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HAWKMAN #3
"Lost in the Battlelands"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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DC Comics
Writers: James Robinson & Geoff Johns
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Micahel Bair
Colors: John Kalisz & Heroic Age
Letters: Bill Oakley
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
It seems a bit early to have lost my interest in Hawkman to
such a degree, but this issue was a huge letdown after a couple of fairly strong
issues that introduced the series. While I applaud Robinson and Johns for delving
into the less familiar territory of Hindu religion rather than Greek, Norse or
Christian, I'm disappointed that their story went in predictable directions
anyway. And I'm really disappointed in some poor characterization of a shadowy
guest star and a logic problem that cuts to the heart of their story. There's
still plenty to like about this book, especially a strong grasp of the complex
personality of the main character, but I think my interest in this first plot
has about hit bottom.
Hawkman is obviously inspired by globe-trotting pulp action such as Indiana Jones, but I wish that the story didn't remind me so much of Temple of Doom. Perhaps that's inevitable given the
Hindu elements at work, but the revelations this issue about slavery had me
groaning, foreseeing exactly where the story was going, when previously it
wasn't as clear and it was a lot more interesting. Just once I'd like for the
rescuers of the heroes to actually be rescuers, and not turn out to actually be
sinister.
That's my central problem
with the plot, but there are other things that bothered me this issue. Green
Arrow makes a guest appearance in which he murders a corrupt mayor and his
(likely innocent) aide, and that seems to be a gross misunderstanding of the
character. And we're told at least three times that the reason the Shadow
Thief's powers don't work in "the Battle Lands" is because technology doesn't
work there, but no allowances are made as to why Hawkman's wings still work.
Given that they are both Thanagarian technology, the disparity doesn't make a
whole lot of sense.
Mind you, it wasn't all bad.
I'm really enjoying this take on Hawkman, a continuity-lite approach to the
character and a blending of his various incarnations into a new personality.
There's a very strong dichotomy at work in the character, a calm intelligence
when he needs it and a very powerful rage that he unleashes in combat or on his
foes. Hawkman can very easily become "that guy who flies, and that's all he
does" so the creators are wise to give him a sense of physical power and
prowess.
A lot of that sense comes
from the artwork, as Rags Morales and Michael Bair provide some phenomenal
battle scenes between Hawkman and the Komeriah. The artwork depicts St. Roch, a
jungle in India, a mystical dimension created by Hindu Gods and more, but the
artists never fail to deliver the goods, and that strength of design can be
found in the characters as well. The subtle reactions that play across the faces
of the characters hint at their thoughts, and are as important to the
characterization as anything the script has to offer.
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