Did you know that you can buy a comic book from the 1980s in VF (Very Fine) condition for cheaper that you can buy a comic today?

I started my collection of Hawkgirl covers a couple of months ago. I now have nine books collected with three more on the way. Originally, the plan called for collecting only covers on which appeared the Pre-Crisis Earth-1 Hawkgirl (aka Shayera Hol of Thanagar), but upon further research, I have decided to include the Pre-Crisis Earth-2 Hawkgirl (aka Shiera Saunders of Gotham City) and the grey-area Post-Crisis Earth-1 Hawkgirl (aka Shayera Hol of Thanagar). The latter appeared on the cover of 12 out the 17 issues of the second “Hawkman” titled series. Below, I have created what I believe to be the definitive list of Hawkgirl cover appearances in the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages of comics. This covers a period of 46 years from 1941 to 1987.

Pre-Crisis Earth-1 Hawkgirl (aka Shayera Hol of Thanagar)

This is my first list. In the status column, “o” = owned and “p” = purchased. For a rating, guide see this guide at mycomicshop.com. The first three items listed in the table below, I consider being outside my price range. The rest of the books listed below sell for about $6 for a VF.

In the list above, I have identified two items that I think are questionable. On the cover of Hawkman #25, Hawkman is depicted battling a female demon with wild green hair who does not in any way resemble Hawkgirl or Shayera. Yet in the story, it is revealed that this is Shayera and she has been possessed by the spirit of Medusa. (see Hawkman #25).

Another controversial cover is Justice League of America #145. The cover depicts JLA members shown in profile each a large slashing “X” covering their heads. See the cover here and note the character shown in the lower right corner. It is her but badly drawn.

Pre-Crisis Earth-2 Hawkgirl (aka Shiera Saunders of Gotham City)

The pre-crisis Earth-2 Hawkgirl is also known as the golden age Hawkgirl and she is the original Hawkgirl. The character who became Hawkgirl, Shiera Saunders, appeared in several Flash Comics issues before she officially became Hawkgirl in December 1941. The first ten books listed below are way outside my current price range. These comic books, from the 1940s, sell for as much as the $1500 range. A CGC 7.0 copy of one the issues that I most covet was found selling for $1577 and that issue was Flash Comics #19. The part of the list that I can afford is items 11 thru 23. This first affordable item is Secret Origins #1 from 1973. It is questionable as to whether the Hawkgirl appears on the cover of this issue.

Figure 1 Perhaps someone can tell me… See where the arrow is pointing? Is that Hawkgirl?

Items 12 thru 23 are selling for around $2.50 for Very Fine (VF) condition. This is cheaper than a comic book today. Today you will spend nearly four dollars for a comic book.

Post-Crisis Earth-1 Hawkgirl (aka Shayera Hol of Thanagar).

Hawkgirl appeared on the cover of 12 out the 17 issues of the second “Hawkman” titled series (1986/87). Technically, this is Post-Crisis, but the series appeared right on the heels of the Crisis series. Wikipedia states, referring the second series, “For the first few years the pre-Crisis incarnations were still used, during which time they were prominent across the DC Universe and joined the latest incarnation of the Justice League.” Included in this same continuity is an Action Comics cover upon which Hawkgirl appeared alongside Hawkman and Superman in May 1987. Books in this table sell for around $3.50 for VF condition.