Nighthawk is the name of several characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. There have been several versions of the character: twosupervillains-turned-superheroes from the mainstreamMarvel Universecontinuity (Earth-616),Kyle Richmond (who belonged to theSquadron Sinister) andTilda Johnson (the formerDeadly Nightshade); twoS.H.I.E.L.D. agents,JacksonNorriss andJoaquin Pennyworth; five fromalternate universes, who belonged to various incarnations of theSquadron Supreme, includingKyle andNeal Richmond ofEarth-712, and anAfrican-American version of Richmond fromEarth-31916 who primarily killswhite supremacists and mentors Tilda upon traveling to Earth-616; and asimulacrum of Richmond created byMephisto and programmed by the Power Elite to serve as a member of theSquadron Supreme of America under the command ofPhil Coulson.
In theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),Scoot McNairy plays impersonator Jackson Norriss in the live-actionshort filmAll Hail the King (2014), withA. J. Bowen playing the real Norris in theweb seriesWHIH Newsfront (2016).
Kyle Richmond, the original Nighthawk, debuted as asupervillain in the final panel ofThe Avengers #69 (October 1969). This story is the first chapter of a three-issuestory arc by writerRoy Thomas andpencillerSal Buscema. The arc introduced the supervillain team theSquadron Sinister, whose four members were loosely based on heroes inDC Comics'Justice League of America, with Nighthawk based onBatman.[1]
Following this arc, Nighthawk pursues a solo career, next appearing inDaredevil #62 (March 1970). Here, Richmond attempts through underhanded means to tarnish DD's reputation and supplant him. Daredevil tricks Richmond into revealing his criminal activities to the public and, after a battle atop a subway, Nighthawk makes good his escape.
Nighthawk next appears in the superhero team titleThe Defenders #13–14 (May–July 1974), he goes to the titular supergroup for help against his former teammates, and joins the team the following issue.Defenders writerLen Wein said that adding Nighthawk to the group "gave me a character to play with who didn't have a whole lot of previous history ... [a] character I could do anything I wanted to without worrying about how it would affect any other titles that character might appear in."[2]
Nighthawk appeared on a regular basis inThe Defenders and a number of other Marvel titles. A long-range story arc inThe Defenders, beginning in 1979, has Nighthawk under criminal investigation. WriterEd Hannigan later revealed he planned to end this story arc with Nighthawk being put in prison "for good", but his run on the series ended before he could bring this to fruition.[2]
Defenders writerDavid Anthony Kraft said, describing Nighthawk's role in the team, "Nighthawk so desperately wanted to be the leader. He would be telling everyone what to do, but no one would listen to him! He may be wealthy and can buy all these toys, but he still gets no respect!"[2]
Nighthawk apparently sacrifices his life inThe Defenders #106 (cover dated April 1982). The supervillain Dead Ringerimpersonates him inCaptain America #429 (July 1994). In the three-issueminiseriesNighthawk (September–November 1998) Richmond is revealed to be alive, but in acoma andbrain dead. Through supernatural means, he is revived and resumes his crime-fighting career. He co-starred in the 12-issue run ofThe Defenders vol. 2 (March 2001–February 2002) and the miniseriesThe Order #1-6 (April–September 2002). Nighthawk formed a short-lived version of the Defenders, withColossus, theBlazing Skull, andShe-Hulk, as part of the Initiative, depicted in the miniseriesThe Last Defenders #1–6 (May–October 2008).
| Nighthawk | |
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 Nighthawk #1 (September 1998), featuring Nighthawk in various costumes. Art byRichard Case. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers #69 (October 1969) |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Kyle Richmond |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | |
| Abilities |
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Kyle Richmond was born to two wealthy parents and was brought up by hisgoverness while his father is away. When Kyle's mother dies in an accident, his father sent him to boarding school. Due to his family's money, Kyle enrolls in Grayburn College, where he became involved with Mindy Williams. One night, Kyle is caught in a drunk-driving crash in which Mindy was killed, and he is kicked out of school. Kyle attempt to join the army, but was rejected due to aheart murmur. Afterwards, Kyle is told that his father died in a plane crash and that he has inherited Richmond Enterprises. Kyle turns to finding a cure for his heart murmur and physically training himself.[3]
While drunk, Kyle Richmond concocts analchemy serum that he found in an alchemy volume. The serum enables Kyle to gain enhanced strength at night. Kyle takes on various sports activities to strengthen his natural abilities and eventually becomes Nighthawk.[4]
After apparently sacrificing his life to stop an organization bent on decimating the people of theSoviet Union, Richmond turns up alive but comatose. He has a vision of an angel that facilitates his healing and bestows on him a "second sight", which enables him to see criminal acts before they are committed. Richmond becomes Nighthawk once again and fights crime until forced into a confrontation withDaredevil, whom he kills. The "angel" reveals itself to be the demonMephisto, who transports Nighthawk and Daredevil's corpse toHell, intending to claim Daredevil's soul. Nighthawk battles demons and manages to revive Daredevil, and together they escape.[5] Asorcerer later purges him of Mephisto's gift.[6]
After encountering teammateHyperion, apparently resurrected after being thought dead, and a newDoctor Spectrum (Alice Nugent), Nighthawk briefly joins theNew Thunderbolts. Upon discovering he is being used for his fortune, Nighthawk leaves the group and rejoins the Squadron Sinister.[7][8]
| Nighthawk | |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Incredible Hulk #126 (January 1970) |
| Created by |
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| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jackson F. Norriss |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | S.H.I.E.L.D. |
Jackson F. "Jack" Norriss and his wifeBarbara worked with the original Nighthawk and theDefenders.[volume & issue needed] He later became aS.H.I.E.L.D. file-clerk,[volume & issue needed] and then agent often going by the codename Nighthawk.[volume & issue needed] He then went on to be a TV reporter forInside America.[volume & issue needed] He helped psychiatrist Andrea Sterman uncover a conspiracy involvingRoxxon Oil, theCommission on Superhuman Activities, S.H.I.E.L.D.,Nomad, and the Thunderbolts.[9]
| Nighthawk | |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Last Defenders #1 (May 2008) |
| Created by |
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| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Joaquin Pennysworth |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Defenders |
| Abilities |
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After Richmond joins the US government'sFifty State Initiative of registered heroes as Nighthawk,[10] he meetsJoaquin Pennyworth, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. from the future and the son of the one-time leader of theSons of the Serpent. Richmond asks him to commence training to become the new Nighthawk before retiring.[11]
A new version of Kyle Richmond is a member of theSquadron Supreme of America.[12] He is revealed to be asimulacrum created byMephisto and programmed by the Power Elite to obeyPhil Coulson. As a civilian, Richmond is a U.S. congressman elected to theHouse of Representatives to represent Washington, D.C..[13]
After meeting theNighthawk of Earth-31916 and helping him defend Chicago from a group of white nationalists called the True Patriots, Tilda Johnson decides to reform her image as the supervillain Nightshade. She trains under Nighthawk and later joins the Avengers.[14][15]
During theSecret Empire storyline, Johnson is revealed to have become the new Nighthawk after the Nighthawk of Earth-31916 was killed by Hydra soldiers.[16]
Nighthawk is a skilledathlete who, courtesy of an alchemical potion, possesses enhanced strength and increased agility and durability from dusk until dawn. He has also used several costume aids, such as a jet-powered artificial wing system, artificial claw tips,lasers and projectile weapons.
Roy Thomas and pencillerJohn Buscema created analternate-universe team of heroes called theSquadron Supreme, who debut inThe Avengers #85 (February 1971). After an initial skirmish with four Avengers, the teams unite to stop a common threat.[17] The characters (including Nighthawk) are identical in name and appearance to the Squadron Sinister.
Richmond later retires as Nighthawk, feeling that he can better serve the public good as a politician, eventually becomingPresident of the United States. However, Richmond is attacked by theOvermind, who embarks on a campaign of world domination while posing as him. Richmond is rescued by a psychic entity from Earth-616 with ties to that world's Kyle Richmond. When the other Squadron members are controlled by the Overmind, Hyperion and Nighthawk recruit the Defenders to help free the Squadron and defeat the Overmind.[18]
The Squadron's Earth is left in shambles after the Overmind's attempt to conquer the world. Led by Hyperion, the Squadron assumes control of theUnited States and transforms it into anutopia.[19] Nighthawk opposes the Squadron's policies and forms a group called the Redeemers to combat them.[20] A brutal battle ensues in which several members of both teams are killed, including Nighthawk. In response, the Squadron disbands and relinquishes control of the United States government.[21]
When the remnants of the Squadron Supreme returns to their home universe in theone-shotSquadron Supreme: New World Order, they encounter a new Nighthawk, adopted son of Kyle Richmond and biological son of Kyle's foe the Huckster.[22] Nighthawk later joins the Squadron.[23]
InEarth X, Kyle Richmond is an elderly retired superhero whoMephisto gave the ability to see into the future. He dictates what he sees to his colleague,Isaac Christians, so that a record can be kept of what will become of history.[24][25]
TheUltimate Marvelalternate universe titleThe Ultimates features a version of Nighthawk who is the leader of a version of theDefenders. The group initially lack superpowers before being given powers byLoki.[26][27]
TheMarvel MAX imprint showcases the adventures of theEarth-31916 version of theSquadron Supreme. This version of Kyle Richmond, anAfrican-American, first appears in the limited seriesSupreme Power, and utilizes hiswealth to train and develop advanced weaponry and devices to aid in his campaign on crime as avigilante.[28]
After the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, Richmond was transported to Earth-616. In 2016, Marvel published a six-issuelimited series featuring the character.[29][30][31][32][33][34]
Nighthawk andTilda Johnson later encounterHawkeye andRed Wolf.[15] He is killed shortly afterwards and succeeded as Nighthawk by Johnson.[16]
Several characters inspired by Nighthawk appear in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The Kyle Richmond incarnation of Nighthawk appears inMarvel Super Hero Squad Online.[36]
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth X Trilogy Omnibus: Omega | Nighthawk (vol.1) #1-3 andParadise X: Heralds #1-3,Paradise X #0-12,Xen,Devils,A,X,Special Edition,Paradise X: Ragnarok #1-2 | March 2019 | 978-1302916220 |
| Supreme Power: Nighthawk | Supreme Power: Nighthawk #1-6 | July 2006 | 978-0785118978 |
| Squadron Supreme: Hyperion Vs. Nighthawk | Squadron Supreme: Hyperion Vs. Nighthawk #1-4 | July 2007 | 978-0785124344 |
| Nighthawk: Hate Makes Hate | Nighthawk (vol. 2) #1-6 | January 2017 | 978-1302901622 |
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