At a Catholic orphanage located in Chicago, Hank Kipple is currently being disciplined for bad behavior (namely rigging the lights in the dorm rooms to not only use the Clapper, but also only to respond to his claps) and saying "God can shove it." Later on, there is a scene of Hank in his dorm room with several other children who live at the orphanage. It appears that his brash, rude manner even extends to his peers, and not just his authority figures. He also comments on the persistent danger of crime that is associated with living in an orphanage in downtown Chicago. Sure enough, as the children go to sleep, two burglars seek refuge in the dorm room of St. Frederick's. Hank starts smart-mouthing to the burglars, putting the other children of the orphanage in danger as the burglars decide to make them hostages. Just as one of the burglars begin threatening the children, a voice comes from the rafters of the old orphanage. It's Hawk-Owl, the Midnight Avenger. While the children don't recognize him (and some of the younger kids mistake him for Spider-Man), both of the thugs recognize him almost immediately. With Hank's help, the Hawk-Owl makes short work of the burglars with an assortment of crime-fighting tools. In the morning, while the children are still abuzz about the excitement the night before, Father Joe announces that the Orphanage is going to have a very special guest. This turns out to be Jack Danner, a successful albeit unkempt businessman, accompanied by his butler Daniel Toliver (whom he calls James in this issue,) his Aunt Ruth, and seemingly mute chauffeur Lee. Danner, interested in adopting one of the children from the orphanage, first has a question and answer session with them. Most of the children ask him about his house, especially if he has toys waiting for them. Hank, on the other hand, gives him quite a hard time on everything from his demeanor to his politics. Eventually Hank is told to leave, which he seems to appreciate. Toliver notes that Danner has already picked "the surly kid". As Danner is set to adopt one of the children, a child named John asks him if Danner will go take him "make poop," which startles Danner quite a bit, especially the prospect of having to watch him. Afterwards, Father Joe comes up to the dorm room where Hank has run off too, telling him to pack his bags. First thinking he's being kicked out, Hank grows very apologetic for the first time, until Joe explains himself: Danner has indeed chosen to adopt Hank. Hank expresses his confusion, given how rude he had been to Danner, but Joe proposed that perhaps Danner simply saw beyond the "bravado". Joe also reminds him to pack quickly, seeing how he doesn't usually recommend long goodbyes. By the time the conversation is over, Hank is back to his brash self, smart-mouthing to God one more time as he exits, in the shadow of Hawk-Owl.[2]
In Danner's mansion in the suburbs, Toliver takes Hank to his new room and tells him that he was a street kid like Hank and he is lucky to get a break. Jack Danner, meanwhile, goes to "the Nest," his crime-fighting lair; Danner is secretly the Hawk-Owl. Later, Hank sees a flying car pass him, and learns that Hawk-Owl saved an Internet café. Next morning Hank Kipple goes to school and meets Principal Larry Jones and Ms. Willow, learning a little more about Danner's past. After his first day of school, Hank sees the flying car pass him again and finds "the Nest".[3]
The duo were briefly mentioned as being Ultimates candidates in the first volume, and they have not been mentioned since.
