Hath-Set
| Hath-Set | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance |
Flash Comics #1 (January 1940) |
| Created by |
Gardner Fox Dennis Neville |
| In-story information | |
| Notable aliases | Doctor Anton Hastor, Hector Hall, Helene Astar, Matilda Dunney Roderic, Kristopher Roderic[1] |
| Abilities | Continuous cycle of reincarnation; possesses his descendants |
Hath-Set is a DC Comics supervillain created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville. The character is a recurring nemesis of Hawkman and Hawkgirl.
Fictional character biography
Hath-Set, a cruel Egyptian priest, first appeared in Flash Comics (issue #1, January 1940). He leads a rebellion and captures and murders Prince Khufu and Priestess Chay-Ara. He kills them with a cursed dagger which has been forged from Nth Metal. This results in a cycle where all three are reincarnated together. In many different incarnations over the centuries, Hath-Set murders the Prince and Princess.
Doctor Hastor
In the World War II era, Hath-Set is reincarnated as the evil Doctor Anton Hastor. Hawkman (the Prince) and Hawkgirl (the Princess) are reunited while facing Hastor. Hastor (Hath-Set) is Hawkman's first foe. In 1941, Hastor kidnaps some prominent scientists. He pools their talents and knowledge to build a flying mechanical eye airship, with weaponry capable of leveling whole cities. His plans for world conquest are foiled by Hawkman and the All-Star Squadron. However, Hastor kidnaps Hawkgirl and then is killed by Hawkman with a crossbow.
Infinity Inc.
Infinity Inc is a story line set in the 1980s. Using a curse, Hath-Set takes over an "Infinitor" called Hector Hall. Hall is the son of the Prince and Princess (who are now called Carter Hall and Shiera Hall). With Hall under his control, Hath-Set attacks the Team. The Team defeat Hath-Set but Hall dies.
Helene Astar
In his most recent incarnation, Hath-Set is a spirit who can take control of the minds and bodies of his own descendants. The Hawks travel to the Himalayas to search for Speed Saunders. Hath-Set has taken over a woman called "Helene Astar". In attempting to kill the Hawks, Astar dies. The Hawks believe that Astar was a reincarnation of Hath-Set and that Hath-Set has been permanently killed. Hath-Set goes on to make a plot with the villainous businessman Kristopher Roderic to kill Hawkman.[2]
Alliance with Khea
In the Brightest Day storyline, Hath-Set is living in the jungles of Peru.[3] He is allied with "Queen Shrike" the ruler of "Hawkworld", who is Hawkgirl's mother, Khea. Hath-Set and Khea were lovers in ancient Egypt. They created their own immortality using the blood of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, together with the Nth dagger. Hath-Set has collected the remains of all of Hawkman and Hawkgirl's past bodies. He has used them to build a mystical gateway.[4] Hawkman and Hawkgirl follow Hath-Set through this gateway to Hawkworld. Hawkgirl is captured by Hath-Set and Khea. The Entity (White Lantern Corps) tells Hawkgirl she must prevent Hath-Set from killing Hawkman.[5] Hath-Set ties Hawkgirl to the mystical gateway. Following Khea's orders, Hath-Set strikes Hawkgirl in order to lure Hawkman. Hawkman arrives and distracts Hath-Set. Hawkgirl then uses her legs to kill Hath-Set by snapping the evil priest's neck.[6]
In other media
- Hath-Set appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Ancient History" where he is voiced by Héctor Elizondo. In this, he is a loyal subject of the Hawks. When Hawkman (called Katar Hol) sees Hawkgirl (Chay-Ara) kissing Bashari, his most trusted top military general, he says "I wish they were dead". Hath-Set takes this as an order and poisons Bashari and Hawkgirl. When Hawkman discovers what Hath-Set has done, he orders Hath-Set to get out. Then, consumed with grief, Hawkman kills himself by drinking poisoned wine.
- In the Arrowverse, elements of Hath-Set's origin story are given to Vandal Savage including his name as seen in flashbacks in the Arrow episode "Legends of Yesterday."[7]