'' reintroduced the reincarnating Hawks, both having operated as Hawkman and Hawkgirl in the past. Carter was introduced as being lost in the Dark Multiverse while Kendra Saunders (this time with memories of her previous lives) disposed of her Hawkgirl equipment and became Lady Blackhawk. In the aftermath of the event, the ''ComicBook/Hawkman2018'' series began, which starred Carter Hall and later also Shayera Thal, and explored the past lives of the Hawks -- and revealed that life for them did not begin as Khufu and Chay-Ara. Kendra became a main character in ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague2018'', which explored her ties to the Totality.

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) is a playable character in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs''. Hawkman was also a recurring character in the late seasons of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', played by Creator/MichaelShanks. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders version) and Hawkman (Carter Hall) also feature in the first season of the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' spinoff ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', played by Creator/CiaraRenee (also Creator/AnnaDeavereSmith in a past, elderly incarnation) and Creator/FalkHentschel, respectively. Another incarnation of Hawkman appears in the 2022 film ''Film/{{Black Adam|2022}}'' set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, portrayed there by Creator/AldisHodge.

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: To Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}'s [[ComicBook/TheFalcon Falcon]], or arguably Angel from the Comicbook/XMen.

* AnimalTalk: Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkwoman can talk to birds as a result of side-effects from using the Absorbascon. Unlike Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}, they can't command them but rather use them as spies and snitches.

* ArchaicWeaponForAnAdvancedAge

* ArtisticLicenseChemistry: Nth Metal (sometimes called "Ninth Metal")

* BadassFamily: When his origins are clear enough. Basically every single person in his family is a superhero of some kind- except his grandson Daniel. Daniel [[ComicBook/TheSandman is the incumbent]] AnthropomorphicPersonification [[ComicBook/TheSandman of stories and dreams]].

* BlackBraAndPanties: Hawkgirl during Creator/HowardChaykin's run on the character.

* CategoryTraitor: Katar and Shayera (mostly Pre-Crisis).
* TheChosenOne: [[spoiler:Hawkwoman]] in Elseworlds ''Legend of the Hawkman''.

* EnemyWithout: The Shadow Thief, in the DCAU version of Hawkman.

* FusionDance: The Hawk God.

* GentlemanThief: Gentleman Ghost

* LivingShadow: Shadow-Thief.

* PoliceAreUseless: Wingmen are corrupted.
* ProudWarriorRace: The Thanagarians.

* ScrewDestiny: Kendra Saunders

* [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks Throwing Your Mace Always Works]]

* {{Unobtainium}}: Nth Metal

* TokenEvilTeammate: Hawkman came off as this during his years with the Justice League, being a brutish rude thug who would be the most likely to kill his enemies in a plea of WhyDontYouJustShootHim if not reigned in by his teammates and even opted to brainwash Batman when he uncovered Hawkman was part of conspiracy to brainwash villains who uncovered their identities. After being discovered, he displayed no remorse and simply voted to do the brainwashing again.

*** Katar Hol did had real wings briefly post-Zero Hour, as a result of merging with Carter, Shiera and the "hawk god".

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) is a playable character in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs''. Hawkman was also a recurring character in the late seasons of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', played by Creator/MichaelShanks. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders version) and Hawkman (Carter Hall) also feature in the first season of the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' spinoff ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', played by Creator/CiaraRenee (also Creator/AnnaDeavereSmith in a past, elderly incarnation) and Creator/FalkHentschel, respectively. Another incarnation of Hawkman is set to appear in the 2022 film ''Film/{{Black Adam|2022}}'' set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, portrayed there by Creator/AldisHodge.

'''[[TropeCodifier The]]''' [[AnimalThemedSuperBeing Animal-Themed]] {{Superhero}}.[[note]]Franchise/{{Batman}} appeared first but is a BadassNormal, and Franchise/SpiderMan is far more famous but came more than 20 years later, so...[[/note]]

** [[spoiler:In ''The Dark Knight Strikes Back'', Hawkboy and his sister have real wings on their backs.]]

Back in the comics, DC tried to exploit Hawkgirl's post-cartoon popularity by introducing a version of her in the new ''JSA'' book. This was Kendra Saunders, the neice of Shiera who was not a reincarnation but had been posessed by her aunt after attempting suicide. Hawkman was ''finally'' brought back later in ''JSA'', with a new origin that explains that both Khufu and his mate have reincarnated many times. Carter's new incarnation was born on Thanagar with some aspect of Katar Hol's soul, the latest attempt at tying the two Hawkmen together. The reborn Carter got his own book, which lasted until ''Comicbook/InfiniteCrisis'', at which point he got caught up in the ''Rann-Thanagar War'' and his unavailability for Eath-based stories meant Kendra got her own ''Hawkgirl'' book continuing the numbering, until it was cancelled sixteen issues later.

* {{Reincarnation}} / ReincarnationRomance: Khufu/Carter and Chay-Ara/Shiera/Kendra. They are reincarnated Egyptian nobles who were murdered but found each other again in modern times. In fact, thanks to an Nth Metal dagger, they are both cursed to meet, fall in love, and die tragically in each life.

In 2011, the entire DC Universe was rebooted, erasing all the history (good or bad) of most characters including Hawkman. Hawkman had his own self-titled book which established him as Carter Hall... before Rob Liefeld came on as writer and retconned him into being Katar Hol. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders again) is featured in James Robinson's ''[[{{ComicBook/Earth2}} Earth-2]]'', but isn't connected to the Hawkman mythos, being neither a reincarnation or alien. Katar would eventually die in the ''Death of Hawkman'' miniseries. The ComicBook/DCRebirth event ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'' reintroduced the reincarnating Hawks, both having operated as Hawkman and Hawkgirl in the past. Carter was introduced as being lost in the Dark Multiverse while Kendra Saunders (this time with memories of her previous lives) disposed of her Hawkgirl equipment and became Lady Blackhawk. Carter is the lead in the new ''Hawkman'' series which began in June of 2018, while Kendra is one of the main characters in a new ''Justice League'' series (which has the exact lineup of the cartoon). In his series, Carter learns that his past incarnations include Katar Hol, as well as many others he's never heard of, stretching back long before Khufu and Chay-Ara.