Monday, May 10, 2010

Read: Brightest Day #1


Issue: Brighest Day #1
Title: "Second Chances"
Published Date: May 2010
Generation: Modern Carter, Modern Shiera
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: Over the Andes, Hawkman and Hawkgirl follow the leadings of the shard of the Heart of Zamaron, and end up on a cargo plane transporting the bons of Prince Khufu and Princess Chay-era.  The two Hawks go to town on the mercenaries on board, and are able to smash through most of them.  When Hawkgirl is in trouble, Hawkman rages that he is not losing her so quickly; she replies by taking out her assailant and telling him that he won't be rid of her that easily.  The head of the team arranges for a teleport out of harms way, then shoots the pilots.  With the plane heading down, the Hawks grab the survivors and bail, with no clue as to why the bones survived the end of the Blackest Night, who wanted them, and for what purpose.

Elsewhere, the shadowy "client" is revealed to be a reincarnation of Hath-Set, who now possesses the remains.

Review: The maxi-series kicks off proper here, and it's a heck of a ride.  The non-Hawk stuff includes some tremendous scenes with Aquaman and Mera, including the return of a character very important to the Aquaman mythos, Ronnie and Jason discovering a problem with their new Firestorm matrix, and the Martian Manhunter heading off to investigate a new mystery.

But the Hawk scenes are my focus here.  They get essentially an extended action sequence, fighting in close quarters on the cargo plane.  The art crew, anchored by Ivan Reis, puts over the danger and power of Hawkman and Hawkgirl beautifully herein.  The banter is similar to the #0 issue -- Hawkman is overly concerned about Shiera and Shiera has to reassure him -- but it's great seeing them in action together.  The reveal of the baddie is not overly surprising, although this version does not look like Roderick and I guess is a new reincarnation.  (Besides the big villain reveal this issue belongs to another character.)  All told this was a very good issue and I am totally on board for the series.

Image: Brightest Day #1, 2010, David Finch.

2 comments:

Count Drunkula said...

Thanks for the review, Luke. Since I started ordering my books online I won't get the first two issues of Brightest Day until June. I'm counting on blogs like yours, the Aquaman Shrine, the Diabolu Idol-Head and others to tide me over with spoilers.

Luke said...

No problemo, Ryan. It's a good issue, and it looks like the DCU will be at least to an extent revolving around this series, and to me thats a good thing.