History Comicbook / Hawkman

* YouCantFightFate: That's what Kendra Saunders was trying to do. It didn't work out.

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 2021 ''Black Adam'' film set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, portrayed there by Creator/AldisHodge.

* GreatBigBookOfEverything: The Absorbacon
* HappilyMarried:
** Carter Hall and Shiera Sanders
** Katar and Shayera Hol (pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}})

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

* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner: The Wingmen are known to be this.
* KingArthur: One of his knights was an incarnation of Khufu/Carter as well.

When DC decided to fix its post-Crisis mistakes with ''another'' reality-changing crossover (ComicBook/ZeroHour) 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]].)

%%* LegacyCharacter

* LoveTriangle: Katar/Hawkman, Shayera/Hawkwoman, and Mavis Trent

** Shayera Thal was left in the Downside by her mother to as not to disgrace her family.

** Due to his reincarnation schtick, Hawkman has frequently opposed [[ComicBook/VandalSavage]].

** SlaveRace

* YouKilledMyFather: Katar actually killed his father, but he had no idea it was him. Byth tricked him into thinking he was selling weapons to the Downsiders instead of smuggling them medication.

* {{Mondegreen}}: Two characters with similar names: Hyathis (queen of planet Alstair) and Hya''n''this (Shayera Thal II's maternal grandmother)

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl 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 2021 ''Black Adam'' film set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, portrayed there by Creator/AldisHodge.

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl 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 Ciara Renee (also Creator/AnnaDeavereSmith in a past, elderly incarnation) and Creator/FalkHentschel, respectively. Another incarnation of Hawkman is set to appear in the 2021 ''Black Adam'' film set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, portrayed there by Creator/AldisHodge.

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 recton 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.

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl 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 Ciara Renee (also Creator/AnnaDeavereSmith in a past, elderly incarnation) and Creator/FalkHentschel, respectively. Another incarnation of Hawkman is set to appear in the 2021 ''Black Adam'' film, portrayed there by Creator/AldisHodge.

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl 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 Ciara Renee (also Creator/AnnaDeavereSmith in a past, elderly incarnation) and Creator/FalkHentschel, respectively.

As originally envisioned, Hawkman was really archeologist Carter Hall, who discovered that he was actually the reincarnation of an Egyptian prince named Khufu, and that he had been murdered long ago by an evil priest along with the woman he loved. Furthermore, both the priest and his lover had also been reincarnated, and the former had now captured the latter! Arming himself with equipment found at a museum, as well as using an anti-gravity metal called "Ninth metal" (later renamed Nth metal) to fly, Carter created the costumed identity of Hawkman to go rescue her. She would later join him in his adventures as "Hawkgirl". Hawkman would also become one of the founders of the first superhero group, the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. Hawkman was the only hero to appear in every single Golden Age JSA story. When Alan Scott/Green Lantern left the group, Hawkman was elected chairman and remained so for the rest of the JSA's run in All-Star Comics.

Back in the comics, DC tried to exploit Hawkgirl's post-cartoon popularity by having (a variation of) her take over the new Hawkman comic book, but it didn't work and it too was soon canceled. Hawkman was ''finally'' brought back in the pages of the new Justice Society comic series, with a new origin that explains that both Khufu and his mate have reincarnated many times, including as Katar and Shayera.

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 will be the lead in the new ''Hawkman'' series will begin in June of 2018, while Kendra will be one of the main characters in a new ''Justice League'' series, now going by Hawkwoman.

* AdaptationOriginConnection: In modern comics, frequently shares an origin story with [[ComicBook/DoctorFate]] and [[ComicBook/BlackAdam]], as they all originated in ancient Egypt.

%%* LegacyImplosion

* SelfMadeOrphan: A drugged Katar Hol killed his father because his soon-to-be archenemy Byth told him he was smuggling weapons. Katar found out his dad was smuggling food and medicine to the oppressed lower-class citizens. Katar was around 18 at the time. Subverted as Katar later finds out his father had lied about his mother being deceased.

Hawkman and Hawkwoman appear as members of the Justice League on the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' series. Hawkgirl is a playable character in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs''. Hawkman was also a recurring character in the late seasons of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', played by Michael Shanks. Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders version) and Hawkman (Carter Hall) also feature in the first season of the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' spinoff ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', played by Ciara Renee and Falk Hentschel, respectively.

* {{Archnemesis}}: Hath-Set to Carter and Shiera/Kendra.

** Kalmoran, in a way. He's first mentioned in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #43 as a folk hero, and his statue was seen stolen by the Manhawks in the flashback. In the ''Hawkworld'' mini-series, he's also revealed to be their founder and savior.

* {{Eagleland}}: The ''Hawkworld'' comics tend to portray America in either Flavor 2 or Mixed Flavor, while Katar Hol (inspired by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) embraces the Flavor 1 idealism and hopes Thanagar might follow the same example.

* FantasticRacism: Thanagar post-Crisis subjugated multiple alien worlds and uses their people as poorly paid wage slaves and treats them as second class citizens.

* MishmashMuseum: Midway City Museum has an Egyptian look which suggests sole Egyptian artifacts, but also include archaic weapons from different cultures and nature displays.

** In the ''Hawkworld Annual'', the time-traveling Katar and Shayera disguised themselves as the Golden Age Hawks, the only time both Thanagarians resemble their Silver Age incarnations in the Post-Crisis universe.

* NotHisSled: In the ''Hawkworld'' mini-series, Katar Hol meets Shayera Thal, whom we know will eventually become Katar's partner and wife, and become Hawkwoman. Except in the second issue, she was [[DroppedABridgeOnHim suddenly killed in a bombing attack]]. Then by the third and final issue, Katar meets another redheaded woman who joined the Wingmen, and revealed that she was adopted by Shayera's father who named her Shayera as well due to her resembling his daughter. She also revealed that [[EarlyBirdCameo she was one of the orphans]] he met at the start of the first issue. In the ''Hawkworld'' monthly series, it was revealed that she's the illegitimate daughter of the first Shayera (then 13-years-old) and Commissioner Andar Pul.

* SecretWar: The Shadow War. Thanagarian agents infiltrate Earth to steal Katar and Shayera's equipment, since most of their technology was lost during the Equalizer Plague. They initially kept their battles secret from the Justice League for their safety.

* ServantRace: The denizens of Downside. Aliens from conquered worlds end up there, forming a single, amorphous class of downtrodden slaves. Some Thanagarians themselves (Katar Hol and young Shayera Thal, each of them at one point) end up in this trope. Isamot Kol, a [[LizardFolk Lizard Man]] ComicBook/GreenLantern, is one of these aliens, but is proud to be from Thanagar.

* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Hawkman can speak to birds because a device called an Absorbascon uploaded him with much information about Earth. Maybe a side effect.

%%* FaceHeelTurn: Golden Eagle

%%* FieryRedhead: Hawkwoman

%%* HalfHumanHybrid: Katar Hol and Charles Parker

%%* HeelFaceTurn: Fel Andar

%%* HeroWorshipper: Charley Parker

%%* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Charley Parker

* NotHisSled: In the ''Hawkworld'' mini-series, Katar Hol meets Shayera Thal, whom we know will eventually become Katar's partner and wife, and become Hawkwoman. Except in the second issue, she was [[DeathByAdaptation killed off]] in a bombing attack. Then by the third and final issue, Katar meets another redheaded woman who joined the Wingmen, and revealed that she was adopted by Shayera's father who named her Shayera as well due to being reminded of his daughter. She also revealed that [[EarlyBirdCameo she was one of the orphans]] he met at the start of the first issue. In the ''Hawkworld'' monthly series, it was revealed that she's the illegitimate daughter of the first Shayera (then 13-years-old) and Commissioner Andar Pul.

%%** Faraway Woman

%%* OurFounder: Kalmoran

%%* PlanetOfHats: Thanagar

%%* ShapeShifter: Byth Rok

* ServantRace: The denizens of Downside. Aliens from conquered worlds end up there, forming a single, amorphous class of downtrodden slaves. Some Thanagarians themselves (Katar Hol and young Shayera Thal, each of them at one point) end up in this trope. Isamot Kol, a [[LizardFolk Lizard Man]] GreenLantern, is one of these aliens, but is proud to be from Thanagar.

** In ''Hawkworld'' mini-series #2, Katar is shown training in an outfit consisting of red briefs over green tights and the usual chest-straps while bare-chested, resembling his Silver Age debut.

* NotHisSled: In the ''Hawkworld'' mini-series, Katar Hol meets Shayera Thal, whom we know will eventually become Katar's partner and wife, and become Hawkwoman. Except in the second issue, she was [[DeathByAdaptation killed off]] in a bombing attack. Then by the third and final issue, Katar meets another redheaded woman who's joined the Wingmen, and revealed that she was adopted by Shayera's father who named her Shayera as well due to being reminded of his daughter. She also revealed that [[EarlyBirdCameo she was one of the orphans]] he met at the start of the first issue. In the ''Hawkworld'' monthly series, it was revealed that she's the illegitimate daughter of the first Shayera (then 13-years-old) and Commissioner Andar Pul.
* OlderAndWiser:

** In the ''Hawkworld Annual'', the time-traveling Katar and Shayera disguised themselves as the Golden Age Hawks, the only time the Thanagarians both resemble their Silver Age incarnations in the Post-Crisis universe.

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 {{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 recton 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.

* DevelopmentGag: One issue has Kendra Saunders, who recently donned the Hawkgirl mantle, bump into Zauriel, who was introduced to be the new Hawkman.
** Zauriel being part of the Eagle-Host of angels, sharing a bird motif as Hawkman.

* EmpoweredBadassNormal: Depending on the version, the Hawks are normal people given superpowers through some method or other.

%%* MishmashMuseum: Midway City Museum

* MythologyGag: In the ''Hawkworld Annual'', the time-traveling Katar and Shayera disguised themselves as the Golden Age Hawks, the only time the Thanagarians resemble their Silver Age incarnations in the Post-Crisis universe.

%%* ParentalAbandonment:
%%** Charley Parker
%%** Shayera Thal

* SlaveRace: The denizens of Downside. Aliens from conquered worlds end up there, forming a single, amorphous class of downtrodden slaves. Some Thanagarians themselves (Katar Hol and young Shayera Thal, each of them at one point) end up in this trope. Isamot Kol, a [[LizardFolk Lizard Man]] GreenLantern, is one of these aliens, but is proud to be from Thanagar.

* SpacePolice: Katar and Shayera are often referred to as "alien cops", usually by Green Arrow.

%%* YouCantGoHomeAgain:
%%** Katar and Shayera (pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}})
%%** Shayera (DCAU)

** In ''Hawkworld'' issue 2, Katar killed R'd Nar's brother because he was making a wing harness and thought he was going to escape without him. To his horror, he learned that he was making them for Katar and has natural wings. Though, R'd Nar doesn't hold it against Katar because he was in drug withdrawal and his brother wasn't afraid to die.