Hawkman #7
Cody White
Recap
Travel back in time with Ktar Deathbringer as he stands on the precipice of releasing an ancient evil upon the universe. Ktar and his trusty right hand, Idamm, are shown rounding up tributes to sacrifice to the Deathbringers on their homeworld-- tributes numbering in the tens of thousands. Ktar stands as the general of the Deathbringer's forces until an unexpected meeting with an enigmatic woman wakes Ktar's conscience and convinces him to rebel against his masters, sacrificing his own life to stop the ascension of the Deathbringers into our universe, turning Ktar into "The Great Betrayer".
With the threat stopped for now, Ktar fades into death for the first time, only to find himself on an ethereal plane confronted by a disembodied voice offering him a chance at redemption-- save one life for every life whose blood stains his hands, reincarnating across time and space until the job is done and the Deathbringers are stopped once and for all.
Review
Hawkman, over the decades since his first appearance in 1940’s Flash Comics #1, has been a superhero without a clearly defined origin. Writers have made attempts over the years to varying degrees of success, but ask an average fan of DC Comics what species Hawkman is and you’ll receive numerous and varied answers. Venditti and Hitch, along with Currie and Skipper, deliver the first Hawkman origin that I’ve encountered in over 30 years of reading comics that felt complete. All variations are accounted for in this new origin and, for the first time I’ve encountered, a satisfying purpose for his reincarnation is reveal. Atonement. How this will eventually tie into Hawkwoman/Hawkgirl’s story of reincarnation remains a mystery, as does the identity of the woman who stalked Ktar through his sins, but it stands to reason there is some connection between the classic structures of the Hawkman mythos to come. For now, however, we are left to wonder in the best way possible. This run on Hawkman has reinvigorated the character in ways, as a fan, I never imagined possible.
Final Thoughts
An all-new era starts here as Hawkman #7 reveals an updated origin for our winged hero. A perfect jumping on point for new readers.
Hawkman #7: Genesis
- Writing - 9.5/109.5/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 9.5/109.5/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10