Nighthawk (Marvel Comics): Difference between revisions
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Nighthawk later resists an offer to rejoin the original members of the Squadron Sinister, who together with the alien [[Nebulon (comics)|Nebulon]] attempt to flood the Earth, but are stopped by Nighthawk and the superhero team the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]]. <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #13 - 14</ref> Nighthawk then redesigns his costume and joins the active roster, <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #15 - 28</ref> and eventually becomes leader of the team. <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #75</ref> |
Nighthawk later resists an offer to rejoin the original members of the Squadron Sinister, who together with the alien [[Nebulon (comics)|Nebulon]] attempt to flood the Earth, but are stopped by Nighthawk and the superhero team the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]]. <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #13 - 14</ref> Nighthawk then redesigns his costume and joins the active roster, <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #15 - 28</ref> and eventually becomes leader of the team. <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #75</ref> |
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Sometime later Nighthawk is apparently killed in an explosion, <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #106</ref> but is later revealed to have simply been in a coma. <ref>''Nighthawk'' #1 - 3 (1998)</ref> When the original Defenders become mind-controlled and form a new team called [[The Order (comics)|Order]] to enforce world peace, Nighthawk forms and leads a temporary team of Defenders to stop them. <ref>''The Order'' #1 - 6 (2002)</ref> |
Sometime later Nighthawk is apparently killed in an explosion, <ref>''Defenders'' vol. 1, #106</ref> but is later revealed to have simply been in a coma. <ref>''Nighthawk'' #1 - 3 (1998)</ref> When the original Defenders become mind-controlled and form a new team called [[The Order (comics)|Order]] to enforce world peace, Nighthawk forms and leads a temporary team of Defenders to stop them. <ref>''The Order'' #1 - 6 (2002)</ref> After that was done and the curse was broken, [[Gaea (Marvel Comics)|Gaea]] empowered Nighthawk to gather the Defenders at will should the need arise. |
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During the events of [[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]], Nighthawk initially works with Captain America's [[Secret Avengers]], but later defects to the pro-registration faction led by [[Iron Man (comics)|Iron Man]]. <ref>''Civil War'' #4 (2006)</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Soon after this the cosmic entity the [[Grandmaster (comics)|Grandmaster]] reappears and reforms the Squadron Sinister. An apparently resurrected [[Hyperion (comics)|Hyperion]] and new [[Doctor Spectrum|Dr. Spectrum]] try and coerce Nighthawk and fellow member [[Speed Demon]] into rejoining, but both are initially reluctant |
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| ⚫ | Soon after this the cosmic entity the [[Grandmaster (comics)|Grandmaster]] reappears and reforms the Squadron Sinister. An apparently resurrected [[Hyperion (comics)|Hyperion]] and new [[Doctor Spectrum|Dr. Spectrum]] try and coerce Nighthawk and fellow member [[Speed Demon]] into rejoining, but both are initially reluctant and they are now working with the superhero team the [[New Thunderbolts]]. Ironically, the New Thunderbolts become responsible for Nighthawk rejoining the Squadron Sinister. He quits in protest when former villain [[Baron Zemo]] joins and also learns that he was simply being used to finance team activities. Courtesy of a phenomenon known as the Wellspring of Power - an interdimensional source of superhuman abilities - the Grandmaster increases the Squadron Sinister's powers and they then battle the New Thunderbolts, as Baron Zemo also wishes to have control of the Wellspring. Zemo manages to defeat the Grandmaster, but in the ensuing chaos the Squadron Sinister scatter and escape. Nighthawk has yet to reappear. <ref>''New Thunderbolts'' #15 - 16 + Thunderbolts vol. 1, #102 - 108</ref> |
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==Other versions== |
==Other versions== |
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Revision as of 01:17, 19 October 2007
| Nighthawk | |
|---|---|
 The Nighthawk of Earth-616 as featured in Nighthawk #1 (1998). Art By Richard Case. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (Kyle: Earth-616) Avengers vol. 1, #69 - 70 (October 1969) (Kyle: Earth-712) Avengers vol. 1, #85 (March 1971) (Neil: Earth-712) Squadron Supreme: New World Order #1 (September 1998) |
| Created by | (Earth-616 and first Earth-712 version) Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema (Second Earth-712 version) Kurt Busiek |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | - Kyle Richmond (Earth-616) - Kyle Richmond (Earth-712) - Neil Richmond |
| Team affiliations | (Kyle: Earth-616) Squadron Sinister Defenders Thunderbolts (Kyle: Earth-712) Squadron Supreme America Redeemers (Neil:Earth-712) Squadron Supreme |
| Abilities | (Kyle: Earth-616) Enhanced strength, agility, reflexes, and stamina when night (Kyle: Earth-712), Neil) Olympic-level athlete, genius and advanced weaponry |
| Marvel Comics alternate universes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel stories take place primarily in a mainstream continuity called the Marvel Universe. Some stories are set in various parallel, or alternate, realities, called the Marvel Multiverse. | |||
| The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 designates the mainstream continuity as "Earth-616", and assigns other Earth numbers to each specific alternate reality. | |||
|
In this article the following characters, or teams, and realities are referred to: | |||
| Character/team | Universe | ||
| Kyle Richmond | Earth-616 | ||
| Kyle Richmond | Earth-712 | ||
| Neil Richmond | Earth-712 | ||
| Kyle Richmond | Earth-31916 | ||
| Nighthawk | Earth-1610 | ||
Nighthawk is the name of four different fictional comic book characters that appear in the Marvel Comics multiverse. [1] There have been four versions of the character to date - one supervillain (later turned hero) from the mainstream Marvel universe belonging to the team Squadron Sinister (Earth-616) and three heroes from alternate universes. The three heroes each belong to a version of the team Squadron Supreme (the Squadron Supreme of Earth-712 and the Squadron Supreme of Earth-31916 respectively).
Publication history
In 1969, The Avengers, writer Roy Thomas and penciller Sal Buscema created a team of supervillains, the Squadron Sinister, whose members are loosely based on four heroes from DC Comics' Justice League of America.[2] One of these characters is called Nighthawk.
In 1970, this version appears again as a villain in an issue of Daredevil [3] before going on to aid the superhero team the Defenders against the Squadron Sinister. [4] Nighthawk then decides to reform and joins the Defenders active roster. [5]
In 1971, Thomas and John Buscema revisited the idea by creating a team of heroes with the same names - including Nighthawk - from a parallel Earth (Earth-712), called the Squadron Supreme. [6] This caused confusion in Marvel's production department as the covers of The Avengers vol. 1, #85 and #141 promote the Squadron Sinister, when in fact it is the Squadron Supreme that appear in both issues.
In 1980, the mainstream Nighthawk appeared in a five-page solo feature, by writer Naomi Basner in an otherwise all-reprint title Tales to Astonish [7] Another brief story by Mike Barr ran the following month in Marvel Team-Up. [8]
In 1985, writer Mark Gruenwald created a limited series that detailed the exploits of the alternate universe version (Earth- 712) of Nighthawk and his teammates in the Squadron Supreme. [9]
In 1998, the mainstream version featured in a mini-series by writer Jim Krueger. [10]
Fictional character biographies
Nighthawk (Earth 616 - Kyle Richmond)
The villainous version of Nighthawk first appears as a member of the Squadron Sinister, a group of supervillains assembled by the cosmic entity the Grandmaster to battle the champions of the time-traveling Kang - the superhero team the Avengers. It was revealed years later [11] that the Grandmaster created the Squadron Sinister based on the already existing Squadron Supreme. The Avengers simply met the "copies" first. [12] Nighthawk battles the Avenger Captain America but is defeated. After being abandoned by the Grandmaster, Nighthawk becomes a solo adventurer and encounters Daredevil, and after being defeated again decides to reform. [13]
Nighthawk later resists an offer to rejoin the original members of the Squadron Sinister, who together with the alien Nebulon attempt to flood the Earth, but are stopped by Nighthawk and the superhero team the Defenders. [14] Nighthawk then redesigns his costume and joins the active roster, [15] and eventually becomes leader of the team. [16]
Sometime later Nighthawk is apparently killed in an explosion, [17] but is later revealed to have simply been in a coma. [18] When the original Defenders become mind-controlled and form a new team called Order to enforce world peace, Nighthawk forms and leads a temporary team of Defenders to stop them. [19] After that was done and the curse was broken, Gaea empowered Nighthawk to gather the Defenders at will should the need arise.
During the events of Civil War, Nighthawk initially works with Captain America's Secret Avengers, but later defects to the pro-registration faction led by Iron Man. [20]
Soon after this the cosmic entity the Grandmaster reappears and reforms the Squadron Sinister. An apparently resurrected Hyperion and new Dr. Spectrum try and coerce Nighthawk and fellow member Speed Demon into rejoining, but both are initially reluctant and they are now working with the superhero team the New Thunderbolts. Ironically, the New Thunderbolts become responsible for Nighthawk rejoining the Squadron Sinister. He quits in protest when former villain Baron Zemo joins and also learns that he was simply being used to finance team activities. Courtesy of a phenomenon known as the Wellspring of Power - an interdimensional source of superhuman abilities - the Grandmaster increases the Squadron Sinister's powers and they then battle the New Thunderbolts, as Baron Zemo also wishes to have control of the Wellspring. Zemo manages to defeat the Grandmaster, but in the ensuing chaos the Squadron Sinister scatter and escape. Nighthawk has yet to reappear. [21]
Other versions
Kyle Richmond (Earth-712)
This version of Nighthawk is first encountered by four Avengers, who accidentally cross into the Earth-712 universe. The Avengers first battle then assist the Squadron Supreme against a global threat before returning to their own universe. [22] Hyperion and the Squadron Supreme later battle the Avengers once again, who help to free the Squadron's Earth from the influence of the artifact the Serpent Crown. [23] Nighthawk retires soon after this, and as Kyle Richmond runs for public office. He is eventually elected President of the United States, but unfortunately becomes mentally enslaved with the entire Squadron Supreme - with the exception of Hyperion - by the composite entity the Overmind, but are eventually freed by Hyperion and his Earth-616 allies, the Defenders. [24]
The defeat of the Overmind leaves the planet in a post-apocalyptic state, and Hyperion decides to lead the Squadron Supreme in a move to take over their Earth and fashion it into a utopia. Nighthawk objects to this and secretly recruits superhumans known as the America Redeemers into the Squadron, who with Nighthawk eventually confront Hyperion and those members loyal to him. After a deadly battle in which several heroes are killed - including Nighthawk - Hyperion sees the error of his ways and disbands the team. [25]
Neil Richmond (Earth-712)
Several years later a new Nighthawk confronts the Squadron Supreme when they return from a period of exile in the Earth-616 universe. Initially thought to be the son of the original, Neil Richmond is in fact the son of one of Nighthawk's old foes - the Huckster - and aids the Squadron against a group of corporations that are using the Squadron's own Utopia technologies to dominate the world in their absence. After successfully ending the threat, Nighthawk joins the Squadron Supreme. [26]
Supreme Power
Ultimate Nighthawk
In The Ultimates Nighthawk is a non-powered human being and the leader of a version of the Defenders. Nighthawk's only attempt at heroics involves leaping from the shadows at a group of petty criminals - only to break his ankle and be severely beaten.
Amalgam Comics
In Amalgam Comics, Kyle Richmond is combined with Lucius Fox to form Lucius Richmond.
Powers and abilities
The Earth-616 Nighthawk was a very fit but not Olympic-level athlete, who courtesy of a potion possessed mild super-strength and increased agility and stamina under moonlight. This version also had several costume aids, such as a jetpack, lasers, artificial claw tips and projectile weapons.
The Earth-712 versions are physically superior, but lack superpowers. Neal Richmond is a genius and uses a variety of advanced weaponry to aid in combat.
Footnotes
- ^ This numbering is confirmed by the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Worlds 2005
- ^ Interview with Roy Thomas and Jerry Bails in The Justice League Companion (2003) pp. 72–73
- ^ vol. 1, #62 (March 1970)
- ^ Defenders vol. 1, #12 -13
- ^ Defenders #14 - 23 + Giant-Size Defenders #2 - 5 (October 1974 - January 1975)
- ^ Avengers vol. 1, #85 - 86
- ^ Tales To Astonish vol. 2, #13
- ^ Marvel Team-Up vol. 1, #101
- ^ Squadron Supreme #1 - 12 (September 1985 - August 1986) + Captain America vol. 1, #314
- ^ Nighthawk #1 - 3 (1998)
- ^ Squadron Supreme #8 (of 12) (1986)
- ^ Avengers vol. 1, #85 & #141
- ^ Daredevil vol. 1, #62 (March 1970)
- ^ Defenders vol. 1, #13 - 14
- ^ Defenders vol. 1, #15 - 28
- ^ Defenders vol. 1, #75
- ^ Defenders vol. 1, #106
- ^ Nighthawk #1 - 3 (1998)
- ^ The Order #1 - 6 (2002)
- ^ Civil War #4 (2006)
- ^ New Thunderbolts #15 - 16 + Thunderbolts vol. 1, #102 - 108
- ^ Avengers vol. 1, #85 - 86
- ^ Avengers vol. 1, #141 - 144 + 147 - 149
- ^ Defenders vol. 1, #112 -115
- ^ Squadron Supreme #1 - 12 (1985 - 1986)
- ^ Squadron Supreme: New World Order (1998)