General Hawkins

General Amanda Hawkins is a minor antagonist exclusive to the NOW! Comics series. She is the leader of the Metro City military, and one of the financial backers behind Astro Boy's production. Hawkins was created by Michael Dimpsey exclusively for the comic series, and she has not appeared in any other Astro Boy media since 1988.

Personality
General Hawkins is a hardened army veteran. She is not afraid of speaking her mind or pushing others around, so long as it gets the army in the direction she wants. She is a short, stout, and muscular woman in her late 40s, and is almost always seen with a cigar.

Hawkins has a close friendship with Taz Tamil, one of the executives of the Institute of Science. She uses his position to get strings pulled her way, with the reward being Hawkins pushing for Tamil to become the lead of the Institute.

Story
The Institute of Science director, Dr. Boynton, approached the General Hawkins to pitch his highly secret robot project. Hawkins was convinced that she would be funding a multi-tool humanoid weapon called the Mighty Atom. However, Boynton used the military money and technology to make a replica of his deceased son, and sealed himself in his home. Believing that the robot was entirely hers, Hawkins had her troops wage war on Boynton's house. This proved to be an enormous, reckless disaster, as they destroyed much of Boynton's house and the surrounding neighborhood. When cornered by soldiers, Boynton deactivates his robot - Astro - and lies that Astro was berserk and holding him hostage. He sells Astro to Mister Cacciatore's circus that night, and Hawkins is told that "her" robot has escaped from the Institute of Science. She keeps her troops on constant watch for Astro. As well, she refuses to cooperate fully with the police or scientists until Cybersharks attack the Institute of Science.

Later in the series, Hawkins comes to an understanding with Dr. Elefun and Astro. She allows Astro to live in society as a regular boy, so long as he occasionally assists in missions led by the military.