Hawkbooks Incoming!

My latest box shipped from DCBS yesterday, so that means I can expect to get my mitts on Savage Hawkman #17 and Justice League of America #1 shortly.  I also made a trek to Borderlands today to pick up Earth 2 #9 and #10, which I had passed on originally due to budget.  Ironically, the cancellation of Savage Hawkman (along with some other books I read such as Sword of Sorcery) means that I can afford to buy Earth 2 again.  As William Shatner once said, "Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes."

This move is probably better in the long run, as I think Earth 2 will last longer than the 20 issues which Savage Hawkman is slated to run.  But then again, I have a horrible track record at predicting this sort of thing, so eh.  Right now I am digging what's going down in Earth 2 so I'll just enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

How Does a Pacifist Walk The Way Of The Warrior?

Sometimes I question why I do mail order.

"The savings" is the correct answer, and the answer I always come back to.  But it makes it very difficult to wait to read these books that everyone else is talking about, especially when it comes to Hawkman.  I can't comment on Savage Hawkman #17 or Justice League of America #1 because my dang box won't ship until this week thanks to DCBS's new shipping policies.  Hrrn.

I want to read JLoA (prepare yourselves: I bought the South Carolina variant) specifically because of what I have been reading online about Hawkman being portrayed once more as a brutal warrior.  This is in line with how Johns wrote the character in both the pre-Infinite Crisis JSA as well as in Volume 4.  I just finished up the "Wings of Fury" collection from that Volume, and that was the final conclusion of the Headhunter storyline -- that Carter needed to embrace his warrior self and abandon the "masks" of civilization which he wore.

Considering that during this period it was very common for Hawkman to be called "Conan with wings" this makes some sense -- for Carter Hall, ancient soul reborn countless times, anyway.  It makes less sense for Katar Hol, Thanagarian police officer, but the alien Hawkmans were usually less "warrior" and more "tough guy cop" which lines up.  Space Dirty Harry works for me.  (I'm still waiting for a character to fill the role of Space Paul Kersey but that is another matter.)

Which puts us in a weird sort of position as our New 52 Hawkman is Katar Hol, adoptive Thanagarian royalty.  And non-warlike adoptive Thanagarian royalty at that.  How does this guy -- the guy who was the "peaceful" brother back on Thanagar -- become the warrior like Johns clearly wants to write him?

In retrospect, a lot of Savage Hawkman really doesn't add up at all.  What was the uniform Katar/Carter was destroying at the start of the series, for one.  And why is the peacenik brother suddenly this "savage" just because he was a fugitive?  (At this point I would almost buy him becoming savage NOW because of the hounding and pursuit in "Hawkman: Wanted," coupled with Shayera's death, but who knows?)  

I think it's plain looking at it now that Tony Daniel had one thing in mind, and then that got jettisoned when Rob Liefeld came on board.  And then that itself was jettisoned when he left and now the character is back in a sort of narrative limbo.  

Why does this sound so familiar?

What is it about certain characters (like Hawkman) who attract this sort of wonkiness?  My theory is that it is the multiple origins, and different creators having different favorites of the origins, and those favorites not playing well together.

There has to be something more to why Katar has changed his mind about violence and the way of the warrior.  I have a gut feeling that Johns intends to address it as he has shown a prediliction towards that characterization in the past.  We'll see soon enough, I imagine.  At least those of us who don't have to wait for our mail order boxes.

So. Yeah.

There's an old joke that you know a salesman is lying when his lips are moving.  There's a newer joke that you know a blogger is lying when they say they will post more often.

Running a blog is the definition of a labor of love.  You're certainly not getting paid to do it, and any time you devot to it is time away from family, or work, or relaxation, or chores, or whatnot.  There's little upside in terms of opportunity cost in running a blog.  Yet lots of us do it -- specifically the loosely knit circle of DC Universe character specific blogs which have all sort of sprung up in the wake of Rob Kelly's Aquaman Shrine (no pun intended).  

We're an odd bunch of bloggers with an odd spectrum of approaches, styles, interests, and mindsets.  We run the gamut from one coast to the other, one side of the aisle to the other, new school, old school, high school, grad school, and clown college.  But at the end of the day we all share a love for the DC Universe and at least some subset of the characters who inhabit it and interact with each other.

Yeah, get to the point Luke.

Like I said this is a labor of love.  And when things get turned up to 11 in other parts of your life, the labors of love inevitably suffer.  It's simply the way it is.  And this is no different.  Working as the sole instrument engineer on a construction site is a demanding, time consuming task which will creep and creep and creep until it takes over all of your waking hours.  If you let it.  And while I have successfully fought that battle on other fronts, this battlefield was lost.

The other night I was cleaning out my nightstand and came across two nearly completed Hawkman collections.  One was the "Wings of Fury" trade for Volume 4.  The other was the Golden Age Hawkman Archives.  I stared at those two books for a few minutes and felt a wave of feelings.  Guilt, mostly.  Guilt for not keeping up the blog.  Then a bit of regret.  Then... inspiration.

I put aside the other comics I was reading.  Shogun Warriors was published several decades ago, it can wait a few more weeks.  Morbius is a vampire, he's effectively immortal.  Godzilla will understand.  And I did something I had not done in months.

I sat down and read Hawkman comics and had a grin on my face the entire time.

I had stopped reading my Hawkman collection because I didn't want to take the notes and blog about it.  Isn't that a stupid reason to stop reading the adventures of a character who I have come to love over the last few years?  A character whom I loved enough to devote this blog to him and his partners and foes and associates?

I started this blog as a chronicle of "one fan's journey into Hawk fandom."  I think it is safe to say that "I have arrived" there.  Being Carter Hall needs to be refocused.  Repurposed.  I know all about Hawkman, whichever one you want to talk about.  It's not a journey into the fandom now.  I am part of it.

They say that writers gotta write.  Well, bloggers gotta blog.  And while I may not be as up-to-the-minute as I want to be with news and tips, but I feel like I need this.  I need to get back to a place where I can sit down at night after the kids are asleep and the dishes are washed and the email is answered and just read comics.  Read comics where a pair of winged warriors use the weapons of the past and the technology of the future to fight the crime of the present.  Maybe the posts themselves won't be as structured as they were.  Maybe I'll finally talk about the villains I have been promising for years.  Maybe, maybe.  

But I know that I want to read Hawk comics and blog about Hawk comics and talk about them with all of you out there in Internet Land.  

So now I have to ask: Will you have that discussion with me?

Kindest Regards,

~Luke
 

Hawkman Families: Nephilim of Hawkworld

So, yes, evidently I still run this blog, despite my absence over the last few weeks.  And what better way to get back into the swing of things than with another tenuously connected Hawkman Family post?!

"Zauriel was called back to Heaven before the 4 King Host and was told by the Eagle Host that the Presence has a special mission for him, but he did not know what it was. Zauriel was told by the Presence himself as to not let any of the others know of this mission, Zauriel was to find and take a Nephilim under his wings. Zauriel was shocked as he did not know any fallen had ever mated with a human. Zauriel was told of the Guardian Angel Christopher from the Human Host who fell in love with his charge and fell from grace to be with her. The two had together had a son, who is now coming of age and his heavenly gifts are about to be bestowed upon him and his father was killed by Asmodel during his attack on Earth. The young boy would be at the center of a battle, his blood would revive the Angelic powers of the Fallen who were stripped of their powers by the Presence, and allow them access to Heaven once again. Young Christopher has no idea of what he will face in the days to come."

Oh boy.

I still don't buy this whole "Zauriel is part of the Hawk Family" stuff, even less than I buy the shoe-horning of the later Hawk and Dove in there.  All this angelic stuff is fine, but it has no real basis in anything we have seen in the various Hawkman comics over the years.  The only really religious stuff we got was not of the Judeo-Christian variety, so this stuff just seems to come out of left field for me.

His art looks more like an update of the X-Man Angel than anything related to the Hawkman mythos. Although I guess he does have a touch of St. Bastion in there as well.  (Wonder if/when we will see him again?)

Be sure to check out the other Families posts today!

The Atom's Family: Bumblebee @ Power of the Atom

Lady Shiva @ DC Bloodlines

Image: Nephilim, 2010, NightwingTAS, Image Retrieved from Super Buddies.  

Savage Hawkman #17, Earth 2 #9, JLoA #1 Solicits

Every month, DC's Justice League solicits are the first ones posted, which means we get an early look at both Savage Hawkman and Earth 2 covers and teases.  So without further adieu...

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #17
Written by FRANK TIERI
Art and cover by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT
On sale FEBRUARY 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• THE SHADOW THIEF makes his first appearance in The New 52!
• Hawkman's mission to uncover the secrets of Thanagarian weapons on Earth leads him into the path of a deadly of Xerxes!

The wonky grammar in the last sentence not withstanding, there is a lot of stuff to whet one's appetite in this solicitation.  First off, the Shadow Thief!  Man oh man, do I like the Shadow Thief.  And this version of Hawkman, a very... hands-on sort of hero, will be double frustrated by the Thief's lack of dimensionality.  Will it be Carl Sands, or will it be a new Thief?  We have to wait and see.

The second bit is the presence of secret Thanagarian weapons on Earth.  I am assuming this is spinning out of the events of "Hawkman: Wanted," and sounds like a good story engine to me. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the Thief's powers will be the result of Thanagarian tech (Dimensiometer, anyone?)

Finally, Xerxes is sticking around.  I for one approve.  I like his look and I like Hawkman getting a new bad guy who is not a reiteration of an older one.  We got some of this in Volume 4, and back in Hawkworld/Volume 3, so I hope that Xerxes can make a good enough impression to stick around for a bit.  (Any chance of St. Bastion coming back as well?)

Now then, on that other Earth...

EARTH 2 #9
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art and cover by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
On sale FEBRUARY 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• As a new story arc begins, DR. FATE makes his Earth 2 debut!
• Supernatural powers are emerging on Earth 2, and that means new heroes on the scene—not to mention new villains!
• Plus: The debut of the new Wotan!

Well there you go.  Dr. Fate!  To say I am excited to see a new Dr. Fate is a bit of an understatement.  I imagine that Juan over at the Tower Of Fate is equally excited.  I have been in the mood for some magical comics lately so hopefully this will help me scratch that particular itch.

Of course, Hawkman makes one more appearance in these solicits as well...

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale FEBRUARY 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
• The march toward TRINITY WAR begins with part one of "WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS"!
• Green Lantern! Green Arrow! Catwoman! Katana! Vibe! Hawkman! Stargirl! They aren't the world's greatest super heroes—they're the most dangerous! But why does a team like the JLA need to exist? What is their ultimate mission? And who is pulling the strings?
• Plus: Find out why Martian Manhunter is the most dangerous of them all. Period.

The new Justice League of America debuts in flashy fashion, with 52 variant covers -- one for each state of the union!  (You'd better believe I intend to buy the SC one!)  What brings this team together is anyone's guess, and what Hawkman's connection will be has be intrigued.

In addition, we also have solicits for the new team over on the book of Hawk frenemy Green Arrow, Katana's solo book bowing (with a reference to the Outsiders?!), and Vibe's starring turn.  Sounds like some strange things are afoot in the DCU!

Image: The Savage Hawkman #17, 2012, Joe Bennett.  

Hawkman Families: Zauriel of Hawkworld

Sorry about last week, but we're back with more of Hawkman Families from NightwingTAS!

"Zauriel was assigned a new charge by the Presence, something he never knew existed."

Uh... huh.

Look, I like angels as much as the next guy (I do play White in Magic: The Gathering), but I nver bought Zauriel as a replacement for Hawkman.  And I buy him even less as a member of the extended Hawkfamily.  Add to that his very brief little write up, and really, there is nothing to go on here.  Moving on...

The Atom's Family: Ant @ Power of the Atom
Z'Onn Z'Orr: Matrix</a> @ <i>The Idol-Head of Diabolu</i></li>

Image: Zauriel, 2010, NightwingTAS.

Interlude: War Comics Month!

Hey everyone! In honor of Veterans Day coming up here in the USA next week (November 11th, though it is being observed on the 12th this year due to it falling on Sunday), I am going to be reading War comics all through the month of November! And I want you to get in on it as well.

While War comics are a tiny subgenre now, they used to be a thriving part of the comics markets both here in the United States as well as in the UK and continental Europe. While War comics are often derided as jingoistic or simplistic, some of the most compelling and human stories of war are told in their pages. Many of the most popular War comics including Sgt Rock, Haunted Tank, Nick Fury & His Howling Commandos, the Unknown Soldier, and others were written and drawn by veterans who drew upon their experiences to show both the horrors of battle and the courage and bravery of the soldier. As a comics fan I think that raising awareness of these stories is a small way to honor the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice in order to protect us and our way of life.

I am using the hashtag #WarComicsMonth on Twitter and Google+ to share my thoughts and I need your help to keep the discussion going. So please feel free to read or promote your favorite War comics stories and use the hashtag to get in on the topic. I will RT or Share any posts I see with the hashtag.

A great source for pre-Code, public domain War comics (along with tons of comics from other genres) is Comic Book Plus, which has a built in reader so that you can read the comics right in your browser. Plus they are all free and legal.

Thanks for listening and I hope you will take a few minutes to read, tweet, and share your thoughts on your favorite War comics.