DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKMAN #5

Slings & Arrows, Part 1

September 2002

Written by Geoff Johns & James Robinson

Pencils by Rags Morales

Inks by Michael Bair

Cover by Andrew Robinson

Synopsis

In St. Roch at night during a festival, Kendra vents her frustration and not being able to learn more of her parents’ murder.  As she and Hawkman are flying to get something to eat, famous chef Christopher Cook is shot by a bowman.  While Hawkgirl rushes him to the hospital, Hawkman follows the archer, who looks like Green Arrow.  He momentarily gets caught in a web by the archer but frees himself and catches Oliver Queen (aka Green Arrow).  Ollie tells Hawkman that he got the wrong guy; the real killer has just gotten away.  The two agree to work together to find the killer.  At Stonechat, Oliver asks his son Danny if the hawks were told of the coffin that just arrived.  Danny tells him no, he wants to wait.  At that moment, Hakwman returns with Green Arrow followed shortly by Hakwgirl, who reports the shooters victim is still alive.  Ollie tells the Haklws that years ago he was involved in a business that went under; the recent killings by the archer are all tied to the previous owners.  Only three are left alive; Ollie hismelf, a bar owner, and a man named Ludlow.  Since no one recognizes Ludlow, they agree to visit the bar owner.  While Hawkman creates a diversion for security, Hawkgirl flies Ollie in to see the owner, who is tied up in a web and held at arrow point by Thomas Ludlow (aka The Spider). 

Review

“You sure your not Ostrich-Man? ‘Cause you’re burying your head pretty deep in the sand if you think the police in this town can be trusted.”

I loved this issue and I say this not because I really am enjoying the revamp of the Green Arrow series by Kevin Smith at the moment.  Or the fact that the ongoing battle between Hawkman and Green Arrow is still a great thing to see.  These two should always fight with each other, until it is time when they need to get together to defeat the bad guy. 

What I loved about it was that someone finally put Hawkman’s reincarnation and his obsession with Kendra into an entirely different spin.  From Hawkman’s point of view, he is simply following his true love, regardless of the form she may take.  But from Ollie’s point of it, it looks like an old man leering over a cute teenager.  Thinking about it that way, it is kinda creepy.  Okay, Kendra is an adult, but still, it seems weird.  But the capper to the talk was Ollie telling him that Carter may feel a bond with Kendra based on his experiences through the centuries, but the fact is that was with others, not Kendra.  Carter doesn’t know Kendra well enough to claim to love her.  Ollie’s words were brilliant and insightful and elevated this particular issue and the entire series for me.  It shows that the writers are fully aware of the characters and are going to explore them rather then explore the idea of reincarnation.  It is a chance to get to know Hawkman besides being a brute and a savage, although you gotta love anyone who smashes his mace first and then asks questions later (if at all). 

I should also point out the Green Arrow’s statements about Carter’s love life is the flip of what Carter told Ollie in the pages of his own book just a little while ago.  Neat!

I am clueless as to who the Spider is or what connection in the DCU past he has to either Green Arrow or Hawkman as either a villain or a hero.  Early in this issue Ludlow refers to his father, who either was one of the investors or perhaps the original Spider.  -- MRB

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