Hawkman #2 // Review
Writer Robert Venditti, artist Bryan Hitch, and colorist Alex Sinclair deliver another stellar issue of the adventures of Carter Hall--alias Hawkman. Carter, has been haunted by visions of giant winged creatures that have annihilated Earth. Carter realizes that the answers he seeks lie in his past lives, which have now been revealed to span both time and space. This new revelation by the creative team about Carter has given Hawkman a greater sense of importance in the new DC Universe.
Hawkman series writer Robert Venditti, continues to drive interest with Carter Hall by exploring this new concept with his backstory. Knowing that the answer to these visions lies somewhere in his past is honestly scaring Carter, and that vulnerability makes the often rough character more accessible. Carter has also had interactions with a few different characters who have personal history with him from previous lives. Venditti does a great job showing how these different characters view Carter, whether he was an Angel of Mercy or a Bird of Prey, and how it affected their lives. Venditti is superbly showcasing the archaeologist/adventurer side of Carter Hall, in a thrilling Indiana Jones way. One very interesting little easter egg found, is the brief mention of a certain doomed planet that is now excitingly part of Carter’s history.
In this issue, artist Bryan Hitch was really able to spread his wings and take flight, no pun intended. Several different versions of Carter, and multiple panels featuring highly detailed hieroglyphics, really help to showcase Hitch’s talent. There are also many panels that feature a worrisome Carter Hall. Hitch really brings that emotion to life with deep lines in the face, that let the reader really experience the emotion. As in the last issue, Hitch really knows how to forge the intensity of battle on the pages. Action panels feel like the reader is right there in the midst of the fight and will be coughing on the dust and debris kicked up.
Colorist Alex Sinclair has made the sun a big focal point of this series. The way he establishes it, and makes it a part of the panel is something that can’t be ignored. Whether it is a full on bright sun, or a ray catching the side of a helmet or the tip of a mace, Sinclair makes it matter. All of his other colors are crisp and bright and look great; however, there is something special about how he can make the sun pop off of the page that will most likely be mentioned in future reviews.
The creative team of Venditti, Hitch, and Sinclair have delivered another delightful issue in what will hopefully be a long-running series. The possibilities for storytelling with the character of Carter Hall have been pushed wide open with the new idea that his past lives now stretch across time and space. The DC Universe is ripe with fantastic alien worlds that would make a great setting for a Hawkman adventure.
