Issue: Hawkman v.4:no.10 (reprinted in Hawkman v.2: Allies & Enemies)
Title: "Snow Blind"
Published Date: Feb 2003
Generation: Modern Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity
Summary: Following the note pinned to the yeti's body at the end of the last issue, Hawkman and Hawkgirl (along with Jayita and Danny) head to the Himalayas to track down Speed Saunders. They are lead by a mysterious sherpa named Rajak Darkraven, who's raven guide helps him navigate the treacherous climbs. Hawkman is cool and professional to both Hawkgirl and Jayita, which makes both women shake their heads at his stubborness.
Back in St. Roch, Chief Nedal continues to dig deeper into the case of Kendra's murdered parents, and is warned by Officer Isabella that he is becoming obsessed with her. Nedal dismisses it and claims he is trying to clear a cold case. At Stonechat Museum, Jeremy Barlow has found that Susan Morrison has snuck one of her sculptures (a rude one of Jeremy at that!) into a display and removes it, but the two get a scare when a familiar ghost with a monocle and top hat appears before them.
In the Himalayas, as the team begins to crest onto a planteau, they suddenly are attacked by a ferocious band of yetis. The fight is furious in the wind-driven snow, until the yetis cries cause a small avalanche, burying the entire team... except Darkraven, who has lead them to an ancient temple. Here we find the person who hired him: Helene Astor, the re-incarnation of Hath-Set!
Review: Things take an interesting turn here as old school Hawk baddie Helene Astor pops up. I suppose this should not be too much of a surprise as Johns and Robinson pretty much told us about her in the profile of Kristopher Roderic in the Secret Files & Origins issue. It's fun to get another exotic setting, and Morales has plenty to keep him busy this time out between the snow, the winter gear for most of the team (save the Hawks, naturally, thanks to the effects of the Nth metal!) and the yeti tribe. The appearance of Gentleman Ghost at Stonechat doesn't get resolved for a while, but does tie in to issue #7, which I will have a write up for later. All in all another strong issue.
Image: Hawkman v.4:no.10, 2003, Rags Morales.
3 comments:
You know, the whole Yeti angle could really had some potential. Every sci-fi hero needs a secret world to adventure in. The Atom had microscopic realms that were ignored way too often, Aquaman had the entire ocean, Superman and GL had the stars....Hawkman did as well, but the Yeti thing could definitely have been interesting. I'm curious to see where this incarnation goes. I like when these throw away ideas from the SA are reworked, but unfortunately, most of them done these days turn out badly. There is just too much wrong with modern comics...even good ideas get buried by the dreck.
Remember, the Silver Age Green Lantern used to have the far future as well, in the guise of Pol Manning!
The general vibe I have gotten so far from this volume of Hawkman is Indiana Jones meets Conan. High flying, fun adventure, but starring a gruff "brute" of a hero (as Green Arrow called Carter earlier in the series).
Hmm, that is one angle I'm not familiar with! It figures that GL went to the future. I think every Silver Age hero did at one time or another. I remember Aquaman doing it a couple times in various permutations.
You know...I'd rather it be Indiana Jones meets Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon. I prefer the more urbane, but still tough as nails Hawkman, to mister mace-with-wings.
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