Hawkman is a highly recognizable character in many respects, thanks in part to some other-media adaptations and to a distinct and striking character design. But when it comes to the character's rogues gallery, I'll bet most readers would be hard-pressed to name more than one. In this developing story, the writers seem to be trying to establish there are plenty of folks out there with a bone to pick with the Hawks, and it makes for some fun super-hero storytelling. Of course, at this point, it also makes for some pretty by-the-numbers, standard super-hero storytelling. This is a diverting team-up story, but it's nothing we haven't seen before with other characters.
The dead have come back to life in St. Roch, and they're on a murderous rampage through the city, killing hundreds. It's up to Hawkman and Hawkgirl to save the day, but Hawkman is stopped in his winged tracks when he comes face to face with the decomposing face of one of the zombies: Domina Paris, his recently deceased lover. Her body's efforts to tear him limb from limb halt, though, when another hero arrives invisibly to help put an end to the undead chaos: Deadman. The Hawks, Deadman and a reluctant ally rush headlong into a cauldron of supernatural villainy.
Joe Bennett was once a name I associated with capable but plain super-hero art. That's no longer the case... hasn't been for a while. His work first started standing out as unique and dynamic when he paired with Priest on The Crew, and that strength continued with his illustration of Priest's stories in Captain America & the Falcon. It's easy to see why DC lured him away from Marvel. That strength that characterized his recent work is to be found here as well. His own unique and detailed style is quite evident, and he tells the story clearly. But he also provides for the transition between the previous regular artist, Ryan Sook, and his style, which is quite different. Bennett's take on the Fadeaway Man is clearly influence by Sook's depiction of the character, for example.
Palmiotti and Gray deliver a fun super-hero story that reads well on its own while still establishing a longer-term storyline. They also recognize the importance of accessibility. Not only does the script sum up the Hawkman premise nicely and recent events from this title, but those unfamiliar with Deadman will have little trouble getting to know the classic DC character.
There's nothing really wrong with this story at all. The only real problem I had with it was just how familiar it was. The teamup happens just because one character fits into the circumstance well, and the solution to the threat is to eliminate an all too convenient plot device. There's a modern edge to this script, but at its heart, it's a basic super-hero yarn, with a 1970s sort of simplicity to it. 6/10
