Shayera Thal

Hawkwoman
Shayera Thal as Hawkwoman.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Hol) The Brave and the Bold #34 (February–March 1961) (Thal) Hawkworld vol. 1, #1 (1989) (Parker) Hawkworld vol. 2, #21 (April 1992)
Created by	(Hol, Thal) Gardner Fox Joe Kubert (Thal revamp) Tim Truman (Parker revamp) John Ostrander, Graham Nolan
In-story information
Full name	- Shayera Hol - Shayera Thal - Sharon Parker
Place of origin	(Hol, Thal) Thanagar
Team affiliations	(Hol, Parker) Justice League (Thal) Elite Hawkmen Force
Partnerships	Hawkman John Stewart (comics)
Notable aliases	(Hol) Shiera Hall, Hawkgirl (Thal) Shayera Hol (Parker) Sharon Hall
Abilities	(All) Belt/harness containing of Nth metal that defies gravity, with artificial wings allowing powered flight, enhanced strength and quickness. (Hol, Parker) Ancient holistic tools and weaponry (Thal) Energy weaponry

Hawkwoman is the name of several fictional superheroines all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's DC Universe. They are partners, and sometimes spouses or lovers, of the various versions of Hawkman, and share many features with the character Hawkgirl.

The Silver Age version of Hawkwoman was Shayera Hol, a law enforcement officer from the planet Thanagar and wife of Katar Hol, the Silver Age Hawkman. She originally operated under the codename Hawkgirl, and was a member of the Justice League of America.

She was born on Thanagar, which had a scientifically advanced civilization in which crime was virtually unknown. As an adolescent, Shayera joined the Thanagarian police force and was assigned to assist the force's most decorated officer, Katar Hol, in capturing the Rainbow Robbers. At first, Katar was furious at being assigned an inexperienced young woman as a partner, but he nevertheless became strongly attracted to her.

Together, they captured the Rainbow Robbers in their stronghold found behind a waterfall; while on the case, Shayera saved Katar's life and the two fell deeply in love. A few weeks later, Katar proposed to Shayera in front of the same waterfall. She accepted and they were married. Ten years later, the couple was sent to Earth in pursuit of the criminal Byth Rok. Upon reaching Earth, they were befriended by Midway City police commissioner George Emmett, who established cover identities for them as Carter and Shiera Hall. After capturing Byth and bringing him back to their planet, Katar and Shayera chose to return to study Earth's crimefighting methods, and they fought against evil as the superheroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Shayera renamed herself Hawkwoman in the early 1980s.

As Hawkgirl, Shayera eventually joined her husband as a member of the Justice League. She was the first League member admitted as part of the League's vote to lift its prior twelve-member limitation, which had effectively prevented the admission of more women to its ranks. Her membership set precedent for the admission of Zatanna as the League's fifteenth member. Both Zatanna and Shayera became close friends since Hawkman vol. 2 #4 .