Customer Reviews

Hawkman: Endless Flight (Book 1)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Superheroes are, ultimately, romantic fantasies of heroism. Here, we have a character with old-world chivalric values living in today's world. And in this book, we see superhero romance done right.

Geoff Johns writes with passion. He obviously loves these characters. Rags Morales is one of the best artists in comics today. And together they have delivered a superhero story with heart - as in a "broken" one. Hawkman returns from oblivion in the "Return of Hawkman" JSA storyline only to find that the Hawkgirl of this incarnation doesn't even recognize him. She "knows" that he is her husband from all previous incarnations but she just doesn't "feel" that he is. That kind of corny stuff. But done right. With just the right amount of irony and heart-wrenching dialogue - "Partners. That's all we will be. Try to go further than that and I'll fly away so far away that you'll never find me. EVER.", Hawkgirl warns Hawkman.

The second part of the book features a meeting between Green Arrow and Hawkman. These two are the successful revamps of the recent years. And their meeting is a laugh-out riot!

I can't wait for DC to release further TPB collections of HAWKMAN.

Even if I hadn't written the profile pages for this tpb I'd still go out of my way to tell people that it rocks. The introduction by Johns alone is worth the price of admission. Hawkman has been given a new lease on his four-color life and has never flown straighter nor looked better (with art by RAGS MORALES predominantly, the listing up there for Patrick notwithstanding). This is a trade collection that you'll go back to time and again for adventure and mystery.

I'd like to preface this review by saying that I have this material, but not in this format; I have the original comic books reprinted in this Trade Paperback, and the Secret Files book, part of which is reprinted herein. I highly urge anyone who buys this to get the full "Hawkman Secret Files # 1" comic as well; I find the DC Secret Files books to be indispensable in getting the full impact of the series they cover (besides which, they're tremendous reads on their own merits). In Hawkman's case, the full Secret Files is even more necessary than usual, due to the characters's admittedly convoluted histories. However, everything you need to know is condensed into the files for the main characters, which is not to say you may not want to go back and read the previous stories anyway.

On to the main focus: the first six issues of the current (and brilliant) ongoing "Hawkman" series are here, all of them rating a perfect 10/10 except for # 4, whose sole flaw was that it should have been longer; it's as if the creative team had to cram 2 comics worth into a single issue, although it remains stronger than it should have been if that were indeed the case. The 2-issue Green Arrow arc (nos. 5 & 6) is one of the very best 2-issue arcs I've read in over two decades of reading comic books.

Some random thoughts: Hawkman himself, while never straying from being a noble defender of the innocent and persecuted, is truly the most savage hero the DC Universe has ever seen. The creative team, led by co-writers Geoff Johns & James Robinson and penciller Rags Morales, are so good they can make even a character like the Gentleman Ghost seem not only intriguing but downright intimidating; meanwhile the new incarnation of Copperhead could carry a whole horror movie (or franchise) on his own. Ace colorist John Kalisz is turning in the work of his career here. The use of locales lesser seen in the DC Universe (Louisiana; India; etc.) pays off in spades. Series develops a great supporting cast right from the get-go - that's a must, no series Ever succeeds on title character alone. And of course, the strange relationship between Hawkman and Hawkgirl....

Highest possible recommendation.

Combines the first 6 issues of the current volume, and part of the Secret Files #1. Written by Geoff Johns, and drawn by Rags Morales. I knew next to nothing about the character and his complex history, but had high hopes in the creative team. Hawkman is now a favorite character of mine! He's conservative, and he's not afraid to swing a big hammer at bad guys -- what's not to love about that?

Here's the skinny on Hawk... he has been reincarnated several times throughout history, along with Hawkgirl. They both have a love for history (and usually each other). They both have unique powers (including flight) that come from the planet Thanagar. Until this most recent reincarnation, they have retained the memories of previous lives, but this time HG doesn't remember ever being in love with HM. Green Arrow (DC's idealist liberal) has a 2-issue crossover, and it's brilliant. This is an outstanding "Indiana Jones meets Stargate" type comic. HIGHLY recommended.

Geoff Johns is perhaps the best comic book talent to surface in a looooong time. His passion for characters and story telling are never more apparent than in this collected edition of Hawkman. Following the Winged Wonder on his newly reincarnated adventures, these stories will entrance you with mystery and enthrall you with a unique romance. If you missed out on these books, pick up this trade. You will enjoy the flight!

Hawkman, to me, is what Conan the Barbarian would've been like if the Cimmerian had been a superhero and been given the gift of flight. There's not really too many capes out there who's more brutal and, shall we say, old-school barbaric than Hawkman. It's why I like him, although the whole incarnation/Thanagar riff is pretty cool too. But, continuity-wise, Hawkman and Hawkgirl have had it pretty rough since DC overhauled its universe with Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. Quite a bit of ret-conning since then, placing Hawkman's history strictly mired in the muck. And then Geoff Johns saunters in and does his magic, serves up an Aspirin to Hawkman's continuity migraine. Golden Age Hawkman? Silver Age Hawkman? Johns somehow makes it make sense. Mostly.

Past lives and rebirths. The Nth metal, destiny, a warrior's spirit, and ill-fated romance. Always ending in murder, only to be reborn again. From ancient Egypt to the planet Thanagar to Midway City, and now to what? This is the endless cycle fallen to Prince Khufu and his princess Chay-ara, begun thousands of years ago. Today, they are Carter Hall and Kendra Saunders, aka the winged superheroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Carter Hall, recently returned from comic book oblivion, recalls all his past lives and longs to reconnect with his soul mate. But Kendra Saunders is only now beginning to remember. Initially she doesn't want to have anything to do with Carter, and she's most definitely not down with the romance. But an uneasy working partnership is formed, giving Hawkman some hope. Now the two call St. Roch, Louisiana their base of operations, and specifically the Stonechat Museum. Seems the Hawks can't stay away from the past.

Straight from his truimphant return in the pages of the JSA (JSA: Return of Hawkman (Book 3)), Hawkman got his regular monthly series in 1992. HAWKMAN: ENDLESS FLIGHT collects the first 6 issues of Hawkman's new series, as well as the lead story and assorted entries from Hawkman Secret Files #1. ENDLESS FLIGHT also comes with a 3-paged foreword by Geoff Johns (which breaks down the convoluted history of Hawkman). With James Robinson, Geoff Johns handles the writing duties, and, while the storytelling here didn't exactly wow the crap out of me, it did keep me engaged enough. Turns out Indiana Jones stuff doesn't turn my head unless Indy himself is working it.

Plot SPOILERS follow:

There are two main story arcs in HAWKMAN: ENDLESS FLIGHT. The series starts off with Kendra's ongoing investigation of her parent's deaths. Along the way, she's reluctantly accepted Carter's offer of help. The pursuit of a lead has the winged wonders flying to India, where they get mixed up in a search for a legendary diamond relic called the Third Eye of Shiva. And they also run into some old foes. In the resulting fracas Hawkman is transported to the fabled Battlelands, a hidden reality created by the god Shiva for his descendants. This leaves Hawkgirl out in the real world, facing off a crooked military faction. Everything eventually sorts itself out, and we move on to the next adventure, which guest stars Green Arrow, who's being framed for several murders in St. Roch. Hawkman and Green Arrow - respectively a conservative and a liberal - have never really gotten along, and this stays true to form. But it's fun watching them bicker.

Hanging around these pages is a mysterious and influential St. Rochian who's obsessed with archaeology and who knows more than most about the Hawks. He'd normally get my vote for "Behind-the-Scenes Villain" as he seems to have his fingers in a lot of pies, except that there seems to be someone behind HIS scenes. If that makes any sense.

End SPOILERS.

Penciller Rags Morales and inker Michael Bair provide the artwork, and, by Shiva, it's darn good artwork. In fact, in this volume, Rags and M. Bair treat us to several two-paged spreads of Hawkman and Hawkgirl which are just simply iconic and so very dynamic. Hawkman's never looked more like a bruising, implacable warrior, and Hawkgirl's right there, matching him in ferocity. Of course, their brandishing of menacing ancient weaponry adds that touch of not-to-be-effed-with even more. Also worth eyeballing are Andrew Robinson's original covers. Patrick Gleason fills in for one issue and he's good enough that he doesn't sabotage the series' look.

And let's not forget the timeless love story. Underneath all the goings-on, of course, is the romantic tension between Carter and Kendra. As a teaser for Hawkman: Allies & Enemies (Book 2), I'll mention that a twist is thrown in which alters Carter and Kendra's relationship. But in ENDLESS FLIGHT it's about Carter handling Kendra with the proverbial kid gloves. This is a superhero comic book so a boatload of attention is focused on superhero themes and supervillain beat-downs. But, I tell you, I relish the brief relationship moments between the Hawks just as much as their crime-fighting escapades. HAWKMAN: ENDLESS FLIGHT is good stuff. Give it a go.

Somehow writers Geoff Johns and James Robinson along with penciller, Rags Morales, are able to take the ridiculously convoluted history of the Hawks and push it slightly to the side to tell a good straight forward story. While the back story is still there, it doesn't bog the book down. The interplay between the Hawks is emotional and always interesting. Sadly, as with many DC books, there is a certain corniness to the villains. Morales pencil work is beautiful. Overall a really solid book.