Board Review of Metal No. 5: Maces, Magic Lassos, Martians and Madness

By Tim Board

Since the Metal saga began last summer, Scott Snyder’s “rock and roll” restructuring of the DC Universe has been building up to a crescendo. With only two more issues left in the series, I felt that issue No. 5 would be the one where it would reach its highest hope-devouring note and it feels like that is exactly what we got. So many things happened, and we had to run through it so fast, it left me wishing that this was a 12-issue bi-weekly. But if I got my wish, I imagine Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion might want to strangle me.

We open up the issue to find Barbatos perched on his pole, with dragons flying around. Not just dragons, but Joker dragons! I didn’t think much of it at first, because with seven evil Batman-things and Batmanium in the story, one gets used to such things.

Hawkman and Batman: Two Iconic Heroes Together

Over the last 78 years, Hawkman and Batman have been two of the most iconic superheroes in comics. Batman obviously has become the standard bearer of DC Comics, while Hawkman has been regulated to 2nd or 3rd tier status in recent years. Regardless, the Metal event has been a series to get all the Batman you could ever want, and it may also be the turning point for bringing Hawkman back to the forefront. I put together 13 of the times that the heroes were together in art or comics and the 13th dimension comic site put the article out with all the pictures so go check it out!
Link: Winging It: 13 Great Batman and Hawkman Moments

Unadorned Cover Art for Action Comics #588 by John Byrne

Tom Ziuko, one of the top colorists in comics, sent our Facebook group a picture of Action Comics No. 588 by John Byrne! 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO HAWKWORLD! In light of this special occasion, here's something I'm sure that no one has seen before, at least not like this. As the colorist on the Superman books when John Byrne took over the franchise, I would always try to get a hold of the covers in the production department before the logos and any copy had been added. This is the unadorned cover art for Action Comics #588, featuring the Man Of Steel along with everyone's favorite Thanagarians. Kirby says: "Don't ask - just ENJOY!" 

Many thanks to Tom Ziuko for an awesome surprise! 

New Hawkman and Hawkgirl Figures by Funko!

Funko has released a new DC Comics figure series called HeroWorld, available only at the Target stores in America. Hawkman and Hawkgirl are included in the series, packaged together for $25 (listed price). For some reason, in all of the promotional pictures, Hawkman is wearing green shorts only, looking kind of odd, but in the actual figures at the stores, his costume is as it should be. Had to screw Hawkman up somehow I guess. Any way, this looks like a great addition for those who are collecting Hawkman and Hawkgirl figures! 

Hawkman wearing the wrong pants in the promotion pic. 

Hawkworld Anniversary Article by Doug Zawisza

Hawkman.

Geez. What can I say about the guy that I haven’t already said? I mean I wrote (most of ) the Hawkman Companion, an article for Back Issue magazine, and a Comic Love post for Comicosity on Hawkman and Hawkwoman (Hawkgirl). There can’t be that much more to say, can there?

Except there is.

I could rage about how Hawkman and Hawkwoman have been short-changed and neglected (the only characters that haven’t been celebrated with “A Celebration of 75 Years...” book, despite debuting in the same issue as the Flash, having more solo adventures than the Joker, and going toe-to-philosophical-toe with Green Arrow) or how their adventures seem to get undercut by events (the promise at the end of Brightest Day never materialized, but had super-strong emotional potential) but I don’t want to wallow. I want to celebrate.

Hawkman Found at No. 9 on December Sales Chart!

Hawkman Found comes in at No. 9 on the chart for December comic book sales according to the Comichron site . Congratulations to Jeff Lemire, Bryan Hitch, Kevin Nowlan Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper, and DC Comics! Please, may we have another!? That was too good for a one shot!

Article Link

The History of Hawkman and Hawkgirl by Geoff Johns

Summary by Tim Board (Hawkworld Facebook and Hawkworld Twitter)
One of the greatest series of Hawkman comics was the series Geoff Johns did from 2002 to 2004. With the art of Rags Morales, Johns brought the confusing story of Hawkman together and it actually made sense. One of the best issues from his run is Issue No. 15, titled "The Thanagarian". In the first issue of this three-part story, Hawkwoman makes her first appearance in eight years. In the issue she tells the story of the Hawks and how they came to be. In just a few panels, Johns and Morales tolf the story as simply as possible. It is definitely worth a read. After the end of Johns, summary, I've added what has happened to the Hawks since 2004. 

Hawkman by Geoff Johns Book Two on Sale April 11th!

DC Comics is going to release Hawkman by Geoff Johns Book Two on April 11th! The new graphic novel will include Hawkman Vol. 4 No. 15-25 and JSA No. 56-58. Book One (Vol. 4 No. 1-14 and Secret Files) was released last summer. The cover art looks like it will be John Watson's amazing cover of Hawkman Vol. 4 No. 24!
Link

Hawkman and Hawkgirl by Andy Kubert

Andy Kubert drew an amazing Hawkman and Hawkgirl in The Casting last year. I took the pic and made a png file of it.

The Many Looks of Hawkman

By Tim Board (Hawkworld: Facebook and Twitter)

Over the years, Hawkman has had several looks and changes in his appearance. This may come as a surprise to some, because Hawkman is all about the wings and the mace and all. However, since he debuted in 1940, he has had basically 13 different looks over the years. This list doesn't include his temporary outfits, such as the time-warped look Tom Derenick gave him in 2008's Trinity series. The most drastic change he had was in Timothy Truman's Hawkworld series, where the wings became metal, and he wore a full body uniform. But that only lasted about 7 years, and after disappearing for four years, Hawkman came back in 2001 with an updated look of the original and that appears to be the look we are getting in the current Metal series. Which is your favorite look?