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Issue: Hawkman v.2:no.2 Title: "Shadows..." Published Date: Sep 1986 Generation: Silver Age Katar and Shayera Retcon Status: Changed Generations? Summary: Katar and Shayera are shocked by Joe Tracy's expose story, revealing their secret identities to the public. Before they can process this, Tracy confronts them in their office at the museum, promising them more stories to come. Tracy also reveals that he sold them out because they "let" his beloved Mavis Trent die -- and he doesn't want anyone else to die because of the Hawks being in Midway City. The Hawks have other things to worry about, though, as a large crowd is gathering outside, and two Federal agents arrive to question them. Luckily, Captain Frazier is able to deflect them, telling the feds that without a warrant they have no cause to enter the museum. Needing to get out of city in order to investigate the Hyathis Corporation, the Hawks use their *wheet wheet* powers to summon a giant flock of birds, distracting the crowd long enough for the them to wing off in the other direction. Unbeknownst to our heroes, they are spotted by one police officer assigned to watch the roof... The Hawks come upon the very large headquarters of the shadowy Hyathis Corporation. As they investigate, they are spotted by a human programmer, who cannot stop his thoughts and thus has alerted his Thanagarian overlords. While searching the many trucks (one of which lost the hood ornament they found previously) for some sort clue, Hawkgirl is attacked by Shadow-Thief! She throws him to the ground, but he slides back into the shadows, then brings back a dozen thugs out of the distortion field. The Hawks make short work of the goons, but Shadow-Thief is able to grab hold of Hawkman's ankle -- and slowly begins draining the life from him! Hawkgirl is able to lay one on him enough to let her husband go. Shadow-Thief then launches a smokescreen and disappears. While the Hawks get ready to fight more, out of the smoke comes not more hired thugs but the Midway City Police Department, lead by Captain Frazier himself. Their friend has no choice but to place the Hawks under arrest! Review: Right off the bat I have to applaud this issue for using one of my all-time favorite comic cliches: the last page "You are under arrest!" scene. Always love that one! The story is shaping up nicely. We still don't know much more of the Thanagarians' plans besides rigging the Presidential election, but the concept that they have moles and spies everywhere is very well played. How do you fight an enemy who has had years to figure out all of the angles to take against you? Isabella's plot is straightforward but effective. I especially liked the use of the *wheet wheet* powers. Much like Aquaman's finny friends, when done right this is a great power. Shadow-Thief is very nicely portrayed as a lackey, a role which suits him. Howell's art is pretty good but not great. He draws a shillelagh wielded by Carter to look like a giant candy cane, which is a little strange. But the fights are handled nicely and his Shayera is usually very easy to look at. Overall this was a strong second issue and made me eager to read the third. Image: Hawkman v.2:no.2, 1986, Richard Howell.
I am not sure if new comics come out today or tomorrow thanks to the President's Day holiday on Monday, but here are the Hawk-related new releases for this week. JLA / The 99 #5 -- I must implore my readers for intelligence -- has anyone been reading this series? If so, has it been worth reading? Showcase Presents: Justice League of America v.5 -- Collecting issues #84-106, this is classic Justice League action featuring Hawkman, although I think this was before Hawkgirl made the roster. At some point I would like to get all of these, but I am so far behind on phonebooks at this point that I don't know when that will ever go down.
As part of their DC Comics affiliation, Comixology has added a Hawkman v.4 section on their site. The first 5 issues are currently available, at a price point of $1.99 apiece. This covers the first story of the volume and the first part of the reunion between the Hawks and Green Arrow. Comixology has a pretty decent reader so if you want a quick way to read some fun Hawk adventures, give 'em a try!
I'd like to take this opportunity to point everyone to my new project, Earth Destruction Directive! EDD is a podcast about daikaiju -- Japanese giant monsters! I have been a fan for the vast majority of my life of these titanic creatures and now my podcast is going to share that with all of you! The first episode is up and available for download right now! You can find the podcast at its homepage at earthdestructiondirective.podomatic.com I have also set up a blog for the show at earthdestructiondirective.blogspot.com Please give it a listen and leave some feedback! Thanks!
Any chance of some Hawk-related action this week of Valentine's Day? Let's take a peek. Brightest Day #20 -- After the events of #18, I am dumbstruck as to how the Hawks will show up next. But so far this has been one crazy roller-coaster and I don't see that stopping any time soon.
With Love, ~Hawkman and Hawkgirl
Issue: Brightest Day #18 Title: "Easy Come, Easy Go" Published Date: Jan 2011 Generation: Modern Carter, Modern Shiera Retcon Status: In Continuity Summary: On Zamaron, the combined form of The Predator and Queen Shrike strikes out at her foes, while Hawkman and Hawkgirl try to figure out what has just happened. Carol Ferris says that the Predator can be corrupted by a host, and it seems that this is the case. But before she can do anything about it, Shrike lashes out, freezing her in a block of ice. Shiera grabs Carol's Star Sapphire Sword while Hawkman engages Shrike. Outclassed by her newfound power, Carter gets beaten down by the maniacal queen. Shrike taunts Hawkman, saying that now that the curse is broken, when she kills them they will be dead forever. Equipping himself with the Claw of Horus, Hawkman strikes Shrike in the front while Hawkgirl stabs her from the back. The massive overload of power explodes out from the Queen, reaching the bones of her portal... and reanimating the various remains of the Hawks. They grab the Queen, and drag her down, dead. With thanks, carol sends the Hawks back to St. Roch. At Stonechat House, the Winged Wonders begin to celebrate defeating their curse with a little lovemaking, but they are interrupted by the White Lantern Boston Brand. He points the ring at the Hawks, against his will, and white energy erupts from it. The White Ring tells them that they will live longer apart than together, and the Hawks are ripped apart. Slowly they turn white, until they both turn into dust! Review: The finale of the battle with Shrike delivers the goods in spades, with an appropriate high octane conclusion. The Claw of Horus had to play a role after Johns teased it early on. But as a Hawkfan, you had to know something was up when we saw an extended scene of them as lovers... such scenes almost never end well for our heroes. Where the heck things go to from here is anyone's guess, but I must say, Johns said that the Hawks were cursed and it seems that he was telling the truth! Image: Brightest Day #18, 2011, David Finch.
