Shiera Sanders Hall
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2018) |
Shiera Sanders-Hall Hawkgirl | |
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![]() Shiera Sanders Hall as Hawkgirl, on the cover ofSensation Comicsvol. 2, 1 (March 1999) Art by Dave Johnson and Lee Loughridge | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | (Hall) Flash Comics#1 (January 10th 1940) (Hall as Hawkgirl) All Star Comics#5 (June 10th 1941) |
Created by | (Hall) Gardner Fox Dennis Neville (Hall as Hawkgirl) Sheldon Moldoff |
In-story information | |
Full name | Shiera Sanders-Hall |
Team affiliations | Justice Society of America All-Star Squadron Black Lantern Corps Justice League White Lantern Corps |
Partnerships | Hawkman (Carter Hall) |
Notable aliases | Hawkgirl |
Abilities |
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Shiera Sanders-Hallis asuperheroine,the firstHawkgirlappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byDC Comics.Shiera Sanders Hall was created by writerGardner Foxand artistDennis Neville,and first appeared inFlash Comics#1 (January 1940) as a romantic interest ofHawkman (Carter Hall).Then later as one of DC's earliest super-heroines, she has appeared in many of the company's flagship team-up titles including theJustice Society of America.
Publication history
[edit]Created by writerGardner Foxand artistDennis Neville,Shiera Sanders first appeared inFlash Comics#1 (January 1940), in the same 12-page story in which Fox and Neville introducedHawkman.[1]ArchaeologistCarter Hallhas a dream that he is an ancientEgyptianprince, Khufu, who has a lover, named Shiera in the original story, or Princess Chay-Ara in modern retellings. The next day, Carter meets a woman named Shiera, who looks exactly like the woman in his dream. Carter dons the identity of Hawkman and Shiera becomes Carter's girlfriend. Shiera first appears as Hawkgirl inAll Star Comics#5 (July 1941), in a costume created bySheldon Moldoff,[2]based on Neville's Hawkman costume. During Hawkman's solo segment of theJustice Society of Americastory, Shiera dons a spare set of Nth metal wings developed by Hawkman, and masquerades as Hawkman to trick some criminals. Shiera continues to wear the costume and wings in later stories, eventually adopting the identity of Hawkgirl.
With the establishment of DC'smultiversesystem, the Golden Age Hawkgirl was said to have lived onEarth-Twoand the Silver Age Hawkgirl onEarth-One.Although Golden Age Hawkman makes his first Silver Age appearance during the first JLA/JSA team-ups in 1963 and continues making appearances during the annual JLA/JSA team-ups, Golden Age Hawkgirl does not reappear until 1976, in the revival of theAll Star Comicsmonthly comic. During the publication gap between the cancellation of Hawkman at the end of the Golden Age and the reintroduction of Earth-Two Hawkman during the Silver Age, Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl are married off-panel. Golden Age Hawkgirl made further appearances as the mother ofSilver Scarabin theInfinity Inc.comic and as Hawkgirl as a member of theAll-Star Squadron,a retroactive team of Golden Age heroes active in the 1940s.
Post-Crisis and One Year Later
[edit]Following the events of DC's miniseries,Crisis on Infinite Earths,the histories of Earth-One, Two, Four, S, and X were merged into one single Earth with a consistent past, present, and future. As a result, both the Golden Age and the Silver Age versions of Hawkman and Hawkgirl live on the same Earth. Shortly afterCrisis on Infinite Earths,DC decided that having the Justice Society on the same Earth as all of the other superheroes was redundant and most of the team, including Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl were given a sendoff in theLast Days of the Justice Societyone-shot.The Justice Society were trapped in another dimension,Limbo,where they would battle for all of eternity to preventRagnarökfrom occurring on the Earth.
Shiera was resurrected afterBlackest Night.
Fictional character biography
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bc/Shiera_hall.jpg/220px-Shiera_hall.jpg)
Art byIvan Reis.
Shiera is thereincarnationof theEgyptianprincess Chay-Ara and the partner ofCarter Hall,the Golden Age Hawkman. Centuries ago, Chay-Ara and her lover Prince Khufu were killed byHath-Setwith a knife forged from Nth metal. The properties of the metal and the strength of the duo's love created a bond between them, causing them to be reborn multiple times throughout the centuries. Some of her incarnations are:
- Lady Celia Penbrook, alive during 5th centuryBritain,and love ofSilent Knight
- Cinnamon(also known as Kate Manser), anOld Westgunslinger, and love ofNighthawk
- Sheila Carr, lady love ofPinkertondetective James Wright
In the early 20th century, Chay-Ara was reborn as Shiera Sanders. She was kidnapped by Dr. Anton Hastor (reincarnation of Hath-Set), but subsequently rescued by Hawkman (her reborn lover Khufu). Shiera became the hero's frequent ally and love interest. Eventually, she was granted a costume of her own and a belt of gravity-defying Nth metal, and joined him at his side as Hawkgirl.
The Hawks were members of theAll-Star Squadron,and while Hawkman was a member of theJustice Society of America,Hawkgirl was not, only assisting the group on occasion. Following the events of DC's miniseries,Crisis on Infinite Earths,Shiera Hall joined the JSA. Eventually, Carter and Shiera married and had one son,Hector Hall,the previousDoctor Fate.
Through retcon, Carter and Shiera also joined theJustice League of Americain the late 1980s, serving as liaisons between that group and the Justice Society.
Shiera died when she was merged with Carter andKatar Holto form a new Hawkman version, a "hawk god" creature, during the events ofZero Hour,but was revived during the events ofBlackest Nightby the White Lantern ring.
Powers and abilities
[edit]Other versions
[edit]DC Bombshells
[edit]In theDC Bombshellscontinuity set in World War II, Shiera is a technological genius and archaeologist who aids the Bombshells with her lover,Vixen.As Hawkgirl, she uses a jetpack rather than fly with wings, though whenCheetahforces her to build weapons out of ancient technology, she designs one with wings as well as a powerful mace.
Shiera grew up in an orphanage in Mexico. From a young age she had a passion for history and ancient cultures, as well as the magnificent structures that they built. She became an archaeologist and her work caught the eye of Hans Garber. He informed her of the Zambesi Amulets and the power that they possessed.
Intrigued, Shiera goes toZambesito try to discover the secret of the amulets. There she metQueen Mari of Zambesiand the two of them fell in love. Shiera stayed in Zambesi with Mari and became her personal mechanic, building gadgets to assist Mari against her enemies.
Hawkgirl discovers her trueThanagarianorigins while fighting againstBaroness Paula von Gunther.After connecting herself with an ancient mechanic god it's revealed to Shiera that her parents were members of the Wingmen of Thanagar, they sought to warn the humans upon the intentions of Thanagar who wished to conquer the Earth; due to their actions they were captured and murdered.[3]
The Green Lanterns survive and engage the three, with Hawkgirl fighting the Green Lanterns Isamot Kol and RRU-9-2, when she sees Superman suddenly go down, calling out his name. Shortly after, Hawkgirl is defeated, her Nth Metal mace taken by Green LanternTomar-Re,and her unconscious body trapped in a bubble construct alongside Shazam. Before any of them can be taken toOa,Sinestro arrives, killingCh'p.Shiera is freed and recovers her mace before engaging Tomar-Re and Procanon Kaa in a battle until the arrival of theSinestro Corps.Hawkgirl flies above the captured Green Lanterns, silently observing as they remove their rings in surrender and she witnesses the Sinestro Corps depart the Earth on Sinestro's orders. During the lost seven months, Hawkgirl worked alongside fellow League members Superman and Shazam as well as Lanterns Hal, John and Sinestro in toppling more 'rogue nations' to continue establishing peace across the world.
WhenHawkmanreturns to Thanagar and does not find Hawkgirl he goes to Earth. There he tries to force Hawkgirl to leave Superman's Regime and return home, but, loyal to Superman, Shiera fights against Hawkman; after defeating him she asks him to leave or she will kill him. Not respecting her wish, Hawkman later returns to Earth and tries to kill Superman with a kryptonite mace; he fails and is killed in a fist fight against Superman.
Bombshells: United
[edit]Hawkgirl appears as Shiera Hall in the continuation series toDC Comics Bombshells,Bombshells: Unitedset in the United States in 1943. Shiera is shown in Zambesi alongside her lover, Vixen.[4]Hawkgirl is later featured fighting against theApokolipsinvasion on Earth.[5]
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Shayera Hall / Hawkgirl appears inSmallville,portrayed bySahar Biniaz.Introduced in the two-part episode "Absolute Justice",this version is ofIndiandescent and was a member of theJustice Society of America(JSA) who was killed byIcicleyears prior.[6]In the episode "Shield", Shayera appears as a hallucination to Carter Hall, who takes it as an omen that he will soon die and be reunited with her following their reincarnations.[7]In the episode "Icarus", Carter dies protectingLois LanefromSlade Wilsonand is later buried in Egypt next to Shayera.
- Shiera Hall / Hawkgirl appears inStargirl,[citation needed]portrayed by an uncredited actor. This version is a member of the Justice Society of America. A decade prior to the series, Hawkgirl was with the JSA when theInjustice Societyattacked their headquarters and killed most of their members, with Shiera being killed byBrainwave.[citation needed]
- Shiera Sanders appears in theDC Super Hero Girlsepisode "#TheBirdAndTheBee", voiced byStephanie Lemelin.[citation needed]This version works as a musician.
Video games
[edit]Shiera Sanders Hall / Hawkgirl appears as a playable character inInjustice: Gods Among Us,voiced byJennifer Hale.[citation needed]This version is a member of theJustice League.Additionally, an alternate reality variant who supports High Councilor Superman's Regime appears as well.
Miscellaneous
[edit]TheInjusticeincarnation of Shiera Sanders Hall / Hawkgirl appears in theInjustice: Gods Among Usprequel comic.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^Flash Comics#1at theGrand Comics Database
- ^Hawkgirlat the Grand Comics Database
- ^DC Bombshells#24 (June 2017)
- ^Bombshells: United#11 (November 2017)
- ^Bombshells: United#37 (May 2018)
- ^"Absolute Justice".Smallville.Season 9. Episode 11. February 5, 2010. The CW.
- ^"Shield".Smallville.Season 10. Episode 2. October 1, 2010. The CW.
External links
[edit]- DC Comics superheroes
- All-American Publications characters
- Characters created by Gardner Fox
- Characters created by David S. Goyer
- Characters created by Sheldon Moldoff
- Comics characters introduced in 1940
- Comics characters introduced in 1941
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- Wingmen of Thanagar