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 THANAGARATLAS 
Created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert (revamp by Tim Truman)

The Original Universe



PLANETARY INFORMATION


Name: Thanagar
Space Sector: 2682
Sun(s): Polaris
Environment: 80% ocean / 20% land mass
Atmosphere: Earthlike
Dominant Lifeform: Thanagarians
Capital City: Thanaldar
Affiliations: Thanagarian Empire; Alien Alliance (former); Alien Alliance II (former); Affiliated Planets (Earth-247) (31st Century)
Prominent Inhabitants: Thal Porvis (Chief Administrator), Andar Pul (Administrator of Protection), Paran Katar (Chief Scientist), Katar Hol, Shayera Thal, Byth Rok, Isamot Kol; Tarra Karn; Fel Andar; Rokara Soh; Skalla Kol; Scira Ek; Keela Roo; Zihn Tarak; Darl Klus
First Appearance: Brave and the Bold #34 (February-March 1961) "Creature of a Thousand Shapes!" (historical);
Hawkworld #1 (1989) (current)
Creators: Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert (revamp by Tim Truman)


OVERVIEW

for original entry and additional notes from Tim Holtorf, see: http://hawkworld.dcuguide.com/thanagar.php

HISTORY

Orbiting Polaris is the planet Thanagar. Even though four-fifths of the planet is covered in water, not much is known about the planet's sea life. The dominant lifeform on the planet is humanoid, and close to Homo sapiens in general appearance. The exact size and mass of Thanagar is not known, however it is known that although Thanagarians have been known to gain strength when on Earth the gravitational pull on Thanagar is very similar to that of Earth. The inhabitants of Thanagar evolved into a highly advanced technological and science-based society, with no obvious problems of poverty, or civil or political unrest, and with all evidence pointing to a single government. War and crime was rare and virtually non-existent ever since the early days of the planet's existence.

Millennia ago Thanagar became a slave planet as it was conquered by the Polaran Empire. Legend has it that it was eventually freed when the slave known as Kalmoran killed his keeper and organized an army of three thousand Thanagarians. Kalmoran and his army then attacked a Polarian garrison and using their spaceships they then set out to free the other slaveworlds of the Polaran Empire. Having defeated the Polarans on the other slave planets, the now vast armada attacked and defeated the Polaran on their homeworld. Having defeated his oppressors, Kalmoran returned to Thanagar as he was not interested in building a new empire. Instead he helped build a great city where he took up residence as the ruler of his home planet and to this day Kalmoran is still honored as Thanagar's first and greatest hero.

The next several generations the Thanagarians spent rebuilding the planet but as time when by they overcame all challenges at home and began looking at the stars. They then began developing sophisticated spaceships and began a quest of interstellar exploration. During their travels they came across a number of lesser advanced races and as later generations did not share Kalmoran's views toward conquest the Thanagarians began building a vast interstellar empire. Instead of trying to live in harmony with these alien races, the Thanagarians declared the planets protectorates of Thanagar and stripped them of their natural resources and treasures. A great number of the inhabitants of these planets were then brought to Thanagar to work as slaves in Thanagarian homes, cities and farms. These slaves were not allowed to socialize with the upper crust of Thanagarian society unless made to work in the homes and offices of the extremely affluent.

As a result, a greatly divided society quickly evolved on Thanagar. The alien slaves were cast down into the filth in the lower level ghettos of the city, also referred to as Downside, while the Thanagarian masters lived in the idyllic High Towers above where poverty, crime and suffering was virtually unheard of. Although some Downsiders were lucky enough to be given employment by the aristocracy or shipped back to their homeworlds, most Downsiders lived a life of poverty and several thousand died of starvation or some of the diseases that plague the lower levels each day. It is estimated that about three billion offworlders lived in Downside and one thousand new offworlders were brought in every day.

Before conquering new planets, it became customary to send invasion scouts to learn more of the aliens before the actual invasion was initiated. During the late 1930s, Thanagarian Paran Katar was assigned as an invasion scout to the planet Earth. Paran was perhaps the greatest Thanagarian born for generations. With an interest in anti-gravity he studied metallurgy, biology, alchemy and sorcery in an effort to unlock its secrets. When he arrived on Earth he met Carter Hall, a multimillionaire archaeologist with a mutual interest in anti-gravity, or more specifically in the Ninth Metal used by the ancient Egyptians. Paran Katar as Perry Carter befriended Hall and helped him research the Ninth Metal of the pharaohs. This eventually that let Paran to unlock the key to the anti-gravity properties of Ninth Metal.

When Paran returned to Thanagar his anti-gravity technology was used to create artificial wings and anti-gravity belts to form an elite airborne paramilitary police corps. These Wingmen were used to keep a close watch on the Downside aliens and put a stop to black market activity and other widespread criminal activity in the ghettos.

Since Paran Katar had returned to Thanagar decades ago their observations of Earth had been scant however when an alliance of alien warlords including the Dominators and Khunds decided to invade Earth their attention was renewed. Thanagarian Wingman Fel Andar, the nephew of government official Andar Pul, was sent to Earth to gather information before the actual Invasion. Arriving on Earth he began passing himself off as Carter Hall, Jr., the son of Carter and Shiera Hall and explained that he had been sent to Thanagar at an early age to study Thanagarian ways. As per his assignment he met and married an Earth woman who could join his as Hawkwoman when he took to the skies as Carter's successor to the role of Hawkman.

Andar worked hard to create the image of a true hero and was able to convince both Superman, the Atom and the Martian Manhunter that he was telling the truth about his heritage and before long Andar and his wife Sharon were invited to joined the Justice League. When the alien invasion eventually broke out, Andar stayed in character until his wife Sharon overheard a conversation between Andar and the Thanagarian forces toward the end of the Invasion. In order to keep his secret he had to kill her. However, although he succeeded in his task, Sharon managed to escape and get word to the Martian Manhunter before drawing her last breath. Knowing his secret had been blown, Andar returned to Thanagar along with the retreating Thanagarian forces. Only a few members of the JLI ever learned the truth but they choose to keep quiet to protect the name of Hawkman.

Following their unsuccessful participation in the Invasion, Thanagar decided to open up diplomatic relations with Earth and Thanagarian Darl Klus was sent as Thanagarian Ambassador to Earth. Back on Thanagar former Wingman Katar Hol, son of Paran Katar, exposed a gunrunning conspiracy by Wingman Byth, a crime that Byth had framed Paran and Kater for ten years earlier. Katar was reinstated as a Wingman and honored as a hero of Thanagar. Byth however fled to Earth it was decided to send Katar Hol and his partner Shayera to Earth to bring him to justice. On Earth Katar and Shayera became known as Hawkman and Hawkwoman.



PROFILE REFERENCES

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #23 (January 1987)

Who's Who in the DC Universe #2 (September 1990)