THE DC WINGED HEROES TOUR

Heroes with wings have existed almost since the inception of the comic book superhero genre.  In this tour, we will take a look at the many winged heroes who have been published by DC Comics.

The entries in this tour will be presented in no specific order.  It seems fitting though to start things with DC's original winged hero...

The original (Golden Age) HAWKMAN
First appearance: Flash Comics #1 (1940)

Carter Hall is the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian prince named Khufu. He employs Nth metal, located in his belt, to fly. This Hawkman was a long-standing member of the Justice Society of America.

(As drawn by Sheldon Moldoff, one of the character's early artists, his wings were lush and billowy. Their appearance would change throughout the years.)

The Golden Age Hawkman is the creation of  Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville

FIREHAWK
First appearance: The Fury of Firestorm #1 (1982)

Lorraine Reilly was a supporting character (a Senator's daughter) in The Fury of Firestorm. She becomes Firehawk in issue #17 after being subjected to experimentation meant to duplicate the conditions that created Firestorm.  She has control of nuclear forces on a molecular level.  Most often she shoots blasts of thermal nuclear energy from her hands.

Firehawk is the creation of Gerry Conway and Pat Broderick

REDWING First appearance: The New Titans Annual #7 (1991)

Carrie Levine was Redwing, a member of the Team Titans, a group of Titans from the future who came to their past (our present) to alter the timeline. She would eventually be erased from history. In addition to the ability of flight, Redwing also had heightened tracking skills.

Redwing is the creation of Marv Wolfman, Tom Grindberg, Tom Grummett, and Al Vey

MAN-BAT First appearance: Detective Comics #400 (1970)

Kirk Langstrom is a geneticist who sought ways to improve failing hearing in humans by using bats. He creates an extract and uses it on himself. But after improving hearing it eventually caused him to mutate into more bat than human. Originally he was more of a nemesis than a hero, but over time that has changed. He would later serve as a member of the Justice League Dark. Man-Bat has the ability of flight, along with echolocation, and increased strength, speed, and agility.

Man-Bat is the creation of Frank Robbins, Neal Adams, and Julius Schwartz

The original (Golden Age) HAWKGIRL First appearance: Flash Comics #1 (1940)

Shiera Sanders Hall first assumed the mantle of Hawkgirl in All Star Comics #5 (June, 1941). She is the wife of the golden-age Hawkman. While she did not share his membership in the JSA, she was a highly active member of the All-Star Squadron.

Hawkgirl is the creation of Garner Fox and Dennis Neville

BLUE JAY First appearance: Justice League of America (vol. 1) #87 (1971)

He originally appeared in a single JLA story that featured 5 characters who were doppelgangers for Marvel Comics' Avengers, Blue Jay being a DC version of Hank Pym. Sixteen years later he would reappear and become an active member of the Justice League. His real name is Jay Abrams. Blue Jay can decrease his size and mass to less than 7 inches tall and 3 pounds.

Blue Jay is the creation of Mike Friedrich and Dick Dillin

DAWNSTAR First appearance: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #226 (1977)

Dawnstar is a member of the 30th-century team, the Legion of Super-Heroes. She has the ability to fly at speeds faster than light and can track people, or objects, through deep space.

Dawnstar is the creation of Paul Levitz and Mike Grell

BLACK CONDOR (II) First appearance: Black Condor #1 (1992)

Ryan Kendall is the second person to utilize the moniker of Black Condor. Like his predecessor, he would eventually be linked to a team called Freedom Fighters. In addition to his power of flight, he also possesses telekinesis, rapid healing, and a limited empathic ability.

Black Condor (II) is the creation of Brian Augustyn and Rags Morales

(Silver Age) HAWKMAN

First appearance: The Brave and the Bold #34 (1961)

Katar Hol is the second hero to use the name Hawkman, He is from the planet Thanagar and came to Earth to help capture a Thangarian criminal who was hiding here. After that capture, Katar and his wife opted to stay on Earth and learn Earth policing methods. This Hawkman would be a longtime member of the Justice League of America.

The Silver Age Hawkman is the creation of  Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert

CRAZY SHY LOLITA CANARY
First appearance: Final Crisis #2 (2008)

A member of Japan's Super Young Team, she possesses a sonic scream that sounds like numerous voices all mashed together.  She is diminutive in size.

Crazy Shy Lolita Canary is the creation of Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones

ZAURIEL First appearance: JLA #6 (1997)

Zauriel is a former angel host of Heaven. After falling in love with a mortal woman he renounced divinity, and now is mortal himself. He served as a member of the Justice League. In addition to flight, Zauriel also possesses a deadly sonic scream, super strength, and increased speed.

(Zauriel was created solely to be a Hawkman replacement for the new JLA title that started publication in 1997. Hawkman's history had become mired in numerous recreations, so DC refused to give permission for the character to be used.)

Zauriel is the creation of  Grant Morrison and Mark Millar

RED BEE (II) First appearance: Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5 (2007)

Red Bee is secretly Jenna Raleigh, the grand-niece of the original Red Bee (Rick Raleigh). She has pheromonal control abilities as well as mind control and illusion-casting powers. She also has increased strength, reflexes, and senses.

Red Bee (II) is the creation of Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Daniel Acuna

(Silver Age) HAWKGIRL/HAWKWOMAN First appearance: The Brave and the Bold #34 (1961)

Shayera Hol is the second heroine to use the name Hawkgirl. She would later change her moniker to Hawkwoman. She is from the planet Thanagar and came to Earth to help capture a Thangarian criminal. After that capture, she and her husband Katar opted to stay on Earth to learn Earth policing methods. She would eventually become a member of the Justice League of America.

Hawkwoman is the creation of  Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert

NORTHWIND First appearance: All-Star Squadron #25 (1983)

Norda Cantrell is the son of a human male and a Feitheran female, thus his body is a hybrid of the two. He was a founding member of the original Infinity Inc. In addition to his flight abilities, he has the ability to communicate with all species of birds.

Norhwind is the creation of Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway

GOLDEN EAGLE
First appearance: Justice League of America #116 (1975)

Originally, Charley Parker was a young Earth boy granted the use of wings like Hawkman's. He eventually became a member of the Teen Titans. In the post-Infinite Crisis (circa 2005) continuity his origin was revised.  He is now the child of a mixed species couple, Thangarian and Earthling.

Golden Eagle is the creation of Cary Bates and Dick Dillin

SUPERGIRL First appearance: Supergirl #1 (vol. 4) (1996)

The post-Crisis on Infinite Earths version of Supergirl was a protoplasmic being, originally from another dimension, known as Matrix. Matrix sacrificed herself to save a dying girl named Linda Danvers. Their life essences merge and become a new Supergirl. This new Linda eventually discovers she is a reborn Earth angel. She often employs wings of fire.

Matrix Supergirl is the creation of John Byrne and Karl Kesel

BATWING First appearance: Batman Saga #5 (2012)

The Batwing armor includes retractable wings. Though David Zavimbe was the first to use the identity, he has since retired and the mantle of Batwing has fallen to Lucas Fox. Lucas is the son of Wayne Enterprises' CEO, Lucius Fox.

Batwing (David Zavimbe) is the creation of Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham, and Yanick Paquette
Batwing (Lucas Fox) is the creation of Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Eduardo Pansica

SHIKARI First appearance: Legion Lost (vol. 1) #1 (2000)

Shikari is a citizen of the Kwai, a race of nomadic humanoid insects. She was a member of the 30th century team, the Legion of Super-Heroes. She has pathfinder tracking skills and can see through illusions.

Shikari is the creation of Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Olivier Coipel

BLACK CONDOR (III) First appearance: Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters (vol. 1) #3 (2006)

John Trujillo is the third man to use the Black Condor identity. Like the other Condors before him, he would serve as a member of the Freedom Fighters. John has been empowered by Tocotl, the Spider Goddess, with the powers of flight and control over wind and air. He also has been given superhuman strength and
speed.

Black Condor (III) is the creation of Grant Morrison, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Daniel Acuna

HAWKGIRL (III)

First appearance: JSA Secret Files #1 (1999)

Kendra Saunders is the granddaughter of golden-age Hawkgirl's cousin, Speed Saunders. When Kendra committed suicide, her body was inhabited by the soul of the original Hawkgirl, Shiera Saunders Hall, who believed herself to still be Kendra. She has been a member of the Justice Society, the Justice League, and has also served as an on-call member of the Birds of Prey.

Hawkgirl (III) is the creation of James Robinson and David Goyer

AZRAEL
First appearance: Tales of the Teen Titans #51 (1985)

Other than being an alien, his origin is pretty much unknown beyond that. Azrael met the Teen Titans and assisted them for a short period.  During this time he fell in love with Titan member Lilith Clay.  He demonstrated no additional powers beyond that of flight.

Azrael is the creation of Marv Wolfman and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

DANE
First appearance: Future State: Teen Titans #1 (2021)

Dane is a member of Roy Harper's Teen Titans Academy. He is the human host for the demon Nevermore.

Dane is the creation of Tim Sheridan and Rafa Sandoval

HAWKGIRL (IV) First appearance: Earth-2 #2 (2012)

Kendra Munoz-Saunders is an updated Earth-2 version of the character. She began appearing after the New 52 reboot. This Hawkgirl has enhanced senses.

Hawkgirl (IV) is the creation of James Robinson, David S. Goyer, and Stephen Sadowski

RED ROBIN First appearance as Tim Drake: Batman (vol. 1)#436 (1989) First appearance as Red Robin: Robin (vol. 2) #181 (2009)

Tim Drake employed retractable wings for an extended period during his adventures following the DC's New 52 reboot, circa 2011.

Tim Drake is the creation of Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick

BUMBLEBEE First appearance: Teen Titans (vol. 1)#45 (1976)

Karen Beecher-Duncan is a scientist who created the super-suit that gives her her powers. She can fly and has enhanced strength and durability. She can also project sonic blasts. Later, she would have the ability to shrink in size. She was a member of the original Teen Titans and later a member of Doom Patrol.

Bumblebee is the creation of Bob Rozakis and Irv Novick

LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR First appearance: Sandman (vol. 2) #4 (1989)

Though "hero" might be a stretch, he is a winged character who tries to do redeeming deeds when it serves his own agenda.

Lucifer Morningstar is the creation of Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, and M.R. Carey 

This concludes our look at the many winged heroes in the DC Universe. No doubt there will be more to follow! If I missed any, please let me know!

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