Hawkman (Carter Hall)

DC Comics superhero

Hawkman (Carter Hall) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first character to use the name Hawkman. There are two separate origins of Carter Hall; the Golden Age origin and the Post Hawkworld (or current) origin. The character made its live action debut in the television series Smallville, played by Michael Shanks. He also appeared in the Arrowverse crossover "Heroes Join Forces" and in Legends of Tomorrow, played by Falk Hentschel. Hawkman appears in the DC Extended Universe film Black Adam (2022), played by Aldis Hodge.

Gardner Fox recalled the initial inspiration for the character stating, "As I sat by the window I noticed a bird collecting twigs for a nest. The bird would swoop down, pick up the twig, and fly away. I thought. 'Wouldn't it be great if the bird was a lawman and the twig was a crook!

The character first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940), created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville.

In the days of ancient Egypt, Prince Khufu was engaged in a feud with his rival, the Hungarian priest Hath Set, who captured Khufu and his consort Chay Ara, and killed them. In 1940, Khufu reincarnates as American archaeologist Carter Hall, and Chay Ara as Shiera Sanders. Hath Set reincarnates as a scientist named Anton Hastor. Upon finding the ancient knife Hath Set used to kill him, Hall regains his memories of his past life and recognizes Hastor as the reincarnated evil priest. Using the properties of "Nth metal" (initially called "Ninth metal") to craft a gravity defying belt, Hall creates wings and a costume, and confronts Hastor as Hawkman. He also encounters and remembers Shiera. Following Hastor's defeat, the two begin a romance. Hawkman becomes a charter member of the Justice Society of America and takes the position of permanent chairman, following the Flash and Green Lantern. Shiera adopts the identity of Hawkgirl and fights beside Hall throughout the 1940s. In 1942, Carter enlists in the U. S. Army Air Force as an Airman and serves as a pilot with the 1st Interceptor Command during World War II. Hawkman is JSA chairman in 1951 when the team is investigated by the "Joint Congressional Un American Activities Committee" (based on the real life House Un American Activities Committee) for possible communist sympathies. Congress asks members of the JSA to reveal their identities. The heroes decline, and Hawkman and most of the JSA retire for the bulk of the 1950s. The JSA and Hawkman regroup in the early 1960s following the Flash's meeting with his counterpart from the parallel world Earth 1, the JSA being active on Earth 2. Around this time, the Halls have married and have a son named Hector. During the 1960s, Hawkman appeared at the JSA's annual meeting with Earth 1's Justice League of America. In the early 1980s, Hawkman is instrumental in denying his son and other JSA children membership of the JSA, leading directly to the formation of Infinity, Inc. Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, some of Hall's history was retconned by DC when the parallel worlds were combined into one but one piece of retroactive continuity was written before Crisis and fills out early Hall history. All Star Squadron Annual #3 states during a JSA battle against Ian Karkull, the villain imbues them with energy that retards their aging, allowing Hall and many others – as well as their spouses – to remain active into the late 20th century without infirmity. Following the Crisis, the Golden Age and the Silver Age Hawkmen live on the same Earth until Carter is cast into Limbo in the Last Days of the Justice Society of America story. The original Hawkworld miniseries retells the origins of Katar Hol and Shayera Thal from a modern perspective but following its success, DC launched a Hawkworld regular series, which takes place after the miniseries, resulting in a complete reboot of Hawkman's continuity.

Much of Carter Hall's post Hawkworld history is detailed in DC's Justice Society of America and Hawkman (vol. 4), which were written mostly by David S. Goyer, Geoff Johns, and James Dale Robinson, and examine Hall's previous lives. According to the post Hawkworld origin, Prince Khufu lives during the reign of Ramesses II in the 19th dynasty of ancient Egypt. Khufu believes his ka, or soul, will not journey on to the land of the afterlife but that his soul and that of his betrothed, Chay Ara, are fated to remain in the mortal world. As prophesied by the wizard Nabu, a spacecraft lands in Egypt. Prince Khufu, Nabu, and the champion Teth Adam search the desert and find the remains of a Thanagarian ship styled with a hawk like motif. Nabu casts a spell translating the strange language of the female space traveler. Just before dying, she whispers the words "Nth metal", the name of the substance that powered the downed ship. Teth Adam lifts the ship back to Khufu's palace, where it is studied inside the Temple of Horus at Erdu. The remaining Nth metal is examined; its most obvious property is its ability to negate gravity. The remaining sample from the ship is melted and used to create several remarkable devices, including a scarab that allows Khufu to fly, a deadly knife, and a battle glove referred to as the Claw of Horus. The metal also strengthens the souls of Khufu and Chay Ara, binding them together in their love and imprinting them with the collective knowledge of Thanagar. The villainous priest Hath Set murders the two with the knife of Nth metal but their souls remain in the mortal plane. They are reincarnated over many lifetimes, always finding true love in each other but are cursed to be repeatedly killed at the hands of a reincarnated Hath Set.

Years later, JSA member Kendra Saunders is transported to a ravaged Thanagar by the High Priests of the Downsiders. Seeking a champion to stop the evil Onimar Synn from enslaving the planet, the priests use Kendra's centuries old connection to Carter to bring him back to the mortal plane. Following this unorthodox resurrection, Hall retains all of the memories of his past lives, as well as those of Katar Hol, the Thanagarian Hawkman. Kendra has no interest in renewing the relationship due to her lack of memories of their shared past, and the role as chairman of the JSA goes to Mister Terrific. During the "Black Reign" storyline, however, Hawkman takes over as chairman to lead the team against Black Adam's recent takeover of Khandaq, but after his actions result in two deaths, he is asked to temporarily step down from the JSA. After defeating Onimar Synn, Hall once again becomes a member of the JSA. Operating both with the JSA and with Hawkgirl, Hall embarks on exotic adventures that take him from the streets of St. Roch to exotic dimensions and into outer space as he fights in the Rann Thanagar War. Following this event Carter stays in space to help mediate the truce on Rann and avenge the murder of Hawkwoman. As a result, Hawkman is absent during DC Comics' One Year Later event. Hawkman (vol. 4) becomes Hawkgirl at issue #50. During the events of the missing year, Hall serves as a member of the Thanagarian police force, attaining the rank of Commissioner. In 2007, Hall returns to Earth in a four part story arc presented in Hawkgirl #59 60 and JSA Classified #21 22 and appears as an active member of the JSA in the pages of Justice Society of America. This series was canceled with Hawkgirl issue #66 in July 2007. After that, it is stated Katar Hol's soul has passed on from the realm of limbo, as have his memories that existed in Carter's mind. Despite this, Carter still exists in a reconstructed version of Katar Hol's body. In a Hawkman Special published in August 2008, the mysterious being called Demiurge tells Carter Hall his previous existence as Prince Khufu is an illusion. As Demiurge departs, he calls Hawkman "Katar Hol", indicating Hawkman is Katar Hol, who believed he was Carter Hall. Hall briefly assists the Justice League during their battle with the Shadow Cabinet by knocking out Hardware as he tried to flee from the JLA Watchtower with Arthur Light's corpse. In the aftermath of the battle, Carter reunites with Kendra after her relationship with Red Arrow ends.

During the Final Crisis crossover event, Hawkman and all of the other heroes fight to stop Darkseid from destroying the DC Multiverse. In an attempt to save civilians, Checkmate creates a dimensional tunnel between universes. It begins breaking down and Lord Eye tries to close it, which will kill all the people who are still in the tunnel. Hawkman and Hawkgirl destroy Lord Eye but are caught in the explosion. All of the other people are safely transported via a second Boom Tube. This fulfills the prophecy of the Demiurge. While it is implied Hawkman and Hawkgirl are dead, author Geoff Johns has stated they are alive at the beginning of the upcoming event, the Blackest Night. It is later confirmed in Justice League of America Hawkgirl is alive but is hospitalized.

In Blackest Night #1, Kendra argues with Hawkman over whether to visit Jean Loring's grave with the Atom. As the two heroes quarrel, the reanimated corpses of Ralph and Sue Dibny, who are now members of the Black Lantern Corps, enter Hawkman's sanctuary. The Black Lanterns attack, Sue impaling Hawkgirl on a spear. Ralph taunts Hawkman, who is killed shortly afterwards. Both heroes are reanimated as Black Lanterns by Black Hand. It was also revealed in Green Lantern (vol. 4) #46 Khufu's and Chay Ara's bodies were taken from Earth by the Zamarons and placed in the violet central power battery. Their love is the source of the Star Sapphire's powers. The pair receive black rings during the battle on Zamaron. Their escape from the central power battery causes widespread destruction on the planet. During the battle at Coast City, the Atom is chosen by the Indigo Tribe to be more effective against Nekron's forces. The Atom tells Indigo 1 to keep his involvement in the deployment of the troops a secret, and asks that she help him find a way to resurrect Hawkman and Hawkgirl. In the final battle, Hawkman and Hawkgirl are resurrected by the white light. Kendra is revealed to be Shiera Hall, who remembers her past lives; she and Carter joyfully reunite.

In the Brightest Day crossover event, Carter and Shiera follow Hath Set, who has collected the bones from all of their past bodies, and created from them a portal to Hawkworld. While there, Carter is told by the Entity to "stop the Queen Khea" from leaving. While Hawkgirl is held by Hath Set and his Queen Khea, Hawkman and his group of the panthera attack the Manhawks homeworld. Hawkman hears Hawkgirl's cries and goes to rescue her. His arrival leads to a confrontation with Queen Khea, who is Shiera Hall's mother. During the fight, Queen Khea controls his Nth metal mace and armor, and Hawkman is tied together with Hawkgirl. Queen Khea opens a gateway and enters the portal to the Zamaron homeworld. When she arrives on the Zamaron homeworld, Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris) frees them both to stop Queen Khea's invasion. The two attack Queen Khea as Hawkgirl wants to face her, but the Predator Entity bonds with the Queen. Shiera and Carter separate both of them by stabbing Khea at the same time with weapons made of Zamaronian crystals. The bones of the past lives of Hawkman and Hawkgirl separate from the gateway. Animated by the violet light of love, the bones grab Khea and imprison her in the Zamaronian central power battery. Shiera and Carter, with both of their missions accomplished and their lives returned, are teleported back to St. Roch by Carol. Carter and Shiera are interrupted by Deadman, whose white ring tells them that they should lead separate lives. Carter refuses and the ring responds "So be it" and unleashes a blast of white light that kills Hawkman and Hawkgirl, turning them into dust. Deadman orders the ring to resurrect Hawkman and Hawkgirl but it refuses, saying Hawkman was brought back to life to overcome what held him back in his past life because he was essential in saving Earth. When the "Dark Avatar" makes his presence known, Hawkman and Hawkgirl are revealed to be part of the Elementals, guardians of the forest located in Star City. They were transformed by the Entity to become the element of air and protect the Star City forest from the "Dark Avatar", which appears to be the Black Lantern version of the Swamp Thing. The Elementals are then fused with Alec Holland's body so he can be transformed by the Entity into the new Swamp Thing and battle against the Dark Avatar. After the Dark Avatar is defeated, Hawkman discovers Sheira was not resurrected. Swamp Thing tells him Shiera is everywhere, revealing that she is still the elemental of air. Afterward, Hawkman returns home yelling "Shiera!"

In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Hall tries to rid himself of his Hawkman armor by burning and burying it in a forest. However, the Nth metal suit re bonds with him, preventing Hall from escaping his life as Hawkman. It is later revealed the current Hawkman is actually Katar Hol, with "Carter Hall" being an assumed identity.

The Nth metal in Hawkman's wings, belt, harness, and boots is controlled mentally and allows him to defy gravity. His wings allow him to control flight though they can be flapped through use of shoulder motions. Hall's Nth metal also enhances his strength and eyesight, speeds healing, and regulates body temperature, preventing the need for heavy protective clothing while flying at high altitudes. Nth metal is known to affect electromagnetism as well as the strong and weak nuclear forces. It is also mentioned in Hawkman: Secret Files and Origins #1 (2002) that Nth metal has other unknown powers. Due to his multiple incarnations and having the memories of all of them, Khufu/Hall is an expert with a wide array of archaic weapons from his past lives, including battle axes, maces, swords, spears, and shields. As Nighthawk, he was a marksman with a pistol. Carter Hall is sometimes depicted handling futuristic technology. He has used a Thanagarian ship called "The Brontadon" and during the Rann Thanagar War used Rannian hard light armor. Hawkman is depicted using technologically advanced laser weaponry in a possible future (Hawkman (vol. 4) #9). Reincarnation has also given Hawkman knowledge of hundreds of languages. As a result of his many lives and vast amount of experience, Hall is a brilliant tactician, fierce warrior, and strong leader. During the Public Enemies story arc in the Superman/Batman series, he was selected as the perfect hero to confront Batman with the advantage of his flight and strength but otherwise being Batman's equal. He is extremely intelligent and expresses a deeply romantic side towards his beloved soulmate. For a brief time during "DC Rebirth" through a combination of the Nth metals properties and his own cycle of reincarnation, Carter was able to summon an army of alternative selves whose lives he had already lived via reincarnation across time & space.

Hawkman has been characterized in comics as having a quick, fierce temper with adamant views and opinions. Even in the Golden Age, he has no problem blowing up a villain's lair with the villain inside. Another prominent aspect of his personality is his staunch conservative views; this has brought him into conflict with Green Arrow (a liberal) several times. During the miniseries Identity Crisis, it is revealed the main reason for this animosity is the opposing views he and Green Arrow take on the mindwipe of Doctor Light. Since his rebirth, that Carter Hall has integrated a lot of Katar Hol into his core being. He looks like a merger of Katar and himself while using the more rugged superhero attire that is a trademark of Katar Hol. Although he has Katar's dark hair, his voice and face appear to be his own as he is easily recognized by Jay Garrick upon return. Post Metal, Carter has become a more reserved character, in stark contrast of his personality Pre Flashpoint. He now shows a deeper understanding of history and spirituality, and more reservation to entering battle, but is still willing to fight.

In Mark Waid's Kingdom Come, Carter Hall is portrayed as an anthropomorphized, literal Hawkman, who has become an eco terrorist in the absence of Superman, wielding a large mace. He dies in a nuclear explosion that kills nearly all the metahumans. In Tangent Comics (now part of the DC Multiverse as Earth 9) Carter Hall is an architect who attempts to commit suicide, dragging police officer Harvey Dent with him and ultimately triggering Dent's evolution into Superman.

Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Smallville, portrayed by Michael Shanks. This version is a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA). Introduced in the two part episode "Absolute Justice", Hall lost his lover Hawkgirl to Icicle several years ago. While seeking revenge, Hall put him in a vegetative state. In the present, Hall joins forces with JSA members Stargirl and Doctor Fate as well as Clark Kent, the Green Arrow, and the Martian Manhunter to fight Icicle's son, Icicle II. In the episode "Icarus", Hall sacrifices himself to defeat Slade Wilson and is buried next to his wife in Egypt. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in media set in the Arrowverse, portrayed by Falk Hentschel. Hall first appears in the crossover event "Heroes Join Forces", in which he and Kendra Saunders meet and join forces with the Green Arrow, the Flash, and their allies to combat Vandal Savage. Hall appears in Legends of Tomorrow. In the first season, he and Saunders join the Legends to stop Savage, but the former is killed by the immortal, who uses Hall's body to extend his henchmen's lives before the Legends stop him. After Saunders has visions of Hall being reincarnated as one of Savage's soldiers, she eventually succeeds in restoring his memories before they overpower and kill Savage. Following this, the pair leave the Legends in 2016. In the series' 100th episode "wvrdr error 100 oest of th3 gs. gid30n not found", the artificial intelligence of the Legends' timeship, Gideon, starts losing her memories. To stop this, Astra Logue and Spooner Cruz use their powers to enter Gideon's mind and help her re experience memories of past and current Legends members, including Hall. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Stargirl, portrayed by an uncredited actor. This version is a member of the Justice Society of America. In the pilot, 10 years prior to the series, Hall was with the Justice Society when the Injustice Society attacked their headquarters and killed most of their members, with Hawkman being killed by Brainwave.

Carter Hall / Hawkman, with elements of Katar Hol, appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by James Remar. Introduced in the episode "Shadow of the Hawk", this version is an archaeologist who was born under the name Joseph Gardner and, during an expedition in Egypt, found evidence that he and Shayera Hol are reincarnations of a Thanagarian couple who lived in ancient Egypt 8,000 years earlier. Afterwards, he changed his name to Carter Hall and became Hawkman in an attempt to make her love him. Following an encounter with her, Green Lantern, and Shadow Thief, Hall realizes he cannot force Shayera to love him and leaves. Hall later makes a non speaking cameo appearance in the series finale "Destroyer", helping Earth's heroes fight Darkseid's invasion. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "The Golden Age of Justice! ", voiced by William Katt. This version is a member of an aged Justice Society of America. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Phil LaMarr. This version speaks in a low, growling register and is easily agitated. Carter Hall / Hawkman makes cameo appearances in Harley Quinn, voiced by Tyler James Williams. This version is African American.

Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in the opening credits of Justice League: The New Frontier as a member of the Justice Society of America. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, voiced by an uncredited Michael Gough. Carter Hall appears in the fan film Cooped Up, portrayed again by Falk Hentschel. An alternate reality incarnation of Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Justice Society: World War II, voiced by Omid Abtahi. This version hails from Earth 2 and is a founding member of the Justice Society of America, which was active during their Earth's version of the titular war. While assisting the JSA in stopping the Advisor, Hall is killed by the Trench. A reincarnation of Carter Hall appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One, voiced by Geoffrey Arend. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse, voiced again by Phil LaMarr. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Black Adam, portrayed by Aldis Hodge. This version is the leader of the Justice Society.

Carter Hall / Hawkman appears as a playable character in Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame, voiced again by William Katt. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears as a non playable character in DC Universe Online, voiced by Jason Liebrecht. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, voiced by Troy Baker. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears as a support card in the mobile version of Injustice: Gods Among Us. Carter Hall / Hawkman appears in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Travis Willingham.

Carter Hall appears in Justice League Adventures #20 as a member of the Justice Society.