Hawkgirl isn’t just a name—it’s a legacy, a mantle carried by fierce warriors soaring through the pages of DC Comics since the Golden Age. From the very first iteration, Shiera Sanders Hall, who took flight in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940), to the fiery Thanagarian enforcer Shayera Hol, introduced in The Brave and the Bold #34 (March 1961), and the enigmatic Kendra Saunders, who emerged in JSA: Secret Files and Origins #1 (August 1999), each Hawkgirl has carved her own legend in the sky.

Bound by the weight of destiny and armed with archaic weaponry, every incarnation of Hawkgirl wields the mysterious Nth metal—a substance that defies gravity and fuels their unyielding spirit. Whether donning artificial wings or bearing real ones, as seen in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, they strike from above, guided by instinct, battle-hardened, and forever entwined with their counterpart, Hawkman.

Yet, Hawkgirl’s story is one of shifting timelines and tangled origins. Since the seismic rewrite of DC’s continuity in Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), her history has become a labyrinth of ancient Egyptian reincarnations, alien heritage from Thanagar, and fractured realities. But through it all, one truth remains—Hawkgirl is an icon of strength and resilience.

From the inked pages to the screens, Shiera, Shayera, and Kendra have taken flight in animated films, video games, and television, shaping the mythos of the DC Universe. Whether in Justice League, The Flash, Arrow, Young Justice, Legends of Tomorrow, or DC Super Hero Girls, they’ve left their mark on generations of fans. Ciara Renée embodied the fiery Kendra Saunders in the Arrowverse, and soon, Isabela Merced will don the wings in the highly anticipated Superman (2025), ensuring that the Hawkgirl legacy continues to soar.

The Flight of Hawkgirl: A Legacy Etched in Time

Golden Age – The Dawn of the Winged Warrior

Hawkgirl first took flight in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940), soaring alongside Hawkman in a tale woven by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville. But it wasn’t until All Star Comics #5 (July 1941) that Shiera Sanders fully embraced the mantle of Hawkgirl, donning a costume crafted by Sheldon Moldoff, mirroring the striking design of her airborne counterpart. She was among the earliest heroines to grace DC’s pages, a fierce presence in the Golden Age of comics.

Silver Age – The Thanagarian Rebirth

With superheroes fading into the shadows by the late ‘40s, Hawkman and Hawkgirl’s adventures came to a halt in 1949. But as the winds of change stirred in 1956, DC breathed new life into its heroes, reimagining the Flash and soon after, the Hawks. The Brave and the Bold #34 (1961) reintroduced them as Thanagarian enforcers—Shayera Hol and Katar Hol, interstellar lawkeepers who descended to Earth to study its crime-fighting methods. But while Hawkman earned a place in the Justice League of America in 1964, his winged partner was left on the sidelines, deemed ineligible under League rules. By 1981, Shayera shed the title of Hawkgirl, emerging as the formidable Hawkwoman.

DC’s ever-expanding multiverse placed the Golden Age Hawkgirl on Earth-Two, while her Silver Age counterpart took flight on Earth-One. But the greatest storm was yet to come.

Post-Crisis and the Chaos of Continuity

Then came Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), a cosmic upheaval that shattered DC’s multiverse and fused all realities into a singular timeline. The Justice Society—along with the original Hawkman and Hawkgirl—was swept into the eternal battleground of Limbo, fighting to stave off Ragnarok.

Initially, the Silver Age Hawks remained untouched by Crisis, but when Hawkworld (1989) soared onto the scene, everything changed. What began as a miniseries rewriting their origins suddenly became the new canon. The Hawks were no longer longtime residents of Earth but newly arrived Thanagarians, throwing their entire past—especially their Justice League membership—into question. To reconcile the chaos, DC rewrote history: the Golden Age Hawkgirl had secretly stood in for the Silver Age version, while a new character, Sharon Parker, was retroactively placed into past League adventures.

In this new continuity, Shayera Thal replaced Shayera Hol, now a warrior unbound by marriage, standing alongside Katar Hol as his battle-hardened partner. From the very beginning, she was Hawkwoman, never taking the name Hawkgirl. The past blurred further in Zero Hour (1994), when the Golden Age Hawks merged with Katar Hol, creating a singular new entity.

Kendra Saunders – The Modern Winged Warrior

Then came a new era. In 1999, Kendra Saunders soared into the pages of JSA, bringing the Hawkgirl mantle into the modern age. Unlike her predecessors, Kendra’s soul was not her own—after taking her own life, she became a "walk-in" for the spirit of Shiera Hall, her grandfather Speed Saunders recognizing the change in her very eyes. She carried the weight of history and legacy, but carved her own path, standing strong in JSA, Hawkman, and her own solo run in Hawkgirl, which concluded with issue #66.

Wings of Power – The Abilities of a Warrior

Forged in the mysteries of Thanagar, Hawkgirl’s strength comes from the enigmatic Nth metal—a substance that defies gravity, enhances healing, and sharpens senses beyond human capability. It grants her flight, superhuman endurance, and a resistance to both magic and the elements.

But she is more than her metal. A warrior in every incarnation, she wields an arsenal of ancient weaponry—maces that crackle with electricity, swords that gleam with the weight of centuries, and spears that strike with deadly precision. She carries the knowledge of past lives, a seasoned combatant who fights with the skill of a hundred warriors before her.

Her Thanagarian physiology grants her natural wings—unlike other versions that rely on artificial ones—along with the ability to communicate with birds, an edge in aerial combat, and a tactical mind honed by military training. More than just a force of nature, Hawkgirl is a storm of vengeance and justice.

Locked in an endless cycle of death and rebirth, she is eternally drawn to the battlefield, her fate entwined with that of Hawkman. Yet in each new life, she finds her own voice, her own fight, and her own legacy. Whether as Shiera, Shayera, or Kendra, Hawkgirl remains a warrior bound to the skies—one who never falls without rising again.

Other Versions of Hawkgirl: A Legacy Across Timelines

Flashpoint: War and Betrayal in an Altered Reality

In the fractured timeline of Flashpoint, Hawkgirl stands as a fierce warrior among the Amazons’ Furies, aligning herself with Queen Hippolyta’s brutal conquest. When the Resistance, led by Lois Lane, fights back, Hawkgirl and Artemis spearhead an ambush. Lois barely escapes thanks to Penny Black’s intervention, though Penny pays dearly with a near-fatal wound. Later, during a chaotic battle against Grifter and the Resistance, Hawkgirl’s dominance falters—Grifter wrests control, dragging her down before plunging a trench knife deep into her chest, ending her flight permanently.

DC Bombshells: A Love Written in the Sky

In the reimagined WWII-era DC Bombshells, Shiera is more than just a warrior—she’s an archaeologist, an inventor, and a woman driven by passion and discovery. Born an orphan in Mexico, her fascination with ancient civilizations leads her to Zambesi, where she falls in love with Queen Mari. As her partner and engineer, she crafts technology to aid the queen’s battles, wielding knowledge as deftly as she does her weapons. But Shiera’s history runs deeper than she ever imagined. In a confrontation with Baroness Paula von Gunther, she unlocks the truth—her parents were Thanagarian defectors, executed for warning humanity of Thanagar’s dark intentions. Armed with this revelation, Shiera embraces her Thanagarian bloodline, forging her own destiny among the stars.

Elseworlds: Fate and Feathers in Alternate Realities

Across the Elseworlds, Shayera and Katar’s story takes different, often tragic, turns. In Legend of the Hawkman, Shayera aches for Thanagar, while Katar finds his heart bound to Earth. A long-buried Thanagarian evil—Thasaro—resurfaces, and through the spirit of her ancestor, Shayera finds the strength to banish the fallen god once again. But her longing remains, tangled between two worlds, two callings.

In JLA: The Nail and JLA: Another Nail, she endures the loss of Hawkman at the hands of Amazo, her grief shadowed by humanity’s rising distrust of alien heroes. Yet, when the world turns against her, she finds solace in the simple kindness of those she protects. Even as her faith wavers, she stands unyielding—a guardian of Earth, bound by love and duty.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again: A Legacy in Ruin

Frank Miller’s dystopian The Dark Knight Strikes Again tells a brutal tale. Katar and Shayera, seeking escape from Lex Luthor’s tyranny, attempt to flee to Thanagar—only to be shot down, forced into hiding deep within the Costa Rican rainforest. There, they raise two children—natural-born warriors with wings of their own. But peace is fleeting. Luthor’s forces find them, razing their refuge in a merciless attack. As the flames consume them, the Hawks embrace in their final moments, leaving behind only their vengeful children.

Justice: The Silver Age Echoes On

In Alex Ross’s Justice, Shayera fights alongside the League, her presence as steadfast as ever. A sudden attack from the Legion of Doom throws her and Hawkman into chaos, their Midway City Museum sanctuary transformed into a battleground. As shadows of the past and present converge, she proves—again and again—that she is more than just Hawkman’s partner. She is a warrior, a scholar, and a force unto herself.

Gotham City Garage: The Youngest Hawk Rises

In Gotham City Garage, Kendra Saunders sheds the weight of her past, standing as the youngest member of the legendary Blackhawks. Trained from childhood in aerial combat and survival, she takes on the mantle of Lady Blackhawk before breaking away to fight alongside the rebels of Gotham City Garage. The girl once saved from an alien invasion now fights to save others, her past fueling her fire.

DC New Talent Showcase: The Detective in the Shadows

This modern take reimagines Shayera as a Chicago detective, blending her Thanagarian heritage with a noir-like mystery. A rogue among her own people, she secretly collects Nth-metal artifacts, unraveling a conspiracy that links her past to a hidden Thanagarian threat. Her mission isn’t just about solving crimes—it’s about confronting the past she left behind and the war that may yet come.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up: Mystery Meets Mythology

Even in the lighthearted world of Scooby-Doo Team-Up, the legacy of the Hawks remains. As museum curators in Midway City, Hawkgirl and Hawkman join forces with Mystery Inc. to track down stolen relics, uncovering a plot by Shadow Thief, Matter Master, and Fadeaway Man. It’s an adventure that blends intellect, humor, and just the right amount of supernatural intrigue.

Bombshells: United – Facing the Apocalypse

In the sequel Bombshells: United, Shiera Hall stands at the front lines against an invasion from Apokolips. Fighting alongside Earth’s greatest warriors, she soars into battle, a shining symbol of resilience and resistance.

Hawkgirl in Other Media

Television

Animation

From the golden age of Super Friends to the modern DC Super Hero Girls, Hawkgirl has soared across animated screens in numerous incarnations. The Shayera Hol version first found her voice in The All-New Super Friends Hour, later returning in Super Friends, where she was brought to life by Janet Waldo. However, it was the DC Animated Universe that etched her into fandom history—Maria Canals-Barrera’s portrayal of Shayera in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited redefined the character, blending fierce warrior instincts with deeply human struggles.

In DC Super Hero Girls (2019), the Shiera Sanders Hall version appears in "#TheBirdAndTheBee," voiced by Stephanie Lemelin, offering a fresh take on the character. Quinta Brunson also lends her voice to Shiera Sanders-Hall, who makes brief cameos in Harley Quinn, blending seamlessly into the chaotic world of Gotham’s antiheroes.

Live-Action

Hawkgirl’s live-action presence has seen various interpretations, each bringing a unique flavor to the character. In Smallville, Sahar Biniaz embodied the Shiera Sanders Hall version, hinting at the rich mythology of the Hawks. The Arrowverse introduced Kendra Saunders, portrayed by Ciara Renée, blending elements of Shiera Sanders Hall to craft a warrior torn between destiny and free will. More recently, Stargirl has teased the presence of Shiera Sanders Hall, further expanding her legacy in DC’s television landscape.

Film

Hawkgirl’s cinematic journey has been a mix of cameos, alternate versions, and missed opportunities. A glimpse of Shayera Hol can be found in Justice League: The New Frontier, while an alternate-universe variant, Angelique, wields a flaming sword as a minor antagonist in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. The Kendra Saunders version even found her way into The Lego Batman Movie, continuing her legacy in animated form.

Her presence in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies keeps her spirit alive in the whimsical realm of parody, while Green Lantern: Beware My Power sees Jamie Gray Hyder lending her voice to the Shayera Hol incarnation. However, her absence from Black Adam—despite early rumors—left many fans longing for a live-action revival. That wish may soon be granted, as Kendra Saunders is set to appear in Superman (2025), with Isabela Merced donning the wings.

Video Games

Across the digital battlefield, Hawkgirl has remained a staple of DC’s interactive universe. The Shayera Hol incarnation takes flight as a playable character in Justice League: Injustice for All and Justice League: Chronicles, while Kendra Saunders emerges in Justice League Heroes, voiced by Collette Whittaker.

DC Universe Online continues to champion her presence, with Lana Lesley giving life to the Kendra Saunders version. From Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes to Lego DC Super-Villains, her presence in the Lego multiverse—voiced by Kari Wahlgren and Tiffany Smith—cements her place among the greats. Meanwhile, Injustice: Gods Among Us showcases the Shiera Sanders Hall version, proving her combat prowess in an alternate, war-torn DC universe.

Even in Injustice 2, where she isn't playable, her spirit lingers as a modifier in the "Multiverse" mode. Meanwhile, Infinite Crisis and DC Legends keep the mystery alive with an unnamed Hawkgirl, ensuring her warrior legacy never fades.

Miscellaneous Appearances

Hawkgirl’s story extends beyond traditional media, taking flight in various comics and tie-in series. The DC Animated Universe version of Shayera Hol finds new life in Justice League Beyond, Justice League Adventures, and Justice League Unlimited's comic continuation.

Elsewhere, All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Injustice: Gods Among Us expand upon her mythology, while DC Super Hero Girls (2015) and DC Super Hero High introduce Kendra Saunders to a new generation, voiced by Nika Futterman. Her role in the DC Super Hero Girls tie-in comics further weaves her into the tapestry of DC’s multiverse.

Reception & Legacy

A warrior, a scholar, a protector—Hawkgirl has left an indelible mark on DC Comics history. IGN ranked her as the 22nd greatest DC hero, while Comics Buyer’s Guide placed her 80th on their "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.

Through her countless iterations, one truth remains: Hawkgirl is an enduring symbol of strength, resilience, and legacy—an eternal warrior who soars across time and space, always ready for battle.

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