Hawkman is Officially Reborn As A DC Supervillain After 85 Years

1 week ago 20

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Published Jan 30, 2026, 11:21 PM EST

Andrew Dyce is the Deputy Editor for ScreenRant's coverage of Marvel, DC, and all other comics. Whether superheroes, sci-fi, fantasy, or any other genre, Andrew's decade in the industry and countless hours of analysis on podcasts like the Screen Rant Underground, Total Geekall, The Rings of Power Podcast, Batman v Superman: By The Minute, and more has left its mark.

With over a decade spent at GameRant and ScreenRant, Andrew has made himself known as an outspoken fan and critic of film, television, video games, comics, and more.

It's a dark day in the history of the Justice League heroes, but a brilliant day for anyone eager to see which beloved DC superhero would next be transformed into a bloody, brutal warrior in DC's outstanding new Absolute Universe. The answer has come from, no surprise, the founding DC hero whose signature weapon is a massive spiked mace. But the new origin for Absolute Hawkman is sure to leave fans picking their jaws off the floor.

Hawkman is Reinvented As A Bloody Warrior For DC Absolute

Revealed in Absolute Superman #16 by Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra

The cover art alone for Absolute Superman #16 had fans foaming at the mouth, teasing a throwdown between the tough-as-nails new Superman and whatever you get by making the existing Hawkman even more extreme. But now that the origin story which turned Carter Hall into Hawkman is revealed in these official preview pages, one thing is clear. Hawkman didn't turn bloodthirsty over time, but was literally born in a bloodbath.

There are more than a few clear teases of more Absolute mythology to come, with what appears to be a confirmation that Black Adam is the Absolute Universe's 'King Shazam.' But where these mystical gifts originate, and if the mace which grants Carter his wings (and vengeance) is just one of multiple artifacts remains to be seen. For Superman's sake, we can only hope the wings and weapon are all Hawkman has up his sleeve.

Hawkman Has Already Killed One Justice Leaguer, So Who's Next?

The Death of Green Arrow in Absolute Evil #1 Proved Carter's A Killer

Carter Hall Becomes Absolute Hawkman in Bloody Preview Art

Comic fans will need to wait for the entirety of the issue to be released before any final opinions can be rendered on the new Hawkman. Especially considering the nature of his debut in the Absolute Universe, killing Green Arrow on behalf of the villains. Yet this preview may also shed some light on Hawkman's perspective of himself as "one of the good guys." The presence of Peacemakers on site during World War II, seemingly opposed to the Germans, suggests all new chapters of world history to be explained.

Just how good can "the good guys" be in a reality shaped by Darkseid? Does Carter's decision to immediately turn to bloodshed with his superpowers paint him as a villain for good? These questions and more will have to wait until Absolute Superman #16 arrives February 4, from DC Comics.