REVIEW: ‘Hawkman’, Issue #24

Hawkman #24 is written by Robert Venditti and illustrated by Fernando Pasarin. Oclair Albert is the series inker, along with Cam Smith and Wade vonGrawbadger. Jeromy Cox provides colors and Rob Leigh is the series letterer. Hawkman is published monthly by DC Comics.

The threat of Sky Tyrant is over and Carter Hall has regained control of his body and mind once again. This is in no small part due to the love and tenacity of Shayera, Hawkwoman, Carter’s soulmate. The Hawks are reunited. However, Sky Tyrant’s ploy to open up destruction to engulf the multiverse has not completely gone away. In issue #23, Carter and Shayera found themselves trapped inside the realm the Tyrant tried to unleash. They are too familiar with what they uncover, as life comes full circle.

But first, let’s dig into the reunion in Hawkman #24. Hawkman and Hawkwoman haven’t been together as a couple for years. This series really deepened Carter and now gives readers a hardened warrior in Shayera. Seeing them in the first few pages completely each others’ sentences, being so close, is a joy to read. Waiting for the Hawks to come together has been a wait that came right on time. Of course, they regroup as hell surrounds them, but that’s comics for you. Shayera is every bit as tenacious and blunt to counter the quiet melancholy of Carter. They contrast, yet are like twins at the same time, evidence of two people who have been bonded across spacetime. Too bad for them they have fallen into the worst of places.

Carter’s first life thousands of years ago as Ktar Deathbringer never stops haunting him. Now, the Hawks are trapped in the very realm he once tossed sacrifices to the god he worshipped. It’s fitting that the duo would come full circle right after Shayera received the memories of her past lives as well. Back to the beginning. What better way for Carter to make a new start than to contend with his original sin. However, interruptions arrive and throw the Hawks into disarray as the past literally shows up to kill them.

The pulp feels in this book grow every issue. Venditti leaned heavily this time around on the darker aspects of pulp fiction, the violence, the gritty imagery, and forlorn places. He brought out the strength of the Hawks as a couple and as individuals with issue #24. The back and forth between Carter and Shayera was so good the only shortcoming was there did not seem to be enough of it. As soon as the reunion takes off, a confrontation swoops in. Other than that this was a classic comic book story that never lets up on developing its protagonist and revealing new things.

Pasarin is back for full issue artwork, and his level of detail remains classical and clean. Three separate inkers take turns shading the grim world the Hawks are trapped in, letting the gray stand out. It could have been darker, but then it would have detracted from Pasarin’s dynamic pencils and the brilliant use of color and lighting by Albert. Thus far there has been no problem with any art and lettering team on Hawkman. They continue to bring rock-solid panels month after month. 

With every new revelation, there is hope this book will go on for years to come. The comic book industry is definitely shaken up by the COVID lockdown and cancellations of titles has again reared its ugly head. Hopefully, this in-depth series about one of DC’s oldest heroes keeps going on, building up the tradition Venditti laid down back in the first issue. Add this title to your comic bin!

Hawkman #24 is available wherever comic books are sold, and from our Comixology online affiliate link.