DCU Comic Book Reviews

HAWKGIRL #50

The Dead Of The Night

May 2006

Written by Walter Simonson

Pencils by Howard Chaykin

Inks by Howard Chaykin

Cover by Howard Chaykin

Synopsis

One year later… Kendra Saunders is awakened by a nightmare of skeletons coming to get her before she is saved by Hawkman.  Kendra thinks the dream has something to do with old papers she was sorting through earlier in the day.  Just then an earthquake hits the museum.  Outside, a piece of the buildings portcullis comes crashing down, almost hitting her.  Lt. Grubs comes to investigate and tells Kendra of a series of murders.  The victims of disappear for awhile before body pieces are found.  Driving home, Kendra loses control of her brakes, forcing her to abandon the car before it goes right into the lake.  At the museum, an unknown person drops of a piece of paper on Kendra’s desk.  That next morning, Kendra finds the paper, which reveals an old sealed vault in the basement.  She and Danny go to investigate and find several tapestries on the walls.  Before the can look any further, the roof caves in, trapping them in the basement.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

One of the best parts of the early Hawkman issues was the dynamic, confusing relationship between Kendra and Carter and that is sorely missing here.  It is extremely telling when the best part of the issue was the appearance of Hawkman and his brief conversation with Kendra, even if it was a dream.  (And I must admit, Carter’s assertion that wearing wings, harness, and mask is foolish had me chuckling a little bit).  The problem is that Kendra really has no one to play off against and as a result it lacked any tension or interest.  Worse, it did not seem as if Carter’s disappearance was even a concern for the characters, as if they knew what happened to him (while we did not) and that finding him is not even an option.  I hope the writers find someone who interact with Hawkgirl better than Danny and Grubs. 

I think the biggest problem I had with this issue was the art.  It seemed like each page was a full or two half-page drawings featuring small little inserts to show people talking.  Pages 6 and 7 contain three inserts of just Kendra while 8 and 9 have three inserts of just eyes and 10 through 12 have almost identical inserts of Lt. Grubs’ face.  It was bothersome after awhile.  And, is it just me, or does it seem like every person in this issue is gritting or gnashing their teeth?  Part of the problem may be the writing which read like people screaming at each other rather than talking, but that may be due to the art rather than the actual writing.

Here is a little speculation:  this issue occurred before Infinite Crisis #6 or #7.  So, let’s assume that Hawkman died in outer space.  Taking what Geoff Johns had already stated about these characters, they are reincarnated after each death.  So, the tapestry found in the basement contains drawings of people that look like Hawkman.  What if that sets off the reincarnation in some way?  Perhaps even Danny as the new Hawkman.  This idea is so far fetched that I doubt it, but it is interesting to think about.

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