Art by Prentis Rollins (2017, Commissioned by Tim Board)

Searching for Hawkwoman

Since the Hawkman series started in June 2018, one of the biggest questions has been about the whereabouts of Shiera. Fans are anxiously awaiting the return of Carter Hall/Hawkman's better half. This page is dedicated to Shiera, as we highlight all the mentions and appearances of our favorite superheroine until the greatest couple in comics history is finally reunited in the Hawkman series!
(Updated November 16th)

Art by Ed Coutts
When the Hawkman series started in June 2018, Kendra Saunders also joined the Justice League. Carter and Kendra seem to be in some sort of contact with each other, as we saw Carter and Adam Strange helping her out in Justice League No. 1. But the two seem to have a strictly platonic relationship.

Art by John Becaro
In Hawkman No. 2 (September 2018), Chay-ara appears with Khufu. Carter mentions her in his diary.
Across all my lives, my first memory of flight has always been with her. Long before we were Carter Hall and Shiera. It was Egypt. My name was Khufu. She was Chay-ara. We were much different people then. Living much different lives. But still very much in love.
From Hawkman No. 2 (Sept. 2018)
Carter continues in his diary.
I'm writing this because she of all people deserves to know what I've learned....I've been reincarnating across time and space. Maybe as far back as creation. Maybe...maybe she has been, too.
From Hawkman No. 2 (Sept. 2018)
When Hawkman reaches Dinosaur Island, we see him wishing he wasn't alone. No doubt he was thinking of his partnership with Sheira as he faced the challenge alone.
From Hawkman No. 3 (Oct. 2018)
In Hawkman No. 4, Carter time slips back to the days when he was a wingman on the Thanagarian police force. During his battle with Katar, Shayera Thal shows up. Carter sees her and mistakes her for Shiera. But he never gets a chance to talk with her. 

From Hawkman No. 4 (Nov. 2018)
In Hawkman No. 7 (Feb. 2019), the true origin of Hawkman is finally revealed. As General Ktar of the Deathbringers, he serves an entity that requires Ktar and the Deathbringers to kill and sacrifice millions and millions of people, one planet after another. When they are on Thanagar, a strange, red-haired woman appears before him. Her first words to him are...
You are in pain, warrior.
Ktar tells her to hide before she is killed as well. This is the first-ever meeting of the future Carter/Hawkman and Shiera/Hawkgirl. 

From Hawkman No. 7 (Feb. 2019)
The red-haired woman continues to appear only in front of Ktar on the planets he and his army destroy. She slowly breaks his resolve and he begins to realize the horrors he has committed. She finally gives him the resolve to end the murdering. He defeats his rival Idamm and sends the horde and the evil entity into another realm. Ktar is mortally wounded and as he waits to die, the woman appears again and takes his hand. 

From Hawkman No. 7 (Feb. 2019)
The last thing Ktar says is "Tell me... your name...." But he never gets an answer. He wakes up in the presence of an entity. This entity gives him the chance to atone for all of his sins by reincarnating until he saves as many lives as he took. This begins the reincarnation cycle. 

But who is this woman? It appears that she is the future Shiera/Shayera/Kendra/Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman. It seems that she serves the good entity that gave Carter the power of reincarnation. It also seems that she entered the reincarnation cycle at a certain point in time, probably to assist Hawkman. She may not have been with him in every lifetime, but she has a powerful connection to both Carter and the entity that gave him the power of reincarnation. 

Art by Krishna and Balram Banerjee
Over in the Justice League series, Kendra Saunders runs into Shayera Hol on Thanagar Prime. We find out that Shiera was split into two beings when she died. Kendra Saunders was born on Earth, and Shayera was born on Thanagar. Shayera is now the Empress of Thanagar Prime. She also appeared in Justice League annual No. 1. We hope we haven't seen the last of her. It would be very interesting if Carter and Shayera ever crossed paths. That just might be in future issues of Hawkman or Justice League.

In the final issue of the Deathbringer arc, Carter Hall comes face to face with his first life, Ktar. Ktar asks Carter about the woman that followed him from world to world. 
Is she still a part of this?
Carter says,
Let's just say I wouldn't rule it out. 
From Hawkman No. 12 (July 2019)
In Hawkman No. 13 (August 2019), we get a version of Shiera we have never seen before. After dying repeatedly in a war on a planet called Nebulen, C'Tarr (Carter) finally decides to try something different tactic. He grabs a food ration and walks out to the middle of the battlefield unarmed. He is about to be shot down when a red-haired woman named Sheera stops the shooter and walks out to meet C'Tarr halfway. They share their food and the other soldiers join them, effectively ending the war that had lasted hundreds of years.
From Hawkman No. 13 (Aug. 2019)
In Hawkman No. 15, Carter Hall goes to the Shade for help to defeat the Shadow Thief. While he is resting, the Shade reads Carter's journal. Carter wakes up and is not too pleased that the Shade was reading his journal.
But then the Shade says this; "You know, at some point, you'll have to let her read what's in these pages. The Deathbringers, Thanagar, Krypton,.......All of it."
To which Carter says..."Is it that obvious that I'm avoiding it?
From Hawkman No. 15 (October 2019)
When the DC Comics Solicitations for December 2019 were released we got a HUGE reveal.
Cover art by Patrick Olliffe, Tom Palmer, Jeremiah Skipper
The write-up for Hawkman No. 19 (released December 11) is as follows:
She’s back! Twisted into the murderous villain Sky Tyrant by an infection with no cure, there’s only one person in the universe who can knock some sense into Hawkman—Shayera Hol, Hawkwoman of Thanagar! Sent to rescue Carter Hall from the depths of his corruption at the hands of the Batman Who Laughs, these two star-spanning partners collide in the fight for a hero’s soul. Will the goodness still lurking inside Carter Hall be enough to stop Sky Tyrant’s total takeover, or will Sky Tyrant turn the tables and reveal Carter Hall’s most lethal secret?
Shayera is coming to the rescue! But wait! Who is this Hawkwoman? Here is my article where I have tried to explain who she is. My sources are the comics, the writers themselves and my own theories.
And then the solicitations for January 2020 came.
 
Hawkman No. 20 cover art by Patrick Olliffe, Tom Palmer, Jeremiah Skipper
The write-up for Hawkman No. 20 (released Jan is as follows:
The Batman Who Laughs has infected Hawkman, and now Carter is drawing on the worst versions of himself from his past incarnations. This evil Hawkman is seeking to access the ancient tomb whence all his powers flow. Meanwhile, the Atom and Hawkwoman are in pursuit, hoping to stop their friend from doing something terrible he can’t undo and potentially bring Carter Hall back to his senses.
In Hawkman No. 18, Sky Tyrant has taken over Hawkman's body and Carter Hall is helpless to stop him as he begins to approach innocent bystanders to kill. Right then, a mace comes flying out of nowhere. Carter is shocked to see who it is. On the final page, we see Shayera Hol/Empress of Thanagar Prime/Hawkwoman ready to fight Sky Tyrant. So there it is. The moment we have been waiting for. Carter and Shayera will have to defeat Sky Tyrant first, but it appears that they will finally meet. What will happen when they do is anyone's guess.

Art by Tom Olliffe, Tom Palmer, Jeremiah Skipper
However, it does look like Hawkwoman is here to stay. In an interview last month, Venditti stated that Hawkwoman will be in the comic going forward. We'll have to wait and see what kind of relationship Venditti has in store for Carter and Shayera.
Here is the cover for Hawkman No. 21 (released February 12).
Hawkman No. 21 cover art by Raymund Bermudez
The write-up for Hawkman No. 21:
Sky Tyrant is on the verge of possessing the ultimate weapon, which would kill billions—ensuring his eternal rebirth. Hawkwoman is hot on his trail, and she isn’t alone. She’s enlisted the help of Carter Hall’s long-time friends: the Atom and Adam Strange. Will they be enough to stop Sky Tyrant? How do you stop a man full of rage and steel will? Death seems to be the only option, but their good friend Carter would also die in the process.
We can see that writer Robert Venditti clearly has a plan for Hawkwoman in the comic. It has been masterfully done and we wonder how he will continue to introduce her into the new Hawkman story. There is no story about Hawkman without Hawkwoman (or Hawkgirl) and vice versa. Venditti has set out to establish the character of Carter Hall first, but he has also reminded the readers that he has not forgotten about the most important part of Hawkman's story.

The search for Hawkwoman continues!

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