New Hawkworld Feature! Reviews Across Time and Space

Comics

Flash Comics No. 1
Cover Date: January 1940
Release Date: November 20, 1939
Script: Gardner Fox
Artist: Dennis Neville
Letters: Not listed
Editing: M. C. Gaines; Sheldon Mayer
Cover: Sheldon Moldoff

Note: The on-sale date of November 20, 1939, is the publication date reported in filings with the U. S. Copyright Office. There is also a house ad in Action Comics #19 which states the issue was to be on sale on "about November 10." At Hawkworld, we go with November 20 and celebrate Hawkman Day on that day.

Bird's Eye View

Summary: Carter Hall, a wealthy research scientist and ancient weapons collector in New York, comes into contact with an ancient Egyptian knife made of the mysterious “Ninth Metal.” This causes him to remember his past life as Prince Khufu of Egypt. After he is reunited with his eternal love Chay-ara (Shiera Sanders), he uses the Nth metal to make a costume in the image of a hawk and goes into battle against his mortal enemy, Hath-Set (Anton Hastor).

Pinions

Opinions/Observations: The legend of Hawkman all began in this 12-page story. The Nth metal, hawk helmet, wings, harness, ancient weapons, reincarnation, memory triggers, time travel, Shiera, and Hath-Set; it all began here and continues to this day. The first story is filled with concepts that Gardner Fox left for future writers, and they remain a central part of Hawkman's story to this day.

The heroes of the Golden Age all had a specialty power. Superman had strength, Flash was fast, Green Lantern had a power ring controlled by will alone, Doctor Fate used magic, Batman had gadgets, and Hawkman could fly. He was created as the first DC superhero to represent the power of flight. The Sub-Mariner was flying (sort of) in his first issue just a couple of months before Hawkman. When Hawkman first flies over the city, the people are shocked to see him. "Look! A hawk! A gigantic hawk!" This would have been the perfect moment for a catchphrase like the one that later became famous on the radio. "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" I believe this phrase was first spoken over the radio on February 12, 1940, just three months after Hawkman's first issue. Superman couldn't fly at first, so this would have been perfect for Hawkman. No use crying over broken eggs, I suppose.

The story's location was not clearly revealed in this issue, but later in the series it's established that Carter lives in New York. In this issue, he gives the taxi driver an address: 88 Rimble Road. No such address exists, but it's generally assumed that it is an address in Manhattan. This is because Carter gives a different address in Flash Comics No. 3: 20 Hudson Terrace. Now this address in New York actually exists and is still there even to this day. I even found pictures of the house. You can read about it here. 

I've seen some criticism over the years about Prince Khufu being a white, blond guy in ancient Egypt. My theory is that it's a dream, so Carter sees himself in the dream as he is now. Roy Thomas explains it as having too much to drink in his retelling of the story in Secret Origins No. 11. It's easily explainable in several ways, so I've never thought of it as a "problem."

The only problem I saw in this story was how Anubis was used instead of Horus. Anubis is the Egyptian god of death and the underworld, who has the head of a canine. Horus is the god of the sky, and he had the head of a falcon (or hawk!). Horus becomes important in the mythos of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, so it was definitely a rare misstep. I wonder how many people noticed in 1939. There's a pretty humorous review of the issue by Comics Archaeology that covers this if you want to check it out. 

Also, Hath-set was supposed to be his archenemy, but since Hawkman killed him in the very first story (take note, Batman), he never showed up again until 1982. 

Despite Hawkman being given so many tools to build a story, the Golden Age centered on his power of flight, his use of ancient weapons, his communications with the birds, and his relationship with Shiera. Nth metal and the reincarnation stories that connect it all together would come later.

Note about Pinions: The letter column for Hawkman Vol. 2 (1986-1987) was titled Pinions. A pinion is the outer segment of a bird's wing, but I always thought it was a brilliant title for a Hawkman letter column. Before making this review, I asked Hawkman Vol. 2 writer Jenny Blake (Tony Isabella) for permission to use the phrase for my review. 

Avian Artistry

The design for Hawkman by Dennis Neville was bizarre, no doubt, but that was the point. I always remember the Alan Scott quote from his very first appearance in  All-American Comics No. 16 (July 1940). "If I must fight evil beings, I must make myself a dreaded figure. I must have a costume that is so bizarre that once I am seen I will never be forgotten!" Hawkman certainly accomplished that in this case. An entire hawk head for his helmet, as well as a harness across the bare chest and the red underwear. Imagine seeing a character like that flying in the sky and coming at you. You ain't ever getting over that!

The art of drawing wings in comics was evolving, and compared to today's amazing art, the wings look very different from what we have today. Looking back at some of the Hawkmen from the Flash Gordon series back in the 30s, the wings are similar to what we have here and much different in others. Dennis Neville and especially Sheldon Moldoff's art had an unmistakable, almost beautiful look to it. But as the Golden Age of the 40s progressed, Hawkman's art changed drastically. It’s fun to watch Hawkman’s design evolve during the Golden Age through the art of Neville, Moldoff, Joe Kubert, Jon Chester Koziak and others. But the first Hawkman definitely had a look that will never be forgotten. It's not my favorite, but it is memorable.

Memorable Wheet

“The Hawkman - the peril of the night - whose extraordinary powers are derived from Carter Hall’s discovery of the secret of the ages - the Ninth metal - which defies the pull of the Earth’s gravity - and the Hawkman goes forth!”

Pecking Order

Verdict: Apex Predator

Despite a few flaws, it is the issue that created the legend and gave all the content Hawkman needed to soar through the Golden Age. The superhuman level of imagination and creativity of Gardner Fox is on full display here.