DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKMAN #14

Killers, Part Two

June 2003

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Don Kramer

Inks by Prentis Rollins

Cover by Andrew Robinson

Synopsis

In the swamps of St., Roch, Chief Nedal encounters Jim Craddock (aka the Gentleman Ghost), who tells the chief that he can help him if Nedal helps the ghost.  Meanwhile, Hawkgirl is eager to get her hands on Nedal in order to kill him for murdering her parents.  At that moment, the Gentleman Ghost appears.  Jim Craddock was killed by the wild west incarnation Nighthawk and has remained on the mortal plane because the Hawks remain on the mortal plane.  Craddock tells the Hawks they better get back to the Stonechat Museum.  There, Nedal arrives with a loaded gun and shots and kills Jayita and shots Officer Isabella.  Danny Evans is able to get away, but Nedal chases.  When Hawkman finds Jayita dead, he flies into a fit of rage.  He grabs rope and makes it a noose, which eh then wraps around Nedal’s neck with the intent of hanging him.  Hawkgirl tells him they can’t and Hawkman reluctantly agrees.  However, the Gentleman Ghost pushes Nedal off the roof and hangs him before disappearing.  Later, the hawks are given time to grieve before an unknown woman seeks the answers she needs.

Review

“Many heroes make enemies that last a lifetime. But you, the both of you--your enemies last forever!”

Overall, this was a great way to wrap up all of the dangling plot threads from the first year of the new series and in the process helps to solidify why the Gentleman Ghost hates Hawkman so much.  It makes sense, wouldn’t you be pissed that the man who killed you is keeping you from moving onward simply because he keeps get reincarnated all the time. 

However, there is one little problem with this issue.  Near the end, Hawkman grabs a rope and is very close to hanging up Nedal for killing Jayita.  I suppose this is supposed to connect in some way to the way he hung Craddock all those years ago.  Yet, the scene occurs after Hawkman attempted to convince Hawkgirl not to kill Nedal in retaliation for murdering her parents.  So, let me get this straight.  It is okay for Hawkman to kill because someone he barely knows was killed, but it is not okay for Hawkgirl to avenge the death of her parents.  Does that seem right?  Yes, I realize that Kendra talked him out of it.  And, yes, I realize that Carter’s decisions were made in the heat of anger and of battle.  More importantly, why wasn’t Hawkgirl still frothing at the mouth.  It seemed a little too convenient for her to suddenly change her mind.  If anything she might be more motivated to kill:  “See. See. He’s a killer.  Let’s hang ‘em!” 

So, I am guessing the woman at the end is Shiera (aka Hawkwoman).  It is the only character that truly makes sense even if it makes no sense at all.-- MRB

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