The Nth Anniversary of Hawkworld!

Hawkworld (Originally called Hawkman Winged Warrior) First Group Banner by Joe Prado

     January 15, 2025 is the Nth anniversary of Hawkworld! I started Hawkworld on Facebook back in 2016 and what a ride it has been. When I was a kid reading comics, I sent out a few letters to the comics, but my letters were never published. I could only dream about interacting with the creators of the characters that I loved reading about. When I began Hawkworld on Facebook, I never expected for that to change. I just wanted to start a place where I could talk about Hawkman and interact with my fellow Hawkfans. What happened is something I never expected, and it still leaves me a bit blown away when I think about all that has happened. Here are some of the highlights during the last nine years with Hawkworld. 

The Angrygeeks Show and Roy Thomas

Lewis Perry with Roy Thomas

   The first comics site to give Hawkworld a shoutout was The AngryGeeks Show. Lewis Perry joined the group right from the very beginning and has been a huge supporter. I'll never forget seeing Hawkworld being given a shoutout during one of their shows. One of the most unbelievable moments happened at the 2017 TerrifiCon in Connecticut. Lewis was interviewing the great Roy Thomas and at the end of the interview he got Roy to give me a shoutout. And he did! Talk about stunned! That's almost like getting Hawkman himself to give me a shoutout! Click the picture for a link and he mentions me around 5:58. Go check out Lewis' The AngryGeeks Show when you get a chance. 

First Ever Podcast

   After the announcement of the new Hawkman series in March 2018, I was invited to my first ever podcast on The Comic Source. Jace also invited Robert Venditti on the show and we talked about the upcoming series. I have to say that I was wondering what the heck I was doing there with THE writer of the Hawkman series and an accomplished podcaster like Jace. I don't even remember what I said or how I answered the questions. Again, totally blown away by the extreme honor of being invited. Click the pic to listen to two pros and one guy totally out of his league.

Another Podcast Interview 

   During the Hawkman run by Venditti, I was invited to another podcast interview on The Comic Source, this time with the author of the Hawkman Companion book, Doug Zawisza. I met Doug on Facebook a few months after Hawkworld started. He has graciously sent me his art work of the Hawks and I have it displayed in my gallery. If you have never picked up a copy of Hawkman Companion, I definitely recommend it. It is a book every Hawkman and Hawkgirl fan should have. Click the pic for a link to get a copy!

Final Podcast (so far) with Venditti

   After the series ended, Nancy Northcott invited Robert Venditti and myself to another podcast show. It lasted about two hours and it was great fun talking about the series. Thanks, Nancy! 

I've been invited to many other podcasts and youtube channels to discuss Hawkman over the years. If anyone wants to talk about Hawkman, I'm always ready to talk about my favorite superhero so let me know! Email: houseofhawkman@gmail.com

Robert Venditti

Gift from Venditti! 

   Shortly after they announced Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch for the new Hawkman series, I received a follow and a DM on Twitter from Venditti. He told me he had been following my account and even used my list of Hawkman comics (link here) to read through his history to prepare for the series. After that, we would talk through DMs at times and he asked me some questions about Hawkman. I was more than happy to help him in any way. He certainly didn't need my help, but I was honored that he asked. I had the honor being on three podcasts shows with him during the run as well. Then in December 2020, about a month after the series had ended, I received a box from the States. Venditti had sent me all nine issues of the series with his autograph on each issue. I'll never forget that thrill. Click the pic above to watch the video of me right after I received the gift. 

Forgotten All-Star: A Biography of Gardner Fox

   Sometime in 2019, I met Jennifer DeRoss on Twitter. I found out that she was writing a biography on the life of Gardner Fox and was really excited about the book. Just before "Forgotten All-Star: A Biography of Gardner Fox" came out, she told me that I was mentioned in the book. I was in a bit of shock. When the book came out, sure enough, right there on page 204 was my name. She wrote about the fans of Gardner Fox and mentioned me starting Hawkman Day to celebrate his first appearance on November 20th. Another HUGE moment that I'll never forget during these last nine years. Thank you, Jennifer! 

Thanagarian Anagram

   Tony Isabella joined our Facebook group a few years ago and has shared some backstories about the The Shadow War of Hawkman and Hawkman Vol. 2 series. In Hawkman Companion, Doug Zawisza asked Tony about a Thanagarian name he had used in his Hawkman stories and Tony revealed that he had taken some of his friends' names and rearranged them to make "alien-sounding" names. Mark Waid, for example, was Karm Daiw. And then a few years ago, I received this message on Facebook. 

   This is one of the greatest birthday presents I have ever received in this reincarnation! I should have this put on my luggage and tombstone when that days comes. I'll never forget this special gift, Tony. If you ever need some Godzilla from Japan, you know where to find me! 

   Tony also sent me this DC Bombshells Hawkgirl Funko Pop for my collection a couple years ago!

All-Star Shoutouts

   Here are a few of the messages and shoutouts that writers, artists, and others have sent me over the years. Each message encouraged me to keep going and build a place for Hawkfans. 

This was in response to a request I had and Jeff Lemire graciously replied.

Art

   There have been a few instances when an artist will include me in a picture or go out of their way to me know about a Hawkman commission they did. I've also asked a few artists for commissions over the years and I love each and every one. I'll include some below. 

   Rags Morales sent me this on Messenger with a simple message, "For your wall." A copied print is not hanging proudly in my Hawkman collection. 

  I received this during the first year of Hawkworld. Love it! 

   The above piece is a recent one by Eric Meador. He added my name on a sign on the bottom left. I also completely missed it until he told me, but next to my name it says "Accipiter Mundi," or Hawkworld in Latin! 

   About four years ago, I received these cards from Doug Zawisza, the author of Hawkman Companion. There are 60 hand-drawn cards of Hawkman, Hawkgirl and other characters from the history of Hawkman. I was stunned by the gift! Arigato, Doug! 

   This is a commission that JSA artist Stephen Sadowski did for me back in 2017. Stephen told me that Hawkman is yelling his battle cry as the hawks come to his aid, but I see it as Hawkman flying with his hawks in complete joy. This piece makes me happy when I look at it, and it is one of my all-time favorite pieces. 

Unexpected Invitation

   Through Hawkworld on Facebook, it has been an unexpected honor to come in contact with the grandchildren of Gardner Fox; Terri Fox and Greg Fox. They have shared memories and pictures of Gardner Fox with us over the years but back in 2022, they blew me away. As the grandchildren of Gardner Fox they were invited to the premier of Black Adam in New York City in October 2022. They were able to invite some guests to bring along so Terri Fox invited me to join them in New York for the premier. I couldn't believe that they were inviting me and I was on cloud nine for a while! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go because of my job and the cost of the trip, so I had to decline. That will be one I look back on with longing for a long, long time. But I will forever be thankful that they thought of inviting me. I don't have enough vocabulary to express my gratitude. 

Hawkworld on Social Media

 
   After starting Hawkworld on Facebook (14,000 members), I have also started it on Twitter/X (7500 followers), Instagram (1800 followers), Threads (1000 followers), Mastodon (300 followers), and Bluesky (1300 followers). I have since deleted the Twitter, Instagram, Threads accounts because of politics and too many ads, and Mastodon has been on the back burner for a while, but Bluesky has really taken off in the last month. 

Artists Joining Hawkworld 

   A few weeks after I started Hawkworld, I noticed something shocking. The actual writers, artists, editors, and others who have had a hand in Hawkman comics were joining the group on Facebook and Twitter. I was flabbergasted. Tony Isabella?! Timothy Truman?! Rags Morales?! No freakin' way! There more names like Tom King, Liam Sharp, Bryan Hitch, Jimmy Palmiotti, Peter J. Tomasi, Stephen Sadowski, Jeff Lemire, Richard Howell, Philip Tan, and so many more. This is the ultimate seal of approval in my opinion, so I was honored beyond words. At last count, there were over 150 comics creators following Hawkworld. Thank you to all who followed. I hope Hawkworld lifts you up as you have lifted us up. It needs an update, but you can see the list of creators following Hawkworld here. 

Hawkworld Blog

   On November 20, 2017, I started this Hawkworld blog. It was slow at first, but it gradually started getting noticed. It really picked when I got the Hawkworld.org domain for the blog. It has now passed a half million views, and gets around 500 views a day now. If anyone wants to write an article about the Hawks, I'll be happy to post it on the blog! Let me know! 

It's all about the fellow fans! 

   My main purpose and goal for starting Hawkworld was to have a place for Hawkman and Hawkgirl fans to come together and share their favorite art, comics, stories, and news about their favorite superheroes. When I started the group, I was hoping for someday to reach 500 members. I sure did underestimate Hawkfans. We've now become what I think we can safely say the largest group of Hawkfans in the world! Amazing things have happened during the last nine years. There been lots of changes to the group, but we're still here. I just want to say thank you to all the fellow Hawkfans who have made Hawkworld so much fun. Who knows what the future holds but hopefully Hawkfans will continue what we have started and keep the Hawks soaring for a long time to come! 

Why Hawkman Matters by Tim Board 

The History of Hawkman and Hawkgirl