Hawkgirl #56, Final Simonson/Chaykin Issue

[Carter Hall]

As I've mentioned on posts before, I was a huge fan of the Palmiotti/Grey/Bennett/Jose issues of Hawkman before this, and even the Infnite Crisis tie-in stuff that came afterwards. I've been less than excited about the One Year Later arc since the book has become "Hawgirl." I just read the final Simonson/Chaykin teamup issues yesterday and now that I have read the whole story, I can say I was thoroughly disappointed.

Still no information on where Hawkman is, the Maw was an incredibly lame character, and the story, in my opinion, never really engaged me at any point. Chaykin's art was awful, and I'm glad that he won't be the main artist anymore after this issue (THANK GOODNESS). I'm even disappointed that he's going to be the cover artist!

As for Simonson, who is a good writer, the general plot was good in this story (Kendra getting back on her feet without Hawkman while people are trying to kill her), but I was incredibly disappointed at the mistakes he was making in the story that contradicted previous issues of the book. For example, the cops in this arc revealed that they know Kendra's identity- to which she was shocked, yet Kendra already revealed in issue 35 that it was common knowledge. Or how SOMEONE kept messing up writing names- "Lt. Grub" instead of "Grubbs" (which is a stupid name, anyway, but whatever), or when Hawgirl sees "Roderic Christopher," but his name is "Christopher Roderic." Yes, I know this is geek jargan at its finest, but just go with it.

Anyway, I'm glad that Joe Bennett will be taking over for the next two issues, and I hope that the writing will improve, too. I've been reading on these boards that a lot of readers have jumped ship during this arc, and I don't blame them. Somehow, I don't know why I haven't, either.

Any thoughts?

[Hush Little Batman]

The new issue came out today with Bennett's pencils and while they seem better than Chaykin's, its still lacking overall. This is a title about a "female hawk"; so there should be a feeling of fluidity and grace in her movements and there isn't. Oh yeah, the story is still lame too.

[estee]

What I didn't like about the arc was that Kendra was so passive in the story.

She had no idea what was happening. She didn't really start investigating until the last issue. And there were more questions at the end than answers. Not very good storytelling, as far as I'm concerned.

[PastePotPete]

I was incredibly disappointed at the mistakes he was making in the story that contradicted previous issues of the book. For example, the cops in this arc revealed that they know Kendra's identity- to which she was shocked, yet Kendra already revealed in issue 35 that it was common knowledge. Or how SOMEONE kept messing up writing names- "Lt. Grub" instead of "Grubbs" (which is a stupid name, anyway, but whatever), or when Hawgirl sees "Roderic Christopher," but his name is "Christopher Roderic." Yes, I know this is geek jargan at its finest, but just go with it.



Any thoughts?

Hey, I don't think it's geek jargon. Geek jargon is when you're upset that a writer wrote that Batman 'szipline can handle 500 pounds of weight when you know full well that in Detective Comics 723 he used it to snare and pull up Killer Croc who is listed in 1983's Who's Who as weighing 580 lbs.

You're talking about attention to detail. Sloppy mistakes like the ones you describe above are irritating and it's okay to be annoyed with them.

Why is DC so hell-bent on making Hawkgirl a premiere DC hero? Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

[Hush Little Batman]

Why is DC so hell-bent on making Hawkgirl a premiere DC hero? Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Hawkgirl's prime role in the Justice League cartoon has made the character a household name among comic fans (who watched the show) so it's a brilliant move by DC to try and capitalize on it. Where they've completely blown it is in using Kendra Saunders.

DC had a golden, and I mean GOLDEN, opportunity to bring Shayera Hol back and make her the star of her own ongoing series. With JLU off the air and fans of her character still hungry for more, you'd think the geniuses in editorial would realize that with Infinite Crisis and SPB's retcon punches allowing them to remake the DCU in any way they pleased, that they'd rewrite Hawk-history; bring Shayera back and make her more like her JLU version.

Any fan of JLU, especially girls, who want to continue following the adventures of Hawkgirl now have to read about one they've never heard of. Unless there's a twist coming, DC has really blown bringing HG back in a big way. That boneheaded move combined with the general consensus that the writing and art have been horrible and DC has grounded her before she even took flight.

[Effect]

Any word if Hawkman is coming back to take his book back?

[Carter Hall]

I just read issue 57 that came out yesterday and I thought it was GREAT. I think Joe Bennett's art still fits very well in this book (read his initial run on the book between issues 35-45) and I thought the story of the Thanagarian POWs escaping was very good. I loved the Rann/Thanagar War and it was 100 times more interesting than the Maw (...ughh...). I'm eager to see where they go with this, and to see Joe's art on the next issue, too.

In terms of DC capitalizing on the success of JLU, I agree with you that a Hawkwoman series based on Shayera Thal would have been good, but I don't think Kendra is a bad character. She was whiny and annoying in the Simonson/Chaykin arc, but in JSA and the Hawkman series up to this point I think she's been a strong, interesting superhero.

Finally, yes, Hawkman is coming back and I believe the book is going back to "Hawkman" after issue 60, which concludes the POW story (I believe) and brings the character back. In the new Justice League of America series, they're already mentioning the character being back.

[Ms. M]

I also don't see why DC didn't do more with the Shayera Hol Hawkwoman after JLU. Kendra could have stayed on as Hawkgirl in the JSA, while Shayera could have been Hawkwoman in the JLA. I don't think it would have been all that confusing. Shayera could have even gotten together with John Stewart, while Carter Hall could stick with Kendra.

[Carter Hall]

I also don't see why DC didn't do more with the Shayera Hol Hawkwoman after JLU. Kendra could have stayed on as Hawkgirl in the JSA, while Shayera could have been Hawkwoman in the JLA. I don't think it would have been all that confusing. Shayera could have even gotten together with John Stewart, while Carter Hall could stick with Kendra.

Wow, great idea... (not sarcastic)

[Suzanne]

I think she went mostly unused, even during JL/U, because of her screwed-up backstory. Because of editorial changes made to Hawkworld years ago, she was no longer the same character everyone knew from the silver age and up, including being a League member. Maybe that's why she was killed. In light of all that, I think it's possible the Hawkwoman we know and love could return.

[Effect]

Sometimes I've question the popularity of Hawkgirl in the JL/U cartoons though. Especailly after the Starcrossed movie she was removed as a key player. Even though the league became much larger with both JSA and JLA members the other 6 were still seen as the fonders and lead heros. Not only that but the reputation of Hawkgirl went right into the trash after Starcrossed as well. It should have as well. Still at the time it wasn't like she was a hero other hero or normal people trusted or even wanted to be around.

I was kinda happen as well that John hooked up with Vixen as well since I felt they were a better match anyway. Also it meant more Vixeno on screen which is a huge plus :).

Was there any strong desire for Hawkgirl to be a main player again in JLU after she was pretty much demoted? Maybe that's why they didn't take advantage at the time.

I think she got the push recently as a result of DC's entire deversity push they did. It's not like there was a big desire from fans for Hawkgirl to get her own title was there?

[Damo]

All the main JL members became less important in JLU... and yes, maybe Hawkgirl even more so (although look at Manhunter!) but she was still pretty well known.

So DC makes a Hawkgirl comic to capitalize on this...

And gives readers a very passive nonaggressive human Hawkgirl...

While simultaneously killing Shayera in Rann Thanagarean war...

*Sighs.* Sometimes DC hurts my head. A lot.

[Suzanne]

Sometimes I've question the popularity of Hawkgirl in the JL/U cartoons though. Especailly after the Starcrossed movie she was removed as a key player. Even though the league became much larger with both JSA and JLA members the other 6 were still seen as the fonders and lead heros. Not only that but the reputation of Hawkgirl went right into the trash after Starcrossed as well. It should have as well. Still at the time it wasn't like she was a hero other hero or normal people trusted or even wanted to be around.

I was kinda happen as well that John hooked up with Vixen as well since I felt they were a better match anyway. Also it meant more Vixeno on screen which is a huge plus :).

Was there any strong desire for Hawkgirl to be a main player again in JLU after she was pretty much demoted? Maybe that's why they didn't take advantage at the time.

I think she got the push recently as a result of DC's entire deversity push they did. It's not like there was a big desire from fans for Hawkgirl to get her own title was there?JLU's producers were really fond of her, as were plenty of the show's fans, so bringing her back made sense. It seemed an awkward move to me at first, but I thought it worked out in the end.

[Peter M.]

So DC makes a Hawkgirl comic to capitalize on this...

And gives readers a very passive nonaggressive human Hawkgirl...

While simultaneously killing Shayera in Rann Thanagarean war...
Who had even less similarity with the Hawkgirl in JLU. Frankly butchering her to fit the cartoon would have been far worse. Putting her in comic limbo alongside Katar is probably the smarter move.

[Hush Little Batman]

Like I said, DC should've used SPB's retcon punches to completely rewrite the original Hawkwoman into more like her JL/U counterpart. They could've deviated from her cartoon origin a bit (remove the betrayal) but kept it similar enough to be recognizable. If the trinity aren't above having their origins and history messed with time and again, neither is a character no one cared about until JL/U.

[Peter M.]

Like I said, DC should've used SPB's retcon punches to completely rewrite the original Hawkwoman into more like her JL/U counterpart.
Why the Hawkworld Hawkwoman was a fine character, retrofitting her into the SA version to temporarily satisfy a small number of fans is not the way to go here.



If the trinity aren't above having their origins and history messed with time and again, neither is a character no one cared about until JL/U . That must be why people were bitching when DC killed her in RTW.

[Hush Little Batman]

Why the Hawkworld Hawkwoman was a fine character, retrofitting her into the SA version to temporarily satisfy a small number of fans is not the way to go here.

LOL! If you think JL/U had a "small number of fans", well, then there's nothing I can tell you.


That must be why people were bitching when DC killed her in RTW.

I'm sure there were some Golden/Silver age fans pissed about it, but for new readers who were exposed to her in JL/U for the past 5 years, they probably thought DC was bringing her back (ala Hal Jordan, Ollie Queen, etc) and were disappointed when she was killed.

[PaulTiberius]

A little more shameless self-promotion ... I'm getting tons of hits on my blog (http://comicglutton.blogspot.com/2006/10/hawkgirls-hawkbra.html), highlighting (with scans and commentary) the weird female-anatomy fixation of the Simonson/Chaykin run, which I mentioned in another thread below. It was bizarre stuff, and didn't necessarily make for a very straightforward comic experience, but lampooning its excesses sure is a lot of fun! :)