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Before she makes her live-action debut in Superman, audiences need to understand who Hawkgirl is in DC’s comics. The mantle is associated with one of the most underrated Justice League heroes. In the comics, three characters have claimed that mantle: Shiera Sanders Hall, Shayera Thal, and Kendra Saunders.
James Gunn has already confirmed that the version of Hawkgirl appearing in Superman will be Kendra Saunders. Saunders, as played by Isabela Merced, can be seen in the recently released teaser trailer for Superman.
The new live-action spotlight on Kendra Saunders leaves readers to ponder what Kendra is like in the comics and what separates her from other versions of Hawkgirl. The best way to answer that curiosity is to chronicle Kendra Saunders’ origins, her powers, and her differences to the aforementioned Thal and Hall characters.
Who Is Kendra Saunders, One of DC’s Main Hawkgirl Superheroes?
First Appears in JSA: Secret Files & Origins #1 by David S. Goyer, James Robinson, Scott Benefiel, Mark Propst, John Kalisz, Digital Chameleon, and Ken Lopez
Long before joining Superman in the Justice League, and before Kendra even made her debut in 1999, the Hawkgirl mantle was first donned by Shiera Sanders Hall in Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville’s Flash Comics #1. She maintained that title throughout the Golden Age of comic books, right up until the tail-end of the Silver Age in 1961. That year marked the debut of Shayera Thal (later Hol, during the DC Rebirth era) in Brave and the Bold #34 by Fox and Joe Kubert.
While JSA: Secret Files & Origins #1 details her origin story and character bio, JSA #2 by David S. Goyer, James Robinson, Stephen Sadowski, Michael Bair, John Kalisz, Heroic Age, and Ken Lopez officially introduces Kendra into a DC story for the first time.
Finally, Kendra Saunders’ on-panel debut comes in JSA: Secret Files & Origins #1, where she’s only seen for a couple of brief panels by herself adorning her Hawkgirl costume. She doesn’t drop into action until JSA #2, although her first story-driven on-panel appearance with the JSA isn’t exactly befitting of a hero. As far as first impressions go, this Hawkgirl is first seen attempting to kidnap a baby. The Fate Child is destined to be reincarnated as the next Doctor Fate and the JSA must protect the baby. However, upon visiting a Vancouver hospital, Kendra beats them to the punch.
The team chases Kendra, who proves fast enough to nearly evade them – if not for Hourman. Her Secret Files bio explains that Shiera Sanders was her great aunt, and upon her sudden death, a call in the middle of the night from her grandfather (Speed Saunders, another hero and a former OSS agent) urges her to “get the wings” after only training for six months. Before that, the orphaned 19-year-old grandniece of the original Hawkgirl was taken in and trained by Speed in hand-to-hand combat.
How Is Kendra Saunders Connected to the Original Hawkgirl?
A Complicated Origin Story
DC has continued to expand on this Hawkgirl’s origin story, and it gets admittedly complicated and confusing. Future comics specify (or, rather, retcon) that she is the reincarnation of Shayera (or Chay-Ara), the original Hawkgirl, in addition to being the grandniece of Shiera. Originally, Kendra was a young girl who committed suicide. Upon Kendra’s soul leaving her body, the soul of the late Shiera entered it. That’s when Speed Saunders sought out Kendra, knowing her destiny to become the next Hawkgirl and training her in the process.
Kendra became integral to the DC Universe by aligning with the Justice Society of America.
This backstory is just as complicated for characters within the DC Universe, especially Hawkman, who struggled with kindling a relationship with this Hawkgirl knowing her past as Shiera – all while Kendra had no memories of Shiera. Kendra became integral to the DC Universe by aligning with the Justice Society of America, and as she gained a positive reputation with the DCU, she eventually earned membership in the Justice League. More recently, her solo adventures were chronicled in a triumphant self-titled series by Jadzia Axelrod and Amancay Nahuelpan.
What to Expect as Hawkgirl Enters the World of Superman
A Combat Specialist Takes Flight With Mace in Hand
While she does not have the closest or most intricate relationship with Superman in the comics, Hawkgirl has had some notable moments with the Man of Steel. Not long after joining the League, Hawkgirl was appointed as the guardian of both Martian Manhunter and Superman when the League had to deal with a multiversal energy source called the Totality. That role alone is a sign of how much the League trusted her at a time when she was still in the early stages of her career. Presumably, that trust has only grown with time and experience.
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In the time since Kendra originally joined the Justice League, Hawkgirl and Superman continue to be seen working together side-by-side, most recently in Jenny Sparks’ series, as the Justice League band together to fend off a former Leaguer turned villain, Captain Atom. Now, audiences are eagerly anticipating Kendra Saunders’ live-action debut in Superman, and if the movie can live up to what Kendra is capable of in the comics, it’ll be a delightful adaptation.
DC’s Hawkgirl comics are available now both digitally on DC Universe Infinite and in collected editions.
“}]] Hawkgirl’s DC comic history, explained. Read More