Does it serve some actual function, or is it just a stylish, secret-identity masking thing? Does Hawkgirl have a secret identity? It’d be hard to, what with the wings. Unless her secret identity was a pigeon or something.
I thought that was her real face.
Those wings aren’t part of her body, **Podkayne. They’re mechanical devices that are strapped onto her back (and they only provide maneuverability; she has an anti-gravity belt that provides the lift).
So she could have a secret identity if she needed one, although I don’t know if she has one on the Justice League cartoon, which I assume is where you’re seeing her.
Ooooh, thanks Fiver. Now I want a pair. And the anti-grav belt, too.
Indeed, I’m watching the Justice League on Cartoon Network. Not by choice. The hubby will watch anything with Batman in it. 
They don’t do much of the secret identity thing at all on Justice League. All I can really recall off the top of my head are a few Bruce Wayne allusions. Can’t remember any Clark Kent action, even. Hubby can’t remember any secret identies being show on-screen, either.
Hawkgirl and Hawkman’s secret identities are actually very cool and very interrestingly intertwined, but yeah, I think on the cartoon they never really touch on the SID’s of the characters except Batman.
Part of the point of the Justice League was always that the heroes left or were taken out of their regular lives to battle something that required their mustered strength, so yes, Podkayne, we’ve never seen much of the heroes in their private lives or secret identities.
(I’m basing my comments on the pre-Crisis comic book, of course.)
In the comics (again pre-Crisis), Hawkman and Hawkgirl were a married couple, Katar Hol and Shayara Hol, from the planet Thanagar. I don’t remember why they came to Earth, but their secret identities were Carter and Shayara Hall, and Carter was an archaeologist.
The two heroes were a crimefighting duo, so it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to put Hawkgirl and not also Hawkman on the TV series, but I reckon the producers needed to balance out the testosterone with a little more estrogen than just Wonder Woman could provide.
Is Hawkgirl wearing pearl earrings?
how is that for a crappy 700th post?
I think the mask is just a protective helmet, so she doesn’t get injured, and it makes her look more Hawk-like.
She made a commnent in one of the cartoons that she wasn’t human. I just figured it was an ugly alien head atop a sexy, sexy body.
I notice a lot of chemistry between her and Green Lantern. If they decide to make more episodes I think it would be interesting if they develop this.
Oka, from Gorgon’s post, then, we’re dealing with the Thangarian Hawkgirl.
I’m not an expert, but the current storyline for Hawkman / Hawkgirl is that the two are a pair of souls that are constantly re-incarnating, destined to be in love with each other, and have a connection with the mysterious Thangarian metal that gives them flight, a healing factor, great strength, great senses, and, of course, the reincarnation factor. In past reincarnations, both of them have retained all memories of their past lives (very handy for purposes of knowledge on how to beat the elder terror, “I fought this one once before…”), but in the current comic book incarnation, Hawkgirl did -not- have her memories; her character had amnesia. The storyline is currently bringing out some of her memories, and it’s iffy as to whether she’s keen on the idea of being destined to ‘love’ Hawkman. (I’m holding out for the happy ending- the two really do seem ‘made’ for each other)
Okay, I’ve babbled on enough, but as for Hawkgirl being an alien, either she means that it’s the reincarnation-through-thangarian-metal thing, or they’re playing the older version of her, in which both she and Hawkman are of the Thangarian race.
I also agree with Fiver- They needed another female character, and decided to stick her in. The lack of character ‘development’ bugs me, but hey, it’s an action cartoon. 
Thanagar, ArrrMatey.
As for secret identities, even in the comics, the JLA didn’t have full knowledge of each others’ secret IDs. Superman and Batman knew each other’s secret IDs, but I don’t think any of the others knew they were Clark and Bruce. J’onn J’onzz has an absurd number of secret identities (the benefit of shapeshifting), so even if people knew who John Jones was, that’s not giving away much.
Then, on the other hand, you have the people who have civilian identities, but there’s no secret about it. Wally West, The Flash, wears a mask, but when it’s off people still recognize him on the street. Eel O’Brien, Plasticman, doesn’t even seem to try to look normal out of his costume.
Kyle Raynor is, I think, a mix between the two. Everyone on the Justice League knows him by name, but I’m not sure whether his identity is truly secret in his own comic (someone please clarify?)
So there’s at least two for whom the mask is just for show.
His identity appears to still be secret in his own book. When his assistant Terry was beaten up, he had a look through his sketchbook, in which were drawings of Kyle as Green Lantern. Kyle said something to the effect of, “He knew. He knew and he never told anyone.”
Oh, and it’s Rayner. Pet peeve of mine.
Isn’t Hawkman too busy running his law firm to be out superheroing all over the place?
Nitpick about not showing secret identities on JL- Wasn’t there an episode where Green Lantern goes home to visit the 'hood?
<facepalms> That’s BIRDMAN!
Harvey Birdman!
:smack:
Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman (same person) was always cooler than Hawkman. He was just a guy with a thing for archaic weapons and wings. SO was she, bgut she was also a strong, independent, well-realized female character, sorely lacking in the olden days of comics. She works well without Hawkman and I hope they develop her.
I think Stewart is “Out of the Closet” in the cartoon, his buddy (who became Metamorpho seemed to know, at least, and it’s not like he wears a mask. I’m not sure iof teh public knew his ID in the comics.
He was always a secondary GL, anyway. The cartoon’s trying to sidestep the Hal/Kyle (although Kyle appeared as GL, with Hal’s origin, on a episode of the animated Superman) debate and add some melanin to the mix.
Anyone see the one where they almost did “Flash of Two Cities”, that was cool.
“Hey, Hawkgirl, nice pair.” –thud whack slam– “Of wings! Nice pair of wings! Stop hurting me.”
I got a pair of those already, Cervaise. 