"Of all the beasts of earth
and air, none is as efficient a predator as the hawk. And what
holds true of animals holds true of animal gods. And at the hands
of the Hawk, a hero will once again be free to carry on his work.
Join me now in observing what must unfold here in the realm of
the Hawkgod, for I am The Phantom Stranger!"
The scene pans out and we see a
literal mid-air war between Hawkmen. As we zoom in, we see Katar
Hol, mace and katar in hand, slashing at what appears to be a
Roman centurion. Behind him is Carter Hall, he who was the Hawkman
of the 1940's, mace in hand. On the ground we see the western
hero, Nighthawk, shooting upwards, hitting several of the other
hawk avatars. As their enemies begin to mass for a charge Katar
Hol signals for a retreat. He, Carter Hall, Nighthawk, and several
others fall back. Katar sheathes his katar dagger, and draws a
pistol from his belt, firing into the crowd of massed hawk-entities,
who fall.
Half an hour later, we see Katar
and his allies gathered on top of a mountain. Those we recognize
include: Prince Khufu, the Egyptian Hawk avatar, who discovered
the night metal that made Carter Hall able to become Hawkman;
The Silent Knight, hero of Arthurian legend; Nighthawk, aka Hannibal
Hawkes, hero of the old west; Gabriel, the angelic defender of
early Christians in Rome; Jon, the Viking Prince; and Carter and
Sheira Hall, the Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl. They are drawing
up plans.
"We have to be able to break
through the Hawkgod's defenses sooner or later" ,declares
Katar as he stares out at the fortress of the Hawkgod. "We've
beaten back his forces in this guerrila campaign for months. But
we've never been able to press through and attack the fortress
itself. I think we've thinned out his armies enough to win this
time. I still have six shots left in my graviton pistol, so the
heavy artillery is there. Are the rest of you ready to fight?"
, he asks. The readying of weapons is his answer.
The scene changes once again as
we see the Chicago skyline. A beautiful red-haired woman enters
a deli. "Whaddya want?" , the fat man behind the counter
asks.
"I'm here to see Arion.",
says Shayera Thal.
"That's funny. I don't see
'Lord of Atlantis' on the menu anywhere. Why don't you try the
personals?" , sneers the fat Deliman.
"That's ENOUGH Chaon!"
,shouts a loud voice behind the fat man. As the scene turns, we
see Arion, lord of Atlantis come from a back room. "I have
found a way to rescue the Hawkman, Ms. Thal. But it is fraught
with peril. Are you willing to risk it?"
"I am. And so are the rest
of his friends.", says Shayera.
"Good! You all go out and risk
'losing your souls to the eternal darkness' or whatever. Get the
hell out of my deli! Honestly, can't a retired Lord of Chaos get
some peace?" ,said Chaon.
"A Lord of Chaos seeking stability.
Whoever would have guessed?", laughs Arion as he and Shayera
disappear.
"Useless fraggin' hippy!",
Chaon grumbles. "Waitasec! YOU FORGOT TO PAY YOUR TAB!!!!"
Meanwhile in the realm of the Hawkgod,
Katar Hol's forces take to the air. Those who can't fly, such
as Nighthawk, ride on the back of the Silent Knight's flying horse.
As they fly to the fortress we hear Katar thinking. "Soon,
I will either be free or dead. I have never worked with a better
assemblage of heroes. If anyone has even the slightest prayer
of defeating the Hawkgod and his champions, it's us!"
Soon the air rages with the sounds
of battle. Hawk champions of several cultures are falling left
and right on both sides. We see the battle rage. Katar and Carter
fight back to back, as the other hawk spirits fight other battles.
While many of the Hawkgod's forces fall, they are not alone. With
an awful strike, one of the Hawkgod's Champions severs the wings
of the Silent Knight's steed. He and his passenger Nighthawk fall
to their
deaths. But as they fall, they take
their revenge. One of Nighthawk's bullets shatters the skull of
the champion and he joins them in their death plunge.
"Take that, ya owlhoot",
Nighthawk screams, seconds before he lands on the jagged rocks
below, with a sickening splat.
It is at this moment when the forces
of the Hawkgod turn and flee. We see several of them taking serious
wounds from arrows fired by Khufu and one particularly unlucky
soul falling from a throw of the Viking Prince's axe.
"After them!", shouts
Katar Hol. "We have to break through!" Katar's forces
fly after the retreating armies of the Hawkgod. Finally, they
arrive at the Hawkgod's castle. With effort, the heroes manage
to burst the door down and enter the chamber.
"Welcome home, fledgelings.
Welcome.... to your deaths!", shouts the leering monstrosity
that is the Hawkgod. (readers of Kingdom Come have seen this monstrosity
before. - TJB - thought Katar was screwed over there. Like he
would ever support another totalitarian state, no matter who ran
it.) "Your brethren weren't the only defenses I have. Feel
now, the power of the Hawkgod!" It is with these words that
the Hawkgod launches a powerful blast into the assembled Hawk
Champions.
Meanwhile, back in Chicago, we see
the Hawk's Nest. The damage from the fire that occurred last time
we saw it has ben repaired. Inside we see Shayera introducing
Arion to Katar's friends, who have gathered here to help him through.
These include: Dennis Baitan, the shaman turned mechanic; Lefty,
a.k.a. Bar Sinister, a three-armed former Netherworlder; Naomi
Carter, Katar's mother; Knowbuddy, a perpetually shapeshifting
denzien of the Netherworld; Ray Palmer, the hero known as the
Atom; and Adam Strange, legendary hero of Rann, recently exiled
once again to Earth.
"Most of you believe you know
why you were called here. You were Katar Hol's friends and family.
But there is another reason. it is your strength and memory of
Katar that must be reconciled in order to correct things so that
he may walk among us again."
"Wait a minute there, 'Lord
of Atlantis'. I was a friend of Carter Hall, not Katar. And I
belive Adam here never met him either.", said the Atom.
"Things are not as they seem
here anymore, Palmer. I must ask you, man of science, to defer
to Arion's wisdom in matters of the soul.", says Naomi Carter.
"Thank you Naomi. Through my
research into mystic tomes over these weeks since I was forced
to exile Katar to the Hawkgod's realm, I have discovered something.
Katar was once more than he is now, but those possibilities were
erased in a Crisis. You knew that Katar, Ray Palmer, but reality
has changed. Still, your friendship with him remained, although
you remember it as being with Carter Hall. An... associate of
mine is in the Hawkgod's realm right now. It is his mission to
bring Katar to knowledge of that past. He will have to face many
trials to return to this world. Our spiritual energy will aid
him."
"Who is this friend of yours,
anyway?", asks Shayera Thal impatiently.
"Friend? An acquaintance at
best. Due to his nature, we cannot be more than strangers.",
says the Lord of Atlantis.
Meanwhile, back at the realm of
the Hawkgod, a handful of figures stand shaken, but alive where
the Hawkgod blasted.
"Your blast killed some of
the finest men I ever known. You are in SERIOUS trouble now. Their
lives will not have been wasted!", cries Katar Hol. Behind
him, we see Carter and Sheira Hall getting up from the ground.
Katar tears into the Hawkgod, filled
with rage. Amazingly, he is toppled from his throne by the force
of the attack!
"Not yet, little fledgeling.
The time for this has not yet come." , cries the Hawkgod
in panic as he teleports away.
"NOOOOO!!!", cries Katar
Hol into the sky.
Meanwhile, back on earth, we see
more people enter the Hawk's nest. Police Commisioner Emmet, the
Hawk's former publicist Joe Tracy, curator Mavis Trent, and police
Detective John Jones enter the apartment. Shayera offers them
a seat.
"The time grows near. Katar
Hol has but two more tests to pass before he is ready to achieve
his destiny. Let us pray he has the strength.", says Arion.
"Is he all right?", asks
Shayera Thal.
"Yes, for now.", says
Arion. "But for him to remain so, we must begin the ritual."
Back in the realm of the Hawkgod,
Katar is being helped up by Carter Hall.
"Son, we have to keep moving.
That monster may have killed our friends, but we still have to
stop him from doing something like that again.", says Carter
Hall gently.
"I know, Carter. Let's move.",
Katar takes to the air.
Back on earth, we see those gathered
at the Hawk's nest have joined hands and are in a circle. Arion
is chanting.
Ray Palmer leans over to John Jones.
"This is impossible. The Thanagarian is stuck in another
dimension, and instead of getting someone like that Green Lantern
kid to try and pull him out, we're sitting around and listening
to some street person who thinks he's a ten-thousand year old
sorceror from Atlantis chant nonsense after telling us we knew
this guy, but don't remember it."
John Jones smiles. "On dead
Mars we belived in the kind of mysticism that Arion performs Ray
Palmer. And as far as Green Lantern goes, he isn't exactly experienced
enough to retrieve Hawkman. Believe me, the League tried immediately
after he was exiled."
"Stop whispering, you two!",
says Shayera Thal. "if Arion loses his concentration, we
could lose Katar. And I think you guys are too fond of walking
under your own power to let that happen." The skrinking scientist
and Martian champion quiet down immediately.
Arion abruptly stops chanting as
smoke begins to gather in the room. "The smoke is our rift
into the other realm. Shayera, you must go through. Katar needs
your love to be able to pass his next test. Go now.", he
says. Unsteadily, Shayera walks into the smoke and vanishes. Ray
Palmer gapes.
Meanwhile in the realm of the Hawkgod,
Katar and the golden age Hawks fly into an immense chamber. Several
robed figures fly up to attack them.
"Who are these people? I thought
that we left the other avatars behind.", cries Carter Hall.
"What's the matter dad? Can't
recognize your own son? Not that I should be surprised or anything.",
says the only robed figure without wings, who throws off his hood
to reveal the Silver Scarab.
"No!", screams Sheira
Hall.
Katar dives headlong into the next
figure, knocking back his head. He wears the costume of the Silver
Age Hawkman!
"Who are you?" , cries
Katar.
"I'm the hero you should have
been.", he says. "I don't want to fight you, but I have
to. Don't make this difficult."
"I have to. If you are me,
you should know this.", says our Katar Hol.
"Of course." ,says the
other Hawkman simply, as they draw their maces. Another winged
figure flies to aid him.
Suddenly, Shayera Thal appears in
the center of the chamber. "Katar!", she screams.
"SHAYERAAA!", cries Katar,
as he is smashed in the back of the head with a mace.
The other winged figure unmasks.
It is the Silver Age Hawkwoman. "We can't do this Katar!
Let the Hawkgod kill us if he will. These kids deserve to live.",she
cries.
"I won't let you die Shayera!
Not ever!" ,cries the Silver Age Katar.
The final winged figure unmasks.
It is Sharon Hall, the second Hawkwoman. "I knew you Thanagarians
woulkd stick together. I'll finish them myself, before they can
hurt the earth anymore!", she says as she swoops for the
kill, spear in hand.
"No!", says the Silver
Age Hawkman. He dives to stop her and is impaled.
"Enough of this tragedy!"
,comes a voice from the shadows. "I have watched this battle
enough. And now, the time has come for the Phantom Stranger to
act!" ,the Grey Walker cries out.
"Hawkman has a destiny yet
to fulfil, Sharon Hall. He was never a foe of Earth. The man who
killed you brought dishonor to his name, but hating all Thanagarians
as a result is the height of folly.", says the Stranger.
He gestures. Her spear leaves the Silver age Hawkman's chest and
the wound heals.
"How droll.", says the
Hawkgod. "Even he who is forced to wander tries to save these
worms. You too will fail, Stranger." He fires a blast straight
toward Hector Hall.
"Son, look out!", cries
Carter Hall, as he takes the blast meant for his son.
"Dad! You sacrificed yourself
for me! Why?", says Hector Hall, tears streaming down his
face.
"Because you are my son. I
love you, Hec. I'm just sorry we were never close when we were
both alive.", says Carter Hall as he grows still.
"Enough death Monster!"
,cries Katar Hol. He flies at the Hawkgod full speed, striking
him. The Hawkgod falls. The Silver Age Hawkman joins in the fight.
Meanwhile back on earth, Arion begins
chanting. "Soon will the souls of the Hawks be reunited.",
thinks Arion. "Strike now, Stranger!"
Back in the Hawkgod's realm, mist
begins to rise. As Katar Hol strikes the Hawkgod, the mist takes
the form of the Hawk Avatars who died earlier.
"Now it is time for the Hawkman
to be what he should be, his ultimate form.", the Stranger
says as he gestures. A blast of energy echoes forth from his hand.
The mist strikes both Katar Hols, and a blinding light issues
forth. Standing over top of the Hawkgod is one Hawkman.
On the realm of New Genesis, a machine
in Metron's lab begins to blare out a warning siren. "A new
god is being born.", the master scientist of New Genesis
states dispassionately, and goes back to his research.
Back in the Hawkgod's realm, we
see Hawkman standing over the Hawkgod, who attempts to rise. "You
are defeated Hawkgod. The combined power of your Avatars is greater
than your own! Let us return home.", says Hawkman.
"Never, you coward. A hawk
is supposed to be a predator, but you protect the human sheep.
You are a disgrace to my power! Now I will strike at you the only
way that I can that will truly hurt you. The Hawkgod's spear fires
a blast of pure energy, striking down Shayera Thal!
"You monster! You will pay
for that!", cries Hawkman. He strikes the Hawkgod full power,
knocking him through the castle wall. He flies after him.
"Isn't there anything you can
do to save this girl, Phantom Stranger?" ,says the Silver
Age Hawkwoman.
"Yes, there is. I can heal
her from her fatal wounds, but only by merging you and Sheira
with her. Do you willingly give up your existences?" ,asks
the Stranger gently.
"I've fought the good fight
for years, Stranger. My husband is now part of the Thanagarian.
I can go to my death happily, knowing that I saved someone by
doing so. I accept Stranger.", says Sheira Hall.
"I agree Stranger. This girl
is who I could have been, had things been different. All I have
out there is a world that I never really existed in. This way,
my husband and I can live on. Do it.", says the Silver Age
Hawkwoman.
The Stranger looks at the Hawkwomen
and solemnly states, "Let the Hawkwomen be one!" A bright
light engulfs them.
Outside, the Hawkgod is viciously
ripping into Katar Hol. Hawkman strikes back as hard as he can,
smashing the Hawkgod's wing. He falls.
"And now to finish you off!",
says Hawkman.
"Katar, NO!", shouts a
voice behind him. As Katar turns, he sees Shayera.
"But you were dead!" ,he
cries.
"The Stranger saved me Katar.
I'm the same as you are now. Admittedly, I don't have my wings
yet, but I'm getting there Peacock.", says Shayera with a
smile. "Let that buzzard rot here where he belongs. Let's
go home."
"You are right Shayera. Let
him learn his lesson here as he licks his wounds.", says
Katar Hol.
"I will not be thwarted by
you pigeons!" ,screams the Hawkgod as he fires off a blast.
It strikes Katar in the back, knocking him flat.
"No!", cries Shayera.
She picks up a rock from the ground and hurls it at the Hawkgod,
catching him in the head. Once again he falls, unconscious.
Back in the Hawkgod's fortress,
Sharon Hall, Silver Scarab, and the Phantom Stranger watch the
battle. "What did you do to them Starnger?" ,asks the
Silver Scarab.
The Phantom Stranger addresses the
Silver Scarab and Sharon Hall. "I made things as they were
intended, Hector Hall. Your parents are now part of the Thanagarian
Hawks, as are those who never were thanks to the Crisis. They
have the memories, and part of the minds of your parents now,
Hector, just as they share their souls with the lost ones. The
Hawks are whole again from the fractures they suffered in the
Crisis. The two of you lived wasted lives as a result of manipulation
at the hands of evil forces you could not defend against. Yet
you both died with nobility. I offer you a chance to live again.
Find your wife, Hector Hall. Resume your life Sharon Hall.",
says the Phantom Stranger.
Meanwhile, back outside, Shayera
is looking over Katar. "I don't believe it. That blast barely
stunned you. Those are nasty scratches though. Time to take you
home.
The Phantom Stranger appears before
her, Sharon and Hector in tow. I can open the gate now, Shayera
Thal. I wish you and Katar well.", the Stranger says, as
he smiles.
Epilogue #1 - 3 weeks later. Katar
Hol's hospital room.
"I thought I had lost you again
for a while there, Peacock", says Shayera Thal. "You
were unconscious for a week. But Dr. Falconer says you are fine."
"Shayera, after what we went
through together, after what we've learned, I never want to leave
your side again. In all of our incarnations, we've always ended
up together. Will you marry me?", says Katar Hol .
Shayera is stunned and starts to
cry. "Of course I will Peacock." The two embrace.
Epilogue #2 - 479 light years away
from Earth is the planet Thanagar, the Hawkworld. a starship exits
from warp. As we zoom in on the bridge we see several Thanagarian
hawkmen sitting around the bridge.
"Commander Ved! We have arrived
home at Thanagar. The planet seems to have been virtually destroyed.
We detect only a few more than 1000 Thanagarians planetside.",
says the second in command.
"Thanagar? Destroyed? It cannot
be!", says the capatain, but then looks at the viewscreen
itself. "Thank you, Fel Andar. We will find what did this
to our homeworld and we will make them pay!!!!", says Deron
Ved angrilly.
Author's notes -
If you guys had any idea how close this came to being the Hawkman
80-pg giant, you'd choke. Anyway, here's my solution to the Hawkman
continuity mess. In the future we'll be seeing all of the classic
Hawkman villains come out as well as several new ideas and twists.
Of course, the guest stars will be out soon as well. Keep the
faith folks! - TJB
