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Hawkgirl #50

Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006
By: Michael Aronson



Writer: Walter Simonson
Artist: Howard Chaykin

Publisher: DC Comics


Simonson on writing and Chaykin on art, assigned to a title chronicling the adventures of a popular formerly supporting character? It’s a brilliant move that will only end in a sales slump and cancellation in a year or two, but I admire DC’s brass for committing to this idea. Even though it’s essentially a new #1 issue, I think the title will benefit from remaining connected to the previous iteration, drawing out the readers’ curiosity over Hawkman’s absence.

A mysterious dream begins a series of strange events that haunt Kendra and endanger those near her. The mystery of these events dates back to the beginning of the previous year when the first of many disappearances started occurring to the citizens of St. Roch. How Kendra is involved is still uncertain, yet the images etched into a decrepit wall suggest her fate is tied to the answer.

It’s nice that Kendra’s status quo, supporting cast, location and powers are all spelled out quite smoothly for new readers and that a new storyline initiates right away, but DC seems to be forgetting why new readers might be picking up the title. Longtime fans of the two Hawks are likely curious to see the changes that occurred over the year-long gap, but new readers like myself have grown interested in Kendra due to her appearances in JSA and Rann/Thanagar War, and while it’s great to see her hogging the spotlight for once, I want to see where she fits in with the rest of the DCU. This is partially the result of very few moments of her in costume, which isn’t to say the issue’s light on action or plot development, but . . . it doesn’t quite pique my curiosity as much as it should.

Props to the writers and editors for two bold moves. First, the return of footnotes! It’s only one, and it’s not necessarily a reference that required a footnote, but I’m glad the editors are starting to realize that footnotes aren’t so much a hook to drag continuity baggage as they are references for interested readers to hunt down further adventures of these characters. And second, the inclusion of “the hurricane.” I honestly did wonder last year if the Hawkman writers had referenced Katrina in the comics, since St. Roch can’t be more than a stone’s throw from New Orleans. Whether they did or not, here it’s tastefully referenced and used as a backdrop for some of the changes in the past year. In fact, though I don’t usually like politics mixed heavily into my fiction, I’d like to see it play a larger role and motivation for Kendra’s actions.

This is a solid starting point for a series that’s probably doomed anyway, but I’ll give it another issue to build momentum. I need more reasons – DCU interaction, Hawkman’s disappearance, Kendra’s motivations – to read a Hawkgirl title than to see Hawkman with breasts.



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