Turkey Day Hiatus

Well, with my wife and I heading out for Turkey Day tomorrow in the (very) early morning, this will be the last chance I get to update before next week.  And, just to make it even more fun, next week I am going to be in beautiful downtown San Jose, CA for a business trip.  I'm bringing along a few Hawk-related trades (including JSA v.10: Black Vengeance, and Rann-Thanagar War), so if I get a chance at the hotel I might be able to update some.  If nothing else I'll get the chance to read some new (to me!) comics.  So there may be updates, even if they are sporadic.  

Anyway, have a happy and safe holiday (those celebrating) and I will see you guys later!

Waiting In The Wings -- 11/26/2008

Is there any Hawkman related stuff coming out this holiday week (well, it's a holiday here in America, anyway!)?  Let's take a look.

Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom -- Hawkman made a cameo appearance in last week's Magog one-shot, and I figure he will have a spot here, as well.  This all leads up to Justice Society of America #21, out next week, which will seems to promise a confrontation between Hawkman, Flash, and Green Lantern.  Johns has really concocted a very compelling modern superhero series in this version of the Society, and it just keeps getting more and more throught provoking as it goes on.

Batman: The Brave And The Bold S.1:Ep.2: "Terror On Dinosaur Island"

Those who have been watching the altogether awesome Batman: The Brave And The Bold cartoon were in for a treat this past Friday, as who should pop up in the opening segment but the one and only Jim Craddock himself, the Gentleman Ghost!

Even more fun was how Batman (with an assist from fellow Justice Leaguer Fire!) managed to subdue the spectral crook: Nth Metal Knuckles to the face, followed by Nth Metal Handcuffs!  Oh, why must you tease me so?  I am really enjoying this show and really hope that Hawkman shows up soon, either on his own, with Hawkgirl, or with the Justice Society.  

If you haven't been watching this show, you owe it to yourself to check it out.  A ton of fun in true "All Ages" fashion, this is like a Silver Age comic book come to life.  

Read: The Brave And The Bold #44.2

Issue: The Brave And The Bold #44 (Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Hawkman v.1)
Title: "The Men Who Moved The World!"
Published Date: Oct/Nov 1962
Generation: Silver Age Katar
Retcon Status: Changed Generations

Summary: In Midway City, three strange humanoid creatures -- each with the head of a different animal -- break into the Midway City Museum to recover a special disc.  Hawkman intervenes, but the trip is able to elude him long enough to escape with their prize, which they intend to use to alter the orbit of Earth to what it had in the year 10000 BC.  The humanoids leave a faint trail of radioactivity which allows the Hawks to track them to the ancient city of Petra, in the Trans-Jordan region.  Using the disc, the humanoids have activated their Oribtron device, which will shift the poles and thus the oribt of Earth after running for one full day.  Their motivation?  The humanoids hail from the lost city of Lansinar, which once dominated the planet until a "rogue planet" passed too close to Earth 12000 years ago and altered it's orbital path.  The gravitational effects shifted the Earth's poles, freezing Lansinar under tons of Arctic ice.  The Lansinarians (?) put themselves into hyper-sleep at that time, and now finally have the disc they need to thaw out and re-establish the rule of Lansinar.

The Hawks come upon the Lansinarians hideout, and are counter-attacked by the humanoids in small jets.   The Lansinarians refuse to communicate with the Hawks, and draw the fight out as long as they can.  Receiving a signal that the Orbitron has been activated for a full day, they gloat over their victory to the Hawks.  But the Winged Wonders have a trick up their sleeve as well: the rotation of Earth 12000 years ago made the day only 18 hours instead of 24; the Lansinarians have miscalculated.  With the Orbitron deactivated, the Hawks round up the Lansinarians and hand them over to the UN.

Review: Definitely the "A" story of this issue and one of the all-around better Silver Age Hawkman stories I have read so far.  The science-fiction aspect of this story, with its strange villians and literally world-shaking implications, really helps it stand out.  Fox seems to have really put some thought into this one, as we get a lot of background on the humanoids and their city; of course, we'd never see them again!  I'm seriously surprised that we didn't see some variation of the lost city of Lansinar show up under Geoff Johns.  Although, apparently they did show up over in Wonder Woman at some point, so there you go.  The twist to defeat them is fairly novel as well, with the Hawks once more using that all-important Absorbascon knowledge to outthink their foes.  I also want to call out Joe Kubert's wonderful art, including that cover.  Wow!  Great fun all around.

Image: The Brave And The Bold #44, 1962, Joe Kubert.

Now Avilable: The Hawkman Companion

Besides the Four Color offerings available this week involving the Hawks, I'd also like to call your attention to this title now available from TwoMorrows Publishing.  From the description:

"Instantly recognizable among comic fans, Hawkman is one of the most iconic heroes ever created. Inspired by tales as old as mankind and those much more recent, this four-color legend has left an indelible mark upon the comic industry. Behind a fabulous CLIFF CHIANG cover, this collection contains interviews and commentary from many who have helped Hawkman soar through the ages, including JOE KUBERT, GEOFF JOHNS, SHELLY MOLDOFF, TIMOTHY TRUMAN, JUSTIN GRAY, JIMMY PALMIOTTI, RAGS MORALES, STEPHEN SADOWSKI, DON KRAMER, BEN RAAB, TONY ISABELLA, DAN JURGENS, ROY THOMAS, STEVE LIEBER, MURPHY ANDERSON and many other top comics creators. Also included is a copious image parade, profiles on the Hawks through the ages, as well as their allies and adversaries, and a timeline of Hawkman's storied existence throughout the DC Comics Universe. With insight into the character and the creators who made him what he is, the HAWKMAN COMPANION is certain to please any Hawkfan. Written by Doug Zawisza!"

Sounds like a winner to me!  You can order it through Amazon, or direct from TwoMorrows at this link.  I'm definitely jonesing for this bad boy now!

Waiting In The Wings -- 11/19/2008

Any Hawk-related stuff this week?  Let's take a look.

Justice Society of America Kingdom Come Special: Magog -- Hawkman was not in last week's Superman Special, but it was worth picking up anyway, so I am going ahead and giving a nod to this Special as well.  The big Gog storyline which Johns is working in JSoA has been going on for a while now (especially since "Thy Kingdom Come" was essentially the prologue for it) but I have not grown tired of it yet, so I am happy to see it continue for now.

Rann-Thanagar Holy War #7 -- Now this one I can pretty much guarantee Hawkman will be in.  What does Starlin have in mind, and how does it tie into what Dan DiDio has been telling us?  The return of Adventure Comics to the DC lineup further fuels speculation: Will Mystery In Space, perhaps featureing Hawkman and Adam Strange, be the next "classic" title to make a comeback once again?  We all have to wait and see, unfortunately.

Read: Hawkman v.4:no.10

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.