Since the Justice League is home to many of DC's greatest heroes, it's easy to lose track of Hawkman. While his signature wings might not be as flashy as some of the team's other stalwarts or its newer members, Carter Hall -- the latest reincarnation of the Egyptian prince who was cursed to live through an endless cycle of death and resurrection -- has a lengthy DC history both on his own and alongside DC's other heroes.
With a history unlike any other Hawkman has accomplished feats that would make even the strongest aliens blush using his unique anatomy. Now, we're taking a closer look at what makes this winged warrior a fearsome fighter in any age and on any world.
HAWKMAN'S WINGS
While Hawkman might be named for his wings, every version of the character wasn't born with them. However, Carter Hall’s prosthetic wings do more than just complete his look, they provide him with flight stabilization and are laced with Nth metal.
Nth metal is an alloy native to Thanagar, homeworld of the Thanagarians -- the alien race which Hawkman was a member of in a past life. It can be formed into various tools and bestows abilities to the user who wields it, including but not limited to anti-gravity -- which allows the user to lift heavier objects than they would normally -- and flight. Hall’s wings have been shown to cross the 200 MPH mark and can fly indefinitely, which isn't bad considering he flaps them using his shoulders.
HAWKMAN'S DURABILITY
Part of Carter Hall’s long, convoluted history is the fact that he’s very, very mortal. An ancient Egyptian prince by the name of Khufu Kha-Tarr stumbled upon a Thanagarian ship that contained Nth metal, and his exposure to it altered his existence. He was doomed or destined to be forever reincarnated alongside his lover, Chay-Ara whenever they pass. Unfortunately for the star crossed duo, they are joined by their consistently lethal high priest Hath-Set, the man who cursed the three of them in a never-ending cycle of death and reincarnation by repeatedly killing them both in each lifetime.
After a few millennia of death and rebirth, the current incarnation of Hawkman, Carter Hall, uses his Nth metal gear to stand alongside some of DC’s heavy hitters. While it may seem like a disadvantage knowing he is about to be murdered by the same individual over and over again in a new form, it’s also a strength knowing death isn't likely to show up from anywhere else. He’s able to withstand falling from great heights, capable of handling extreme temperatures and even going toe to toe with the likes of Black Adam, someone who could give Superman a run for his money.
SUPER-STRENGTH
While Hawkman isn't quite on par with someone like Superman or Martian Manhunter, Hall is capable of carrying hundreds of pounds into the air with relative ease. He has also been shown to easily rip apart cars in addition to being able to fight for hours on end.
In one of the many Hawkman lifetimes, he was a police officer on Thanagar- a planet with much more gravity than that of Earth. When that version of Hawkman arrived on Earth, his strength was amplified due to the sudden lack of gravity restrictions. Combined with his Nth metal gear, his strength would become far greater than "the strength of 12 men" which he was said to have in his earliest appearances.
HAWKMAN'S EYES
In keeping with the bird theme of his power set, Hawkman’s eyes are keenly tuned to the environment around him and have allowed him to perform such feats as watching the Flash vibrate through walls before he was completely visible. With his enhanced eyesight comes a faster reaction time and of course, better reflexes.
Boosted by Nth metal, his eyes also have the acuity to track quickly moving objects like a hummingbird's flapping wings, which also helps him use firearms and projectile weapons. As a result, he’s quite the sharpshooter, and he was Hannibal Hawkes, a Wild West vigilante who was known for his accuracy, in one of his past lives.
HAWKMAN'S BRAIN
Due to his aforementioned habit of dying and rebirth, Hawkman has had plenty of lifetimes to fine-tune his tactical senses and skills. Much like the X-Men's Moira MacTaggert, Carter Hall has used death and reincarnation as a learning experience to make himself even more of a fierce warrior. His skills are well-regarded enough that he was selected to bring down Batman by Lex Luthor. His knowledge isn’t limited to combat, and his unique condition has made him one of the most prominent historians and archaeologists in the DC Universe.
He has also used his ingenuity for more altruistic endeavors like creating flying vehicles and managing food supplies during wartime. While it’s tempting to write him off as just another hero sub-par in comparison to the Justice League’s main roster, it’s always important to realize just how much unique versatility Hawkman brings to the table. With Hawkman rumored to be featured in the upcoming Black Adam film, it may not belong until Hawkman stops being the DC Universe's best-kept secret for much longer