Wanted: A Hawkman/Hawkwoman Comic!

Art by Stjepan Sejic (Hawkman) and Jim Lee (Hawkgirl)

Since last summer, Hawkman and Hawkgirl have been in some great comics. Hawkman has been in his own monthly series by Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch. Hawkgirl has been a central figure in the bi-weekly Justice League series. Although the Hawkman series has been gradually dropping in sales (18k in March 2019), both series are getting great reviews. Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV are writing a new and interesting Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders, while Venditti has been reinventing the origin and character of Carter Hall.

Hawkman No. 1 and Justice League No. 1

Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders is on her own in the new Justice League comic and seems to have no relationship with Carter Hall whatsoever. They seemed to know each other from their past lives, but they do not seem drawn to each other at all. Kendra is busy pursuing Martian Manhunter, while Carter is thinking of Shiera. not Kendra. Also, the Doomsday Clock series is coming to a close, and many are predicting that a new Justice Society series is coming. It would be a surprise if Hawkman was not included in that book, so this has got me thinking about the current Hawkman series.

Doomsday Clock No. 10 Variant by Gary Frank

 Let me say that Robert Venditti has done an amazing job with the new series. He has developed a new origin to Hawkman. In the process, he has given Hawkman a purpose for what he does and a foundation for all the past stories to stand on. His Carter Hall has a much calmer, Indiana Jones vibe that has made Carter an interesting character in his own right. It's a shame that the book is not selling better, because most of the fans who have read it say that it's one of the best DC books out right now. My idea is in no way to say that Venditti could be doing better. Far from it. I'm ready to say that this current run is becoming the best Hawkman run ever. If it is allowed to go for a couple dozen more issues, or at least to No. 50, it will be the defining series for the character. It already is that in many ways.

From Hawkman No. 10, Art by Bryan Hitch and Jeremiah Skipper

The one thing that has turned some Hawkfans off is that Hawkgirl (or Hawkwoman, take your pick) has not appeared in the series yet. I think she did in the origin issue (No. 7), but it has not been explained or expanded on yet. I know many Hawkgirls fans have expressed disappointment in this and some have even refused to read the Hawkman series until Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman shows up. Because of my support for the Hawkman series, some have even blocked me on Twitter. Whatever. I think those fans will not be satisfied even if Hawkgirl shows up in the series. They want a Hawkgirl series without Hawkman, or better yet, with John Stewart. That would be a shame, but it is what it is. They grew up watching the Hawkgirl-John Stewart romance, with Carter Hall as a creepy stalker, so I suppose it's understandable. But that is not what the story of Hawkman and Hawkwoman is about. At least in my opinion.

From Justice League Unlimited

What could we do to bring Hawkman and Hawkwoman fans together in supporting the book? All of them; Hawkman only fans, Hawkgirl only fans, and Hawkman and Hawkwoman fans. The story of Hawkman and Hawkwoman is one of the greatest love stories ever in comics. These two were equal partners, completely able on their own, completely supportive of each other, and completely in love. Until the 90s or so anyway. DC needs to get back to that eventually. Venditti has mentioned that he has been thinking about Hawkgirl since the beginning, how to bring her into the story. He decided to establish Hawkman first, and then bring her back. If Kendra Saunders wasn't being featured in the current bi-weekly Justice League comic, I might be as impatient as Hawkgirl fans, but her story is being retold and built upon in that series, so I don't see the Hawkman series without Hawkgirl being a problem.

Justice League No. 2, Art by Jorge Jimenes and Alejandro Sanchez

 Back to my main point, an idea for a Hawkman/Hawkwoman comic. I thought of this idea for two reasons. One reason is as I said before, to bring the true Hawkman and Hawkwoman fans together. The fans that believe that Hawkman and Hawkwoman truly belong together. The other reason is to help sales. With most Hawkfans behind the comic, it could only help sales. The sales numbers for Hawkman No. 10 in March 2019 fell to just over 18k. This is not because the book is bad. The writing by Venditti has been absolutely amazing, easy to follow and a great story to read. The art is by one of the best in the business; Bryan Hitch. The artwork by Hitch, with inks by Andrew Currie and colors by Jeremiah Skipper, has been incredible, jaw-dropping work. We couldn't ask for anything better. Hawkfans and comic book fans who are really enjoying the book need to support the book and continue the word out as best they can. I still believe this series will reach No. 50, but the fans and comic book shops need to get behind it.

From Hawkman Vol. V No. 1

DC Comics should start a series called Hawkman and Hawkwoman. It would feature Carter Hall of Earth and Shayera Hol of Thanagar Prime. This way we could have both worlds in the comic. Every other month will feature a story from Hawkman's perspective or a Hawkman issue, and then the other months will focus on Hawkwoman. For the Hawkwoman months, the series can be called Hawkwoman and Hawkman. Both Hawks can be featured on the main cover, but the variant feature will go back and forth as well, with an occasional variant cover featuring both Hawks.

Carter Hall (From Hawkman Vol. V No. 5) and Shayera Hol (From Justice League No. 14)

The writing will, of course, be by Venditti, but the art can switch back and forth. The Hawkman issues could be done by Bryan Hitch or Pat Olliffe, for example, and the Hawkwoman issue could be by Jim Cheung or Jorge Jimenez. We could even have a guest artist come in for the stand-alone issues that cover one of Carter or Shayera's past lives. Those stand-alone issues that we had in Hawkman Vol. 4, such as issues No. 18 (Koenraad Von Grimm) or No. 27 (James Wright), were some of the best in the series.

Hawkman Vol. 4 No. 18 and No. 27

This would make the comic almost like a bi-monthly, but we would still be getting both Hawks each month. With Kendra over in the Justice League, and with Carter over in the Justice Society that is rumored to be starting after the Doomsday Clock ends, we could be getting Hawks in three or four issues every month.

Like I said, the current Hawkman series by Robert Venditti has surpassed any expectations I had before it began, and I hope it continues for a long time to come. But the reality is that the sales numbers are going down. I'm hoping they will pick up after the first trade comes out on June 10th. But if the worst case happens, I hope DC Comics would consider something like this to give the Hawks a fighting chance to keep soaring. Hawkman/Carter Hall and Hawkwoman/Shayera Hol are too diverse, too interesting and too full of potential to just give up on. Venditti, Hitch and the other artists are doing their best work. It's up to the comic book stores to promote it to their customers and the fans to keep buying the book and spreading the word about how good it is. We are the ones who will keep Hawkman and Hawkwoman soaring high. Whatever the book, let's give the Hawks a chance to soar high in the DC Universe.

Art by David Finch