Masks Are Fashion, Masks Are Heroic - Hawkgirl
This is the 15th entry that I've posted in the series featuring "red carpet" takes on superheroes in costume with masks to promote the pro-social & pro-health practice of mask wearing during a pandemic.
Hawkgirl is one of those characters who had been burdened with a complicated origin for decades - until recently. Her origin is tied to Hawkman's. In another life, Hawkman was an evil guy doing bad things for an evil godlike being. Then he fell in love with an angel and changed his ways. The angel was punished for falling in love with a mortal and fell from Heaven. As penance for his deeds, Hawkman would reincarnate across time and space until he could make restitution for what he had done. The angel would incarnate alongside with him as his soulmate. Pretty easy so far. The two would incarnate, be intensely drawn together, and oftentimes die an early death in trying to do good.
And then along comes Hawkgirl. Because the souls are incarnating throughout time AND space, the angel incarnates twice at the same time - one as a woman named Shayera Thal (the red-headed Hawkwoman) on the planet of Thanagar, and second as a woman named Kendra Saunders on earth. Kendra is Latina and formally lead an elite squadron of pilots called the Blackhawks that had its origins in WWII. However, because she's incarnating twice during the same time period, the romantic soulmate draw to Hawkman doesn't seem to exist with Hawkgirl (Hawkwoman has that covered). She's now left to explore herself in a lifetime completely untethered to Hawkman. So far, it seems she and J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter, have developed feelings for each other.
For her look, I was inspired by red carpet music awards looks by Christina Aguilera, and mixing that kind influence in with the crazy costume design that Hawkgirl has had through the years. Her Hawkgirl look was created in the early 1940's and modelled off of Hawkman's look, so that's why there are SO MANY COLORS in it. And like with Supergirl and Power Girl in this series, I'm really interested in using pinks and magentas in the design instead of red and dark reds. The top is an homage to the harness that Hawkman wears as part of his costume, and as Hawkgirl's costume often features a bare midriff, I opted to continue that design element into this look.
Thank you for taking the time to experience this piece.
"Masks Are Fashion, Masks Are Heroic - Hawkgirl" by Kevenn T. Smith
Pencil, Ink, Photoshop
©2021 Kevenn T. Smith
Hawkgirl ©DC Comics