Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)
| Hawkgirl | |
|---|---|
Kendra Saunders as featured in Jim Lee's variant cover for Hawkgirl (2018) #3. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | JSA: Secret Files and Origins #1 (August 1999) |
| Created by | James Robinson David S. Goyer Scott Benefiel |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Kendra Saunders |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Place of origin | Austin, Texas |
| Team affiliations | Justice League Justice Society of America Birds of Prey Blackhawks Guild of Detection Council of Immortals Black Lantern Corps |
| Partnerships | Galaxy Hawkman (various) Martian Manhunter Roy Harper Vixen |
| Notable aliases | Lady Blackhawk |
| Abilities |
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Kendra Saunders is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writers James Robinson, David S. Goyer and artist Scott Benefiel, she first appeared in JSA: Secret Files and Origins #1 (August, 1999). The third and current Hawkgirl, this version is a Hispanic-American human and the latest in a reincarnation line of immortal warriors involving Chay-Ara and Shrra. Unlike prior versions, Kendra is characterized to seek independence from her reincarnations and Hawkman.
Originally, she was portrayed as a troubled young woman who took her own life. After her soul departed, her great-aunt's soul (Shiera Sanders Hall) inhabited hers, making her a walk-in with memories of her past and current lifetimes and is trained into becoming the latest Hawkgirl superhero while defining her terms with Hawkman. After Flashpoint, she is made the latest in a line of reincarnations from Shrra and first appeared as the leader of the Blackhawks, a covert anti-apocalyptic strike force, under the codename "Lady Blackhawk" before becoming the hero Hawkgirl as she did prior, notably joining the Justice League and Justice Society of America while living her life as a superheroine in Superman's home city, Metropolis.
Saunders has appeared in several media adaptations. Most notably, she appeared in DC Super Hero Girls voiced by Nika Futterman. In live action, she was portrayed by Ciara Renée in The CW's Arrowverse television series The Flash in the first-season finale, appeared in the Arrowverse crossover Heroes Join Forces, and starred in the first season of Legends of Tomorrow. Isabela Merced portrays the character in the DC Universe starting with the film, Superman (2025). She also reprises the character in the second season of the television series Peacemaker.