Meet the Earth-2 Hawkgirl

[aeka]

From CBR Interview:

"I'm excited for readers to see this new Earth 2 version of Hawkgirl," Robinson told CBR. "As the co-creator of the original Kendra Saunders, I've taken pains to keep the essence of her personality while adding a more two-fisted quality to her as well. I'm also enjoying developing another aspect to her, in that with the absence of Batman, she must also step up and become the great detective of Earth 2. I hope readers will enjoy watching her find her place in this new world as a part of this new team of heroes."

"Earth 2" #4 featuring the debut of Hawkgirl hits stores in July.

Love the idea of Kendra being Earth-2's greatest detective since Batman. But....co-creator or not...I still don't trust James Robinson with her characterisation if his writing of Joan and Earth-2 Wonder Woman are any indication of his handle on female characters. So sadly, I'll pass on this too. I also don't get why Hawkgirl has guns as opposed to her usual weapon of choice? And I do mean besides the fact that this is a reboot and Earth-2 has (unfortunately) become James Robinson's own personal playground.

Also, If Kendra is essentially the new Earth-2 Batman, I guess this means Helena Wayne is no longer needed on Earth-2 to fullfil this role? I now have a feeling that the goal will be to keep both Huntress and Power Girl on Earth-1 in order to give the spotlight to Earth-2's 'New Trinity' which I guess giving Huntress and Power Girl their world back would defeat that purpose.

I also think this sort of explains why the real Helena Bertinelli had to 'die' on Earth-1, and if that is indeed the case, why didn't they just write it off as just a name Helena Wayne came up with? No seriously, I am asking a legitimate question here. Why kill a fan favourite when surely the daughter of Earth-2's Batman and Catwoman would have learned how to falsify documents, create fake ID's, and cover her every track from Earth-1's Batman without needing to take anyone's identity???

The only logical explanation I can come up with for Wayne deciding to take on a dead woman's identity is to create a believable backstory for the Huntress identity by impersonating someone who 'survived' a mafia hit despite being believed to be previously dead by the family who ordered the hit. I still don't see how this would bipass Earth-1's Batman since he would learn right away that the real Helena Bertinelli is dead.

Maybe this is how he'll find out she's really Helena Wayne aside from the fact that she's been stealing from his bank account? On that note, He'll probably figure out she's Catwoman's daughter too for the fact that he'll initially suspect it's Selina at first, then realise it isn't? Now I'm really off topic. Hawkgirl everyone: Earth-2's new female Batman. Carry on.

Comments

[flash_fan]

I don't like most of these Earth-2 designs. But I'm kinda REALLY liking her helmet. The colors seem strange though.

[glprime]

Seems too like Dove. But it's Earth-2, so they can be as different as they want, I guess. (not that I'll be caring...:) )

[bewareofgeek]

Your image link is broken.

The costume... is a bit silly looking. But no worse than some of the others.

[aeka]

Are you sure about that? Cause it's working fine on my end... >.o

[bewareofgeek]

Ah. Firewall. My apologies.

[venatosapiens]

Is it just me or does she look kind of middle eastern?

I approve of this. Less so on the guns.

[milleniumrex]

I think the original Kendra was partially hispanic, so I'm guessing they decided to accentuate that a bit with this version.

[icon_uk]

As she used to be an Egyptian reincarnation, actually making her Egyptian would be interesting.

[mastermahan]

Her hair beads are making me think Native American, though I could very easily be reading too much into it. Regardless, it's good to see a non-caucasian character.

[darkknightjrk]

"I still don't trust James Robinson with her characterisation if his writing of Joan and Earth-2 Wonder Woman are any indication of his handle on female characters."

With Joan I think Robinson was referencing her first appearence back in the Golden Age, where she viewed Jay as a slacker and didn't really warm up to him until after he gained his powers and he found out that her father had been kidnapped. I don't get what was the problem with his Wonder Woman characterization-wise.

As for the guns...one could say that since the superheroes that were around this Earth died so soon that the idea of their type not having to use guns wasn't that ingrained. Plus, depending on how much of the original Kendra Saunders, she might not know how to swing a mace, but most people have some idea on how to use a gun.

Besides...it looks like she's dealing with zombies, and while guns aren't ideal weapons with zombies, they're not bad either, and it's not like she's taking any lives.

But yeah, the only thing I don't really like about this is her headdress.

[aeka]

With Joan I think Robinson was referencing her first appearence back in the Golden Age, where she viewed Jay as a slacker and didn't really warm up to him until after he gained his powers and he found out that her father had been kidnapped.

I still don't see how that makes it less problematic?

I don't get what was the problem with his Wonder Woman characterization-wise.

Did you read the book at all?

[darkknightjrk]

"I still don't see how that makes it less problematic?"

Brings in the possibility that either she'll realize she went too hard on the guy, or he'll step up as the Flash and become a better man overall, more than likely.

"Did you read the book at all?"

Yes--I thought she was almost a pitch-perfect take on the pre-Flashpoint Wonder Woman, reminded me a lot of Gail's take. The only "problem" I had was that she was 86ed.

[aeka]

That...doesn't make it less misogynist considering Robinson wrote Joan in a way that gets you to sympathise with Jay by catering to the idea that women are emotional, hysterical, and irrational, which is how she came off on the page.

Yes--I thought she was almost a pitch-perfect take on the pre-Flashpoint Wonder Woman

I have to disagree since Wondy came off as a madwoman completely driven by her desire to kill compared to her two calm and collected male friends and not within spirit of her character. This once again caters to the idea that women are emotional, hysterical, and irrational. This isn't even going into how horribly cliched her lines were. So no, I don't feel her characterisation was pitch-perfect and I'm not the only person who thinks this.

[darkknightjrk]

With the Joan scene, I didn't hear it as "emotional." She's focusing on her future career and "growing up," and she feels Jay isn't. In fact, he describes her lines as "cold," and when she leaves, he admits that she's right.

"a madwoman completely driven by her desire to kill compared to her two calm and collected male friends"

Her male friends clearly weren't calm and collected, though. Superman's reeling over the losses in Metropolis and is distracted, he even admires Diana, believing she's actually keeping it together through all the death and destruction. Batman looks like his normal grim, determined self, but look at his monologue, "No pause. Forward. Fight when you can, then keep going. No time for doubt, Bruce. You can do this." He knows he has to sacrifice himself, with his daughter watching, and it pains him, but he has to push it down and keep going anyway.

As for herself...considering what she went through, she frankly has every right to be emotional. And I think her open praise for Mercury and him admitting that the Gods have grown inspired by Diana's last stand to help humanity really shows her impact on this Earth, even thought it was far shorter.

[aeka]

You're not looking at the problem being addressed. Women are typically depicted in a way that makes them look like they're not in control of their emotions and guys calm and collected even in the worst of situations, which reinforces gender stereotypes. Bruce and Clark--although distracted and had things racing through their minds--were more in control of their emotions than Diana was.

Same thing with Joan. Yes, she was written saying "I need to think of my future," but she was also depicted saying this in a way that made her look antagonistic rather than a woman genuinely concerned about her future, while Jay was made to look like the guy to sympathise with. As a female reader, this rubbed me the wrong way.

[darkknightjrk]

Bruce, certainly, but I think Clark and Diana were about the same in terms of control of emotions.

As for Joan appearing antagonistic...I guess that comes from us only seeing the final break-up, and while part of it is definitely to make Jay a sympathetic character, I don't think it was because we should think he was right and she was wrong, but because he does need to find something to make his life worth something, and that will probably have to do with him becoming The Flash.

[aeka]

Bruce, certainly, but I think Clark and Diana were about the same in terms of control of emotions.

I disagree since experiencing man pain in Superman's case is not the same as Wondy being depicted as an out-of-control woman on a killing rampage.

As for Joan appearing antagonistic...I guess that comes from us only seeing the final break-up, and while part of it is definitely to make Jay a sympathetic character, I don't think it was because we should think he was right and she was wrong, but because he does need to find something to make his life worth something, and that will probably have to do with him becoming The Flash.

The circumstances of the nature of the break-up are irrelevant since it doesn't change the fact that she was written in a rather antagonistic way to get you to sympathise with the fact that Jay needs to get his shit together.

[atom_punk]

I don't think Diana was being portrayed as a "madwoman" either. Her rage seems entirely justified given the circumstances since the parademons destroyed Paradise Island. And I don't recall her ever seeming "out-of-control". She was undoubtedly angry but it looked like she was channeling that anger into fighting and it probably helped her take down a ton of parademons.

And wasn't the whole point of Superman and Diana making a last charge to distract the parademons so Bats could get to the tower-wormhole thingie? So Diana was carrying out her part in the mission, draw in as much of the enemy as possible.

Also in the characterizations of Diana that I read in the past, Diana was always compassionate, slow to anger, but once her patience is worn away or there are no alternatives she goes all-out (see killing Max Lord).

[donnblake]

I'm a little confused here- is the issue that Joan is being written as antagonistic, or that she's being written as hysterical and not in control of her emotions? Because these are two different complaints. I'm not familiar enough with the character to comment on the first (that is, if your complaint is that the character is being mishandled to be portrayed as an antagonist, rather than just objecting to the idea of a female antagonist in general, which would seem odd). As to the second, that isn't at all what I got out of the scans posted here- she's being quite calm and collected about the whole thing, if not overly sympathetic.

[esco]

Batman was repressing his emotions and trying not to think about his inevitable sacrifice. Superman was letting his emotions distract him and looked at Wonder Woman for inspiration.

Wonder Man? She's a warrior and her people were slaughtered. It's understandable to be raging out for anyone. Another understandable behavior would have been curling up into the fetal position and being useless.

If anything I'm more surprised they made Superman look so useless there compared to Batman & Wonder Woman

[velshtein]

Wow I love those colors.

[venatosapiens]

Also, shouldn't she be looking at the zombies as she shoots them? Isn't that a vital part of shooting zombies?

[icon_uk]

Perhaps as Hawkgirl she has enhanced vision, a "hawk-eye" if you'll forgive the cliché

[cleome45]

Another Spears midriff costume.

Whoopee. :/

[sir_mikael]

Not crazy about the blue. Yay for them using the Earth-2 thing to have non-white characters.

That mask reminds me of Phantom of the Paradise.

[kenn_el]

I like the look of the character! She has that Jersey Shore tan thing going, along with shiny black and blue, rather than the usual yellow/green, and GUNS! Nice nod to Silver-Age Shayera, who often preferred Thanagarian weapons to Katar's ancient Earth stuff!
Robinson's written women quite well in the past (and both genders poorly, so I'm not necessarily cheerleading here), and his Helena and Kara were just fine IMO in Earth 1. WW was in an awful situation, and not grounded by the presence of loved ones in the way that Kal and Bruce were. I had no idea we were supposed to view Joan in any way other than a catalyst to light a fire under Jay. Some characters, regardless of gender, serve that purpose.
You know what's best about Earth 2 so far? As of yet, no Wildstormers!

[sailorlibra]

Yeah, I know that James Robinson has apparently written some good stuff in the past, but everything he's written lately has been shit and problematic shit at that. I would be fascinated in this character if she was being written by another author, but even if Robinson does an awesome job with this character, I'm not sure it would be enough to counteract the rest of the bullshit in the title.

[icon_uk]

Have you been reading "The Shade"?

[jeyl]

So the new DC universe essentially wants every female super hero to be dual-wielding guns. This whole thing sucks.

[arbre_rieur]

Name two.

[mrstatham]

Don't mind Jeyl, they're just complaining because of one issue of Wonder Woman so far where Diana's used guns. Obviously it means she'll be using them FOOOOOOREEEEVEEERRRRR.

[jeyl]

If you knew me that well, you would know that guns aren't the only issues I have.

[jeyl]

Wonder Woman and Hawk Girl. And if you're happy about this whole thing, why not just say so?

[starwolf_oakley]

I guess we won't get a variation on one of the best lines Green Arrow said to Hawkman,

"At least I'm not trying to convince a 19-year-old girl she's my reincarnated wife so I can play Hide-the-Mace with her!"

Done by Kevin Smith at some point in his GREEN ARROW run.

[big_daddy_d]

I said it once. I said it twice. I said it many times today. She looks like a badass.

[jeyl]

It takes more to being a character than just being labeled a bada**.

[sir_mikael]

It also takes more to tell what a character is about than what's presented here. It's a bit early to tell.

[esco]

The blue looked a little off and she feels a little like Swift from the Authority, but overall I like it.

[jaybee3]

I'm hoping this means we'll at least see Shayera Thal (Hawkwoman) or Shiera Saunders (the original Hawkgirls) in Earth-1 with Hawkman. I still never saw the point of killing off Shayera (something they didn't even do in Zero Hour) in the Rann-Thanganar War mess, especially since she was the characters millions of cartoon viewers thought of as Hawkgirl and then they dispatched Kendra to make way for redheaded Shiera in Brightest Day and then killed HER off again at the end of that mini-series (which was the biggest WTF! moment for me pre-reboot) and of course thanks to the DCnU that plot line never got resolved and never will.

I also can't take the idea of Hawkgirl (or any Hawk character) taking the place of the World's Greatest Detective as the primary "detective" character in Earth-2 seriously. I know the Hawks were adventurers/archeologists (Golden Age) and space cops (Silver Age) but surely there must be another (preferably female) character to fill that role? How about Helena Wayne....or Lois Lane?.....oh wait. Never mind.

[jlbarnett]

Her wings look angelic and her helmet isn't hawk like

[arbre_rieur]

The helmet looks *a lot* like the ancient Egyptian depictions of Horus' head: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Horus_standing.svg.

Nice touch, I think.

[lieut_kettch]

What's with the proliferation of bicycle helmets as Earth-2 superhero headgear? First Jay Garrick, and now Kendra!

[aeka]

It's an Earth-2 with James Robinson as its new God. Truthfully, the Earth-2 characters could use all the protection they can get. :P

[junipepper]

They're all about safety on Earth 2. All the heroes there also use condoms...

;-)

[eyz]

Looks like Kendra's back! Finally! :D
She was of mixed heritage anyway, glad to see it more clearly now. (kinda the same problem people had coloring/drawin Connor Hawk as well..)

[kraesil]

Costume= So far, so good. Especially helmet.

Guns= Not good.

Earth 2 as Extra Fridging Space= Not good.

[pyrrhocorax]

Really really cool looking, except for the guns. I guess I just don't find handguns cool.

[apexpredator]

So...about 4 more issues and we can return the "Kendra's Heinie" appreciation posts?