THE GUNHAWK

Real Name: Cal Hawkins

Identity/Class: Human (Old West era)

Occupation: Rancher;
    former gunfighter

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Bull's-Eye Ben, Hank, Mr. Larsen, Deputy Moore, Slim, Nancy Smith

Enemies: Joe Fargo

Known Relatives: Nancy Smith (wife), unidentified son

Aliases: Cal Smith

Base of Operations: A ranch in the foothills of Nevada, USA;
    formerly Dade County, Texas, USA

First Appearance: Two Gun Western I#5 (July, 1956)

Powers/Abilities: The Gunhawk was an excellent marksman.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 165 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Two Gun Western I#5) - Cal Hawkins was a well-known gunfighter around Dade County who became known as "the Gunhawk." One day, Joe Fargo picked a fight with Cal in the street and drew his gun on him. To defend himself, Cal quickly drew his own gun and shot Joe Fargo dead. Cal's friend Slim saw the shooting and advised Cal to leave because Fargo was friends with the town sheriff. Cal agreed and told Slim he hoped to find a town where no one had heard of the Gunhawk so he could settle down in peace. Slim wished him well as he departed.

    Taking on the alias "Cal Smith" and growing a mustache, Cal moved to the foothills of Nevada, married Nancy, bought a ranch and they had a son. Five years after the death of Joe Fargo, Cal was taking his family to church one morning when he met the local sheriff, who mentioned he was meeting Deputy Moore that had come from Dade County looking for the Gunhawk.

    A few days later, Cal was in town and the sheriff introduced him to Deputy Moore. When Moore asked if Cal had heard of the Gunhawk, Cal insisted he hadn't and made a point of showing Moore he didn't carry a gun. Returning to the ranch, Cal learned the town banker Mr. Brent had demanded $175 that they owed or else he would take the ranch from them. They were allowed only a week to raise the money. Cal went back to town to ask his friends for help but none of them could loan him the money.

    Cal noticed a six-gun shooting contest was going on in a few days and the prize was $500. Cal was certain he could win the prize but feared doing so would expose him as the Gunhawk. On the day of the contest, Cal watched as the expert gunslinger Bull's-Eye Ben showed off his prowess with a gun by shooting four out of six thrown tin cans then challenged anyone to outshoot him for the prize money. Cal said a farewell to his son then stepped forward to accept the challenge.

    Cal proceeded to fire at tin cans but hit all six of them with six shots. People in the crowd began speculating whether he was the Gunhawk. Cal admitted he was then asked for the prize money before turning himself over to Deputy Moore. However, Deputy Moore informed him that he wasn't wanted for Joe Fargo's murder; a federal marshal had witnessed their gunfight and testified that it was an act of self-defense. Cal learned he could live the rest of his life as a free man and use the $500 to keep his ranch.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Joe Sinnott.

    This profile was completed on 10/08/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Gunhawk should not be confused with:

Bull's-Eye Ben

Bull's-Eye Ben was an excellent sharpshooter who challenged people to best him at a marksmanship contest in exchange for a $500 prize. Ben boasted he was an even better shooter than the Gunhawk but was proved wrong when Cal Smith revealed he was the Gunhawk and outshot him.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

Joe Fargo

Joe Fargo was an ill-tempered gunfighter. He once picked a fight with Cal Hawkins in Dade County, Texas and drew his gun on him. Cal shot and killed him. Because Fargo had been friends with the town sheriff, Cal fled and created a new life for himself.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

Hank

Hank was a resident of the town nearby Cal's ranch. He watched as Cal accepted the challenge of Bull's-Eye Ben and outshot him. Hank needled Ben for claiming he could outshoot the Gunhawk.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

Mr. Larsen

Mr. Larsen was responsible for hosting the sharpshooting event, supplying Bull's-Eye Ben as a sharpshooter who would challenge others to beat him for the $500 prize money. When Cal proved his sharpshooting in the contest, he won the prize.







--Two-Gun Western I#5

Deputy Moore

Moore was a deputy from Dade County, Texas who was assigned to find the Gunhawk after the death of Joe Fargo. When Moore finally learned the Gunhawk had been living under the alias of Cal Smith, he informed him he wasn't wanted for murder because a federal marshal had witnessed the shooting and testified it was an act of self-defense.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

Slim

Slim was a friend of Cal's in Dade County, Texas. Slim witnessed the death of Joe Fargo at Cal's hands and cautioned him to leave town to avoid being persecuted by the town sheriff.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

Nancy Smith

Nancy married Cal Hawkins after he left Dade County and became Cal Smith. She was aware of his former life and settled at a ranch with him in the foothills of Nevada, where they had a son. Nancy was afraid that when Cal revealed his shooting prowess, he'd be arrested as a murderer but ultimately he learned he wasn't a wanted man.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

Nancy and Cal's son

Nancy and Cal had a son in Nevada while he was hiding from the law.






--Two-Gun Western I#5

images: (without ads)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 1, panel 1 (Gunhawk, main)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 4, panel 5 (Gunhawk, face)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 6, panel 1 (Ben)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 1, panel 1 (Joe)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 7, panel 5 (Hank)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 7, panel 1 (Larsen)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 4, panel 3 (Moore)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 2, panel 3 (Slim)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 6, panel 3 (Nancy)
Two-Gun Western I#5, page 6, panel 5 (son)

Appearances:
Two Gun Western I#5 (July, 1956) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Joe Sinnott (artist)

First posted: 09/13/2026
Last updated: 10/08/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

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