Carter Hall and Sam Wilson are among the top flying superheroes in their respective comic book universes. In DC, Carter dons his wings to become the immortal Hawkman. On Marvel's Earth-616, Sam puts on his flying apparatus and soars through the skies as the Falcon.
Both honored heroes, Hawkman and Falcon spend their time in battles against their respective universe's black hats. However, there may come a point where these two fliers meet. If so, who would come out victorious in a fight between Hawkman and Falcon?
10 Experience: Hawkman
Hawkman has the edge in this category, as he has been around seemingly forever in various incarnations. Carter remembers them all as well as the skills they possessed. That's a lot of knowledge to have when it comes to heroics.
The Falcon also has a long history, but not as extensive as Hawkman's. Sam started his career in 1969 as one of Captain America's partners. While a half-century helps to accumulate a good deal of experience, it doesn't compare to thousands of years.
9 Training: Falcon
On the other hand, when it comes to training, Sam has Carter beat. Besides his time as a Thanagarian police officer, Hawkman doesn't ask for training from anyone. In the beginning, Sam wasn't too fond of honing his skill sets; however, working with Captain America changed that.
Through the years, Sam absorbed everything Steve taught him. As part of the Avengers, he gained experience in leadership and working with a team. When Cap lost his Super Soldier Serum during "The Nail" series of stories, he asked Sam to take the mantle and shield of Captain America.
8 Teamwork: Hawkman
Both men are part of their respective universe's main superhero teams. Sam is a long-standing member of the Avengers; meanwhile, Carter has been a part of various Justice League incarnations.
Yet, Hawkman has the edge here as the League wasn't his first team. Hawkman was a founding member of the Justice Society of America back in the 1940s. He remained with them until Crisis on Infinite Earths, then returned as a member and chairperson when the Society got their own series of books. In the end, it's no contest.
7 Skills: Falcon
Despite all of his knowledge, Hawkman doesn't fight with finesse. He likes to move things along, so he throws a good deal of punches rather than talk to an evildoer. If that doesn't work, he smashes them with his mace.
Thanks to his training, Falcon has a lighter but powerful touch. He will use the speed his wings to hit a villain with an accelerated punch, although only after he tracks them down to make sure they are the guilty party. Also, unlike Hawkman, Falcon knows his limits when trying to stop someone. Carter is capable of beating someone to near death.
6 Leadership: Tie
Even though Hawkman has had more experience in leadership, he and the Falcon are tied. This is primarily due to Sam's recent stint as Avenger's team leader.
Sam was Captain America at the time, and that gives him a leg up. Carter may have been chairman of the Justice League and Justice Society at one time but taking the reins of a team as America's hero puts one in a separate category. There is a good deal of pressure, not only to be a successful leader but to make sure those who are watching know he's a good leader.
5 Powers & Abilities: Hawkman
Hawkman and Falcon are powerful enough without any metahuman abilities. Nevertheless, both of them do have additional powers. Sam has an empathic connection to all birds that lets him see what they see. Along with this, Sam is skilled in various martial arts and has a costume filled with numerous gadgets to help shield himself from radar and block small arms fire.
Carter is immortal, which outclasses an empathic connection to birds. Also, he has enhanced strength and speed. That's due to the Nth metal Hawkman wears in his harness, belt, and boots. This allows him to defy gravity and heal quickly.
4 Relationships: Falcon
An essential factor in being a superhero is connecting with others, not only in a team environment but also one-on-one. On Earth-616, Sam seems to be liked by everyone. Even when there's a disagreement, whoever has an issue tends to move those problems aside to focus on their friendship.
Hawkman is a little tougher to deal with. He's had a fantastic relationship with his partner/on-and-off wife Hawkgirl, and he is best friends with Ray Palmer. However, Hawkman can rub people the wrong way with his opinions, particularly Green Arrow. While they work together just fine, they bicker like an old married couple on various topics.
3 Strategy: Tie
Again, it comes down to a lifetime experience and training for these two heroes. Sam hasn't had training only through Captain America, but he has also worked with Steve's allies, including Black Panther and Sharon Carter. This is a lot of information to utilize when it comes to planning for battle.
For Carter, it comes down to his previous lives. For example, he gained a wealth of strategic knowledge as a member of Thanagar's law enforcement. There was also the time Hawkman battled the Nazis and their robots during World War II. Carter is an individual people go to when something big is on the horizon.
2 Sense of Duty: Tie
There's no doubt the Falcon has a strong sense of duty. Paring with Captain America and being the shield slinger for a time, Sam knows what truth and justice are all about. As a result, he doesn't take his role as a superhero for granted.
The same goes for Hawkman. No matter the personality, Carter will sacrifice himself for anyone in danger. Also, when his friends are down, he won't stop until the villains are taken care of. It's part of who he has been for generations.
1 Overall Winner: Tie (With A Slight Edge To Hawkman)
Hawkman and Falcon are upstanding members of their respective Earths, so they deserve not to expect a defeat. In the end, the pair should work together to help others who need it most.
If it truly came down to it, Hawkman would be slightly ahead of Falcon. Not because of his fighting skills or leadership, but due to the fact he comes back to life. If Sam dies, he remains as such until writers decide to resurrect him. As a result, it leaves Hawkman in a place to take on the enemy alone. Luckily, he understands his sense of duty.