HAKWMAN #2
"Into the Sky"
Recommended (7/10)
|
DC Comics
Writers: Geoff Johns & James Robinson
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: John Kalisz & Heroic Age
Letters: Bill Oakley
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
Though at its heart, Hawkman is basically a traditional super-hero comic book, it is a fun one. But there are also hints that the writers will be adding greater depth -- both of character and plot -- as the series progresses. Morales is doing some solid work on the art as well. This is a good title with the potential to be great.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl speed off to India to find the one man who might be able to give Hawkgirl some vial information regarding the deaths of her parents. There, they make a new friend and ally, who guides them into the Indian jungle in pursuit of Danny Evans. It turns out someone else is on Danny's tail, though: a trio of mercenaries -- the Shadow Thief, Copperhead and Tigress.
Morales blends antique and futuristic elements seamlessly into the visuals here, and he also captures the humanity of the supporting characters nicely. The action flows smoothly, and the Shadow Thief's new look is actually plausible; he looks like a mercenary, not a super-villain. Andrew Robinson's haunting painted cover is sharp, and his work here reminds me a bit of Dan (Nocturnals) Brereton's.
Though primarily a super-hero book, there's also a strong spirituality riff at play. Reincarnation is an inherent plot point when it comes to the title character, and it seems as though Johns and Robinson are delving into Indian myth and religion, if the cliffhanger is any indication. There are other elements -- actually, other genres -- that flesh the book out as well. Sci-fi is a core part of the title character(s) as well, and there's a strong pulp-adventure atmosphere at play in this opening story arc as well.
The super-heroics, adventure and sci-fi elements are all fun, but what I'm really looking for from this book is some further development of the odd title character and his partner, Hawkgirl. Johns and Robinson really haven't told us anything about these figures that we hadn't already learned in JSA. Mind you, the writers seem to be still busy getting the foundation laid for this book. The new supporting cast brings a down-to-earth quality that this book needs, and the more I see of the setting -- St. Roch, Louisiana -- the more I like it.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
