Nighthawk is the name of several characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. There have been several versions of the character: two supervillains-turned-superheroes from the mainstream Marvel Universe continuity (Earth-616), Kyle Richmond (who belonged to the Squadron Sinister) and Tilda Johnson (the former Deadly Nightshade); two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Jackson Norriss and Joaquin Pennyworth; five from alternate universes, who belonged to various incarnations of the Squadron Supreme, including Kyle and Neal Richmond of Earth-712, and an African-American version of Richmond from Earth-31916 who primarily kills white supremacists and mentors Tilda upon traveling to Earth-616; and a simulacrum of Richmond created by Mephisto and programmed by the Power Elite to serve as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America under the command of Phil Coulson.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Scoot McNairy plays a similar character, Jackson Norriss, in the live-action short film All Hail the King (2014), with A. J. Bowen playing the real Norris in the web series WHIH Newsfront (2016).
Publication history Kyle Richmond, the original Nighthawk, debuted as a supervillain in the final panel of The Avengers #69 (October 1969). This story is the first chapter of a three-issue story arc by writer Roy Thomas and penciller Sal Buscema. The arc introduced the supervillain team the Squadron Sinister, whose four members were loosely based on heroes in DC Comics' Justice League of America, with Nighthawk based on Batman.Interview with Roy Thomas and Jerry Bails in The Justice League Companion (2003) pp. 72–73
Following this arc, Nighthawk pursues a solo career, next appearing in Daredevil #62 (March 1970). Here, Richmond attempts through underhanded means to tarnish DD's reputation and supplant him. Daredevil tricks Richmond into revealing his criminal activities to the public and, after a battle atop a subway, Nighthawk makes good his escape.
Nighthawk next appears in the superhero team title The Defenders #13–14 (May–July 1974), he goes to the titular supergroup for help against his former teammates, and joins the team the following issue. Defenders writer Len Wein said that adding Nighthawk to the group "gave me a character to play with who didn't have a whole lot of previous history ... [a] character I could do anything I wanted to without worrying about how it would affect any other titles that character might appear in."
Nighthawk appeared on a regular basis in The Defenders and a number of other Marvel titles. A long-range story arc in The Defenders, beginning in 1979, has Nighthawk under criminal investigation. Writer Ed Hannigan later revealed he planned to end this story arc with Nighthawk being put in prison "for good", but his run on the series ended before he could bring this to fruition.
Defenders writer David Anthony Kraft said, describing Nighthawk's role in the team, "Nighthawk so desperately wanted to be the leader. He would be telling everyone what to do, but no one would listen to him! He may be wealthy and can buy all these toys, but he still gets no respect!"
Nighthawk apparently sacrifices his life in The Defenders #106 (cover dated April 1982). The supervillain Dead Ringer impersonates him in Captain America #429 (July 1994). In the three-issue miniseries Nighthawk (September–November 1998) Richmond is revealed to be alive, but in a coma and brain dead. Through supernatural means, he is revived and resumes his crime-fighting career. He co-starred in the 12-issue run of The Defenders vol. 2 (March 2001–February 2002) and the miniseries The Order #1-6 (April–September 2002). Nighthawk formed a short-lived version of the Defenders, with Colossus, the Blazing Skull, and She-Hulk, as part of the Initiative, depicted in the miniseries The Last Defenders #1–6 (May–October 2008).
Fictional character biography Kyle Richmond
Kyle Richmond was born to two wealthy parents and was brought up by his governess while his father is away. When Kyle's mother dies in an accident, his father sent him to boarding school. Due to his family's money, Kyle enrolls in Grayburn College, where he became involved with Mindy Williams. One night, Kyle is caught in a drunk-driving crash in which Mindy was killed, and he is kicked out of school. Kyle attempts to join the army, but is rejected due to a heart murmur. Afterwards, Kyle is told that his father died in a plane crash and that he has inherited Richmond Enterprises. Kyle turns to finding a cure for his heart murmur and physically training himself.The Defenders #32 (February 1976)
While drunk, Kyle Richmond creates an alchemy serum that gives him enhanced strength at night. Kyle took on various sports activities to strengthen his natural abilities where he eventually became Nighthawk. Nighthawk and three other supervillains are brought together as the Squadron Sinister by the Grandmaster to battle the Avengers, which has been forced to act as the champions of Kang the Conqueror. Nighthawk battles the Avenger Captain America, who outfights the villain. The Avengers eventually defeat the Squadron.The Avengers #69–71 (October–December 1969)
The character suffers several setbacks as a superhero, including being charged with tax evasion and fraud by the government.The Defenders #70 (April 1979) This stipulation was waived after he was forced to reveal his secret identity.The Defenders #87 (September 1980)Marvel_Team-Up #101 (January 1981) Nighthawk's cumulative wounds from battle eventually leave him paralyzed.The Defenders #93 (March 1981) Recovering to the point that he can move at night,The Defenders #95 (May 1981) Nighthawk continues to aid the Defenders, until resigning from the team.The Defenders #98 (August 1981) He is advised he is to be cleared of all charges if a predetermined amount is repaid to the government.The Defenders #103 (January 1982)
After apparently sacrificing his life to stop an organization bent on decimating the people of the Soviet Union, Richmond turns up alive but comatose. He has a vision of an angel that facilitates his healing and bestows on him a "second sight", which enables him to see criminal acts before they are committed. Richmond becomes Nighthawk once again and fights crime until forced into a confrontation with Daredevil, whom he kills. The "angel" reveals itself to be the demon Mephisto, who transports Nighthawk and Daredevil's corpse to Hell, intending to claim Daredevil's soul. Nighthawk battles demons and manages to revive Daredevil, and together they escape.Nighthawk #1–3 (September–November 1998) A sorcerer later purges him of Mephisto's gift.The Defenders (vol. 2) #2 (February 2001)
After encountering teammate Hyperion, apparently resurrected after being thought dead, and a new Doctor Spectrum (Alice Nugent), Nighthawk briefly joins the New Thunderbolts. Upon discovering he is being used for his fortune, Nighthawk leaves the group and rejoins the Squadron Sinister.New Thunderbolts #15–18 (January–April 2006)Thunderbolts #100–101 (May–June 2006)
Jackson F. "Jack" Norriss
Jackson F. "Jack" Norriss and his wife Barbara worked with the original Nighthawk and the Defenders. Norriss later becomes a S.H.I.E.L.D. file-clerk, and then an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., often going by the codename Nighthawk.
Joaquin Pennyworth
After Richmond joins the US government's Fifty State Initiative of registered heroes as Nighthawk,Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007) he forms a short-lived Initiative version of the Defenders with Colossus, the Blazing Skull, and She-Hulk. With She-Hulk and Warlord Krang, battling the group the Sons of the Serpent and culminating in a confrontation with his old Defenders foe Yandroth, Yandroth manipulates time and forces Nighthawk to battle a twisted version of his old team, the Squadron Sinister, before being rescued by a future incarnation of the Defenders. Noting that one of the future members is Joaquin Pennyworth, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the son of the one-time leader of the Sons of the Serpent, Richmond asks him to commence training to become the new Nighthawk, before retiring.The Last Defenders #1–6 (May–October 2008)
Squadron Supreme of America version A new version of Kyle Richmond is a member of the Squadron Supreme of America.The Avengers (vol. 8) #10 (November 2018) He is revealed to be a simulacrum created by Mephisto and programmed by the Power Elite to obey Phil Coulson. As a civilian, Richmond is a U.S. congressman elected to the House of Representatives to represent Washington, D.C..The Avengers (vol. 8) #18 (April 2019)
During The War of the Realms storyline, Richmond is at a congressional hearing when a code red was issued that sent the representatives to the tunnels below. He and the other members of the Squadron Supreme of America are summoned to Washington D.C., where Coulson brought them up to speed with Malekith the Accursed's invasion. Nighthawk and the Squadron Supreme of America fight an army of Rock Trolls and Frost Giants. After the Squadron Supreme cause the Frost Giants to retreat, Coulson sends the group to Ohio, which has become a battleground.The Avengers (vol. 8) #18 (April 2019)
After leaving the Squadron Supreme, Nighthawk discovers the room under the Pentagon where he and the Squadron were created, then burns it down. Nighthawk leaves the House of Representatives and becomes a vigilante, seeking to prove himself as a person. After encountering Mephisto, Nighthawk is convinced to join the Avengers to combat him.The Avengers (vol. 8) #55 (June 2022)
Tilda Johnson
After meeting the Nighthawk of Earth-31916 and helping him defend Chicago from a group of white nationalists called the True Patriots, Tilda Johnson decides to reform her image from her time as the supervillain Nightshade.Nighthawk (vol. 2) #1 (July 2016) Sometime later, they help Hawkeye and Red Wolf after they find barrels of epidurium, a synthetic skin used in the construction of Life Model Decoys (LMDs), on a truck that was hijacked. They go to an abandoned coal factory where they end up being attacked by armed soldiers led by an LMD of Nick Fury. After defeating the group, Tilda decides to join Hawkeye and Red Wolf on the Avengers, saying her goodbyes to Nighthawk.Occupy Avengers #3–4 (January–February 2017)
During the Secret Empire storyline, while Hawkeye joins the Underground resistance following Hydra's takeover in the United States, the rest of the team gather their own resistance army to help the people in rural areas who are being affected by Hydra's cruel treatment. Tilda Johnson is revealed to have become the new Nighthawk, after the Nighthawk of Earth-31916 was killed by Hydra soldiers.Occupy Avengers #8–9 (June–July 2017)
Powers and abilities Nighthawk is a skilled athlete who, courtesy of an alchemical potion, possesses enhanced strength and increased agility and durability from dusk until dawn. He has also used several costume aids, such as a jet-powered artificial wing system, artificial claw tips, lasers and projectile weapons.
Other versions Kyle Richmond (Earth-712) Roy Thomas and penciller John Buscema created an alternate-universe team of heroes called the Squadron Supreme, who debut in The Avengers #85 (February 1971). After an initial skirmish with four Avengers, the teams unite to stop a common threat.The Avengers #86 (March 1971) The characters (including Nighthawk) are identical in name and appearance to the Squadron Sinister.