Hawkgirl #1 review

It’s Kendra Saunders flying high on the cover of this six-part mini-series. She’s not my favourite Hawkgirl, but I’ve followed her since her JSA debut through various books. Most recently she was in Justice League, deeply in love with J’onn J’onzz and devoted to their alternate dimension son Shayne.

But, as they say in Airplane, that’s not important right not. As we join Kendra she’s moved to Metropolis, broken up with J’onn and apparently forgotten Shayne. She’s working with a bunch of superheroes who look a lot like the Justice League.

But there’s no Justice League right now for… reasons. I dunno. I dunno why Superman is with a gang of his pals when currently Metropolis is home to more than half a dozen members of his Super Family. I dunno why Kendra has moved to Metropolis, writer Jadzia Axelrod doesn’t give us the background.

We do get backstory on new villainess Vulpecula…

… and her victim, Maureen…

… and Kendra’s old college pal Abilene…

… and new superheroine on the block Galaxy.

Kendra, we don’t get to know. What does she want? Why is she presenting as together while art inserts – memories, inner feelings? – show a foetal Kendra, a woman in pain.

Galaxy was created by Axelrod for a Young Adult graphic novel a couple of years back. She’s not without appeal and potential, and her alien pal Argus – who presents as a corgi – is adorable, but Galaxy looks set to be unofficial co-star of this book. If not the star.

She’s a lot more together than Kendra, she knows more about Kendra’s wings than Kendra, she saves Kendra’s life in the battle with the talking coal scuttles, she’s the one set up to rescue Kendra after an attack by Old Peculiar, or Velociraptor or whatever her name is… something foxy, oh yeah, Vulpecula.

Actually, good on Axelrod for creating a new villain who seems satisfyingly vile, with a fascinating longterm scheme. And the little furnace fellas fought by Not the Justice League are a hoot. I could do without the fairytale-style narration Axelrod employs throughout the book, but won’t deny the work being put into the story.

How do I sum up the story? A cranky Hawkgirl battles aliens. A cranky Hawkgirl is rescued by a charming Galaxy. A calmer Kendra has a cuppa with a pal. A dastardly villainess plots against Hawkgirl.

I just wish it felt like Kendra’s story – glibly batting away bits of her history doesn’t cut it. I don’t need original Kendra’s suicide mentioned. I’m OK with Mia, the daughter she gave up at 16, being forgotten. But Hawkgirl’s recent doings – the romance, the super-kid, the Blackhawks – should be treated with a bit of respect. Sure, the Hawkgirl story is complicated but if you’re going to jettison her history and relationships, why bother having the supposed main character ‘be’ Hawkgirl at all?

The first issue should show how Kendra gets to where she is. Maybe Axelrod wanted to start in media res, but if you’re going to do that, you go back and explain the set-up somewhere in the first chapter, here it feels like we’re not going to get it at all.

Maybe we are being shown. Could be Kendra kept falling off her couch and decided to find a city with a steadier couch.

Then again, Abilene (I keep writing ‘Arlene’ but it’s definitely ‘Abilene’ which is a place in Texas, as is ‘Taylor’, Galaxy’s non-heroine name – Axelrod is from Texas) also gets a Flashback of Sorrow. Are we being told that no matter how happy a woman seems, she carries her pain around at all times? Abilene and Kendra have one of those awkward moments that so often occurs when a person who isn’t straight tells a pal for the first time – might one of them fancy the other? Kendra says she isn’t up for a relationship, but given that Galaxy is gay, and Abilene is questioning, I expect so-far straight Kendra will be having a go soon. All I really want is for Abilene to talk less – her dialogue is excruciating.

I suppose Hawkgirl going gay would at least be another point of contrast between her and Hawkwoman, Shayera Thal, beyond their hair colour. Certainly, sexual identity seems to be a big interest of Axelrod – television trans heroine Dreamer is namechecked as working with Galaxy – so I can see it being a big theme of this book. Hawkgirl lore? Not so much.

A couple of questions: how come A-Town, a poorer part of Metropolis where stray aliens hang out that was recently introduced in Action Comics, is here a well-established swanky section of the city?

And does Kendra now have telescopic and X-Ray vision?

The illustrations by Amancay Nahuelpan are spectacular. The characters have life, we get a variety of body shapes – all that mace swinging has really done something to Kendra since we saw her last – and again, adorable dog and cute alien invaders. The excellent storytelling includes dynamic action sequences, and the quieter moments work well too. Adriano Lucas adds vibrancy with his colours while Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou goes large with some very excitable lettering.

The cover by Nahuelpan and Lucas is fun, it’s not the obvious first issue composition, and there’s a good-natured feel. I’m not a massive fan of the new logo, it’s over-identifying Hawkgirl with the mace, which should be just part of her arsenal.

If you’re a big fan of Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Hawkwoman, I can’t recommend this highly… well, I literally can’t recommend it highly. If you’re a fan of soul-searching ladies, if the prospect of a superheroine Sex in the City appeals, give this a try. The art is amazing, but the story is niche. I may check out future issues on the DC Infinite app, but I doubt I’ll be buying more issues day and date.