Issue # 1

"Who is Hawkman?"
Part One

Written by Barry Reese

Continuity Note : This issue is set after Justice Squadron # 18.

PRELUDE : A NIGHTMARE, REVIVED

Katar Hol stood in the midst of Downside, his heart pounding in his chest. Above, the sky was darkening quickly, a hundred ships carrying frightened Thanagarians hurriedly fleeing the planet. Another quake made Katar stumble, barely keeping his upright position.

Flexing the wings that grew from his back, Katar took to the sky. He was confused, uncertain. How did he end up back on Thanagar? What was happening? Those thoughts, and many more raced through his brain.

He circled higher and higher, smelling death and war on the steady wind. In the distance, he saw the burning towers of Thanagar's upper class, many of them toppling towards the ground they'd sought to escape for so long.

Hawkman felt a stab of fear go through his heart. How did I get here? What's happening?

The questions were answered a moment later, as a huge bird-shape appeared on the horizon. It blocked out the sun, sending the planet into an artificial night. The thing opened its mouth, its birdlike voice screeching out its pain and outrage.

The creature grew larger and larger, its horribly hooked beak opening wide as if to swallow up Thanagar whole.

Katar Hol knew there was no escape. He would be once more trapped in the belly of the beast.

The Hawk-God had returned, and it was full of rage.

PART THE FIRST : NEW FLIGHT, FIRST ATTEMPTS

THREE MONTHS LATER : CAIRO, 1:15 AM

He hovered in the air like a bird of prey, poised to strike at a moment's notice. The wings on his back seemed like a natural extension of him, though they were attached by a thin harness. The katar he held in his right hand was steady, its sharp point glinting in the moonlight.

He felt good, at peace with himself. It was quite a change from the way he'd felt most of his life. Unfortunately, the business that had brought him to Cairo was a messy one -- and that thought sobered his otherwise good mood.

Down below, the nightlife pulsed vibrantly. Clubs and bars were hopping, even at this late hour.

The scent caught his attention immediately. Down below, his quarry was on the move.

Hawkman flew lower, still remaining high enough to avoid detection unless the prey decided to look straight up. Sensing with both his acute senses and the brief amount of telepathy that he possessed, Hawkman picked out Ferris Thul easily enough.

A Thanagarian on Earth had a way of standing out.

With him was Carl Sands, known far and wide as the Shadow Thief. Sands was thin and sickly, with a dark beard. His tourist-style clothing made him seem out of place beside Thul, who wore a dark shirt and trousers. Ferris tall and well-built, with a shock of red hair that ended in a widow's peak on his forehead.

Hawkman considered trying to probe their minds, but he wasn't particularly skilled at such things and chose not to risk detection. Instead, he scanned their surface emotions, a much easier task. Sands was elated, eager at having accomplished some task.

Ferris's mind felt dark and clouded with anger. The Thanagarian mystic had snuck onto Earth several weeks ago, his doings finally attracting Hawkman's attentions. Through careful research, the winged wonder had discovered that Ferris was wanted on Thanagar for numerous crimes, though he'd been gaining public favor since the Hawkgod's slaughter of the planet. Preaching a return to Thanagar's older, more mystical ways, Ferris had promised to lead his people back to "the one, true path" of enlightenment.

There is no "one, true path." Hawkman mused. People always expect others to have the answers for them, be they spiritual or physical. No one wants to take responsibility for themselves. And most of the people with the so-called answers are just like Ferris there, more than willing to take the money and authority given him by hopeful converts. I should know. I'm related to someone just like him.

Ferris and Sands walked together for a time, lost in conversation. When they parted, it was in front of an expensive hotel. Thul entered, while Sands did not.

With a grim expression on his face, Hawkman dove at that moment. He snatched up Sands before the villain had a chance to go two-dimensional. "Don't try anything, Shadow-Thief. I don't want to kill you, but I'll do what I have to." The words sounded strange coming from him. Would I really kill him? No, I don't think I would. But he doesn't have to know that, does he? Remember what Katar said -- 'Know yourself and know your enemy." I know Sands. He doesn't know me.

The Shadow-Thief felt the tip of the blade against his throat as they travelled higher and higher into the air. He could still go intangible here, but the thought of falling so far... Would his stolen techology protect him from that? "Hawkman? What do you want?"

"I want to know what Thul's doing here. Answer me quickly or I'll drop you."

The Shadow-Thief's eyes were wide and full of fear. A coward at heart, Sands had no stomach for pain. Still, he was calm enough to notice something that made his eyes narrow. "You're not him. You're not Hol." He looked at the long, gangly limbs and the slender body. "You're someone in the same costume."

"Good for you. Now are you going to tell me what I want to know? Or do you want to see how well you fly?"

Sands grinned. "Doesn't matter. You're too late anyway. He's already got what he wants."

The thief's next words were lost in a roar of energy. A blast of mystical power struck both the Winged Wonder and his prey, causing both to scream in pain. Hawkman released his grip on the Shadow-Thief, who fell limply towards death below.

Hawkman looked down to see Ferris Thul standing outside his hotel, energy cascading forth from his hands. A gem of some kind glinted from around his neck. With an annoyed grunt, Hawkman reached out with his mind, slowing the Shadow-Thief's descent long enough for him to swoop down and catch him.

Saving the villain put him at risk again and he narrowly spun out of the way of another mystic blast.

"So -- the Thanagarian traitor has shown himself at last!" Thul's voice was full of bluster. His red hair whipped in the wind, which had begun to build steadily. "Come forth -- it will be fitting that my first act as the Avatar is to wipe you from existence!"

Avatar? Does he mean the Hawk Avatar? He couldn't -- he must mean-- Hawkman dove under another blast, tossing Sands to the ground. From this lower height, the most that would happen to the thief might be a few broken bones. Hawkman hefted his katar and hurled it at the Thanagarian mystic.

The blade seemingly missed its mark, swinging wide of Thul. The Thanagarian laughed. "It seems that living on Earth has made you soft, Hol! Have you forgotten all of your wingman training at last?"

Thul's eyes went wide as he felt the blade embed itself in his back. Ignored by the mystic, the katar had arced through the air behind him, turning in midair to come at him from another angle. Thul staggered, a small spray of blood flying from his lips.

Hawkman landed nearby, his every joint aching from the force of Thul's blast. He summoned his blade back to his hand, catching it gently in his palm. Thul was alive, but his breathing was shallow. Good. I can send him back to Thanagar, though I'm not sure if he'll be brought to justice or just continue his rise to power. There's not much I can charge him with here, though.

Hawkman knelt beside Thul and turned him over. The gem that Thul wore about his neck was right before him now and the Winged Wonder snatched it from Thul with a gloved hand. It was of Thanagarian design -- and ancient.

It must have been brought here sometime during the reign of Prince Khufu. There were several Thanagarian scout ships sent to study Earth during that era. A small smile touched his lips. See, Katar? I did pay attention to your history lessons.

A crackle of static made him freeze. From the small radio in his helmet, he heard a familiar female voice. "Eagle-1 to Little Peacock... How are things going?"

"Pretty well. Both Thul and Sands are in my custody. I think that the Shadow-Thief found something for him. Some kind of ancient Thanagarian relic. I'll bring it back with me."

"Nice going, kid. You're gonna make us proud."

Hawkman chuckled. He could hear sirens in the distance, the peculiar wail very different from those in America. "I've gotta fly. See you soon." After she'd tuned out, he launched himself into the air, carrying Thul with him. The man was heavy, but Hawkman's telekinesis helped lighten the load. Nice going, she says. And she's right. I did do okay. Hope it's not all downhill from here.

PART THE SECOND : HEROES, LONG FORGOTTEN

SOMEWHERE FAMILIAR, YET FAR AWAY

The weather in Midway City was pleasant and warm, fitting for the annual balloon festival. Thousands had crammed into the park for a chance to see the many colorful hot air balloons up close.

Katar Hol, the local celebrity and hero known as Hawkman, smiled as he and his wife Hawkwoman flew through the air overhead. A flock of birds swept through the air beside them. "Let's hope Kite-Man doesn't make a return appearance this year," he murmured.

Shayera glanced at her husband with mock amusement. "Are you kidding? After the whupping the two of us and Zatanna put on him? I hear he's quit the whole villain racket and gotten into telemarketing."

Katar let his hand slip into Shayera's. "Honey, you're incorrigible. I have to admit, though, I'm feeling a bit playful myself. The Crisis is over, the old League is back together again* and the Shadow War is long behind us. It feels like everything's going our way for once."

(*See Elseworld's Finest # 12)

"Heh. And I haven't even told you my big news yet."

Katar grinned. "You're a tease. You've been promising me a surprise for almost a wee--"

Hawkwoman glanced her husband's way. "Katar? What's wrong?"

"There." Hawkman pointed off in the distance, towards something that simply should not, could not, be real.

Hawkwoman looked in the direction he'd indicated, yet saw nothing. "Honey, I..."

Hawkman suddenly pulled free of her grip and flew forward. He saw a man... he saw him... no, it wasn't him exactly but... There was no mistaking it. The man before him was Katar Hol. This one, however, wore his hair much longer than the straight-laced Hawkman ever would -- and he had a scar on the bridge of his nose. And his eyes...!

The other Hol stared at him with interest, but no particular fear. "This world looks so clean. And you're married to your Shayera?"

Hawkman felt his heart hammer in his chest. He reached out a hand that went right through the other Katar. "What's going on? Are you from an alternate Earth? All access to the multiverse has been closed off since the Crisis."

The other Hol merely sighed enigmatically. "You'll understand later. But for now, I need you."

"What do you mean? Is the Anti-Monitor back? What is--"

Hawkwoman screamed her husband's name, "Katar!", but it was too late. A swirl of energy had enveloped him, spiriting him away. She hovered there in the air. He'd been talking to someone... someone who'd stolen him away from her.

She clenched her fists. Hang on, Katar. I'm going to find you. I promise. There's no way our baby's growing up without a father....

PART THE THIRD : THINGS BEST LEFT UNDISTURBED, DISTURBED

Katar Hol, both of them, fell to the floor, panting. The Prime Hawkman was the first to recover, rising to his feet and glancing around at his surroundings. The room was small and decorated in a Southwestern theme. A large dreamcatcher hung from the ceiling. The man across from, the other Katar Hol, staggered to his feet. He was obviously ill, the look of fever in his eyes.

The Prime Hawkman tried to remain cool and composed. "Where am I? If you needed help, you should have explained yourself. I could have summoned the League. What Earth is this?"

Katar shrugged. "Mine. Listen, there are things you need to understand. Awhile back, I was part of the Hawk Avatar. I contained the spirits of all the Hawk-Champions who ever existed in my universe. But something went wrong. A sorceror named Kulak pulled two of them -- Carter and Shiera Hall -- from my merged form. They--"