Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)

Nighthawk (birth name Kyle Richmond) is a comic book superhero in the Marvel comics universe.

Versions of Nighthawk also exist in the alternate universes of the Squadron Supreme and Supreme Power.

Mainstream Marvel Universe

Nighthawk's main superhuman ability is super strength, with the uncommon limitation that this strength remains only from sundown to sunup; he has the strength of a normal man in the daytime. His strength derives from a potion he discovered in a book on alchemy; the potion was meant to cure his weak heart, the super strength being only an unintended albeit very welcome side effect. He flies with the use of a jetpack concealed under artificial wings, and usually used some kind of projectile weapon under them as well.

As Kyle Richmond, he was an egotistical and wealthy playboy who, unlike comics' archetypical playboy Batman, actually drank and womanized too much. Indeed, his father had to pay hush money to protect Richmond's name after a drunk-driving accident that injured a woman.

Nighthawk began as a supervillain, a member of the Squadron Sinister, who fought the Avengers. Later he recanted of his villainous ways and joined the super-team The Defenders.

Despite his unusual powers and his leadership role in that group, Nighthawk never really took off into mass popularity. He did get his own self-titled series in 1998, but it didn't last very long.

Squadron Supreme

In his Squadron Supreme incarnation, Nighthawk is much the same as his mainstream counterpart, and a closer analogue of his original inspiration, Batman. He did not, however, lose his parents to crime; they died of natural causes. Nevertheless, Richmond vows to use his money and skills to fight evil, and becomes friends with his earth's champion, Hyperion (comics).

Supreme Power

In Supreme Power, J. Michael Straczynski's update and revamp of the old Squadron Supreme characters in Marvel's mature line, MAX, Nighthawk (still Kyle Richmond) is an African American entrepreneur. Having lost both his parents in a hate crime at a young age, he takes revenge on criminals --- at least for the beginning of the series, however, solely on those criminals who prey on black victims. Like his inspiration, Batman, Nighthawk uses a combination of high-tech weaponry, stealth and fighting prowess to overcome his foes.