Superman '78

Say what you might about the Christopher Reeve Superman films, I love them. I know that the SFX hasn't aged very well and that people hate movies III and IV.  Yet, from 1978-1987, I believed that a man could fly, thanks in very large part from Richard Donner and the Salkinds. In 1995 when Reeve had his riding accident and was paralyzed from the neck down, I cried. Yet, for the last 9 years of his life, Mr. Reeve continued to be my hero as he became a spokesman for the disabled. Even now, in my mid-40s, I get chills when I hear just a few notes of John Williams' electric score!

So a couple of years ago when I learned that DC would be continuing the adventures of the Chris Reeve Superman, I jumped for joy. I've been a huge fan of the Batman '66 series and the very brief Wonder Woman '77 series was pretty darn good too. I was so enamored with these series based on the old school TV versions of DC characters I grew up watching on the small screen, that I started calling for the premier of other childhood favs like Superman '78 here!

The story takes place sometime between the first and third Superman films. Based on events that take place, this book may very well occur right after the events of Superman II. Though I am not sure quite where to place this story on the Superman movie timeline, I know that this book is very much part of that cinematic universe. 

Right off the bat, it's the artwork that awestruck me. The Quantum Age's Wilfredo Torres executes perfection with his pencils. Superman/Clark Kent looks like Christopher Reeve. And there are actors Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Jackie Cooper as Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and Perry White respectively. Thrown in cameos of famous stars from the 1970s like the cast of Barney Miller and I was in total 70s memory lane geek mode. Although, could somebody explain to me why the very 1980s Goonies gang pop up in a cameo in this and not say, Michael Gray and Les Tremayne from 1974-76's Shazam! TV show?

Another thing that sold me on Torres' art was how he styled the newcomer to this universe, Brainiac! Wilfredo Torres utilizes 50 years of DC history with the visuals of the android villain. When Brainiac first arrives on planet earth, he utilized Ed Hannigan's iconic silver robot design from the early 80s. But when Superman comes face-to-face with Brainy, we are introduced to Otto Binder and Al Plastino's green skin and purple robed version from 1958. Really, no stone was left unturned with this book.

Robert Venditti (Hawkman) penned a story that gave respect to the 1970s and 80s Superman films while adding nuanced tributes to the stories that inspired the 1978 film and later birth further Man of Steel lore past the dawn of the 21st century. I very much want more of this universe and I hope DC hasn't shut the door on further such endeavors.

I know that DC just capped a Batman '89 mini series and I so look forward to getting my hands on that. But I really want to see Shazam! '74, The Flash '90 and Swamp Thing '82! Heck, I'm going to throw it out there: I want an Adventures of Superman '52 and even a Batman and Robin '49! I love this nostalgia thing DC has going on and as long as talent like Venditti, Torres and colorist Jordie Bellaire (Quantum and Woody) are involved, I will make it a part of my comic book readings!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Hawkman, Vol. 2: Deathbringer

Robert Venditti continues to slay it in this 12-issue series that seeks to make sense out of all of Hawkman's reincarnations. Venditti kicks things off with revealing the Carter Hall's very first life and the events that lead to him constantly dying and then being resurrected. While I was very satisfied with the end results of this series, I didn't feel like everything was properly explained or covered.

As I said during my review of volume 1, you will not see the JSA version of Hawkman as in 2017-18, those characters were currently non-existent due to events of Final Crisis or some other similar massive crossover event that rewrote multiverse history. I would have liked Venditti to explain what happens when one of Carter Hall's past lives are wiped from existence due to a Crisis level event. But such a concept isn't explained.

Also, I noted the absence of Hawkgirl from this series in the volume 1 review. That kinda happens here too. But in Hawkman's very first lifetime, there IS a mysterious woman who constantly hounds him. I'm assuming that this woman is Shiera/Sheyara/Kendra. But really there's no explanation as to why Hawkgirl keeps being reincarnated along with Hawkman. Having the pair be some sort of fated lovers doomed to never be together eternal romance is one that I am okay with. But if you start this love affair from Hawkman's very first life, things just don't make very much sense under that theory. 

Last thing I am disappointed in is the cover to this book. It pretty much gives away the amazing ending to this book. Yes, Carter Hall manages to defeat the big boss Deathbringers at the end of this story with the help of all of his past lives. Maybe the cover doesn't blatantly tell you what happens. But if you connect the dots throughout this series, this cover winds up ruining the surprise climax. So don't get mad at me for spoiling the ending. DC's trade paperback editorial and marketing staff did that for me.

This series was great. It has a few unanswered questions. And the cover kinda ruins a big surprise. But I enjoyed the heck out of the final battle and thought that Robert Venditti did an amazing job making sense out of a beloved character with a very confusing backstory. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Hawkman, Vol. 1: Awakening

Around 2017, right around the beginning of Robert Venditti's Hawkman series, I sat in on a Q&A with the author. I had a general notion of what the series was about: Hawkman and his reincarnations. But what piqued my interest was when Venditti promised a chance to meet the Hawkman of Krypton. That was an idea I had never thought of.

A little later the same day, I went to another Q&A. This one was with Evan 'Doc' Shaner and Jeff Parker about their Future Quest series. The pair were very welcoming and while tech was setting up, they asked the handful of us in the audience if we had been to any other panels. I mentioned the Hawkman one and how there was going to be a Hawkman of Krypton. For a minute, Parker, I think, stroked his chin and then proclaimed 'That's a brilliant idea!'

Thanks to that singular yet enthusiastic, I immediately put that Hawkman series on my wish list. Of course there was a caveat. I'd wait until I could somehow get my hands on the whole thing to read at once. It took several years but last week I was finally able to get my hands on both volumes at my local library. And I loved it! 

This series doesn't just seek to revisit all of Hawkman's past lives. Instead, Robert Venditti is on a mission to make sense of those reincarnations! From his time as the Egyptian ruler Khufu to Katar Hol of Thanagar and lives in between, the mystery as to why Carter Hall is bound to constantly be reborn throughout time AND SPACE is revealed!

Yes, there was a Hawkman on Krypton. But that wasn't the only big reveal. Some other really cool revelations are that other seemingly unrelated characters in the DC Universe are also Carter Hall reincarnations. Sir Justin, the Silent Knight and the old western gunslinger Nightwing are also some of the adventurers past lives. 

A re-teaming with Ray Palmer in the microverse explains more of the science behind Carter's past lives, especially as the hero starts to experience time slips. It very well could be possible that two or more reincarnations can operate at the same time and place. So I wouldn't be surprised if it's revealed that the current Nightwing, Dick Grayson, is also a Carter Hall reincarnation! 

As Carter Hall uncovers the mysteries surrounding his confusing past, Hawkman will learn that an even greater mystery is on the horizon. One that threatens to destroy Carter Hall's beloved planet Earth. And one tied to Carter's first life in which he has no memory of at all!

I loved this opening love letter to the character of Hawkman. It highlights just about every aspect of the icons history. Don't expect to see the JSA in this series as at this point in DC History, those heroes don't exist. Also, Shiera/Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman is not as much of an active player in this story as you'd expect her to be. Yeah, she's here. But Shiera isn't a part of Carter's active search for answers. And I can't put my finger on why that is...

I devoured this first volume in just a couple of hours. Maybe not even that long. This was a fun ride with elements of Indiana Jones, Doctor Who and comic book history all mixed in. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.