Kendra Saunders (New Earth)
From DC Database
Hey, face...meet my MACE! 
- -- Hawkgirl [[ |[src]]]
Contents |
History
Kendra Saunders was a young woman who committed suicide. When her soul left her body, her great-aunt, Shiera Hall's soul, entered it.[1] Her grandfather, former OSS agent and globe-trotting adventurer Speed Saunders, recognized this change and encouraged his granddaughter to embrace her destiny as the "new" Hawkgirl.
Justice Society of America
She believed herself to still be Kendra, even going as far as using the original Hawkgirl equipment, and went out to find the Fate-Child (the reincarnation of Shiera's son, Hector Hall). During her search came across the Justice Society of America and became a member.[2]
Hawkman
Shiera's memories have not surfaced constantly making her question the ancient relationship her soul has with Hawkman's. Hawkman for his part remembers all of their past lives together and believes they are destined to be together. The matter is not made any easier by the fact that Kendra is haunted by the murder of her parents by a corrupt cop and the jumbled memories and feelings from Shiera that may periodically occur. During the time she was partners with Hawkman she became attracted to him. Zauriel eventually was the catalyst behind explaining the truth of Kendra's identity.
She currently has all of Kendra's memories, but almost none of Shiera's. This creates tension with Hawkman since he remembers all of their past lives together and believes they are destined for each other. Kendra has been presented as a very troubled young woman, haunted by the murder of her parents by a corrupt cop and confused by her jumble of memories and feelings. She has operated as Hawkman's partner but only recently began to actually admit her attraction to him. The truth about Kendra's identity was eventually revealed to her by the angel Zauriel.
Rann-Thanagar War
During the onset of the Rann-Thanagar War, Troia recruited Kendra and other heroes. A Zeta Beam transporter malfunction injured Kendra and several other heroes, causing her to grow over 20 ft tall.[3]
Justice League of America
Later she was returned to normal and renewed her protection of St. Roch, Louisiana in Hawkman's absence. She also taken over as the curator of the Stonechat Museum. She then was inducted as a member to the newly reformed Justice League of America. Hawkgirl began a turbulent relationship with Red Arrow, with past relationships, parenting and being unable to express their feelings to each other has caused more then its share of problems. Unfortunately, the relationship eventually dissolves and Red Arrow leaves the Justice League.
Hawkgirl is now 100% Kendra Saunders. Shiera Hall' soul left Kendra's body and moved on to the afterlife. Shiera hopes her passing on will finally remove the curse of Hath-Set.
Blackest Night
Kendra and Carter were briefly reunited, and she was about to tell him something, presumible that she still loved him, when she was stabbed in the back by a spear, from the recently resurected Sue Dibny. Before having her heart removed, Kendra finally told Carter her feelings, before she and Carter were transformed into Black Lanterns. Due to their curse, it is unknown if their souls are attached to their bodies, or if they will reincarnated.Powers and Abilities
Powers
Reincarnation: Additionally, the Nth metal knife which murdered Hawkgirl in her original incarnation as Chay-Ara had an unusual effect upon her soul and that of her lover Khufu (Hawkman). The pair are locked in a seemingly endless cycle of death and rebirth throughout the centuries. While not a superhuman power per se, this propensity for reincarnation has allowed Hawkgirl to cheat death and return to active duty in her current incarnation.Abilities
Martial Arts Master: expert at hand-to-hand combat, skilled in a number of martial arts techniques.
Weapons Expert: excels in the use of archaic weaponry and modern weaponry alike.Strength level
Hawkgirl possesses the strength level of a woman her height and weight who engages in intensive regular exercise. Her strength is augmented due to the properties of her Nth Metal harness.Weaknesses
Spontaneous Deja Vu: Hawkgirl occasionally experiences flashes of déjà vu from her past lives. These can often be disorienting, and can also prove distractive in the midst of battle.
Curse: every time she is born again she must wander the earth till she meets again with her eternal soul mate. But as soon as they form a deep bond, they are destined to be murdered again.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Nth Metal Enhancements: Through exposure to the Nth Metal. The metal is psycho-reactive, responding to its bearer's thoughts and in it's base form has a number of electromagnetic/gravitational properties.
- Artificial Feathered Wings: Flight through the use of Thanagarian Nth Metal wings; also direction controlled self-powered flight. Her wings allow her to control navigation and guidance during flight, though they can be "flapped" through use of shoulder motions.
- Nth Metal Belt & Boots: Hawkgirl flies by way of an anti-gravity Belt & boots constructed from Thanagarian Nth Metal its abilities are controlled mentally.
- Enhanced Superhuman Strength
- Enhanced Superhuman Durability
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Enhanced Vision: observing objects at great distances and at speeds faster than can be perceived by the normal eye. (she can count the flaps of a hummingbird's wings)
- Enhanced Regeneration: capable of mending all but the most serious of wounds.
- Temperature Regulation: exposure to the Nth Metal allows her to regulate her temperature to withstand cold temperatures.
- Flight: Flight. Hawkman has been able to fly at speeds of 200 MPH. Red Arrow once said that Hawkgirl is a lot faster than Hawkman in the air.
- Energy Disruption: It has been revealed in Justice League comics that Hawkgirl's Nth Metal can disrupt the very force drawn from the fabric of space/time. Kanjar Ro's sceptor generated this force but it could not affect Hawkgirl in hardly any way.
Transportation
Flight
Weapons
- Hawkgirl's dart gun: Kendra employs a custom-made dart gun, developed by a reformed criminal known as the Mole.
- Archaic Weaponry: She specializes with a mace
Notes
- Due to her paternal relationship to Carter and Shiera Hall, Kendra can also claim the cosmic entities known as The Endless as part of her extended family.
Trivia
- Kendra is the first female "Hawk" character to to be featured in her own series. Following the events of Infinite Crisis, Hawkman (Volume 4) switched its title to Hawkgirl.
See Also
- Discuss Kendra Saunders (New Earth) on the forums
- Appearances of Kendra Saunders (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Kendra Saunders (New Earth)
- Quotations by Kendra Saunders (New Earth)
- Images featuring Kendra Saunders (New Earth)
Recommended Reading
Links and References
- [http://www.dccomics.com/heroes_and_villains/?hv=origin_stories/* Cinnamon (Kate Manser)
- Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders Hall)
- Hawkman (Carter Hall)
- JLA
- JSA
- Zauriel Hawkgirl at DCComics.com]
- Hawkgirl article at Wikipedia
- Hawkgirl article at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Hawkgirl.net
- Hawkman F.A.Q.
Footnotes
  This character is or was a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from both interstellar and domestic threats. |
