DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKMAN #35

The Tower Of Silence

February 2005

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray

Pencils by Joe Bennett

Inks by Ruy Jose

Cover by Ryan Sook

Synopsis

At St. Roch shipyards, two security guards are investigating a shipment of coffins when Trygg the Sorcerer appears and kills them both.  Two hours later, Hawkman and Hawkgirl respond to a riot at Belle Reve prison.  The police, led by Detective Grubs arrive a short time later.  Grubs complains about the hawks interference, so they take off to let the police deal with the situation.  That night, Kendra has a nightmare about the birth of her daughter.  At Lavenne Meat Packing warehouse, the Fadeaway Man visits Lion-Mane and tells them more have joined their group to kill the hawks.  That night, Carter and Kendra are discussing her nightmare when suddenly the ground shakes and a large, black tower suddenly appears in the middle of St. Roch.  At the cemetery, Trygg summons an army of the undead to kill Hawkman.  At the museum, Carter and Kendra are putting on their costumes when a zombie breaks inside and brings Carter to the ground.  Carter recognizes her...it is Domina Paris!

Review

“Was a psycho.... He’s deader than Madonna’s movie career.”

As much as I liked the ending, the middle portions of the story are a little strange, mostly because of the prison scene that seems to lack any type of payoff.  There is no resolution to why the riot started (besides the randomness of it all) and what the police found.  It seems to exist only to have Grubs and the hawks fight (and for Kendra to blurt out her identity to Grubs rather easily), but beyond that...what was going on at the prison.  What was that red stuff (which looked like blood and tendons, like your body after the skin had been pulled off) on the walls?  I suppose that once the hawks left, we would not if the story is being told from their perspective, but given the switches to the villain’s point of view, that argument doesn’t fly.  What makes it even stranger is the scene, after Kendra’s nightmare, of the two cops and the dead body with the gemstone.  Is that inside the prison?  My guess is yes, but if so why are two policemen doing down there when Grubs had supposedly called Hazmat?  Hell, why wouldn’t he call other types of experts rather than two cops arguing which heroine is sexier?  Even disregarding this, where did the guy come from and who is he, besides some dude who likes to build towers?  Actually, I am thinking this is I Mosely from the previous issue (since the riot began about midnight), but that is not made clear at all.

All right, maybe I am nitpicking.  The problem is that there are scenes without linking it back to previous scenes in previous issue.  I can’t be expected to remember things that I read a month ago.  Despite that, this issue was solid enough as part of a larger storyline of the villains attempting to kill the hawks.  I am going to guess and suggest Satana from a few issues ago is one of the others who will join the anti-Hawkman league.-- Review by MRB

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