Hawk (G.I. Joe)
From Transformers Wiki
| This article is about the good Clay. For the vice president from the mirror-universe United States, see Clay. For a list of other meanings, see Hawk (disambiguation). |
- Hawk is a member of G.I. Joe from the G.I. Joe portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
A veteran artillery officer with a lengthy combat record, General Clayton M. "Clay" Abernathy, codename Hawk, leads G.I. Joe, a United States military taskforce dedicated to stopping the terrorist organization Cobra.
He's the one in the bomber jacket, Duke is the one with the buttoned-down work shirt.
Contents |
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
Hawk escorted four United States government officials onto Fort Lewis to get a look at Power Station Alpha while flirting with Senator Larkin. When the fort was attacked by Dreadnoks, Hawk saw to Senator Larkin's safety while the G.I. Joes defended the fort. The Dreadnoks were not prepared for residence from G.I. Joe, so Buzzer took one of the government officials hostage. After that crisis settled down, a giant yellow robot revealed himself while saving the life of Tony Duranti. Hawk ordered the Joes to open fire, just to be on the safe side in case the robot was there to sabotage the power station. Bumblebee was blasted to pieces. Superion then arrived looking for his ally. Blood on the Tracks
After a battle ensued between the Joe team and Superion, Hawk rushed out to personally see to the defense of Power Station Alpha and was just as confused as everyone else when the massive Autobot suddenly retreated. After tasking the other Joes with analyzing the recovered remains of Bumblebee, Hawk left for a "private audience" with Senator Larkin. However, the sudden theft of the station—first by the Decepticons and then by Cobra—interrupted their planned activities, as Hawk was once again called into battle. He gave the order for a team of Joe pilots to intercept the station and attempted to coordinate their efforts from the ground, during which he wound up in an argument with Larkin over whether or not the Alpha should be recovered or destroyed. Power Struggle
Hawk was called to the Pentagon for an emergency meeting. He hoped to see Senator Larkin while in town, but in the meeting he was presented with evidence that she was aware that from the very beginning—the design of the power station was known to have been severely defective in terms of safety and security. Also, Senator Larkin has been meeting with the Baroness. Hawk paid a different kind of visit to Senator Larkin in order to confront her with the information, and made her cry. He went back to his room to kick off his boots, light a cigarette, pour himself a drink, and just be alone with his thoughts, but the telephone rang. He was told the truth about Bumblebee and ordered a full force sent to the Ark (the location of the Ark was revealed by G.B. Blackrock) to be ready to attack on his command. That attack force intercepted communications between Cobra and the Autobots indicating they were working together to save the world from destruction at the hands of the Decepticons. Ashes, Ashes...
The command force made the independent decision to help Cobra and the Autobots while Hawk took a walk through Washington, D.C. to think things over. When he finally arrived back at the Pentagon, he was briefed on the situation. Over the phone he negotiated with Serpentor and Blaster on the next course of action. It was agreed they would take steps to destroy Power Station Alpha, but only as a last resort, because Blaster thought the power station may have gained sentience after the Decepticons modified it. A small team consisting of Scarlett and the Baroness (and Goldbug) would infiltrate Power Station Alpha to set up explosives while a full-scale assault on the Decepticons' base in the Florida Keys would serve as a diversion. All went well, except that the Baroness blew up Power Station Alpha the first chance she got, since Serpentor wasn't interested in any sentience the power station may have possessed.
Senator Larkin was arrested, but gunned down by a Cobra sniper in front of Hawk, on the orders of the Baroness. Hawk visited her grave with a rose, regretful at the way things turned out, but realizing that he still loved her. ...All Fall Down!
Marvel Generation 2 comic
Years later, the Baroness had defected and Hawk had no problems working with her! He sent Ninja Force to extract Baroness from Cobra. At the same time, Scarlett was infiltrating the group and shot at Hawk to keep her cover, and Snake-Eyes had to stab her badly to escape while preserving that cover; Hawk tried to reassure him that she'd know why he did it. Unfoldings!
In addition to investigating Cobra Island with the Baroness and Destro, Realignments Hawk oversaw the Joes' mission to bust the Cobra front of Milleville. Discovering in the process that Cobra was dealing with Megatron, Hawk had a deep-space communication sent to Cybertron requesting Autobot help, Goin' South War Without End! then started the raid. He was irritated to learn partway into the operation that the Department of Defense had their own spy in Cobra and their mission would have to be ended to avoid blowing the spy's cover. Sucker Punch
When Cobra attempted to escape with Cybertronian technology, Hawk had the Joes back up the damaged Autobot Hot Spot in stopping them and was distraught to see Hot Spot kill himself to complete his mission. All or Nothing!
A few short weeks after that, the Decepticons attacked Earth in full force and Hawk got to lead the US Army's counter-offensive in Washington, DC. Tales of Earth Part Three It went poorly and he was not happy to find out that Optimus Prime came alone instead of turning up with an army. Hawk went on an expositionary rant, explaining to Optimus just how badly they were getting beaten up. Skydive, who'd promised Autobot reinforcements, tried to claim that Optimus must have a plan to change things. (The plan was "talk to Megatron" and though it didn't work, the Decepticons did cease their offensive shortly afterwards.) The Gathering Darkness
Transformers/G.I. Joe
Hawk was a general in the US army who organized the creation of G.I. Joe in 1939. The Line During the attack on Cobra's base on the Fera Islands, he waited for G.I. Joe to take out the shore defenses before sending in the fleet. Wolves
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
As a little boy, Clay Abernathy played with small toy soldiers and a slightly larger toy robot, and came to the conclusion that the big robot would win in a fight. The Art of War #3
The youngest army cadet to graduate from West Point Military Academy, Col. Abernathy was in charge of military security for what he assumed would be a typical peace summit, however when Cobra attacked the summit, he called Code Red and proceeded to evacuate civilians. In the aftermath of the attack, General Flagg appointed Hawk the leader of the newly formed task force G.I. Joe. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1 Despite protests from the bureaucrats, he recruited his comrade Snake-Eyes to the group. Later he was present for Mercer revealing to the team the truth about the nature of the robot attackers. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2
After the Autobots saved the team during Cobra's attack on the SPS Research Facility, Hawk was initially suspicious of the robots' trustworthiness, but gave Wheeljack a chance to access G.I. Joe's computers. Thanks to Wheeljack's hacking, the Joes were able to trace their enemy back to Cobra Island. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3 While preparing to attack the island, Hawk was approached by generals Renegar and Horn, who told him that they were resorting to nukes instead. Hawk regretfully incapacitated his Autobot allies with a magnetic pulse and prepared to send them to Area 51, but Wheeljack warned him that a nuclear strike on Cobra's energon stockpile would place the entire world in danger. Ultimately, Hawk broke the generals' orders and led his troops to the island. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4
After his squad took out Devastator and most of Cobra's minor troops, Hawk learned that the President had ordered a nuclear assault despite G.I. Joe's presence on the island. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5 With Hawk's authority overrided, it was up to the Autobots to stop the approaching warheads, which they did. The battle was won, and Optimus Prime later thanked Hawk for his people's help in defeating the Decepticons and constructing a new Ark. Hawk told him not to sweat it, since the technology the Autobots had given them in exchange would come in real handy. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6
Some two years later, the exchange of technology was judged to have been a bad idea, and G.I. Joe's giant mech suits were to be decommissioned, Hawk's included. While Hawk was greeting the Autobots sent to Area 52 to oversee the process, the complex suddenly came under attack from Cobra's Battle Android Troopers, and the Joes had to fight back. The Art of War #1 After they won, they found that Cobra Commander had infiltrated the lowest portions of Area 52, that were so top-secret that even Hawk didn't know they existed. The team interrogated Cobra Commander, who explained that the US government had used Decepticon technology to create Serpent O.R., a powerful and dangerous bio-organic robot. As Serpent O.R. suddenly attacked the team, Hawk tried to prevent Cobra Commander from escaping in the chaos, but the commander's Buzz Boar drilled straight through his mech's leg. The Art of War #2
As the Autobots were preparing to follow Serpent O.R. after the android had warped to Cybertron, Hawk convinced Perceptor to let him and his troops come with them. Upon arrival at the alien planet, the team came under attack by cannibalizers, and Hawk threw around orders on how to fight them, annoying Grimlock in the process. After retreating from the cannibalizers, the Joes and Autobots found Serpent O.R. and his new Decepticon friends, who promptly killed Bumblebee. An enraged Hawk tried to avenge him, but was quickly subdued by Serpent O.R.'s tentacles and imprisoned. The Art of War #3 Serpent O.R. later visited Hawk and Roadblock in their cell to ask Hawk why he didn't feel anything when he killed Bumblebee. Hawk responded that Serpent O.R. had no feelings because he had nothing to fight for — since he was created to conquer, he was nothing but a glorified gun like his "father". The android almost killed him in anger, but quickly calmed down, thanked him for his input and promised him a merciful death in the future. Thankfully, Hawk and Roadblock were broken out shortly afterwards by Snake-Eyes and Scarlett. The Art of War #4
During their escape, Hawk was assaulted by Overkill, who bragged that Serpent O.R. had already captured Optimus Prime. While Snake-Eyes saved him from the dinosaur, Hawk knew that they couldn't escape without saving Prime. Making their way to Serpent O.R.'s control room, they found that their enemy had stolen the Matrix of Leadership and transformed into "Serpentor Prime", only to have control of his body taken from him by Cobra Commander. As the commander effortlessly took out most of the team, Hawk's only hope was that the Matrix would think of him as a more worthy wielder, and convinced Optimus Prime to throw him at Serpentor's opened chestplate. Upon touching the Matrix, Hawk saw the pure beauty of the universe and fell unconscious, while the power feedback destroyed Serpentor Prime and fried Cobra Commander's brain. When he woke up, Hawk possessed all the knowledge of the Matrix, and Optimus Prime believed he would use it to lead humanity into a new golden age. The Art of War #5
Despite his newfound wisdom, Hawk's life went decidedly downhill after that point. He left G.I. Joe after the government covered up the Serpent O.R. affair and refused to tell its citizens the truth, started having Matrix-induced nightmares about the end of the world, and pushed his girlfriend away to keep her from getting involved. In secret, Hawk and Firewall also worked with a team of Autobots working to rid Earth of Cybertronian technology. While overseeing a mission, the team overheard an ominous transmission exclaiming "I return...", and Hawk felt it was somehow connected to his dreams. He contacted Optimus Prime and Flint, and the three tracked the signal's source to Tibet. Shortly after arriving in the Himalayas, the team was attacked by Bludgeon and soldiers from Cobra-La, but managed to get away when Hawk incapacitated Bludgeon by uploading 11 million traditional Cybertronian songs into the Pretender's head. Fleeing into Cobra-La's cavern system, the team found wall paintings describing the past, and Hawk finally understood what the Matrix was trying to tell him: Unicron was coming to Earth. Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2
Aided by former Cobra-La prisoner Joe Colton, Hawk and the others made their way through the caves and found the metal-eating spores that Cobra-La had once used to threaten Unicron. While Flint and Cosmos went into space to kill Unicron with the spores, Hawk, Colton and Optimus Prime left to save the kidnapped Firewall from Cobra-La. Interrupting a Cobra-La gathering, Hawk socked Golobulus in the face and rescued Firewall, and was soon aided by G.I. Joe reinforcements. Together they defeated the denizens of Cobra-La, and Hawk's nightmares came to an end as Flint killed Unicron. With everything over, Hawk returned to Denver, where he took a stroll with Carolee and told her that the future was looking perfect. Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2
TransTech
In the universal stream Primax 806.30 Gamma, Hawk's Matrix dreams continued. Deciding to embrace them rather than fight them, he was led to a hidden bunker left over from World War 2. Inside he found Sgt. Savage in suspended animation, and freed him. Using his connections, Hawk got Savage a position on the Joe group the Screaming Eagles, who were investigating Kalistan, the country Savage had been investigating during World War 2 when he went missing in action. The Eagles discovered the head of Kalistan was leader of the ruthless terrorist organization S.K.A.R., as well as having ties to the Decepticons. The conflict between Autobots and Decepticons resumed, devastating Earth until Hawk was able to release the pent-up energy of the Matrix within himself to fix the planet's biosphere. However, this came at the cost of casting Hawk into other-dimensional space. He was found and recovered by Rhinox of Axiom Nexus. With the TransTech unable or unwilling to return him to his home reality, Hawk stayed in Axiom Nexus, becoming a member of the Convoy. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01
His name was part of the classified data stolen by Cy-Kill's Renegades and publicly leaked by Crasher and Cop-Tur in a hacked broadcast of Ask Vector Prime. Ask Vector Prime, 2016/01/16
At some point during his time in Axiom Nexus, Hawk took part in an interview with Axiom Nexus News, hoping to help foster a better understand of organics. He politely answered questions about how he'd wound up in the city, as well as the conflict between the Screaming Eagles and S.K.A.R., though Rook's condescending attitude soon wore thin. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01
Wings Universe
Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy was a founding member of the Earth Defense Command. Sometime between 2006 and 2013, the EDC confronted Old Snake during the reinspired terrorist's attempt to create the ultimate Cobra warrior using the discarded body of a Sweep. General Hawk's brain was accidentally scanned, resulting in Serpentor, a Decepticon with EDC sympathies. Wings Universe Serpent O.R. profile
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe
Hawk's father passed down to him an ancient tomahawk as an heirloom. Whenever he brought it along on a mission, it seemed to bring him incredible luck. Everybody Hates Metroplex Transformers vs. G.I. Joe vol. 1 Battlefield Report
Hawk led a G.I. Joe strike force that stormed a Cobra hideout housing deadly Creeper bombs. His squad made their way through Doctor Venom's deadly plants, and apprehended both the doctor and Major Bludd after mowing down a squad of Cobra troopers. Learning from his captives that Cobra Commander was already on his way out, Hawk had his team split up and searched the base. They found the head of Cobra taking off from the base's hangar, and commandeered Cobra Rattlers to continue their pursuit. The situation was further complicated when Bumblebee and Starscream joined the fight. Nonetheless, the Joes managed to blow Cobra Commander's plane out of the air. Their victory came at a high cost; many of the Joes that Hawk had led into the field lost their lives during the raid, and Snake-Eyes was disfigured. The Golden Boys
G.I. Joe learned that the planet Cybertron was heading towards the Earth. Hawk met with several other Joes in T.H.E. P.I.T. to develop a battle plan, should the inhabitants of the approaching planet proved to be hostile. Hawk volunteered to be Earth's representative and meet with Cybertron's envoys personally. After they landed aboard Soundwave, Hawk met Laserbeak, Rumble and Ravage, the latter of which did the talking on the Cybertronians' behalf. Hawk offered peace, but the Decepticons would only accept the humans' unconditional surrender to their rule. Before the conversation could go any further, Hawk was sniped in the arm by Snake-Eyes, who had apparently turned traitor. This caused the inter-planetary meeting to spiral out of control, with all-out hostilities erupting on both sides. Hawk, Lady Jaye and Flash were captured by Soundwave and imprisoned within his chest compartment. The trio managed to escape, and Hawk delivered a strike with his tomahawk onto Ravage's head as the Joes scrambled away. Miraculously, the blunt tool carved right through the Decepticon's armor platting. Hawk, Jaye and Flash were then picked up by Duke, who managed to get them all out of the kill zone of the orbital defense satellite looming overhead, which roasted Soundwave to death with a Coltonbolt. Cybertron's status as an enemy of the Earth now confirmed, Hawk met with General Flagg, and advised him to activate Scarlett's away team. Their mission; to invade Cybertron itself! I Saw Three Ships
The Joes then made sure to have "news" of Hawk's demise reach Cobra in order to goad their enemy into attacking them while they held a mock-funeral for the fallen hero. It worked, and as the Serpentress launched an attack against the USS Flagg, Hawk emerged from his coffin, guns ablaze. Little did the Joes suspect that Cobra had joined forces with the Decepticons. Hawk, Duke and Lady Jaye had to contend with Starscream emerging from the ocean while others fought against Shockwave. The Joes were able to repel the Decepticobra alliance after a hard-fought battle. Funeral for a Friend
Hawk was shaving when Storm Shadow attacked him in the washroom. He escaped unharmed, save for a few nicks, and managed to sort out that Decepticobra was after his tomahawk. At this point, the importance of the artifact started to truly dawn on him. Everybody Hates Metroplex
When Optimus Prime barreled into T.H.E. P.I.T. to retrieve Bumblebee's remains, Hawk distributed Colton '45s to the troops in the hopes of fending the Autobot off. As their battle spilled out into the open, it interrupted the Serpentress's attack on the United Nations. She and Laserbeak attacked Hawk in retaliation for "stealing her thunder." Things escalated further when GIJONIN ninjas and the elder god Koh-Buru-Lah, among others, joined the tussle. Optimus managed to get what he came for and took off, and Hawk was just happy to see him go. The battle dissipated afterwards, with each faction going their own way. Expelled from the Garden
Hawk, Lady Jaye, and Flash stormed the White House when they learned that General Flagg had overthrown the president to take command of the country. They came upon him lounging in the Oval Office where, after a shouting match with Hawk, Flagg convinced the trio that him being in charge was in the Earth's best interest. They then set out to find Omega Supreme, disguised as "Highway Ω" on Earth. While the Joes fought off Starscream and Viper atop of Omega, the Autobot transformed and flew off to Cybertron. Planetside, Hawk and his team went off to scour Cybertron for their allies, encountering aggressive Decepticon Pretenders along the way. Pax Megatronus
2005 IDW continuity
In the 2000s, General Hawk headed up G.I. Joe, the task force assembled to replace the Adventure Team. Secret Raiders His influence included handpicking Scarlett to join G.I. Joe. Scarlett profile in Revolution #2
Notes
- The cardbacks for the 1993 G.I. Joe: Star Brigade action figure lineup features a cross-sell for the Star Brigade's "Armor Bot", packaged with Hawk. The design of that Hawk figure hadn't been finalized at that point, so the image features a silhouette as a placeholder... although the silhouette labeled as "Hawk" clearly belongs to Shockwave, as it's lifted directly from his Action Master toy's package art.
- Hawk has been voiced by Transformers alumni Ed Gilbert, John Stephenson and David Kaye. Hawk was notably also one of David Kaye's earliest voice acting roles.
