Hawkman (4th Series)

To get an impression: peek inside here

Rather than beginning Hawkman #1 with a pedantic introduction explaining the convoluted origin of the ornithological title character, writer Geoff Johns (The Flash) opens the issue in the middle of an action-packed scene. The Accipitridae Avenger crashes through the windshield of a small airplane, goes medieval on a pair of hijackers, and brings the plane down in heroic fashion. Eventually, on page nine, Johns provides an introductory text piece, and new readers can otherwise pick up a few bits and pieces of the Hawkman mythos as the story goes along.

This rendition of Carter Hall, as seen in the pages of JSA, knows of his many past lives and is smitten with his female partner in crime (fighting). Unfortunately for him, this incarnation of Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) doesn’t share the late Shiera’s love for the winged one, providing plenty of fodder for tense, relationship-oriented conflict in future issues. Adding to the foundation of the series is the introduction of St. Roch, a new pseudo-city in the DC universe. This humid hotbed of corruption, developed in part by James Robinson (architect of Opal City), is basically New Orleans gone bad.

Penciller Rags Morales (Hourman, JSA) provides some of the best art of his career, drawing Hawkman as the bold, brash adventurer that he is. Morales’ style should appeal to fans of Joe Kubert’s Silver Age Hawkman from The Brave and the Bold as well as to those partial to Timothy Truman’s work on Hawkworld. Yes, it’s that good and that timeless.

 —Brett Weiss