Review – Death of Hawkman #1 (DC Comics)

Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Artwork: Aaron Lopresti, Livesay, Blond
Release Date: 5th October, 2016

Hawkman has always been a conundrum of a character. In fact, he has cheated the deathly waft of a writers’ pen so many times in the past, I’m not sure if DC can truly expect its readers to be intoxicated with intrigue by the title of this new miniseries, even with the inclusion of the enigmatic Adam Strange?

The story begins on the Planet Rann, devastated by what seems to have been an epic battle. Into frame staggers our two heroes, both looking battered and bruised from the fight, Hawkman draped over Adam Strange like a boxer after the last round of his life. They both muse over what has passed, before Adam asks the immortal question “How did I get here?”

We are then treated to a whirlwind introduction to Adam Strange (and for those not familiar with the character he is essentially a cross between Indiana Jones and Peter Quill). The remainder of the issue flies past at a brisk clip, drawing the reader further and further into the twisting plot of this ever-expanding story until, before you know it, it’s time for the ol’ “to be continued” at the bottom of the last page.

For a series entitled Death of Hawkman, it’s definitely a bold move by the creators to have the title character play little more than cameo in its maiden issue. That said, it just flat-out works. It perhaps shouldn’t, but I can’t deny that it does. I picked up this comic bracing myself to read twenty-odd pages of the noble winged hero and instead I am presented with an entertaining introduction to the co-star.

Marc Andreyko’s writing is slick and drives the story with pace and intrigue. He flawlessly combines the humour of Adam’s character with the imposing grandeur of Hawkman and leaves enough breadcrumbs to hook the reader with the story to come .

Aaron Lopresti’s artwork continues to impress me with the life he brings to the characters. Having first encountered his art in Marvel’s Planet Hulk series and again rediscovering it in DC’s New 52 books, I find myself referring to it as a ‘new’ classic style that makes whatever he turns his pen to incredibly easy on the eye

DC have thrown the reading audience a bit of a curve ball with this first issue, and, dare I say, breathed fresh life into what I expected to be an somewhat predictable title. However, I am Strangely (see what I did there?) pleased to find my prejudices being challenged and am incredibly excited to get my hands on the next issue.

Rating: 4/5.

PREVIEW ARTWORK
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