Friday, February 11, 2011

Read: Brightest Day #18

Issue: Brightest Day #18
Title: "Easy Come, Easy Go"
Published Date: Jan 2011
Generation: Modern Carter, Modern Shiera
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: On Zamaron, the combined form of The Predator and Queen Shrike strikes out at her foes, while Hawkman and Hawkgirl try to figure out what has just happened.  Carol Ferris says that the Predator can be corrupted by a host, and it seems that this is the case.  But before she can do anything about it, Shrike lashes out, freezing her in a block of ice.  Shiera grabs Carol's Star Sapphire Sword while Hawkman engages Shrike.  Outclassed by her newfound power, Carter gets beaten down by the maniacal queen.  Shrike taunts Hawkman, saying that now that the curse is broken, when she kills them they will be dead forever.  Equipping himself with the Claw of Horus, Hawkman strikes Shrike in the front while Hawkgirl stabs her from the back.  The massive overload of power explodes out from the Queen, reaching the bones of her portal... and reanimating the various remains of the Hawks.  They grab the Queen, and drag her down, dead.  With thanks, carol sends the Hawks back to St. Roch.

At Stonechat House, the Winged Wonders begin to celebrate defeating their curse with a little lovemaking, but they are interrupted by the White Lantern Boston Brand.  He points the ring at the Hawks, against his will, and white energy erupts from it.  The White Ring tells them that they will live longer apart than together, and the Hawks are ripped apart.  Slowly they turn white, until they both turn into dust!

Review: The finale of the battle with Shrike delivers the goods in spades, with an appropriate high octane conclusion.  The Claw of Horus had to play a role after Johns teased it early on.  But as a Hawkfan, you had to know something was up when we saw an extended scene of them as lovers... such scenes almost never end well for our heroes.  Where the heck things go to from here is anyone's guess, but I must say, Johns said that the Hawks were cursed and it seems that he was telling the truth!  

Image: Brightest Day #18, 2011, David Finch.

3 comments:

Diabolu Frank said...

SUPER POWERS - HAWKMAN Lithoprint 2010 DC Vintage Art

Luke said...

Oh my goodness that's cool.

Airship Over Water said...

Great review! I enjoyed this issue a lot. Seeing their fate at the end of it really brought that "shock value" and "surprise" into Brightest Day that made me love the book all over again.

I think Hawkman and Hawkgirl will find their way back, post Brightest Day or maybe even through Flashpoint. After issue #19, I just see too many things happening that can't stay the way they are.

Plus, Johns is too big of a fan of the character, not to mention Robinson has said (and denied *rolls eyes*) that he's working on something Hawkman related after BD.

Killing them and bringing them back months down the road isn't going to help anything, so it's better if it's resolved sooner than later, IMO.