Review by Frank Plowright
Walter Simonson’s three volume run of Hawkgirl ends here, named after the Hawks’ greatest enemy, the reincarnated person destined to kill them every time they’re resurrected. First, though, there’s the matter of an Apokalips weapon that’s been concealed on Earth for centuries, but was activated at the end of Hawkman Returns.
After his run on Orion anyone whose pulse doesn’t race a little at the idea of Simonson revisiting Jack Kirby’s legacy characters at DC has surely outgrown superhero comics once and for all. There’s an appearance for the Female Furies, a planet-threatening problem and some great lines in a compact two-part joy. Perhaps the Furies are a little too idealised by the otherwise admirable Renato Arlem, but it’s difficult to find much else wrong.
A trip to Gotham ties in with Hawkgirl’s research into Hath-Set, but it’s more a Batman story until the showdown. A trip to Metropolis follows, Hawkgirl more prominent here, as Simonson uses other opportunities of the DC universe before heading into a very satisfying two-part finale. That’s only very slightly spoiled by a lapse into some strange dialogue. Would a timeless Egyptian menace really be quoting Robert Burns?
Arlem draws all but the single chapter extremely nicely, poised, and decorative with a good sense for a layout, although some expressions are too posed. Denis Calero on the Metropolis chapter is also fine, although his use of shadows can be random.
The key to the final story is that Hawkman and Hawkgirl’s destiny is to forever die and be resurrected again, searching each other out. For some reason the spell has been slightly altered with the current incarnations. Kendra Saunders recognises and likes Carter Hall without loving him. It’s difficult to imagine any fan of the characters being disappointed at the ending Simonson gives them, but you don’t have to know the minutae of their continuity to appreciate it either.
Look online and you’ll find some distinctly lukewarm reviews of Simonson’s Hawkgirl. They’re not merited. It’s not perfect, but most problems were ironed out over the first volume, and both since have been treats.
