DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKMAN #4

Beasts Of Burden

August 2002

Written by Geoff Johns & James Robinson

Pencils by Rags Morales

Inks by Michael Bair

Cover by Andrew Robinson

Synopsis

In the Battlelands, a hidden fold in reality, Hawkman has been enslaved by the Makhna.  Recalling memories of a past live, Hawkman busts free and the helps Aalok and the Komeriah Warriors to also free themselves.  Meanwhile, In India, Hawkgirl and Danny Evans retrieve the diamond and book from Tigress.  At the temple of Shiva, Danny is able to open the door to the Battlelands.  At that very moment, Hawkman and the Komeriah Warriors have broken out of the salve mines.  In the ensuing battle, the Shadow Thief and Copperhead are able to escape.  Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Jayita, and Danny make it back to India, leaving the Komeriah Warriors to fight their own battle.  Free, Jayita kisses Hawkman in gratitude.  Later, Roderic learns of the news that he lost the diamond to Danny.  Elsewhere in St. Roch, the fifth body dead due to an arrow wound as been found, with the Green Arrow looking on. 

Review

That was quick.  Last issue I felt that there was way too much going on and this issue was pretty much the same way.  Yet, it was a good, fun read.  This was not a story arc in which situations were resolved, but rather an arc in which the basic elements of the Hawkman series were being set up.  Even the one resolution (getting the diamond to save Stonechat) was really a way to keep the hawks at odds with the main villain of the series, Roderic.  So, in a way I guess I can understand why the writers wanted to get this first story out of the way.   They set up where the hawks will be located, who they will be fighting, and the supporting characters that will be helping.  Plus, we know the identities of several other villains that will aid Roderic.  The only negative is that the relationship between Kendra and Carter has not been explored to its fullest extent, but I am positive we will get to see more of that. 

Perhaps them sot interesting aspect, and one the works within the new framework of Hawkman, is the brief flashback we get of him being treated like a slave.  In the drawing, it looks as if he was a kid at the time, perhaps in Victorian England.  I am not enough of a Hawkman historian to know if this is part of DC lore or made up one the spot.  Regardless, I liked it and it worked for that particular moment.  If Hawkman truly has lived countless lives, I would not mind at all if some of these lives (whether part of the DC history or not) were explored a little further. -- MRB

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