DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKMAN #11

Everlasting Love...?

March 2003

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Rags Morales

Inks by Michael Bair

Cover by John Watson

Synopsis

Dr. Helene Astar and her companion Rajak have captured Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who had traveled to Tibet to locate Hawkgirl’s grandfather, Speed Saunders.  Speed had been searching for the absorbascon, an ancient artifact that can absorb souls and knowledge.  Dr. Astar, who believes she is the reincarnation of Hath-Set, the one who murdered the hawks first lives as Prince Khufu and Chat-ara wants to use the absorbascon to give her and Rajak everlasting love.  Hawkman has had enough; he calls out to Ray Palmer (aka The Atom), who emerges from Hawkman’s utility belt to knock out Astar and Rajak.  Hawkman knew it was a trap.  After the Atom frees the hawks, Hawkgirl frees her grandfather who tells her that the absorbascon can also restore lost memories.  Before anything else can be done, Astar and Rajak have retrieved the Yetis to battle the Hawks.  In the midst of the fight, the absorbascon falls and breaks apart.  Astar grabs it but turns to stone.  Rajak reaches for her.  Suddenly there is a bright light and in their place is a large black bird.  

Review

This issue seems to contradict the recent Hawkman Secret Files & Origins book which indicated that Kristopher Roderic was the re-incarnation of Hath-Set.  However, I could be wrong.  I don’t have it front of me at the moment and I can’t recall exactly what happened, so maybe something else occurred that what I remember.  Regardless, I was a little surprised to learn Dr. Astar was Hath-Set, not because it was her but because I had expected it to be someone else.  What this means for future issues, I am not certain.  Astar and Rajak came across as (what I like to call) silly villains.  You know the type:  their goals and methods are just plain goofy that all you can do is laugh at them.  I mean, Yetis?  And then the whole thing with the absorbascon?  That, to me, just sounds like silly Silver Age material.  I give Johns credit for bringing it back, but I had to chuckle.  The ending also made me chuckle.  A bird?  Is this meant to give me chills and shudder at the pure horror of it all? 

I also had to chuckle at the emergence of the Atom, but in this case it was in a good way.  I always love when the Atom is used to hideaway until he is needed. 

At the end of the previous issue, Hawkgirl had shot and wounded.  Blood was pouring freely out of her and onto the ground.  Yet there was no sign of the blood or the injury in this issue.  Of course this not compare to Speed Saunders.  Last we saw him he was falling off a cliff.  So, Astar and Rajak saved him.  If so, why did they let him fall in the first place?  Seriously, I am all for cliffhangers (sorry, pun not intended) but if you’re gonna ignore the consequences, why bother? 

Finally, the kiss between Astar and Rajak with the tongue was officially just plain gross. Ewww.-- MRB

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