Hawk And Dove #1 - A Review

He’s a hot-headed Avatar of War. She’s a calm, cool-headed Avatar of Peace. Together they fight crime, though they more frequently fight each other. Sterling Gates gives us the quick and easy run-down of Hawk and Dove early on in this issue before recounting their full history later on. This is a good thing for a first issue to do, particularly in the case of two characters that still aren’t widely recognized by your average comic fan, let alone the public at large, despite being pushed to prominence during the Brightest Day event last year. Sadly, this is one of the few things Gates manages effectively in this issue.

What’s odd is just how much this book depends on the older stories that were supposedly abandoned when the new DC Universe was created. This book features a reference to Crisis On Infinite Earths and the death of the original Dove, Don Hall. Deadman, who briefly came back to life and fell in love with the current Dove during the events of Brightest Day, is apparently still hanging around as her boyfriend. And according to my friend David Tai, who knows Hawk and Dove like I know Green Arrow, this issue also revives a long-forgotten plot thread from the 1980s Hawk and Dove title regarding some previous connection between Don Hall and Dawn Granger. While I’m sure old-timer comic fans like me are glad to see some details of the new universe get fleshed out, I have no idea what new readers are to make of a lot of these details.

The main plot of the issue focuses upon Hawk and Dove trying to thwart newbie villain Dr. Alexander Quirk (a self-proclaimed “science terrorist”) from unleashing an army of zombies on Washington D.C. Dr. Quirk is easily the most poorly realized idea in this issue. I think the concept of a man of science turned ultra-liberal terrorist is an interesting one but the execution falls flat. It is hard to believe that any villain smart enough to make a living as a scientist would be unable to come up with a better plan for taking over Washington DC than a zombie army. You know you’re in trouble will your villain makes Dr. Insano look like a competent criminal mastermind.

The artwork by Rob Liefeld isn’t much better than the story. I should note, in fairness to Mr. Liefeld, that the artwork here is nowhere near as bad as any of the examples depicted on this website. This is not to say that the artwork is good but it’s nowhere near as bad as some of Liefeld’s past work. While Liefeld has learned how to draw feet and ankles over the past few years, the artwork still features many of his classic “tells”, with Dove having thighs that are thicker around than her waist in some panels and there being numerous shots of people who are apparently suffering from severe cases of lockjaw.

In the end, Hawk and Dove #1 doesn’t give older readers anything we haven’t seen before while being virtually inaccessible to new readers, despite a lengthy scene explaining the character’s history. All in all, I’d say this one can be skipped unless you’re a die-hard Hawk and Dove fan.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Brightest Day #14

GOOD THING: Some good character stuff here for Deadman, as we get a more in-depth look at his mast and motivations than I think we've ever gotten in anything written in the modern age.

BAD THING: The ending is a tad predictable, with this romance between Deadman and Dove (or at least, the potential for one) having been telegraphed pretty heavily before now. At least the revelation that contact with the White Ring somehow restored Bruce's memory of Maxwell Lord is a surprise... but that's mostly because Maxwell Lord hasn't shown up in this book since the early issues!

The Final Verdict: Some good character stuff but the ending is anti-climactic and the surprise revelation might mean something to those following the Maxwell Lord story-line in the other books connected to this one... but not this book itself.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Brightest Day #13

GOOD THING: I'd never been a big fan of Hawkman but I loved Geoff Johns' writing enough that back in the day, when he was writing Hawkman's solo book, I gave it a shot. It became a consistent favorite and this issue, in which Johns focuses almost entirely upon the Hawkman/Hawkwoman storyline reminded me of just why his run on Hawkman was so awesome... even for someone who didn't really like Hawkman.

BAD THING: Speak of late, lamented titles from back in the day... am I the only one disappointed that Mitch Shelley (aka The Resurrection Man) only had a brief cameo in this book and that was rendered totally anti-climactic by the no-surprise announcement of just who the White Lantern is meant to be?

The Final Verdict: A good read for us nostalgia buffs and fans of Hawkman, despite an anti-climactic ending. And in case you haven't seen the many adverts yet.... Bruce Wayne is supposed to be the next White Lantern.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Birds of Prey #5

GOOD THING: We get some closure from the past four issues of craziness. Suffice it to say, the cat is out of the bag regarding Creote's feelings for Savant and Oracle has officially brought them back onto the team. Everyone survived the encounter with Gotham's less-than-finest and Huntress managed to resist the urge to return to her old ways and off the Penguin.

BAD THING: The scenes with Hawk and Dove seem to have been added in as an afterthought - as if they were desperate for some kind of tie-in to Brightest Day.

Additionally, it seems rather odd that Oracle talks about the team needing to become outlaws and then Huntress has no problem getting into the hospital to visit Hawk, Dove and Lady Blackhawk in her civilian identity. Granting that the corrupt Gotham cops who were hunting them probably do have a lot of explaining to do regarding all the property damage, it still seems rather jarring that the authorities suddenly don't seem to care about the associates of an internationally-wanted murderer.



The Final Verdict: A solid issue, despite leaving us with some questions about exactly how The Birds stand legally. A lot of other issues get explained, though, so hopefully there will be some clarification next time.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Brightest Day #9

BAD THING: The plot with Hawk, Dove and Deadman has stalled and stopped being interesting. What is worse, this issue, it distracts away from the really interesting things that have been happening to Aquaman and Mera.


GOOD THING: Green Arrow finally gets drawn into the action of the main Brightest Day book and we get to see him paired up with Martian Manhunter to boot, as we get a little more insight into the power of the Star City forest (which managed to instantly repair most of the damage caused by J'onn's presence) and exactly what J'onn's destiny is.

The Final Verdict: As per usual, the main storyline seems to be a distraction from the more interesting subplots. Still, at least Ollie finally gets a direct tie into what is going on. And the stuff with J'onn is pretty cool.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Brightest Day #7

BAD THING: We finally get a full glimpse of what the resurrected heroes and villains have been brought back to accomplish... and we still don't have any idea what they are supposed to be trying to accomplish, save that it ties into finding a new Entity. Ten To One it's Dove.

GOOD THING: At least we know Miss Martian is still alive and well. It would really suck for her to be dead just in time for the new Young Justice cartoon.

The Final Verdict: I think I may stop reviewing this book if things don't pick up. I'll still read it but - as far as the plot line goes, so far it's been much ado about nothing.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Brightest Day #5

BAD THING: As much as I appreciate the sentiment, the opening scene in which Aquaman and Mera go into action to fight an oil spill... too much, too soon DC.

GOOD THING: There isn't a page of this comic that feels like filler, with three plots each getting a fair amount of development this time. In addition to the revelation regarding Mera's past and what that means to Aquaman, we also get to explore an apparently familiar realm with Hawkman and Hawkwoman and discover a little more behind the purpose of The White Ring that Boston "Deadman" Brand was given.

The Final Verdict: Apart from an opening page that aims for relevance but comes off as just a little bit tacky in light of recent events, I think this may have been the best issue of Brightest Day so far. The action on all the features storylines moves well and nothing here feels like padding.

One Good Thing And One Bad Thing About Birds of Prey #1

GOOD THING: Oh, Dinah... I've MISSED seeing you being written this well.

BAD THING: The Hawk and Dove scenes stick out like a sore thumb. Granting that we do need some kind of introduction for those who haven't been reading Brightest Day so far, they do seem a bit like they were added in as an afterthought to an already completed Birds of Prey reunion script.

The Final Verdict: Almost a flawless return. But for all the picture-perfect moments in this book... and all the shout-outs to long-neglected characters... the inclusion of Hawk and Dove seems to be a bit too much... like icing on a sweet cake that doesn't need it. Still... The Birds Are Back!

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly of Brightest Day #0

Quite a bit happens in this book. Some of it looks interesting. Some of it doesn't. Some of it seems like filler. Wanna know more? Look behind the cut. Spoilers and Images behind the cuts, as always.

1. Deadman...LIVES? - Honestly, this is one of those concepts I'm amazed nobody has thought to do in something else before. And putting an already unbalanced Boston Brand in charge of the White Light... brilliant.

2. Barry Checks Up On His Rogues - This brief scene was a lot better paced than The Flash #1 and a heck of a lot more fun. But I suppose I am biased being a bit of a Captain Boomerang fan.

3. Carter and Shiera, Together Again - I forgot how much I missed Geoff Johns' Hawkman and this brief scene brought all the fondness for that series back in a rush... even before the interesting hook of Hawkman's gauntlet apparently now being enhanced by The Power Of Love.

4. J'onn's Housewarming Party - I'm glad to see J'onn back. And I laughed out loud when I saw Guy's gift, proving that he can be a Nice Guy without getting hit in the head.

5. Star City Goes Green - Okay, improbable as the star-shaped blast in Cry For Justice was... this is just cool. And as I said before... Robin Hood needs a Sherwood. :)

6. Sinestro's Back... - ... and he wants a ring. So any worries about Sinestro no longer being a bad guy now that we know his anti-heroic origins? Gone. Now he's chasing after the White Ring, presumably because only he has earned it after all that he went through.

1. The Return Of Maxwell Lord: Evil Overlord - Honestly, is there ANYONE besides Dan Didio who thought bring Maxwell Lord back was a good idea? Particularly bringing him back as the uber-telepath would-be world-ruler who is, at least according to the story going into the new Justice League: Generation Lost, powerful enough to make nearly everyone on the planet forget he ever existed?

Well, that's just great. But what about the video archives of his death? The print archives and the digital archives of the print archives? Telepathy can't erase newspapers. And the Greek Gods who already intervened once when someone tried to mind control Wonder Woman (see Blackest Night: Wonder Woman, if you must)

2. The Return Of Jade - Speaking of resurrections nobody wanted, Jade's return is proving to be as horrendous as I thought. Because it's impossible for Kyle Rayner to be in a committed relationship and just be happy, we're treated to a lot of forced drama as Kyle's current girlfriend seethes over the ex-being alive and well, even as she insists that she's not making a play for Kyle and Kyle insisting that he's just happy an old friend is alive... while grinning like an idiot in a way that never happens around women who are "just friends"... although that could be the fault of the artist.

3. The Fury Of Firestorm - And speaking of forced drama... wow! Who could have predicted it? A white idiot man-child and an angry the black man who (rightly, I think) hates his guts are forced to work together to access their amazing superpowers to Save The World!

I liked this comic better when it was called Quantum And Woody.

1. The Scene With Aquaman and Mera - It's good character stuff. But it doesn't really seem to set anything up or accomplish anything except giving us hot soaking-wet redhead babe fan service and the leading nominee for the two panels "Most Likely To Wind Up On Superdickery".

2. The Return of Osiris - Hardly anyone cared when he died in 52. And hardly anybody cares now that he's back. Hell, I'm indifferent to the Marvel Family as a whole after what they did to Mary Marvel.

3. Hank Hall: Rapist Asshat - Really. Here's one more person who just needed to stay dead. Am I the only one who remembers that this guy (or at least, a version of him from a parallel timeline where he didn't die) ACTUALLY RAPED DOVE back in JSA? Just checking.

Now taking bets on how long it will be before The Monarch shows up again. And I don't mean the skinny guy in orange from The Venture Brothers.



The Final Verdict: More good than bad, though much of the book seems to be filler and we're still left wondering why a lot of these characters were brought back at all. Presumably there will be some method to the madness later on. Still worth picking up, in my opinion, if only so what happens later may make more sense.