DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKMAN #24

Black Reign, Part 4

late March 2004

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Rags Morales

Inks by Michael Bair

Cover by John Watson

Synopsis

[Continued from JSA #57]

On the streets of Shiruta, Khandaq, Hourman is running for his life from citizens who think he is an invader, come to kill their new leader, Black Adam.  Elsewhere, the rest of the JSA are battling Black Adam and his followers.  Dr. Fate casts a spell that turns all of Northwind’s people into birds.  At the palace, Black Adam orders Atom Smasher to drop Mr. Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite into a mob of angry citizens.  Northwind and his people return to battle the JSA.  Dr. Fate attempts to use the spell once more, but Nabu forces Hector Hall out and assumes the role of Dr. Fate.  At the site of the JSA’s crashed plane, Captain Marvel is helping to rescue Wildcat when Black Adam arrives.  With the help of Brainwave, Black Adam is changes Marvel back to Bill Baston and then knocks him out.  Meanwhile, Hourman has found the rest of the JSA, but he is immediately attacked by Nemesis, whose sword slices Hourman in the gut.  Realizing he does not have much time, Hourman switches places with his father.  [Story continues in JSA #58]

Review

Much like the previous Hawkman issue, this felt more like an issue of JSA.  A lot of stuff happens here and a lot of does not even affect Hawkman, who appears in only a handful of pages.  Besides the knockout fight that lasts pretty much the entire issue, there are some startling changes to the status quo of some of the members of JSA.  I am not sure where the Nabu and Dr. Fate situation is going.  The lock-up of Hector Hall may be temporary or it may be something that will need to be addressed later.  In contrast, the switch with Hourman looks to be something that will definitely be addressed much later.  Rick has been mortally wounded, but by switching places with his dad, he is able to stop the damage until his father can find a way to help.  And, finally, we get the chance to see Marvel and Black Adam in pitched battle (and spilling a lot of blood and doing damage to the buildings; I love it when powerhouses go at it), although Black Adam cheated to get the victory.  It should be interesting to see where this goes.  Despite these changes, the issue really maintains the status quo in terms of the storyline.  The JSA and Black Adam’s forces are still in the middle of a pitch battle and nothing in terms of the political situation has been discussed, much less resolved.  Normally an issue like that would feel empty and lacking importance, but Johns was able to make something out of it.  Any JSA fan who decides to skip this part of the storyline because it appears in Hawkman will be angry at themselves.  -- Review by MRB

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