Nighthawk (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Nighthawk is a fictional character
, a cowboy
in the DC Comics
universe
. His real name is Hannibal Hawkes and he first appeared in Western Comics
#5. In his secret identity
, he worked as a traveling repairman. He had a sidekick
named Jim Peyton.
Created by Robert Kanigher
and Charles Paris
, his later adventures were handled by writers France Herron, Don Cameron, and Gardner Fox
; and artists Gil Kane
and Carmine Infantino
.
, although this has been retcon
ned twice to fit in with the later revelation that he was a reincarnation
of Prince Khufu — who would later be reincarnated as Carter Hall
, the Golden Age
Hawkman
. Current continuity has it that he was shot by a criminal named Matilda Roderic, who was presumably a reincarnation of the evil priest Hath-Set
, who is apparently destined to kill Khufu in every life. Roderic's descendant is the current Hath-Set.
The Hawkman retcon also revealed he was the partner and lover of the Western heroine Cinnamon
, who was the reincarnation of Khufu's wife Chay-Ara.
Nighthawk appears in Guy Gardner
#24 during the "Zero Hour
" incident. He sported white sideburns at this point in time. His group of allies, which includes El Diablo and Bat-Lash, were forming to take on the villain Extant and several men Extant had brainwashed. Nighthawk calls this group the "Rough Bunch" on more than one occasion. The time-lost heroes Steel
, Supergirl, Guy Gardner and a version of Batgirl
show up to help in the fight.
A modern-day version of the character appears in the Western-themed Robin Annual #6, as a mercenary. He worked with Robin and the modern day Pow Wow Smith
to track down the modern day Trigger Twins
. They have a literal main-street showdown in a western themed tourist attraction located near Gotham City.
, but did not make the final release.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. His real name is Hannibal Hawkes and he first appeared in Western Comics
Western Comics
Western Comics was a Western comic book series published by DC Comics. DC's longest-running Western title, it published 85 issues from 1948 to 1961. Western Comics was an anthology series, featuring such characters as the wandering cowboy the Wyoming Kid, the Native American lawman Pow Wow Smith,...
#5. In his secret identity
Secret identity
A secret identity is an element of fiction wherein a character develops a separate persona , while keeping their true identity hidden. The character also may wear a disguise...
, he worked as a traveling repairman. He had a sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
named Jim Peyton.
Created by Robert Kanigher
Robert Kanigher
Robert Kanigher was a prolific comic book writer and editor whose career spanned five decades. He was involved with the Wonder Woman franchise for over twenty years, taking over the scripting from creator William Moulton Marston. In addition, Kanigher spent many years in charge of DC Comics' war...
and Charles Paris
Charles Paris
Charles S. Paris was a comic book artist who predominantly worked as an inker, mainly for DC Comics.-Early life:...
, his later adventures were handled by writers France Herron, Don Cameron, and Gardner Fox
Gardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
; and artists Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
and Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books...
.
Fictional character biography
He was shown as dying during Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
, although this has been retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
ned twice to fit in with the later revelation that he was a reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Prince Khufu — who would later be reincarnated as Carter Hall
Carter Hall (comics)
Carter Hall is a DC Comics superhero, the original Hawkman. Created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, he first appeared in Flash Comics # 1 . The history of this character is somewhat confusing, due mainly to the fact that his origins were retroactively changed with the Crisis on Infinite Earths...
, the Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
. Current continuity has it that he was shot by a criminal named Matilda Roderic, who was presumably a reincarnation of the evil priest Hath-Set
Hath-Set
Hath-Set is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville. The character is a recurring nemesis of Hawkman and Hawkgirl.-Fictional character biography:...
, who is apparently destined to kill Khufu in every life. Roderic's descendant is the current Hath-Set.
The Hawkman retcon also revealed he was the partner and lover of the Western heroine Cinnamon
Cinnamon (comics)
Cinnamon is the name of two Western characters in DC Comics, one inhabiting the wild west, the other living in the modern era. The character first appeared in Weird Western Tales #48...
, who was the reincarnation of Khufu's wife Chay-Ara.
Nighthawk appears in Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner (comics)
Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
#24 during the "Zero Hour
Zero Hour (comics)
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a five-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 1994. In it, the former hero Hal Jordan, who had until then been a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, mad with grief after the destruction of...
" incident. He sported white sideburns at this point in time. His group of allies, which includes El Diablo and Bat-Lash, were forming to take on the villain Extant and several men Extant had brainwashed. Nighthawk calls this group the "Rough Bunch" on more than one occasion. The time-lost heroes Steel
Steel (comics)
Steel, in comics, may refer to one of several DC Comics characters:* Commander Steel, a World War II hero and his grandsons, also known as simply "Steel" and "Citizen Steel"....
, Supergirl, Guy Gardner and a version of Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
show up to help in the fight.
A modern-day version of the character appears in the Western-themed Robin Annual #6, as a mercenary. He worked with Robin and the modern day Pow Wow Smith
Pow Wow Smith
Ohiyesa "Pow Wow" Smith is a fictional Western hero published by DC Comics. Created by writer Don Cameron and penciler Carmine Infantino, he is a Sioux who is the sheriff of the small Western town of Elkhorn, where he is known as a master detective...
to track down the modern day Trigger Twins
Trigger Twins
The Trigger Twins are the names of two sets of fictional Western themed comic book characters published by DC Comics.-Heroes:The Trigger Twins first appear in All-Star Western #58 , the first issue of that title under its new name , and was one of the features that replaced the previous stars, the...
. They have a literal main-street showdown in a western themed tourist attraction located near Gotham City.
Other media
He was slated to be a playable character in Lego Batman: The Video GameLego Batman: The Video Game
Lego Batman: The Videogame is a action-adventure video game, created for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Mac OS X and Wii. The game is based on the comic book character Batman and the Lego Batman toy line...
, but did not make the final release.