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Hawk & Dove II
Friends & Foes |
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| Ren Takamori |
| Kyle Spenser & Donna Cabot |
| Captain Brian 'Sal' Arsala |
| Barter |
| Kestrel |
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| Ren in HAWK & DOVE mini series [1988]. |
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Spunky Ren Takamori - half-Japanese/half-Mexican heritage - grew up in Texas and attended Georgetown University. There, she studied photography and worked part-time as a waitress at the local college pub, Suds.
When Hank Hall settled at college in Georgetown, he met new classmate Ren , who was immediately taken with him. Hank soon encountered the new female Dove. Later, Hank Hall suspected the new Dove could be Ren Takamori, Dawn Granger or Donna Cabot. First, Hank suspected Ren and impulsively transformed into Hawk before her eyes. Ren was now privy to his secret. After Dove revealed herself as Dawn Granger and the duo defeated Kestrel, a new Hawk & Dove partnership was formed. Ren became fast friends with Dawn and romantically pursued Hank, while vowing to keep their identities a secret.
Hank was slow at responding to Ren's obviously flirtations, but the two eventually began a relationship. There was various obstacles along the way: The Kestrel force possessed Ren at one time as an adventure led Hawk & Dove to the mystical land of Druspa Tau. There, Ren was freed of the Kestrel force, but worried that Dawn and Hank were possibly destined to be lovers. Hank eventually put her concerns to rest and their relationship continued to develop.
Her happiness was soon shattered, however, when Hank Hall fulfilled his destiny as the villainous Monarch!
Hawk & Dove (mini-series) #1-5 [1988]: Hank Hall settles at college in Georgetown and meets classmates Ren Takamori, Dawn Granger, Kyle Spencer and his fiancee Donna Cabot. Hawk meets his new partner, Dove, and battles Kestrel. Ren learns Hank Hall is Hawk.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #5 [1989]: Hank and Ren's beach date is interrupted by a bully - a human time-bomb calling himself Sudden Death. Ren and Hank share a first kiss and begin a romantic relationship.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #14-17 [1990]: Kestrel [in the body of Ren Takamori] invites Hawk & Dove to the mystical land of Druspa Tau - also home to Lords of Chaos and Order.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #20 [1991]: Dawn Granger's holiday shopping trip is interrupted by thieves in Santa clothes. Meanwhile, Ren and Hank reconcile.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #28 [1991]: Hank is reunited with Ren, who proposes marriage to him. Last appearance of Hank Hall before he becomes Monarch.
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Kyle Spencer and Donna Cabot |
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| Kyle & Donna in HAWK & DOVE mini series [1988]. |
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When Hank Hall settled at college in Georgetown, he met new classmates Kyle Spencer and Donna Cabot - a happily engaged couple. Kyle was a fellow athlete and met Hank on the track field. Donna was also an athlete - an accomplished tennis player. Kyle and Hank became fast friends but Donna had a low tolerance for Hank's right-wing views, and had no hesitation to voice her opinions to the contrary. Being roommates with Ren, Donna learned to tolerate Hank and even like him; any initial hostility eventually gave way to gentle ribbing toward Hank.
Hank soon encountered the new female Dove. Later, Hank Hall suspected the new Dove could be Ren Takamori, Dawn Granger or Donna Cabot. First, Hank suspected Ren and impulsively transformed into Hawk before her eyes. Ren was now privy to his secret. After Dove revealed herself as Dawn Granger and the duo defeated Kestrel, a new Hawk & Dove partnership was formed.
Hank, Dawn, Ren, Kyle and Donna became a close circle of friends. Donna wanted to fix Dawn up on a blind date with her friend Brian, but Dawn - as Dove - was more interested in Captain Arsala of the Washington DC Special Crimes Unit. As Dawn missed opportunities to meet Brian, Captain Arsala asked Dawn out on a date. Dove attempted to date Captain Arsala, but had to do so as Dawn Granger in a white-haired wig. Eventually, at a holiday party, Dawn finally met the man Donna has been trying to set her up with - and Donna's friend Brian, it turns out, is Captain BRIAN Arsala!
As Donna was matchmaking, a woman from Kyle's past resurfaced. The mysterious woman was revealed as Kyle's Aunt Ruth, who was a wanted fugitive. Kyle's Aunt Ruth revealed her past to Hank, Ren, Kyle and Donna. Over 20 years ago, Ruth and her two radical friends planted a bomb at Graytech, a company that honored defense contracts. The plan went awry; as Ruth's two friends were seemingly killed, Ruth escaped and has been on the run ever since. Ruth's friend Shelly was actually transformed into a meta-human called ShellShock - and could cause explosions with a spoken word. She arrived and confronted Ruth, only to explode herself. Following this, Ruth left town.
Shortly before Hank transformed into Monarch, Donna and Kyle eloped.
Hawk & Dove (mini-series) #1-5 [1988]: Hank Hall settles at college in Georgetown and meets classmates Ren Takamori, Dawn Granger, Kyle Spencer and his fiancee Donna Cabot. Hawk meets his new partner, Dove, and battles Kestrel.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #8-9 [1990]: A mysterious woman wielding a gun demands to know the whereabouts of Kyle Spencer from Ren, Hank and Dawn. Copperhead, who was stalking Ren from afar, attacks the group. Hawk & Dove are able to capture Copperhead. The mysterious woman is revealed as Kyle's Aunt Ruth, who is a wanted fugitive. Dove helps Ruth elude the police.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #13 [1990]: Dove attempts to date Captain Arsala, but must do so as Dawn Granger in a white-haired wig. Meanwhile, Kyle's Aunt Ruth reveals her past to Hank, Ren, Kyle and Donna. The villain Shellshock confronts Ruth.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #28 [1991]: Donna and Kyle revealed to be married (they eloped).
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Captain Brian 'Sal' Arsala |
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Captain Arsala in enraptured with Dove in HAWK & DOVE
mini series [1988]. |
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Captain Brian 'Sal' Arsala was the appointed leader of the Washington DC Special Crimes Unit. Arsala (or 'Sal', as he liked to be called) was young and gregarious - and infamous for his colorful Hawaiian print shirts. Sal led an equally colorful group of police officers, each of whom he gave playful nicknames. When the new female Dove appeared in Georgetown, Arsala was immediately taken with her.
Meanwhile, Dawn [Dove] Granger's friend Donna Cabot wanted to fix Dawn up on a blind date with her friend Brian, but Dawn - as Dove - was more interested in Captain Arsala of the Washington DC Special Crimes Unit. As Dawn missed opportunities to meet Brian, Captain Arsala asked Dawn out on a date. Dove attempted to date Captain Arsala, but had to do so as Dawn Granger in a white-haired wig. Eventually, at a holiday party, Dawn finally met the man Donna has been trying to set her up with - and Donna's friend Brian, it turns out, is Captain BRIAN Arsala!
Initially, Dawn tried to date Sal as both Dove and Dawn - hoping he would gravitate to the more down-to-earth Dawn. Eventually, Dawn revealed her secret to Sal and the pair started to embark on a more serious relationship.
But their happiness was soon be shattered.
During the battle against Earth's heroes, the evil future-villain Monarch managed to escape, stopping along the way to pick up Dawn Granger, otherwise known as Dove. Dawn and Sal were having a romantic picnic as Monarch arrived; he savagely attacked the couple and brutally killed Sal. Following that, Monarch seemingly killed Dove [Dawn Granger] as Hank Hall watched - and triggered Hank's final transformation into Monarch.
Hawk & Dove (mini-series) #1-5 [1988]: Hank Hall settles at college in Georgetown and meets classmates Ren Takamori, Dawn Granger, Kyle Spencer and his fiancee Donna Cabot. Hawk meets his new partner, Dove, and battles Kestrel. Dove meets Captain Arsala.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #13 [1990]: Dove attempts to date Captain Arsala, but must do so as Dawn Granger in a white-haired wig.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #20 [1991]: Dawn attends Donna and Kyle's holiday party. There, she finally meets the man Donna has been trying to set Dawn up with - and Donna's friend Brian, it turns out, is Captain Arsala! Can Dawn and Dove date the same man?
Hawk & Dove (second series) #23-24 [1991]: A group of computer-themed superpowered villains attack Velvet Tiger, and Hawk & Dove are caught in the middle. Meanwhile, Dawn continues to date Captain Arsala as Dove and Dawn Granger - hoping he will prefer the more down-to-earth Dawn.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #28 [1991]: Dawn meets with Captain Arsala, and he reveals he thinks he has deduced who Dove is... and Dawn confirms his suspicions, bringing their relationship to a new level.
Armageddon 2001 #2 [1991]: Monarch brutally kills Sal; Dove is seemingly killed; Hank becomes Monarch. Death of Brian 'Sal' Arsala.
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Open for Business
The modest sign above his shop says: BARTER TRADING: Exotic Goods and Services. Inside the dimly lit pawn shop lay a potpourri of antiquities and merchandise, eccentric and cosmic in scope. None of this is for sale. Barter gives these things away - but he takes something in exchange. Another object. Information. Ten years of life. A first-born son. Never money. Barter doesn't buy or sell - he trades.
Little is known about Barter He appears middle-aged, but claims to be much older. He says he was cursed long ago by a power 'older and more powerful' than even the Lords of Chaos and Order, and can no longer give without taking, or receive without reciprocating. Barter is very charismatic. He can be extremely charming or calculatingly vicious. He stands by his word, but chooses those words very carefully. If a customer misconstrues his meaning. well, let the buyer beware.
Barter seems to have no interests beyond "the deal!' People who seek him out are usually desperate, and so Barter is used to making deals on his own terms. He always operates at a profit - and he never gives refunds. Barter's sphere of influence is considerable. He knows heads of state and powerful mystic entities. He has contacts in nearly every major corporation and institute. His vast holdings and assets include the Eiffel Tower(which he "leases" to the French government in exchange for meals at the finest Parisian restaurants) and a number of small dimensions. Barter rarely leaves his pawn shop - knowing prospective customers will find their way to him. This shop exists in its own dimension and can appear or disappear on any street in any town as Barter wishes. The front door to his emporium can also be magically linked to almost any other doorway. Someone leaving the pawn shop could find himself exiting a bus terminal broom closet. Closing the door breaks the link to the shop. Barter's store vanishes instantly. And whatever should be behind the door returns to its proper place unchanged. There are certain doors Barter cannot link up with - specifically doors guarded by magic.
While closing a deal, Barter has almost infinite power. He can bestow anything he has and can take anything his customer may rightfully offer, from material goods to intangible talents, super-powers, or thoughts. Outside of business transactions, though, Barter has no superhuman or supernatural powers at all.
Barter Takes Interest in Hawk & Dove
Barter first appeared, expressing a specific interest in the mystical powers of Hawk & Dove. Barter sent Hawk & Dove to Paris, where they located a mysterious ancient artifact - without using their powers. In exchange, Barter promised them the identities of the mysterious voices that granted them powers. Hank and Dawn were able to elude a number of traps, as they encountered the diabolical Count St. Germain and his associate, the deadly Kali Jehan. They returned to Barter's shop with the stolen artifact, and Dove deduced Barter's plan - which was a counter-blackmail to the Count. Barter revealed the voices belonged to T'Charr, a Lord of Chaos, and Terataya, a Lord of Order - but revealed nothing else. Hank and Dawn were angered at the sparse information, but Barter reminded them he was true to their agreed deal.
A short time later, Hawk & Dove were forced to cut a deal with Barter to transverse dimensions to Druspa Tau. Once in Druspa Tau, Hawk & Dove saw their true forms and found their abilities were heightened exponentially. Meanwhile, a war was brewing between Chaos Lord M'Shulla and followers of Arriya, the Lord of Order. Barter sought to use these events to his own advantage, but his curse forced him to aid Ren Takamori, who had saved him earlier. Barter, in exchange, brought Ren back to her proper earthly dimension. He also absorbed all of Ren's memories of being the Kestrel force - evil, dark thoughts - that he contained in a jar.
Barter keeps a low profile but his shop is presumably still in business.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #1 [1989]: The mysterious Barter plots against Hawk & Dove. First Barter.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #2-3 [1989]: Barter haggles with the Chaos Lord known as 'The Child' for information about Hawk & Dove.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #6-7 [1989]: Barter sends Hawk & Dove to Paris, where they must locate a mysterious ancient artifact - without using their powers.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #27 [1991]: Hank continues to follow instructions left by the voice claiming to be his dead brother, Don. 'Don' instructs Hawk to retrieve the dead body of Senator Tom O'Neill, whose death is brought about by a mysterious car accident. Hawk performs a magic ritual with the stolen soul sapphire gem and the senator's corpse, hoping Don's spirit will inhabit the senator's body. It soon becomes obvious Hawk has been duped into performing a ritual with evil intentions - and Barter is revealed to be part of the sinister plot. Meanwhile, public opinion turns against Hawk.
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KESTREL
From DC Cosmic Series I
Card Set, 1992 |
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Razored claws flashing and slashing, Kestrel is a killer whose talons can rip through anything, even the barriers between dimensions! In reality, he is no one person, but is instead an evil spell created by two Lords of Chaos. Kestrel's mission is to unbalance the uneasy alliance between Chaos and Order by destroying the Hawk and Dove partnership even though it's till death do them part!
Created by M'Shulla and Gorrum, two Lords of Chaos, Kestrel was unleashed to destroy the Hawk and Dove "experiment" - an experiment that seeks to prove that Chaos and Order can and should work together Kestrel can only do this by killing Dove, or by forcing Hawk to reject his partner and go completely over to Chaos's side of the mystic war.
Unlike Hawk, Kestrel can change between the Kestrel and host personas at will. Also unlike Hawk, the Kestrel-force has a definite personality that can affect or completely take over its host. This personality is chillingly evil and unrelentingly homicidal.
The first body the Kestrel force took over was that of an unnamed blond man. This vessel was destroyed by M'Shulla and Gorrum when they punished Kestrel for not preventing the formation of the new Hawk and Dove team. The second time Kestrel appeared, the spell moved from host to host, leaving each previous body unharmed, until it maneuvered itself into Renata Takamori, Hank (Hawk) Hall's girlfriend. Using their combined power, Hawk and Dove were able to free Ren from the spell, with Hawk actually absorbing and subduing the manifestation.
But the Kestrel force proved difficult to contain or destroy. Kestrel returned to vex the JSA and more recently, the Teen Titans. When Kestrel attempted to kidnap Raven's soul self, the Titans - with the help of Hawk & Dove - were able to temporarily defeat Kestrel in his own realm.
Hawk & Dove (mini-series) #1-5 [1988]: Hank Hall settles at college in Georgetown and meets classmates Ren Takamori, Dawn Granger, Kyle Spencer and his fiancee Donna Cabot. Hawk meets his new partner, Dove, and battles Kestrel. First Kestrel.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #13 [1990]: Hawk and Dove encounter Kestrel, who has possessed the body of Ren Takamori.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #14-17 [1990]: Kestrel [in the body of Ren Takamori] invites Hawk & Dove to the mystical land of Druspa Tau - also home to Lords of Chaos and Order. Ren is freed from Kestrel as Hawk is able to
absorb its essence and subdue it.
Teen Titans (third series) #27-28 [2005]: Kestrel, the mad dog of the Chaos Realm, paralyzes the Titans in a bid to gain power like he's never had before! After kidnapping Raven's soul self, it's up to the Titans - and Hawk & Dove - to save her!
DC Who's Who Binder Series supplemented by titanstower.com
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Gauntlet & Andromeda
Douglas Strange was a technological genius when it came to robotics. Hired by the United States government during the days of the Cold War, he invented a number of weapons systems and devices to be used in the event of a nuclear war. Strange had the foresight to patent many of his inventions, making himself enormously wealthy. During all of this (and more important than any of it) he fell in loved with a woman named Andromeda. The two were married soon after.
Retiring from government service, the two purchased an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was then that Douglas started work on his dream project: to create the world's first true android. Met with scorn and derision by many of his peers, including Will Magnus (the creator of the Metal Men) Douglas pressed on with his work, without success.
A extraterrestrial rocket ship crash landed on their island home soon after, bringing with it an mechanical life form Douglas dubbed Scarab. Taking the Stranges captive, the alien consumed scrap metal for nourishment for it's soon to be offspring. When that no longer was sufficient, Scarab demanded that Douglas bring it large quantities of gold.
When he refused, Scarab killed Andromeda. It then placed a twisted copy of her memories and personality into one of Strange's android prototypes and threatened to "kill" the android Andromeda permanently if Douglas wouldn't cooperate. He reluctantly agreed.
With the use of one of his last government sponsored creations, (a robot remote controlled by use of a virtual reality harness) Douglas Strange started a criminal career as the armed and armored Gauntlet, robbing a number of locations across both coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. As Gauntlet, his standard M.O. was to send a teleportation disk to the crime scene, teleport in, rob at gunpoint and teleport away with as much gold as possible.
It was during a heist of a Washington, D.C. jewelry store that he first encountered Hawk I and Dove II. Despite being destroyed, Gauntlet escaped with the loot and vowed to return with friends in tow. Sometime later, one of his "friends" did return. This time Douglas Strange sent out a diesel guzzling giant of a robot named M.A.C. to rob an armored car of all it's gold. M.A.C. shook off everything Hawk and the D.C. Special Crimes Unit could throw at it before Dove found a way to bring the mechanical behemoth down.
The robot was put into the custody of the S.C.U., where it could be dismantled and studied. Scarab ordered Gauntlet and the Andromeda android to retrieve M.A.C., bringing them into confrontation with Hawk and Dove yet again. After a running battle in which Hawk was nearly killed, M.A.C. was successfully rescued.
Using "borrowed" tracking equipment, Hawk and Dove traced Strange to the Atlantic but were unable to reach the island without transportation. A quick visit to Manhattan provided them with a ride and backup in the form of the Titans. (Troia, Cyborg, Speedy, Raven, Starfire and Jericho.) Once on the island, the heroes split into two teams. Hawk's team was immediately attacked by all of the robots while Dove's team battled Scarab itself. During the course of events Scarab escapes to fight another day while Andromeda is permanently destroyed. Free of Scarab's control, Douglas Strange surrenders.
Douglas Strange is a brilliant inventor, specializing in robotics and weapon systems. He is the creator of the Gauntlet units, the Andromeda android, the M.A.C. robot and the teleportation disks his robots are equipped with.
An extraterrestrial being of unknown origin, Scarab possessed heightened speed, reflexes and strength. It could reproduce seemingly at will, often shooting it's newborn offspring (it's "bytes") as projectiles at it's enemies. The creature seems to have a vulnerability to acid. Scarab may also possess the power of teleportation.
The typical Gauntlet unit is a walking arsenal. Each unit has the ability to "morph" it's hands into dangerous laser firing guns as well as numerous high powered weapons hidden throughout the robot's torso and limbs. In addition it also has the power of flight.
The Andromeda android possessed the power of elongation, limited shape changing abilities, greater than average strength and limited ability to control mechanical devices. (She was able to override Cyborg's systems.) It also had a split personality bordering between subservient 1950's housewife and a homicidal killer.
The M.A.C. robot was one of Strange's earliest creations, a 10 ft. tall diesel powered walking juggernaut. It's armor plating allowed it to withstand the firepower of a small army. (Literally. The S.C.U. couldn't so much as scratch it.) It's primary weakness was that it could not right itself once toppled over.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #1 [1989]: Dawn and Hank recall their adventures with the other heroes during the Alien Invasion by Dominator forces. Hawk & Dove are soon called into action to stop a rampaging robot known as Gauntlet. The mysterious Barter plots against Hawk & Dove.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #8-9 [1990]: Ren fears the villain Copperhead will try to kill her for a picture she took, which implicates him in a murder. A giant robot M.A.C. attacks Georgetown, but Dove uses her wits to defeat it.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #10 [1990]: Ren continues behaving strangely. A female robot calling herself Andromeda teams up with her 'husband', Gauntlet to free the M.A.C. robot unit from the Special Crimes Unit.
Hawk & Dove (second series) #11-12 [1990]: Hawk & Dove fight Andromeda and Gauntlet, but they escape with the robot M.A.C. as Hawk is badly injured. Hawk calls on the Titans for use of their T-jet to track the menacing robots to a remote island.
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