Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)

Hawkgirl (real name Kendra Shiera Saunders), also known as Hawkwoman, is a fictional character and superheroine from the DC Comics and Universe. She is the great-niece of Shiera Sanders Hall (also known as the warrior "Hawkgirl"), who entered her body to be reincarnated. Kendra became the new Hawkgirl, becoming the partner of Hawkman, and member of the Justice League, Justice Society and the Birds of Prey.
Kendra was created by James Robinson, , and Scott Benefiel, and first appeared in JSA: Secret Files and Origins # 1 in August of 1999.
==Biography==
===Becoming Hawkgirl===
Kendra Saunders was the great niece of Shiera Sanders Hall, who is haunted by the murder of her parents by a corrupt cop. She later became a troubled young woman, and Shiera entered her body after Kendra committed suicide. Kendra's grandfather, Speed Saunders, recognized this change and encouraged her to embrace her destiny as the new Hawkgirl. She believed herself to still be Kendra, even going as far as using the original Hawkgirl equipment, and went out to find the Fate Child. During her search, Hawkgirl came across the Justice Society, and became a member.
Though she began her career as an adventurer, tension grew between Hawkgirl and Hawkman, as the former had all of Kendra's memories, but almost none of Shiera's. Hawkman believed that they were destined for each other, and would later admit she had an attraction to him later in their partnership. Hawkgirl would later learn about Kendra's identity, as it was revealed to her by the angel Zauriel. Kendra was later recruited by Troia during the Rann-Thanagar War, and she was injured by a Zeta Beam transporter (due to a malfunction), causing her to grow over twenty feet tall.
===Joining the JSA===
Kendra was able to return to normal, renewed her protection of St. Roch, Louisiana in Hawkman's absence, and became the curator of the Stonechat Museum. Eventually, Hawkgirl was inducted into the Justice League of America, becoming a new member. While with the team, she began a relationship with Red Arrow, but their relationship dissolved due to past relationships, and being unable to express their feelings for each other. 
The two ended their relationship, and Red Arrow left the Justice League. Afterward, Hawkgirl then became one-hundred percent Kendra as a result of Shiera's soul leaving her body and moving on to the afterlife. Shiera decided to do so in an attempt to remove the curse of Hath-Set, thinking passing on would do so.
===Blackest Night===
In "Blackest Night", Kendra reunited with Carter, but the two were killed and transformed into Black Lanterns. Before having her heart removed by an reanimated Sue Dibny, Kendra told Carter her true feelings. She was later resurrected by the White Lantern Corps, and removed her helmet, revealing the face of Shiera. It was revealed that all trace of Kendra had been apparently erased, for some unknown reason.
==Prime Earth==
===Origin===
Kendra Saunders was originally born as Chay-Ara, being the lover Khufu, an Egyptian prince. One night, the two discovered a Thangarian ship that landed on Earth, and were exposed to Nth metal. Due to exposure, Chay-Ara and Khufu, as well as Hath-Set, were forced into a cycle of reincarnation through time and space. Chay-Ara and Khfu lived countless lives, as she was reborn recently as Shayera Hol and Kendra Saunders, as Kufu's latest incarnation was Carter Hall.
===Adventures===
Kendra became Hawkgirl and the partner of Hawkman, and the two would often battle Hath-Set, who also would be reborn or reincarnated. Becoming allies of the Justice League, Kendra later became the leader of the Blackhawks, and a member of the Council of Immortals. In addition, Kendra warned the JSA of the Dark Knights, and would help them in fighting the group and their leader, Barbatos.
==Portrayals==
=== Films ===
* Hawkgirl made a non-speaking cameo appearance in The Lego Batman Movie.
* In the upcoming movie Superman (2025), she will be portrayed by Isabela Merced. Who also played Anya Corazon in Madame Web, Izabella in Transformers: The Last Knight, CJ Martin in 100 Things To Do Before High School, Jeanne Galletta in Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life, Dora Marquez in the 2019 live-action film Dora The Explorer, and voiced Lucky Prescott in Spirit Untamed.
** The film is intended to be set in the new DCU (DC Universe) multimedia franchise produced by James Gunn.
===Television===
*In DC Super Hero Girls series, she was voiced by , who also voiced Luna Loud, Nightfall, Sticks the Badger, Alissa Vincent, Chelsea Keezheekoni, Olga Pataki and Asajj Ventress.
*In the Arrowverse, she is portrayed by Ciara Renée, who also played Esmeralda and Queen Elsa in theatre.
===Video Games===
*In Justice League Heroes, she was voiced by Collette Whittaker.
==Gallery==
===Images===
Justice-league-alex-ross.jpg|Alex Ross' artwork of Hawkgirl with the Justice League of America.
Kendra_Saunders_Prime_Earth_.jpg
Hawkgirl-09.png
==Trivia==
*Kendra's Prime Earth iteration isn't the great niece of Shiera, and is the original incarnation of Chay-Ara.
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