Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nighthawk

Nighthawk #1 (Sept. 1998), featuring the Nighthawk of mainstream continuity at right.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance (Kyle: Mainstream continuity: Earth-616)
Avengers #69-70 (Oct. 1969)
(Kyle: Earth-712)
Avengers #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 (Mainstream continuity: Earth-616)
- Kyle Richmond (Earth-712)
- Neil Richmond
Team affiliations (Kyle: Mainstream continuity: Earth-616)
Squadron Sinister
Defenders
Thunderbolts
(Kyle: Earth-712)
Squadron Supreme
America Redeemers
(Neil:Earth-712)
Squadron Supreme
Abilities (Kyle: Mainstream continuity: 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 to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Worlds 2005 designates the mainstream continuity as "Earth-616", and assigns another 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 fictional comic book characters that appear in the Marvel Comics multiverse:[1] A supervillain-turned-superhero in the mainstream Marvel universe (dubbed Earth-616), who was originally a member of the supervillain team the Squadron Sinister; and three superheroes from alternate universes. The three heroes each belong to a version of the team the Squadron Supreme (the Squadron Supreme of Earth-712 and the Squadron Supreme of Earth-31916 respectively).

Contents

[edit] Publication history

[edit] Original Nighthawk

The first Nighthawk in Marvel Comics debuted in the final panel of The Avengers #69 (Oct. 1969), part one of a three-issue story by writer Roy Thomas and penciller Sal Buscema. This story arc introduced the supervillain team the Squadron Sinister, whose four members were loosely based on heroes in DC Comics' Justice League of America. Nighthawk was based on Batman. [2]

Nighthawk appeared again as a villain in Daredevil #62 (March 1970). He then aids the superhero team the Defenders against his former teammates the Squadron Sinister in The Defenders #12-13 (Feb. & May 1974), reforming and joining the Defenders as an active member through issue #23 (May 1975) and Giant-Size Defenders #2-5 (Oct. 1974 - Jan. 1975)</ref> He went on to appear in two short solo backup features, one in Tales To Astonish vol. 2, #13 (Dec. 1980), the other in Marvel Team-Up #101 (Jan. 1981), in which he also teamed with Spider-Man in the lead feature. Nearly two decades later, he starred in a miniseries, Nighthawk #1-3 (Sept.-Nov. 1998) by writer Jim Krueger and penciller Richard Case.

[edit] Alternate-universe versions

Main article: #Other versions

Thomas and penciller John Buscema had meanwhile created an alternate-universe team of heroes called the Squadron Supreme in The Avengers #85 (Feb. 1971), using characters that shared names with those of the Squadron Sinister. This caused confusion in Marvel's production department, as the covers of The Avengers #85 and #141 (Nov. 1975) cover-blurbed appearances by the Squadron Sinister, when in fact the Squadron Supreme appeared in both issues. This Squadron Supreme starred in an eponymous, 12-issue miniseries (Sept. 1985 - Aug. 1986) by writer Mark Gruenwald and successive pencillers Bob Hall, Buscema, and Paul Ryan. Squadron Supreme focused on the exploits of the team in its home reality. Gruenwald, Ryan, and inker Al Williamson returned to the characters in the graphic-novel sequel Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe (1989). The team later featured in a two-part story across Avengers/Squadron Supreme Annual '98 and the one-shot Squadron Supreme: New World Order (both Sept. 1998).

Five years, under the mature-audience Marvel MAX imprint, the 18-issue series Supreme Power (Oct. 2003 - Oct. 2005), set in a different alternate universe, incorporated yet another version of Nighthawk.

[edit] Fictional character biographies

[edit] Nighthawk (Earth 616 - Kyle Richmond)

The Earth-616 version of Nighthawk, Kyle Richmond, was born in Mamaroneck, New York. He acquires superhuman powers and 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 retconned years later [3] that the Grandmaster created the Squadron Sinister based on the already existing Squadron Supreme. The Avengers simply met the "copies" first. [4] 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. [5] Richmond also becomes President of Richmond Enterprises at some point.

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. Nighthawk warns the superhero team the Defenders of Nebulon's scheme, and Nighthawk and the Defenders defeated Nebulon and the Squadron Sinister. Nighthawk becomes mortally wounded, however, but is revived by Doctor Strange's spell and joins the Defenders. [6] Nighthawk then redesigns his costume, and with the Defenders, he met Professor X and battled Magneto.[7] Nighthawk's earlier romance with Trish Starr was revealed.[8] Nighthawk was later injured by a car bomb planted by Egghead.[9] With the Defenders, he encountered the Guardians of the Galaxy.[10] Nighthawk was captured, and his brain was removed by the Headmen, and Chondu's brain was transferred into his body.[11] Nighthawk's brain was soon restored by the second Red Guardian.[12] With the Defenders, Nighthawk later foiled Nebulon's Celestial Mind Control scheme.[13] He teamed with Doctor Strange against the Death-Stalker.[14] With the Defenders, Nighthawk later visited Valhalla.[15] Nighthawk's secret identity was later revealed, and his activities and finances were investigated by the U.S. government.[16] Nighthawk eventually becomes leader of the Defenders. [17]

In time, the injunction against him becoming Nighthawk was overturned.[18] Nighthawk then teamed with Spider-Man, and learned that his former girlfriend Mindy Williams survived the crash and now possessed psionic powers, but he foiled her revenge scheme.[19] Nighthawk later became paralytic.[20] Doctor Strange's earlier spell was severed, leaving Nighthawk a paralytic by day, but retaining his powers and mobility at night. Nighthawk then encountered Dracula.[21] Nighthawk soon discovered that Mindy Williams's psionic powers were responsible for his paralysis, and freed her from a secret project run by August Masters.[22] The government charges against Richmond were finally dropped.[23] Soon thereafter, with Captain America, Daredevil, and the Defenders, Nighthawk opposed August Masters's plot to launch a psionic attack against the U.S.S.R. The plot was foiled when Masters's telepaths using Richmond as a focus, triggered explosions of Masters's Colorado Rocky Mountains base. Nighthawk is apparently killed in the explosion.[24] He is much later revealed to have simply been in a coma.[25] 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. When the Order are returned to normal, Gaea bestows upon Kyle the ability to gather the four whenever the earth is threatened.[26]

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.[27]

Soon after this the cosmic entity the Grandmaster reappears and reforms the Squadron Sinister. A new Hyperion and Doctor Spectrum try to 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. [28]

Nighthawk has since reappeared as a member of the Initiative in that series.

Nighthawk appears in the mini-series The Last Defenders. The team is led by Nighthawk and made up of The Blazing Skull, She-Hulk, and Colossus; The Last Defenders are based in New Jersey as part of the Fifty State Initiative.

[edit] Other versions

[edit] Kyle Richmond (Earth-712)

Kyle Richmond as the Nighthawk of Earth-712.
Kyle Richmond as the Nighthawk of Earth-712.

This version of Nighthawk was also named Kyle Richmond, and was born in Cosmopolis, New Troy on his Earth. He is first encountered by four Avengers, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Goliath, who accidentally cross into the Earth-712 universe. The Avengers first battle then assist the Squadron Supreme against the global threat of Brain-Child before returning to their own universe.[29] 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.[30] Nighthawk retires soon after this, and as Kyle Richmond runs for public office and becomes a senator. He is eventually elected President of the United States, but becomes mentally enslaved with the entire Squadron Supreme - with the exception of Hyperion - by the composite entity the Overmind. Richmond is mind-altered by the Over-Mind into believing he was the Nighthawk of the Earth-616 team, the Defenders.[31] Nighthawk was eventually freed by Hyperion and the Defenders. He battled Over-Mind and Null, the Living Darkness alongside the Squadron and Defenders, and learned his true identity.[32]

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 formally resigned his membership in the Squadron Supreme.[33] He becomes a freedom fighter and vigilante in opposition to the Squadron. He is sent to the Avengers's Earth by Professor Imam in pursuit of the Mink, Remnant, and Pinball. He there encountered Captain America, and recruited these former enemies into his group of superhumans known as the America Redeemers, and returned with them to their own world.[34] Nighthawk attempted to form an alliance with Master Menace for the overthrow of the Squadron Supreme, but was rebuked.[35] Nighthawk next recruited Redstone,[36] and conducted the first meeting of the assembled Redeemers. He assigned Redstone, Moonglow, Haywire, Inertia, and Thermite to infiltrate the Squadron.[37] Nighthawk finally allied with Master Menace, and reversed the behavior modification on Lamprey and Shape and recruited them into the Redeemers as well.[38] Nighthawk and the Redeemers eventually confront and attack Hyperion and those members loyal to him in Squadron City, arguing philosophy with Hyperion during the fight. The Squadron and Redeemers engage in a deadly battle in which several heroes are killed. Nighthawk dies from heart failure induced by Foxfire's deadly touch. After the battle, Hyperion sees the error of his ways and disbands the team. [39]

[edit] 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.[40]

[edit] Supreme Power

Main article: Nighthawk (Supreme Power)

[edit] 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.

[edit] Powers and abilities

The Earth-616 Nighthawk was a very fit but not quite Olympic-level athlete, who courtesy of an alchemical potion possessed mild super-strength and increased agility and stamina from dusk till dawn. This version also had several costume aids, such as a jet-powered artificial wing system, lasers, artificial claw tips and projectile weapons.

The Earth-712 versions are physically superior, but lack superpowers. Neil Richmond is a genius and uses a variety of advanced weaponry to aid in combat. Kyle Richmond possessed extensive training and experience in various martial arts. He was a superb gymnast and skilled pilot, and used various equipment designed by Tom Thumb, including a grappling hook cable launcher and the Hoverhawk for transportation.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Number confirmed by the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Worlds 2005
  2. ^ Interview with Roy Thomas and Jerry Bails in The Justice League Companion (2003) pp. 72–73
  3. ^ Squadron Supreme #8 (of 12) (1986)
  4. ^ Avengers vol. 1, #85 & #141
  5. ^ Daredevil #62 (March 1970)
  6. ^ Defenders vol. 1, #13 - 14
  7. ^ Defenders vol. 1, #15 - 16
  8. ^ Defenders #21
  9. ^ Giant-Size Defenders #4
  10. ^ Defenders #26-29
  11. ^ Defenders #31
  12. ^ Defenders #36
  13. ^ Defenders #34-38; Defenders Annual #1
  14. ^ Doctor Strange Vol. 2 #29
  15. ^ Defenders #67-68
  16. ^ Defenders #70
  17. ^ Defenders vol. 1, #75
  18. ^ Defenders #88
  19. ^ Marvel Team-Up #101
  20. ^ Defenders #93
  21. ^ Defenders #95
  22. ^ Defenders #102
  23. ^ Defenders #103
  24. ^ Defenders vol. 1, #106
  25. ^ Nighthawk #1 - 3 (1998)
  26. ^ The Order #1-6 (2002)
  27. ^ Civil War #4 (2006)
  28. ^ New Thunderbolts #15-16 and Thunderbolts #102-108
  29. ^ The Avengers #85 - 86
  30. ^ The Avengers #141-144 & 147-149
  31. ^ Defenders #112
  32. ^ The Defenders #113 -115
  33. ^ Squadron Supreme #1
  34. ^ Captain America #314
  35. ^ Squadron Supreme #7
  36. ^ Squadron Supreme #9
  37. ^ Squadron Supreme #10
  38. ^ Squadron Supreme #12
  39. ^ Squadron Supreme #1-12 (Sept. 1985 - Aug. 1986)
  40. ^ Squadron Supreme: New World Order (1998)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Languages