Superman Meets Hawkman

It's a meeting of aliens on Earth....Superman, the caped Kryptonian with Hawkman the Thanagarian police officer (at least, that's what he was when he was having semi-regular meetings with the Man of Steel).

What circumstances brought these two heroes together in the Bronze Age (other than the Justice League, of which they were both members?).

Let's take a look!

World's Finest Comics 209

First up for the Superman/Hawkman team ups is World's Finest Comics #209 (February, 1972) when they would "Meet The Tempter -- And Die!", under a cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, with story by Mike Friedich, Dick Dillin and Joe Giella.

Meet the Tempter, who appears to be a supernatural menace, that preys on people, to act on their worse instincts.  The Tempter gets Hawkman to act more savage (being more violent with criminals) and Superman to be more concerned about his failures (like failing to enlarge Kandor).  The Tempter even works on others, like Kro-Al of Kandor, to seek out Hawkman to use Thanagarian science to help enlarge Kandor, makes Hawkgirl want to return to Thanagar taking Hawkman with, and Lois Lane investigate Superman's failures while he is receiving an award in Hawkman's Midway City.  This all almost leads to the destruction of Midway City (which also would be the only spot on Earth to safely enlarge Kandor), if not for Hawkgirl and Lois getting a little more sense, and each calming their paramour into not giving into their basic instincts, stopping the Tempter (though none of them ever knew he was there).

DC Comics Presents 11

Next up was a story with a little punch, from DC Comics Presents #11 (July, 1979) by Cary Bates, Joe Staton and Frank Chiaramonte (under a Ross Andru/Dick Giordano cover), with a little "Murder By Starlight".

Superman, after nearly being killed by a bomb in a trophy he got in Paris (and a little side trip to 1944), returns to be attacked by Hawkman over Paris.  After a brief battle, Hawkman escapes, but Superman is now concerned.  A quick meeting with Hawkgirl reveals Katar Hol has been missing for over 2 days (as well as that he planted the bomb).  Following Hawkman's trail, leads to the observatory of Frank Rayles, a petty crook busted by Hawkman who inherited his brother's observatory, including the research into "Polaris Power", how to harness energy from the star Polaris (where Thanagar orbits) to control Hawkman (using a specially made mind control helmet), and enhance his power (so much, that Hawkman becomes a living bomb waiting for an invulnerable target to trigger it....like Superman).  Thankfully, Hawkman had gotten a message to a bluejay before Rayles took over his mind, and it eventually caught up with Superman, so Superman could "defuse" his friend, and the two capture Rayles.

DC Comics Presents 37

Now for something completely different....well, not really.  DC Comics Presents #37 (September, 1981)
 featured a little team-up of Superman and Hawkgirl by Jim Starlin and Roy Thomas, under a Jim Starlin cover, with "The Stars, Like Moths...".

Hawkgirl, as Sheira Hall, got a call from a Dr. Irwin Wright, about a discovery of his, so, as Carter was busy in Cairo, she went to check it out, finding what appeared to be alien writing in an antechamber dating back to the 1800s.  Shayera recognized the writing as Kryptonian, so called in Superman, and the two investigated, finding out it led to a lab that was owned by Superman's great grandfather, Var-El.   Seems Var-El had perfected transport between planets, and kept a lab on Earth (where he also found he had super powers), so he could experiment further, working to find access to other dimensions.  After a brief battle with a Kryptonian security robot, Superman accidentally activated the dimensional portal, which drew him into a near orbit around a red sun (which diminished his powers), so that Hawkgirl need to rescue him.  Superman and Hawkgirl assumed that is what happened to Var-El, but....

DC Comics Presents 74

It was "Wings Against The Stars" under a cover by Alex Saviuk and Romeo Tanghal for DC Comics Presents #74 (October, 1984), with a story by Bob Rozakis, Dan Mishkin, Alex Saviuk and Romeo Tanghal, that filled in the end of the story.

Hawkman and Hawkwoman (Hawkgirl upgraded her name between the last story and this) end up piloting their ship to save a space station and its mysterious inhabitant calling for Kal-El (Superman's Kryptonian name), as it is under attack by the Orgons (aliens who take others' technologies, whom Superman and Atom had faced, back in DC Comics Presents #51).  The aliens attack the Hawks, taking their Absorbacon (the device that allows Thanagarians to gain all knowledge).  Superman arrives to help save the Hawks, thanks to a vision of his great-grandfather, and is surprised to see him in the present (as Var-El learned to travel in time thanks to Professor Hyatt in DCCP #51).

Superman and the Hawks went to stop the Orgon, who using the knowledge gained by the Absorbacon to create automated ships to attack Thanagar, but the Hawks got injured and Superman depowered by red sun rays (thus the need for him to borrow Hawkman's wings).  Still, even his invulnerable costume wouldn't protect him from the Orgons' menace, so Var-El took charged, facing the explosion that would have killed his great grandson, ending Var-El's trilogy of DC Comics Presents stories.

DC Comics Presents 95

Classic Hawkman artist (and frequent Superman inker) Murphy Anderson provided the cover for DC Comics Presents #95 (July, 1986) with "The Big Kill", a story by Tony Isabella, Alan Gold, Richard Howell and Murphy Anderson.

Kasta, a Thanagarian Thrill-Killer, absorbs the energy from a Black Hole.  Superman, brooding in his Fortress of Solitude about the Crisis on Infinite Earths, picks up the strange reading from the Black Hole, and assumes it is the manipulations of Mongul, so goes to investigate, demonstrating to Kasta (hidden behind a cloaked ship) his vulnerability to Black Hole energy (like he just absorbed).  On Earth, Hawkman cares for his sick wife, Shayera, the Gentleman Ghost lets Katar know that Kasta the Hunter is approaching Earth during Thanagar's Shadow War, with the idea of killing Superman.  Gentleman Ghost then vanishes, with Hawkman to go help Superman alone, knowing that, thanks to the Thanagarian possession of the Absorbacon, he cannot explain too much of Thanagar's involvement, so as to keep Earth's heroes safe.  The two send the villain packing, but the friendship between Superman and Hawkman is strained due to Hawkman hiding information from Superman (though, he would get filled in later).

Of course, Superman and Hawkman worked together many times in the Justice League of America book since Hawkman joined, as well as a few times in Action Comics and World's Finest Comics (seems Superman was pretty helpful in freeing Thanagar from invaders, something Hawkman appreciated, to be sure, especially the second time, ending the Shadow War!).

These two heroes changed after the Crisis On Infinite Earths and Hawkworld, and a few times after that as well, but remain high flying friends, eventually.

Giant Justice League of America The Seventh

With Justice League of America #93 (October-November, 1971), readers reach the seventh and last of the giant all reprint issues of the Justice League of America (this one Giant #G-89, with 64 pages). 

While Ross Andru and Dick Giordano did a good job on the cover (mostly recreating the original covers, but making sure Batman and Superman were a little more visible), still, it was a last gasp, with a giant that wasn't so giant after all.


But, let's take a look at the two reprints contained within....

...after all, they were exciting events in the history of the Justice League of America!

Justice League of America 13

Murphy Anderson gave readers the original cover to Justice League of America #13 (August, 1962), for the story of "The Riddle Of The Robot Justice League" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.  What a story it was!

The individual Justice Leaguers are transported from their normal lives (surprising friends like Jimmy Olsen, Tom Kalmaku and Speedy), and end up on the planet Erislane, where they will be forced to fight to save the universe.  The scientists of the universe of Skarn would steal the life-force of another universe as theirs died out, after they had robot duplicates of that universe's heroes fight against their counterparts.  As Skarn had no water, no duplicate Aquaman was made, so he ended up as coach to the other JLAers, which, ended up saving the day...proving Aquaman's importance to the JLA (as one day, he might lead a group himself, with fellow teammates like Martian Manhunter, Elongated Man, Zatanna, Vixen, Vibe, Steel and Gypsy!).

This was also the last issue before the JLA added Atom as a member (as seen in the 4th JLA Giant)...and he proved to be the "big man" of the second story in this issue!

Justice League of America 18

The second reprint in this issue is from Justice League of America #18 (March, 1963), with an original cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, with newest member, the Atom, dominating the cover (though all we see are his feet), as the team takes a "Journey Into The Micro-World" as told by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.

It was a JLA meeting like any other, until the JLA team (except honorary member Snapper Carr) started to shrink out of existence....ending up in the subatomic world of Starzl, where the inhabitants were being killed by radiation given off by their three android protectors of land, sea and air; Terrane, Ocana and Etheran.  The team had problems defeating their invincible foes, at least until they realized why, and summoned Snapper, without telling him of the menace he faced, which allowed him to defeat them (letting Snapper, not Atom, be the "big man" of this issue, no matter the cover).

While this was the last of the giant reprints, where there were only reprints in the issue, the Justice League of America would have 100 page giants that contained new material as well as reprints, and there would be Super Spectaculars to reprint Justice League of America issues as well (and later, Treasuries, Digests, Archives, Omnibusi, Tradepaperbacks and more, all following the tradition stared by one little Secret Origins issue from 1961!).

Betty And Veronica on Political Parties

Yes, even Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge have opinions on political parties....as shown on this cover to Archie's Girls Betty And Veronica #199 (July, 1972) by Dan DeCarlo.

Remember to get educated and vote yourself!

Ready For Some Football Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman finds herself facing an earthquake on the football field, courtesy of Batman's foe, the Quakemaster...

....thanks to this panel from the 1978 DC Calendar Of Super-Disasters by Jose Delbo and Vince Coletta.

Happy Halloween From Richie Rich and Casper The Friendly Ghost

Amazingly, these two Harvey Comics characters, Richie Rich and Casper the Friendly Ghost, shared a comic book in the 1970s and 1980s for 45 issues.

Here's the cover to #21....just in time for Halloween!

Superman Fights The Devil's Partner

Looks like Superman is in real trouble, fighting the devil, but the real problem of Action Comics #378 (July, 1969) is "The Devil's Partner", a story by James Shooter, Curt Swan and Jack Abel, under a cover by Curt Swan and Neal Adams.

This time around, Superman faces "Satan", or at least an alien with magical powers, who was sent to mess with the Man of Steel, along with a trident made with Kryptonite.

In reality, this devil is Rol-Nac, who happened to be an alien who landed on Krypton, staying there for decades, who became friends with Jor-El and Lara, and godfather to young Kal-El (a.k.a. Superman).

Rol-Nac was said to return in a future story (still waiting), but the Marauder, a viking looking alien villain who changed Rol-Nac into "Satan" would come back for a pair of stories in the 1970s, Action Comics #417 and #418, working with Luthor, Brainiac and the four-armed Grax!

  

Batman And The Phantom Stranger Meet Superman The Vampire Of Steel

Seems like a lot of words to describe something that's pretty obvious looking at the Jim Aparo cover of the oversized Dollar Comic of World's Finest Comics #249 (February-March, 1977)...


....that Batman and the Phantom Stranger are about to deal with THE VAMPIRE OF STEEL!


Just one of four spectacular stories in this 1970s treasure trove!  Let's look back, shall we?

The Vampire Of Steel

Yes, it bares repeating, so how did Superman get into this fix (other than it being the story by Bob Haney, Kurt Schaffenberger and Tex Blaisdell) to kick off this issue?   Well, Bruce Wayne had a problem at one of his oil rigs, and why have a super friend if you can't ask him to do super favors for you?

Problem is, while exploring under the rig, Superman gets possessed by a supernatural force, so that at night, he attacks the crew (while Batman fights off forces on his own, with a little help from the Phantom Stranger).  Eventually, the real problem is revealed, and through some complex work, the Phantom Stranger stops the real evil, and Superman is freed from the force of the trillig (undersea vampire).

Will The Costume Be The Hero?

There's more!  Green Arrow is dealing with Black Canary being kidnapped by the Hellgrammite, as well as John DeLeon, the man who took Oliver Queen's fortune (and as readers found out last issue, bought his mansion, with the Arrow Cave and supplies underneath). 

So, of course, he figured out that Oliver Queen is....the Batman?  

What were Gerry Conway, Trevor Von Eeden and Vince Coletta thinking?


Picking up from the previous issue, where Green Arrow's costume was torn to shreds, Ollie has to take up Deleon's offer of a Bat-costume to fight the Hellgrammite's men (a darknight detective, Mr. Queen is not).

The Hellgrammite was a foe of the Batman and the Creeper's, who had come to Star City to not face super heroes (failed in that) and to take advantage of an aging population of millionaires with his "Rebirth, Inc." idea....the idea that these rich men give him tons of money, and he gives them back their youth (a con job, as Hellgrammite just kills them, but does it in front of another, with a bit of trickery to think the person is de-aged). 

Meanwhile, Black Canary tries to escape her capture with little success, resulting in her calling Queen for help.  This puts him back on the trail of John Deleon (who got away), but Ollie figures out where he was going, and puts a little Green Arrow work into his Batman bit, stopping the villain (who did end the Deleon problem by frightening him to death).  But, Ollie is in hot water with Dinah, as the Black Canary was none to happy to have to be rescued by Green Arrow (no matter what costume he wore....).

Moon Lady And The Monster

Still, there's more!  A joyous return of Steve Ditko to the Creeper in this issue!

Reporter Jack Ryder (secretly the Creeper) ends up having to protect the Moon Lady (a horror host of the Cosmic Broadcasting Network, as she is attacked by a monster.

Changing into the Creeper, he fights the Monster, who gets away.  Jack pawns off the protection duty to Fran Daye, so he can investigate, finding a slew of suspects (including a watch group who is offended by her broadcasts, her agent, her ex-partner and even the janitor), eventually unmasking the Monster...but, the Moon Lady was still done in...by poor ratings!

A Fire In The Sky

Last, but not least, return to World War II with Wonder Woman (and Gerry Conway, Mike Vosburg and Robert R. Smith) as she faces Dr. Psycho, who has recruited Sgt. Rock and Easy Company with his mental powers!  Continuing from the last issue, where Wonder Woman had to work with Sgt. Rock and Easy Company, the heroes find Dr. Psycho (an old foe of Wonder Woman's with mental powers) working with aliens (the Krell), planning the end of the Allies, Sgt. Rock was under Dr. Psycho's power about to kill Wonder Woman....until she broke the villain's hold on him. 

Then, devolving the men of Easy Company, Wonder Woman had to face them, as Dr. Psycho lied to the Krell to get them to help the Nazis.  Wonder Woman found the truth in all of this, getting a captive Krell to tell the truth to his friends, so that they instead bombed Nazi sites, as she also stopped the doctor, and had him end his transformation of Easy Company.   She's a wonder, that Wonder Woman!

All that joy...in one issue!