Read: Rann-Thanagar Holy War #4

Issue: Rann-Thanagar Holy War #4
Title: "Return Of The Prodigal"
Published Date: Oct. 2008
Generation: Modern Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: On Hardcore Station, Comet, Adam Strange, Weird, Animal Man, Tigorr, Starfire, and Chief Justice Max are outgunned and outclassed by Deacon Dark, his Inquisitor robots, and the temporaly-revived Synnar.  Weird tries to use his phasing powers, but Synnar shrugs him off and goes after other targets.  The fight is not going well, despite Comet being able to take out Deacon Dark, and Weird saving Strange from being fried by an Inquisitor.  Needing muscle to take out the Eternal Light Corporation's temporal circuits, Weird mentions Bizarro being on Throneworld...

On Throneworld, Prince Gavyn, intending to use Bizarro as a weapon against Lady Styx, walks in on Adam Strange about to Zeta-beam Bizarro back to Hardcore Station, and is caught up in the teleport.  Bizarro, mad at being taken away from his cartoons, is able to destroy the Inquisitors and turn the tide.  Strange and Gavyn are able to destroy the time circuits, though Adam disappears for a second.  

Meanwhile, on Rann, Hawkman is about to be executed by Sardath and his crazed fellow Styx-worshippers, but is spared when the prehistoric volcano disappears (thanks to the end of the time circuits).  But, he is not out of the frying pan yet, as both he and Alana are taken prisoner by Sardath.

The heroes teleport back to Throneworld to find the entire planet devastated and the population gone... "processed" by Lady Styx in a matter of minutes.

Review: A very action-heavy issue, with not a lot of Hawkman but plenty of combat over on Hardcore Station.  Starlin crams a lot of information into what is tantamount to an issue-long fight, including putting Synnar over as a badass on the level of "Darkseid or Mongul," which I obviously enjoyed.  Lim's art is up to the task and looks great handling all of the battle sequences.  It's fun to see all of these characters interacting, including Comet's exceptionally low opinion of most of the people he is forced to work with.  Very enjoyable space opera comic book.
 
Note: The Adam Strange Special takes place in the second which Strange disappears while he and Prince Gavyn destroy the ELC's time circuits.  I will not be covering that here as it is an Adam Strange side-story and does not feature Hawkman.

Image: Rann-Thanagar Holy War #4, 2008, Jim Starlin.

Crisis on Earth-Blog: Super Powers Collection 25th Anniversary

I've written before about my memories of the Super Powers Collection from my misguided youth. Well, the 25th Anniversary of the SPC is upon us, so it's high time we take a look at two of Hawkman's starring turns from the mini-comics which were included in the first few waves of the toyline! That's right, it's another Crisis on Earth-Blog crossover!


Issue: Super Powers Collection #12: Hawkman
Title: n/a
Published Date: 1983
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Super Powers Continuity

Summary: In Midway City, Carter Hall's evening is disturbed by a flock of crazed birds crashing through the window of his office. Quickly changing to his heroic identity of Hawkman, he investigates, finding his winged friends stealing pricess artifacts. Hawkman quickly spots the problem in the form of Lex Luthor's Lex-Soar 7 ship. The Winged Wonder swoops in to attack, but Lex zaps his wing harness with a laser. Falling, Hawkman is saved by the sudden appearance of Green Lantern and the Flash. While GL repairs Hawkman's wings, the Flash is trapped in an energy net from the Lex-Soar 7. Lex then sends a flock of crazed birds at Hawkman and Lantern, but GL quickly whips up hundreds of emerald bird cages to hold them. Hawkman then uses his wings to create a great burst of wind, which crashes the Lex-Soar 7 into a lake. Green Lantern hauls the ship out of the drink, Luthor is arrested, the artifacts recovered, and the birds revealed to be robots.

Review: Well, if you were a little kid who just got a Hawkman toy as a gift and had no idea who he was, this is a pretty decent primer. Sure, it leaves out the whole alien thing, and Hawkgirl is nowhere to be found, but for this basic adventure I can't complain too loudly. The art is simplistic but effective, and the script is basic enough for a child to follow easily enough. There's some nice co-sells for the other characters and the Lex-Soar 7, which is always nice, heh. Also nice is that Hawkman uses his action feature (flapping wings) to defeat Lex Luthor. Coincidence? Yeah I think not! I wonder how many kids read this comic and then became Hawkfans?

Image: Super Powers Collection #12: Hawkman, 1983, ???.


Issue: Super Powers Collection #6: The Penguin
Title: n/a
Published Date: 1983
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Super Powers Continuity

Summary: Bruce Wayne is hosting a charity ball, a guest of which is the "illustrious" Carter Hall. Things take a turn for the worse when the Penguin and his gang of highly trained birds attack the party and rob all the patrons! Bruce and Carter leap into action, changing into Batman and Hawkman. While the Winged Wonder calms Penguin's fiesty flock, Batman hits the Batmobile and gives chase. As Penguin and his goons gloat, Hawkman catches up to them and captures the gang in a net. Thinking he is now home free, Penguin is surprised by Batman, who uses the ejector seat in the Batmobile to launch himself up and grab the Bad Bird. With Penguin and his gang in the hands of the police, the heroes head on back to the party.

Review: What a classic set-up: a charity ball attended by the hero(es) gets robbed by the bad guy and they have to give chase? That's "Old School" my friends! A fun little showcase for all three characters, as each gets a chance to shine. Hawkman showcases not only his *wheet wheet* powers, but also breaks out an ancient weapon in the form of a net, which was a treat. But Penguin and Batman are the real stars here, unsurprisingly, and this depiction of Penguin as someone who would use a helicopter umbrella to rob a penthouse is charming and delightful. I also like the co-sell for the Batmobile, as well as the clever way of avoiding having to mention Robin (what would a kid be doing at a stuffy old ball, anyway?). I can really see this as a springboard story for kids to invent their own capers with their new Penguin action figure.

Image: Super Powers Collection #6: The Penguin, 1983, ???.

Notes: Hawkman also appears in the mini-comics for The Flash, Robin, and Red Tornado.

Also, check out my thoughts about the Super Powers Hawkman toy, one of the earliest posts I ever made here on Being Carter Hall.


What would a crossover be without, well, crossovers? Be sure to go and check out these other fine superhero blogs and sites and explore the 25th Anniversary of the Super Powers Collection in more depth and detail than you ever thought possible!

Aquaman Shrine
Bat-Blog
SpeedForce
Crimson Lightning
Dispatches from the Arrow Cave
Love Dat Joker
Justice League Detroit
Idol-Head of Diabolu
... nurgh ...
Doom Patrol (covering Red Tornado)
Fortress of Baileytude
Firestorm Fan
Once Upon A Geek (covering Dr. Fate)

What a collection of super-talent! Special thanks to shag of Firestorm Fan and Once Upon A Geek for putting this crossover together!

Blogs Will Live! Blogs Will Die! Crisis on Earth-Blog!

Read: Hawkworld v.2:no.1

Issue: Hawkworld v.2:no.1
Title: "Thanagar's Hero"
Published Date: Jun 90
Generation: Modern Katar
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: With Thanagarian criminal mastermind Byth exiled to the primitive planet of Earth, Wingman Katar Hol is hailed as the latest in the long line of "Thanagar's Heroes," including his own father, Paran Katar.  This makes his growing disillusionment with the rigidly structured Thanagarian society troubling for both Katar and his superiors.  The Wingman chief, Andar Pul, doesn't want Thanagar's Hero risking his life on patrol, but Katar will hear nothing of it.  Andar responds by ordering Katar's partner Shayera Thal to keep her eyes on him, and take him out if need be, because "Thanagar's Hero" can always be replaced.  Afterwards, after Katar checks with his government mole Kanjar Ro, Shayera gives Katar a piece of her mind, telling him that he has to get over his "liberal guilt" about his station in life and do his duty.

On a patrol, the Hawks investigate a pair murder victims who have had their faces skinned off -- the calling card of the Manhawks.  Their investigation is interrupted when they run into a Downsider kid who Katar knows.  Katar wants to help the boy, but he leads them into an attack by another Downsider named Bladebat, whom had lost his hand in a previous fight with Hol and replaced it with a knife. Things get more complicated as they are then ambushed by the Manhawks.  After a brutal three-way battle, the Manhawks retreat, Bladebat loses his other arm, and the boy is killed.  As Shayera says, they don't know any better, because "Once a Downsider, always a Downsider."  The Hawks are then given their new assignment: Earth.

Review: Well this certainly is a change of pace from what we've been reading on this site, huh?  A dark and grimy tale of corruption, totaltarianism, and class warfare, this is very clearly a very different take on Thanagar and it's resident heroes.  Truman is in full allegory mode here, turning what was once a pretty simple science fiction property and using it as dystopian social commentary.  It's not bad, I just wasn't expecting it to be this thick, honestly.  It's very odd to see Katar feeling guilty about being considered a "hero," but considernig the Post-Crisis landscape I guess it's unavoidable.  Graham Nolan's artwork is very nicely done, giving a sort of British, understated vibe to the proceedings which works well.  I especially like the redesign of the Manhawks, which loses the grace of the Silver Age design in exchange for a horrific, Cronenberg-like appeal.  As a launch for a new series, this is pretty good, but after this initial reading of the Hawkworld continuity, I still like Silver Age Katar better.

Image: Hawkworld v.2:no.1, 1990, Graham Nolan.

Read: The Brave And The Bold #43

Issue: The Brave And The Bold #43 (Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Hawkman v.1)
Title: "The Masked Marauders Of Earth"
Published Date: Aug/Sep 1962
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Out Of Continuity

Summary: In Midway City, an entire jewelry store is bizarrely stolen by even more bizarre thieves: giant hawks wearing vaguely humanoid masks who shoot beams from their eyes.  The store is returned, but with two large rubies missing.  Police Commissioner Emmett contacts Hawkman on Thanagar, who recognizes the thieves as the Manhawks, a roving band of criminals who introduced the concept of theft to Thanagar years earlier.  This new rash of crimes -- Thanagarians committed thefts for the sheer thrill of it -- forced Katar Hol's father Paran Katar, to turn his anti-gravity belt and artificial wing inventions (originall devised to study birds) in the tools of combat.  Katar used his father's invention and infiltrated the Manhawks, then stole one of their masks and reverse-engineered it's weapon, developing a counter-measure: the Hawk helmet, complete with shields against the Manhawks' eyebeam attacks.  Rendering their weapons ineffective, the Manhawks were quickly put in prison, but the damage had been done; crime was now on Thanagar, and thus Paran's inventions were used to arm the new police force.

The Hawks make their way to Earth, armed with the same counter-measure Katar had used earlier against the Manhawks.  But, their foes have deduced this one, and their eyebeams are now resistant to the Hawks weapons.  Planning to strike at Thanagar, the Hawks probe their Earth history, and figure out that rubies are needed to make a laser beam.  They attack the Manhawks ship, then use a black chemical rain to negate the Manhawks' eyebeams (not having enough light to properly amplify, the attacks are not very dangerous).  The Manhawks are captured and imprisoned on Earth.

Review: The second feature-length Hawk adventure in a row is as good as the previous one.  We get more great Katar and Shayera interaction, a crazy new set of villians, and more Thanagarian backstory, which is always welcome.  Plus, this story will always be remembered as the case on which Hawkman earned his Honor Wings, and regained his classic winged helmet look.  There's some typically murky Silver Age Science going on, but the story is fun enough that you roll with it, which has been my experience with such SAS so far in reading DC's from the period.  The Manhawks would eventually return a couple more times to menace Katar and Shayera during the Silver and Bronze Age, and would be re-imagined in a substantially more gruesome manner in the Hawkworld series.  Really fun DC science fiction tale.

Image: The Brave And The Bold #43, 1962, Joe Kubert.

Read: Hawkman v.4:no.9

Issue: Hawkman v.4:no.9 (reprinted in Hawkman v.2: Allies & Enemies)
Title: "In The Hands Of Fate"
Published Date: Jan 2003
Generation: Modern Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: Arriving back at Stonechat after his dinnre with Ray Palmer, Carter is surprised by the arrival of his son Hector, AKA Dr. Fate.  Hector explains to his father that he has now been caught up in his parents cycle of reincarnation, and takes Carter on a mystical trip back to Ancient Egypt, where he explains that not only are Khufu and Chay-era destined to be reborn again and again, but their treacherous high priest Hath-Set is destined to kill them again and again.  Fate then warns that the circumstances behind Carter's resurrection, and other changes such as his presence in the cycle, have made the future unpredictable and dangerous.

Meanwhile, tossing and turning in her bed, Kendra has flashbacks of her own, as she remembers a traumatic attack by a pair of police officers on her and her mother when she was only a child, which resulted in the death of one of the officers.  Not wanting to be alone with her memories, Kendra goes to Stonechat seeking out Carter, where she tells Carter that his complete withdrawl from her life hurt her.  But the discussion is interupted as the dead body of a Yeti is dumped through the roof, with a message about Kendra's uncle Speed attached to it.

Review: It's weird to get a guest star again after just having one last issue, but considering the new connection between Fate and Hawkman I guess it's okay.  Johns is clearly doing his worldbuilding stuff here and that's just fine with me, because it's really well done.  The idea of Dr. Fate being part of the resurrection cycle is interesting in that it is a bit of a departure for the character, who typically was passed to helm-bearer to helm-bearer; I get the feeling that Johns was trying to make the "true" or "definitive" version of the character like he was doing with Hawkman.  Does anything even need to be said about Rags Morales at this point?  

The Yeti seems to me to be a sly reference to the Silver Age story "Valley Of The Vanishing Men!"

Image: Hawkman v.4:no.9, 2003, Andrew Robinson.

Read: Flash Comics #5

Issue: Flash Comics #5 (Reprinted in The Golden Age Hawkman Archives v.1)
Title: "The Kidnapping Of Ione Craig" (suggested title)
Published Date: May 1940
Generation: Golden Age Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: After reading about several assassination attempts on heads of state, including the President, Carter Hall happens upon an attempted murder on the street.  Saving the young woman, he soon learns that her name is Ione Craig, and that she is a secret agent.  Her mission is to go to Araby and get to the bottom of the Sect Of Assassians, who are behind the assassination attempts.  Carter decides that she needs a bodyguard and follows her as Hawkman.  Ione is kidnapped from the market district in Cairo, and taken to the palace of Hassan Ibn Sadah, the head of the Sect.  Sadah plans to kill off the leaders of several countries at once and place Sect puppets in their place, effectively making him ruler of the world.  Hawkman infiltrates the palace nd kills one of the assassians with his sling, but then retreats before Sadah's archers can get him.  Returning after dark, Hawkman attacks the hundreds of assassians head-on, frees Ione, and kills Sadah with one well-placed sling shot.  With Sadah dead, Hawkman figures the Sect will soon fall, and he and Ione escape to the desert.

Review: A short and sweet yarn, which is appropriate considering Hawkman himself expresses similar sentiment about the adventure!  Taking Hawkman out of the cityscape gives Moldoff a chance to draw some more fantastical elements, including an Arabian palace and lots of assassians and thugs who look like they stepped out of a Sinbad movie.  Hawkman is especially brutal this time out, killing two men in the span of ten pages.  Worth noting is that the story in the next issue of Flash Comics actually picks up right where this one left off, a first for Hawkman.

Image: Flash Comics #5, 1940, Jon L. Blummer.

Read: The Brave And The Bold #42

Issue: The Brave And The Bold #42 (Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Hawkman v.1)
Title: "The Menace of the Dragonfly Raiders"
Published Date: Jun/Jul 1962
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Out Of Continuity

Summary: Katar and Shayera return to Thanagar to report to the Chief of Police, Andar Pul.  After debriefing the couple on what they have been up to and what they have learned on Earth (allowing for a recap of previous adventures, including with Byth, who is in prison, and the Matter Master), he gives them some time off.  Soon they discover that Thanagar is being victimized by tiny thieves who ride dragonflies, and bizarrely use Terran criminal methods.  Soon it gets even stranger as it is revealed that the tiny thieves are actually robots, and the dragonflies commit the crimes themselves!

Katar suspects that somehow Byth, who had previously ingested a formula to change his shape at will, is behind the crimes, but he appears to be still incarcerated.  Stuck without a new lead, the Hawks pay a visit to the Veil of Valmoora, which is where Katar and Shayera first met years ago.  On that case, the rookie Shayera saved the older and more experienced Katar's life, which helped create the bond between the two of them.  Inspired by her memories, Shayera devises a plan to bring the robbers into the open by displaying a "gem tree" the dragonfly raiders can't resist.  The raiders do as suspected, and the Hawks trail them by following the trace radioactivity planted on the gems.  They discover that Byth is behind the crimes, having had the necessary elements for his formula smuggled in on envelopes.  A furious battle begins, with the raiders changing into all sorts of strange alien creatures.  It the end it comes down to Hawkman and Byth, who has changed into a Mirage Bird, which is able to create a falsh duplicate image of itself.  Katar is able to outwit Byth, and the mastermind is once more locked up -- this time without access to envelopes.  For his bravery in solving the crime, Katar Hol is awarded the Honor Wings, which are permanantly attached to his helmet.

Review: We get a lot of Thanagar in this issue, the first full-length Hawkman story since the character was revived in 1961.  Although I do wonder why there was a year between Hawkman stories?  Did they want to retool him into being a straight space hero with adventures on Thanagar, perhaps?  I don't know.  The addition of the Honor Wings brings the costume back full-circle to the original, Golden Age look, as well as the look that most fans think of when they think of Hawkman.  The team of Fox and Kubert are very easy to read on the Hawks, this story included.  The extra legnth allows them some time to play around and add details which are appreciated, including the "meet cute" of our couple.  I really enjoyed the history between Katar and Shayera and the explanation for the wing harnesses.  And it's good to see Matter Master again, even if it is a flashback.

Image: The Brave And The Bold #42, 1962, Joe Kubert.  

Read: Flash Comics #4

Issue: Flash Comics #4 (Reprinted in The Golden Age Hawkman Archives v.1)
Title: "Thought Terror"
Published Date: Apr 1940
Generation: Golden Age Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: A man has his future foretold by the Thought Terror, and is informed that he will become intoxicated and then die when he is hit by a car.  Later that evening, the man begins to feel drunk even though he has not had anything to drink.  As a car bears down on him, the man is saved by passer-by Carter Hall, who takes the man home, thinking it strange that he acts drunk but has no alcohol on his breath.  Carter figures that the Thought Terror was hypnotizing his clients and then making the predictions come true.  Hawkman flies off to investigate, first interrogating the driver and then going after the Terror himself.  He runs into trouble with the Terror's mesmerized guards, who in their hypnotized state are unstoppable.  He is captured and thrown in the dungeon.

Shiera finds the dungeon, and then brings Hawkman a blowtorch by which he manages to escape.  Hawkman then tries to find his shield, which he will use (like Perseus and Medusa) to avoid the hypnotic stare of the Terror.  Finding his weapon, Hawkman uses the shiny shield to reflect the Terror's hypnotic stare back on himself, changing him mentally into a harmless kitten.  With the Terror's mind no longer able to control those he hypnotized, his victims and henchmen return to normal.

Review: Much better than the previous Golden Age adventure, this tale of hypnosis and extortion was a lot of fun despite being a fairly quick read.  The Thought Terror makes for an interesting villian (who sadly never re-appeared), and his come-uppance at the end was well deserved and amusing.  This is the first time that artist Sheldon Moldoff would provide art for Hawkman, and he is a good fit, building upon the Alex Raymond look which Neville had in the previous installments but starting to move away from the science fiction look into more of a fantasy style.  It fits the characters very well, especially here with the hooded and robed baddies and Hawkman wielding an ancient shield.

Image: Flash Comics #4, 1940, George Storm.

Read: The Brave And The Bold #36.2

Issue: The Brave and The Bold #36 (Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Hawkman v.1)
Title: "Shadow-Thief of Midway City"
Published Date: June/July 1961
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Changed Generations

Summary: Hawkman and Hawkgirl are recalled to Thanagar by their superiors, but before they can head home, a strange shadowy creature robs the Midway Bank right in front of the helpless security guards!  The Hawks give chase, but the two-dimensional Shadow-Thief is able to escape since they can't lay a hand on him.  With their sharp vision, though, they are able to see his profile, and identify him as Carl Sands, convicted burglar recently released from prison.  Conveniently reminiscing, Sands recalls how he became interested in shadows and light while in prison, and how he accidently discovered another dimension by messing with a color-disk projector.  A being in the other dimension, Thar Dan, was in trouble, and was saved by Sands' meddling.  Rewarding his savior, Thar gave Sands a device known as the Dimensiometer, which gives Sands his two-dimensional abilities.  Unfortunately, if over-used, the device will destroy the Earth by creating another Ice Age -- a fact Sands was unconcerned with.

The Hawks spring a trap on Shadow-Thief when he commits his next job, trapping him in the air.  Realizing that he needs to become three-dimension to escape, Sands tears the Dimensiometer from his wrist, but that is his downfall, as the Hawks are able to catch him in that moment.  As for the device itself, it is now ruined -- just one activation away from causing a new Ice Age.

Review: The most well-known of Hawkman's Rogues Gallery (admittedly not a huge feat, considering) makes his first appearance here, and Shadow-Thief is so well realized, that while some of the details changed, his basic motif has remained the same ever since.  A thief makes a great foe for a museum curator, and when you have heroes who rely on weapons, making him a shadow who cannot be touched is brilliant.  Definitely the "A" story from this issue, with lots of action, police work, and the always-awesome Kubert art, especially on the strangely proportioned Thief.  So far, this has been one of my favorite stories in the first Showcase volume.  

Image: The Brave and The Bold #36, 1961, Joe Kubert.

Read: Hawkman v.4:no.8

Issue: Hawkman v.4:no.8 (reprinted in Hawkman v.2: Allies & Enemies)
Title: "Small Talk"
Published Date: Dec 2002
Generation: Modern Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity,

Summary: Carter Hall meets up with his professor friend Ray Palmer (AKA The Atom) at a fancy French restaurant to discuss Carter's recent return to the land of the living (along with why he has brown hair).  Meanwhile, Chief Nedal and Officer Isabella continue to look into the cold case of the murder of Hawkgirl's parents, finding a lead involving local baddie and counterfeiter Warwhip.  Hawkgirl rushes the villain at his apartment, who not only seems to be into using his whips in the bedroom but also can create whips of flesh from out of his arms.  As the pair struggles in the sky over St. Roch, Chief Nedal shoots Warwhip dead.  Kendra, upset over another lead being dashed, returns home and can't sleep, feeling alone and pushed away by Carter.  

Ray tells Carter that he wants to study the Nth metal (to which Carter agrees), and advises his friend that love is a complex and powerful emotion, stating that he got married because "it was the smart choice" and not necessarily the right choice, and so Carter must be careful with how he treats Kendra and what he expects out of her.  Carter flatly states that they are partners and nothing more.  Bidding his friend adieu via long distance telephone line (paying for dinner as well, since he knows Ray still makes a teacher's salary), Carter returns to his bunk at Stonechat Musuem, only to have his rest interrupted by the sudden appearance of his son, Dr. Fate.

Review: Let me just say that while the dislike between Hawkman and Green Arrow may be a bit much in this series, the friendship between Atom and Hawkman is pitch-perfect.  The notion of Hawkman and the Atom being friends taps into a lot of themes which work well (not the least of which is the big burly athlete who is friends with the weak nerdy guy), and its nice to see them played out here, even if Ray Plamer would go off the deep end a short time later.  I like Carter's personality here, as well.  After pushing too hard to win Kendra's affections, he is now stubbornly resigned to the "just partners and nothing more" attitude.  There are readers who don't like the hardheaded Hawkman but I like him, since it does help to differentiate him a bit from his contemporaries as well as help me identify with him.  The subplot about Kendra's parents builds as well, with the bizarre Warwhip making for easy Hawk-fodder like Bloque was earlier.  St. Roch is not exactly Central City when it comes to local baddies, is it?  And Rags Morales' pencils remain consistantly excellent.  There is not much action this issue, just a short fight with Warwhip, but even the quieter moments are handled really well.  Despite the cliffhanger spoiling the "done in one" aspect, this is a very cool comic which fans of both the Winged Wonders and the Tiny Titan would enjoy reading.

Image: Hawkman v.4:no.8, 2002, Andrew Robinson.

Read: The Brave And The Bold #36.1

Issue: The Brave and The Bold #36
Title: "Strange Spells of the Sorcerer"
Published Date: June/July 1961
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Changed Generations

Summary: Mavis Trent makes a minotaur appear accidently when she reads an incantation from an ancient relic.  Later, the weirdness continues when Hawkman and Hawkgirl encounter and battle a legendary Phoenix in the skies over Hawk Valley.  The monsters are stealing items which, when combined, can be used to cast a powerful spell to give a sorcerer amazing powers.  But, local occult expert Konrad Kaslak dismisses this theory, saying that the monsters are just illusions created to cover the thief's tracks.  Hawkman and Hawkgirl don't buy it, and do battle with more monsters including a dragon, some centaurs, and Medusa herself, before finding the would-be wizard: Kaslak himself.  The Hawks put an end to his magical ways and recover the artifacts. Unconvinced, Hawkman and Hawkgirl attempt to intercede before the remaining two objects are also acquired, by battling a dragon, centaurs, and Medusa, as they deduce that Kaslak is the would-be sorcerer. They arrive just in time to prevent his spell from succeeding.  
 
Review: A pretty unremarkable story, considering.  Kaslak is not compelling as a villian and there is little sense of threat to the Hawks from him.  The monsters summoned by him are more interesting, at least.  Mavis Trent continues to give the Silver Age Lois Lane a run for the money in the "bumbling girl" department.  Perfectly servicable "non-cover" story for the era, but not as high quality or memorable as similar stories -- such as those featuring the Flash from the same general time period.

Image: The Brave and The Bold #36, 1961, Joe Kubert.

Read: Flash Comics #3

Issue: Flash Comics #3 (Reprinted in The Golden Age Hawkman Archives v.1)
Title: "The Secret of Dick Blendon" (suggested title)
Published Date: Mar 1940
Generation: Golden Age Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity, With Retcons

Summary: On patrol on night, Hawkman sees his old college buddy Dick Blendon sleepwalking, then returning to his home.  The next day, however, he discovers that his friend has died!  Paying his respects, Carter Hall runs into Dick' fellow scientist, Una Cathay, of whom he is immediately suspicious.  His suspicions turn out to be well founded as he soon discovers that Dick's body is missing.  Una and her accomplice Rolf have enslaved Dick and several other scientists with a strange formula, and are trying to extract the chemical secret to eternal life which Dick has developed.  Pretending to be interested, Hawkman infiltrates their lab, but Una sees through the ruse and ties a hair onto his wrist, with which she will burn the hero to death using voodoo.  Hawkman is narrowly saved when Shiera sees the hair and gets it off him right before it bursts into flame.  Returning to the lab, Hawkman frees the scientists, then gives chase to the captors.  Rolf kills himself by falling off the roof while trying to grab Hawkman, and Una herself wraps her car around a tree in her escape efforts.  Back home, the scientists say that Hawkman's identity is safe with them, and the Winged Wonder advises Dick to destroy the formula.

Review: This story was a little goofy, what with Hawkman being suspicious of Una because "she looks evil," to the scientists being trapped in big laboratory flasks, to Shiera spotting a single hair tied around Carter's wrist from across the room.  Still, a good adventure, although I am starting to really get the "Golden Age heroes didn't let their foes survive" vibe pretty strongly from this book so far!

Image: Flash Comics #3, 1940, Sheldon Moldoff.

Read: The Brave And The Bold #35.2

Issue: The Brave And The Bold #35 (Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Hawkman v.1)
Title: "Valley Of The Vanishing Men!"
Published Date: Apr/May 1961
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Changed Generation

Summary: Mavis Trent disappears in the Himalayas after a run in with a Yeti.  Investigating the disappearance, Hawkman is clued in about the legend of the Yeti, which prompts an Absorbascon-flashback.  It's too late, though, as Hawkgirl encounters a Yeti and also disappears.  It's then that Katar is filled in by one of his feathered friends: the Yetis are aliens who crashed on the Earth thousands of years ago, and are unable to repair their ship.  Anyone who sees a member of their race is teleported and put in suspended animation in order to keep themselves hidden.  Taking the fight to the Yetis, Hawkman soon discovers that wood can scramble their technology; by holding onto a wooden staff, he is able to resist their teleportation power.  Finding the Yeti village, Hawkman discovers the artifact which is holding Hawkgirl, Mavis, and the others captive.  Freeing the prisoners, Hawkman shows the villagers how wood will protect them from the Yetis, and a peace is negotiated.

Review: Nice little Silver Age DC story.  As a DC hero in the late 50s and early 60s, I think there was a contractual obligation to meet up with aliens at least 4 times a year.  I did like the use of the wooden weapons to overcome the alien technology.  Kubert's art is of course amazing, even in the black and white reprint.  

Image: The Brave And The Bold #35, 1961, Joe Kubert.

Read: Flash Comics #2

Issue: Flash Comics #2 (Reprinted in The Golden Age Hawkman Archives v.1)
Title: "The Globe Conquerors" (suggested title)
Published Date: Feb 1940
Generation: Golden Age Carter,
Retcon Status: In Continuity, With Retcons

Summary: When skyscrapers in New York begin to collapse, Hawkman swoops in and saves his fiancee Shiera from the falling debris.  It seems that the disaster was caused by a man namaed Alexander, who desires a modern version of his namesake's empire.  How does Shiera know this?  Because she got herself and Carter invited to dinner at Alexander's estate, of course!  Saying that it is good to be gracious to one's foes, the pair meet the bulbous-headed Alexander, who shows them his invention: a ray which causes objects to become immensely heavy.  He then offers Hawkman a million dollars to leave him alone.  Carter does not take the offer, but leaves in peace, only to sneak back in to see if Alexander's ray effects Ninth Metal, which it does not.  Arming himself with a net and trident made of Ninth Metal, Hawkman attacks Alexander, but is caught in a trap when the "Globe Conqueror" turns the ray on Hawkman himself, weighing him down.  Shiera manages to free Hawkman, who stabs Alexander with the trident and destroys his machine.

Review: A story that is in a lot of ways very typical of the Golden Age: A mad scientist with a crazy invention, a very girly love interest (Shiera at one point says not to point the ray at her because she "weighs enough"), and a hero who kills the villain at the end.  Fox can't seem to decide if his hero is named Hawkman, The Hawk-Man, or The Hawk.  Neville's work definitely has a comic strip vibe, but despite the small panels the art has a great pulpy look to it.  I really liked that the modern day Alexander The Great had a lumpy head for some reason.  The idea of eating dinner at your enemy's house to be gracious has a sort of Fleming feel to it, don't you think?  Overall this story brought a smile to my face, partly for it's simple superheroics and partly for it's dated sensibilities; ie, Alexander actually puts an ad in the newspaper demanding that the US government surrender to him.

Image: Flash Comics #2, 1940, Dennis Neville.

Read: The Brave and The Bold #35.1

Issue: The Brave and The Bold #35
Title: "Menace of the Matter Master!"
Published Date: Apr/May 1961
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Changed Generation (Silver Age stories which originally featured Katar now featuring Carter)... at least, I think so.  

Summary: After an armored car is robbed in Midway City, and then strange living meteor men rob the Midway City Art Center, Hawkman and Hawkgirl investigate.  The run into scientist Mark Madrill, who had been trying the old trick of transmuting lead into gold.  Instead, he accidentally created a strange element (dubbed Mentachem) which allowed him to command inert matter, and control any matter in it's natural state.  Forming his Mentachem into a wand, he created a costume and dubbed himself the Matter Master.  The Hawks fight his meteor men, but the Master is able to escape by turning animated helicopter blades on our heroes.  Later, Matter Master uses animated flowers to steal an ancient parchment from the Midway City Museum, which Hawkman is able to track, finding the Master's cave hideout.  After a struggle involving all of the air being sucked out of the cave, the Hawks seperate the Master and his wand and arrest him.

Review: The first Hawkman villian which anyone has ever heard of is introduced here, and it's a pretty typical Silver Age story.  Matter Master fits in with alchemy-styled baddies including, that's right, Dr. Alchemy.  The Mentachem wand is put to good use, but his Merlin-esque costume is a little silly and not very menacing.  Still, he's not a bad villian, but it's too bad he didn't show up much more in Hawkman's solo adventures.  Midway City continues to get fleshed out, and Police Commissioner Emmett makes another appearance, and Byth pops up in a flashback.  Kubert's art is top notch, and Fox's straight-laced story (despite the living chopper blades and rock men) is enjoyable for the era.

Image: The Brave And The Bold #35, 1961, Joe Kubert.
Image: Matter Master, unknown date, unknown artist.

Read: The Brave and The Bold v.3:no.15

Issue: The Brave And The Bold v.3:no.15
Title: "Wings And Arrows"
Published Date: July 23, 2008
Generation: Modern Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: Nightwing sends the Justice League and Justice Society on a mission into Trigon's dimension, but it's a ruse -- seems that a spirit from Nanda Parbat has overthrown Rama Kushna, and now can send out spirits to possess hosts like Deadman, only the possession kills the host!  So now it is up to Nightwing, Hawkman, and Deadman to break into Nanda Parbat, rescue Green Arrow (who was captured in the previous issue after "killing" Deadman, allowing him to escape), and restore Rama Kushna before the spirits spread all over the Earth.  Fighting to his lair, the heroes manage to trick the demon, with Nightwing using a bit of Nth metal to fly close enough to steal the demon's amulet, which a thorougly-tortured Green Arrow manages to destroy with a well-placed shot.  With order restored, the heroes part ways -- but not before Deadman slugs Green Arrow for risking everything on such a risky trick.

Review: In the latest issue of Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge, we get to see a single panel of Shadow-Thief as drawn by Scott Kollins.  Couple that with this issue's depiction of Hawkman by Kollins and I have come to the very fannish conclusion that Oh My God Kollins Needs To Draw A Hawkman Title.  I picked this up after Adama dropped me a line about it's existance, and I am glad I did.  "Old school" doesn't begin to describe this tremendously fun team-up, as Waid not only nails the personalities of all the heroes but makes their interactions bouncy and upbeat, like team-ups of days long past.  I may have to seriously find room in the budget for this title, although from what I hear it may not last.  Great find for this Hawkfan!

Read: Flash Comics #1

Issue: Flash Comics #1 (Reprinted in The Golden Age Hawkman Archives v.1)
Title: "The Origin Of Hawkman" (suggested title)
Published Date: January, 1940
Generation: Golden Age Carter,
Retcon Status: In Continuity, With Retcons

Summary: Collector Carter Hall receives a package from a friend containing an ancient Egyptian dagger.  Looking at the weapon, he faints and flashes back to ancient times, where he is the noble Prince Khufu.  Khufu defeats the agents of Hath-Set, the trecherous priest of the "Hawk god" Anubis, and reunites with his beloved Shiera.  Hath-Sets army lays siege to their hold, and eventually Khufu is overcome and stabbed with the dagger, followed by Shiera.  Waking back in the present, Carter goes outside to clear his head and runs into a frightened mob fleeing the subway.  The tracks are glowing blue with electrical energy.  In the mob, he runs into the spitting image of his ancient love, who is surprised that this stranger knows her name, as well as the fact that she has been having similar dreams!  Taking her back to his home, Carter fashions himself a costume and wings made of Ninth Metal, and arms himself with a quarterstaff, and sets out to find the cause of the electrical disturbances.  Hawkman goes to the home of Dr. Anton Hastor, electrical genius, and reincarnation of Hath-Set!  After a short fight, Hastor hypnotises Shiera from afar, bringing her to his home.  But Hawkman is prepared, tossing a net of Ninth Metal over her to break the spell, andu sing his crossbow to best his foe, and destroy Hastor's lab (and seemingly the doctor with it).  Hawkman saves the day, and a new hero is born!

Review: And like that, the world was introduced to Hawkman.  Gardner Fox may have bee trying to fill up pages but the story crafted here for the origin of this winged hero is very compelling, thematically tying more into the adventure comic strips of the time than anything already established as "superheroic."  Similarly, Dennis Neville's art has a pulpy, Raymond-esque quality to it which fits the times nicely.  Fun to see Carter as a blonde.  I think Fox meant Osiris with the Hawk god, but Anubis is closer to the "god of death" than Osiris, so I guess it's a give and take.  I liked Hastor's vague mad science lab, creating "lightnings" that somehow attacked the subway line.  I have not read much in the way of Golden Age comics so these are still quite novel to me, and I really enjoyed the origin and introduction of the Winged Wonder.

Read: Trinity #11

Issue: Trintity #11
Title: "The Next Step"
Published Date: August 13, 2008
Generation: Modern Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: On a mission to stop thieves who have been stealing relics, Oracle recruits the Outsiders to watch the Lourve, and Hawkman and Gangbster to watch the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.  Archaeologist Carter Hall is the guest of honor, and he showcases an ancient shield made of Nth metal -- which is the bait for the thieves.  Suddenly, there is an explosion at the Air & Space Museum, and Gangbuster runs to investigate while Hawkman grabs his harness.  Gangbuster arrives to find the quartet of thieves --  Swashbuckler, Primat, T.V.M., and Sun-Chained-In-Ink -- stealing the space plane which Superman saved when he first appeared in Metropolis.  Gangbuster has his hands full until Hawkman crashes in, carrying his mace and the shield, to even the odds.  The villians manage to escape with the space plane, but not before Gangbuster tosses the shield at Primat, who takes it.  With the Nth metal in their possession, the thieves can be tracked...

Review: A very cool little backup adventure for Hawkman and Gangbuster.  Short and to the point, it gave a good introduction to the two characters as well as tied back into the main story (where we see where some of the relics they are stealing end up).  The Outsiders cameo was amusing (Metamorpho is disguised as the relic, with the others as patrons; Rex makes a comment about Katana's sweet "gams" in her cocktail dress), especially considering I'm a fan.  Nicieza's Hawkman is amusing, responding to Primat's comment about how good he smells with "We'll market a cologne after I bludgeon you!"  The nerd in me must say, it's not "St. Roch Museum," but "Stonechat Museum," although I suppose the woman doing the introductions could have just misspoke.  Tom Derenick's Carter is strong and bulky without being too much, and I like the look of the helmet with the red eyes peering out.  Hopefully this team will be involved more in the story later on.  The overall issue is not bad but clearly part of something larger.

Image: Trinity #11, 2008, Andy Kubert.

Read: Hawkman v.4:no.5-6

Issues: Hawkman v.4:no.5-6 (Reprinted in Hawkman V.1: Endless Flight)
Title: "Slings And Arrows" Parts 1-2
Published Date: Sep-Oct 2002 (trade paperback released Feb, 2003)
Generation: Modern Carter  
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: The murders -- via arrow impalment or the results thereof -- of several prominant residents brings Green Arrow to St. Roch.  The Hawks witness the latest attack as it happens, and Hawkman confronts Arrow, thinking him the perpetrator.  The two former teammates blast one another verbally, as Arrow explains that he is being framed.  All of the victims were part of a business deal gone sour on some land south of St. Roch, of which Arrow was an investor.  Seeking one of the surviving investors, the Hawks and Arrow come across The Spider, who's father was the Golden Age adventurer/criminal also known as The Spider.  Hoping to rub out all of the other investors to get all of the money from the sale of the property for himself, Spider and Arrow being a furious back and forth duel.  Spider is put down for the count after the Hawks double-uppercut him, and then Arrow wounds him in his aiming eye.  The plot stopped, Arrow and Hawkman make their tense and unfriendly goodbyes, but not before Arrow advises Hawkman to get out of the helmet and wings every once in a while.  Carter takes Arrow up on his advice, and cleans up very nicely to take Jayita out on the town -- much to Kendra's surprise.  Meanwhile, Spider physically pushes himself to regain his aim and be able to extract revenge.

Review: The appearance by Green Arrow is very welcome, and Ollie plays a bit of the reader's devil's advocate, asking the questions that we were thinking, including "when was the last time you took off the helmet?" and "what do you know about love as opposed to obsession?"  The interaction between the two heroes is downright hostile, with Hawkman flat-out telling Arrow to stay out of St. Roch at the end.  Not that Hawkgirl is much nicer -- she tells Arrow that she can smell a "dog in heat" from a mile away, and that she was forewarned about him by Black Canary.  The setup for the story was classic but treated well (a hero... framed!), and the interaction of the three stars really made this one worthwhile.  I am still undecided on what level of animosity I like between Ollie and Carter.  Here, their bickering even extends into the battle ("You're in my line of sight!"  "Then find a new one!") and really does demonstrate Carter's inflexibility.

Image: Hawkman v.4:no.1, 2002, Andrew Robinson.

Read: Hawkman Special #1

Issue: Hawkman Special #1 (Although, there was another Hawkman Special #1 published twenty-two years prior to this one)
Title: "Actuality Contamination"
Published Date: Oct 2008 (released August 6, 2008)
Generation: Modern Carter  
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Synopsis: In a side story to the ongoing Rann-Thanagar Holy War, Hawkman takes a trio of Rannian soldiers to investigate some strange energy readings, and winds up facing down the mysterious and seemingly omnipotent Demiurge in the battlefield of Carter's own mind.  The Demiurge tells Carter that he has been living a lie, and has been dealing with it for so long that he simply has assumed it to be true.  Shrugging off Hawkman's attacks, the Demiurge transports them to ancient Egypt, right as Hath-Set murders Prince Khufu and Princess Chay-Ara.  Carter, unable to stop the proceedings, rages ineffectively, until the Demiurge begins to ask the hard questions: why has history completelt forgotten Prince Khufu?  And his father?  How many brothers did he have?  Why has Cartner never thought about these questions before?   The Demiurge reaches into Carter's brain and "removes" this imperfection, calling it part of a series of problems introduced because of the Crisis (Hawkman says the "Infinite Crisis," but the image more suggests COIE), before transporting them back to the present.  Calling him one of the "Abberent Six," the Demiurge says that he and Hawkman shall cross paths again in the future, and says that Hawkman shall have to embrace his true identity: Katar Hol.  Flying off, Hawkman wonders what all this means, how much of it was true, and why the Demiurge called him the name of a dead man.

Review: This was an interesting one-shot, with a lot of weird goings-on and seemingly contradictory actions.  So, is all the stuff that Goyers and Johns created now not true?  Or is it only not true for the part of Carter that was Katar Hol?  Remember, in The Return Of Hawkman we learned that Carter was reborn in Katar's body, and Katar's spirit eventually drifted off to rest.  Could that be the problem?  You'll recall that I speculated that we could get a split between Carter and Katar, and this development could theoretically support that -- since all these problems came about because of "The Crisis," it's not unreasonable to think that undoing said problems might involve undoing the combining of the two Hawkmen.  Of course part of that is just fanboy wishful thinking on my part.  Anyway, as far as the issue itself, it's pretty good, with lots of weird backgrounds and heroic poses for Hawkman for Starlin to show off with.  The dialogue is a little heavy-handed for 2008 (at one point Hawkman actually shouts something to the effect of "Everything I know has been a terrible lie!"), but Starlin is certainly game on that end as well.  Whether this will be but a footnote or a major turning point remains to be seen, but I felt this was worth the price.