| GOLDEN EAGLE (Charley Parker) | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by Cary Bates and Dick Dillin |
PERSONAL DATA
Real Name: Charley Parker
Full Name: Charles "Charley" Edmund Parker
Identity: Secret
Status: Deceased
Homeworld: Thanagar
Race: Thanagarian
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Single
Base of Operation: Midway City, MI, later Malibu, CA, later St. Roch, LA
Group Affiliation(s): Teen Titans, Teen Titans West)
Gender: Male
Height: 6"2'
Weight: 195 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Blond (formely brown)
First Appearance: Justice League of America #116 (March-April 1975): "The Kid Who Won Hawkman's Wings"
Creators: Cary Bates and Dick Dillin
HISTORY
As a teenager, the orphaned Charles Edmund Parker idolized Hawkman. Charley claims that he accidentally gained the same powers as Hawkman from the Mentachem Rod, prime weapon of the Matter Master, Hawkman's arch-enemy. Apparently, Matter Master was unaware that Hawkman was off-planet at the time, and the wand attempted to grant the villain his wish for revenge by supplying him with a new "Hawkman."
In return for his help in the JLA case that resulted, Hawkman supposedly gave Charley a set of wings and a helmet. Apparently, Charley had some modifications made later on [Note: This part of his origin has not been verified post-Crisis] Justice League of America #116
Charley made his heroic debut in the skies of Northern California, where he rescued a family of campers from a forest fire. He received much praise, but his attitude was akin to "no applause, just throw cash." Charley handed out Golden Eagle business cards, a move which further deflated his image in the eyes of the townspeople.
Golden Eagle's involvement with the Teen Titans started when Mr. Esper attacked California. This soon caused Charley to join Titans West, where he served with some distinction till its dissolution. [Teen Titans Vol. 1 #50-52]
With the exception of his super-heroing with Titans West, Charley seemed unable to hold a steady job. Unable to make money from super-heroing, he launched himself into a series of challenging jobs, such as pumping gas, or sweeping up. None of these jobs lasted very long.
When Titans West disbanded, Charley gave up his career as Golden Eagle. He worked for a Chicken Little's Fried Chicken franchise in Malibu and was seen at the wedding of Donna (Wonder Girl) Troy and Terry Long. [Tales of the Teen Titans #50-52]
A few years later he came out of retirement to assist S.T.A.R. Labs San Francisco, with Titans West once again. At the end of the adventure, an attempt to reform the group by Bette (Flamebird) Kane proved unsuccessful. Charley was "tapped out". His weekend stay with Mal and Karen (Bumblebee) Duncan had already turned into a into a two month visit. [Hawk & Dove Annual #1]
Less than a year later Golden Eagle and Aqualad met each other along the coast of Long Island where they were supposed to meet the Terminator, who called them both there. After talking for a moment, they were both attacked by Wildebeest, who electrocuted Aqualad while choking Golden Eagle with a wire around his neck. Aqualad fell into the water below them, while Golden Eagle crashed into the ground. The Wildebeest then strangled Golden Eagle, killing him, after Golden Eagle manages tear a part of the Wildebeests mask off [New Titans #72].
Charley may have had some flaws, being the unemployed surfer dude/beach bum that he was, but he died a true hero, trying to protect the badly wounded Aqualad.
POWERS AND WEAPONS
As he had been granted the power of flight, thanks in part to the Matter Master, Charlie had similar abilities to those of Hawkman III, however, his prowess in hand to hand combat was not on par with the Winged Warrior's. Charlie was an accomplished fighter for someone of his level, and is a very well trained flier, as his surfing assisted him in his ability to fly wind currents.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Golden Eagle in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Secret Origins Annual Vol. 2 #3 (1989)