BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO Jim Starlin admitted he thinks Hawkman's current state in the DCU is a little ... confusing. He's hoping after the Rann/Thanagar Holy War and the upcoming Hawkman Special that things will be a little more clear. He told us what it was like working with a character who has a fractured past, present and possible future for the Hawkman Special.
THE PULSE: Hawkman has gone through a lot of changes since he first appeared in the Golden Age of comics. What do you think it is about this hero that made him one that didn't just fade away as time progressed, like so many other heroes; but had him reintroduced in the Silver Age and Post-Crisis DCU?
JIM STARLIN: Personally, I believe whatever success Hawkman has had as a character can be credited chiefly to his visual design. He just looks so cool. I've been going through a lot of back issues on this character of late, and been shocked by the wild history veering this hero has gone through since DC's Infinity Crisis.
The runs of Hawkman folks remember fondly are Joe Kubert's and Rags Morales', because they were such beautifully drawn books -- not because these were memorable tales. And the weird thing is, there's been a number of very good writers on this character over the years. But they just never produced their best work on Hawkman.
Part of that can be blamed on Hawkman's convoluted history, being a serial-reincarnated pharaoh always trying to link up with his slain lover, who also has the soul of Thanagar's Katar Hol within him, the father of one version of Dr. Fate, not a Thanagarian but sharing a history with them, etc. When I started writing Rann/Thanagar Holy War everyone up at DC warned me that "Hawkman's history was a hopeless mess" (their words) so I should try to avoid it at all cost.
Then Dan Didio saw the way I draw Hawkman, liked my rendition, and everything changed.
THE PULSE: For our readers who are a little confused now -- and after reading your words above, how could they not be? Is this Hawkman in Holy War Carter Hall or an amalgam of all the Hawkmans or something else? Is he the JSA's Hawkman, the JLA's Hawkman or something different?
STARLIN: That's exactly what the problem is with this character. Who is he really? That's what Dan Didio decided had to be clarified. The Hawkman Special is the first step in straightening out Hawkman's identity. Currently he's all over the landscape.
The Special reveals that there's something really wrong with Hawkman's history. This is established during an encounter with an extremely powerful new and yet old character from Holy War, Synnar the Demiurge.
As of this writing what Hawkman's true past is and future will be is still in discussion. But it has been decided that house cleaning is sorely needed. So readers can expect radical changes coming their way.
THE PULSE: Radical changes that would define the character are great. I think a lot of people just consider Hawkman, whoever he is, to be like Green Arrow with wings and a mace instead of a bow and arrows; but what do you feel sets Hawkman apart from others in the DCU?
STARLIN: Myself, I see him as Batman with wings and mace -- that's what most of his stories strike me as. Usually he comes across a crime or mystery, which leads him to some exotic locale, where he battles criminals, monster or a super villain. That's a Batman story and, quite frankly, ol' pointy ears does it better. The only real difference is that Hawkman brings his girlfriend along on the adventure.
Again it's the wings and helmet that make him stand out.
THE PULSE: Don't forget he's shirtless, too. So Hawkman hasn't really seemed to have a lot of truly defining moments lately, or things that would make DC fans consider him a major player in the DCU. How do you think perceptions of the hero might change after the Holy War and upcoming Hawkman Special?
STARLIN: Well, he's going some place new after the Special and Holy War. He becomes a question mark, a man without a past. His quest, after this current tale, will be to find out who he really is. There's some hints as to what that direction is in the Hawkman Special. But because decisions are yet to be made, those hints may prove on the money, or they may turn out to be very misdirecting. At this point, even I don't know what Hawkman's fate is to be.
THE PULSE: What does this Holy War mean to Hawkman? I mean, I thought he was getting pretty down-to-Earth, why is he even getting involved in this interstellar conflict? I understand it was one of the Hawkman's home planet, but it still seems a little confusing ....
STARLIN:Holy War started out with Adam Strange, Comet and the Weird as the stars. By the time I got to scripting the tale, Hawkman and a few other characters were added to the mix. I had Hawkman doing Adam Strange a little favor, by spying on the Thanagarians, and then sticking around when things got more interesting.
Again, which of Hawkman's myriad home planets is the real one, is yet to be decided. This interview comes at a very odd time: between what is and what will be or might be.
THE PULSE: Where does Hawkman's Special tie into the whole Holy War? When does it take place?
STARLIN:The Hawkman Special (drawn by myself and Al Milgrom) occurs directly after Holy War #3 and before #4. Adam Strange's Special (drawn by Rick Leonardi and Dan Green) is a different story. It happens right in the middle of Holy War #4.
THE PULSE: With the Final Crisis coming, how, if at all, does the Rann/Thanagar Holy War tie into everything? It seems the entire DCU is affected, so where does that leave your corner of things?
STARLIN: Separate and unaffected, as far as I know. The science fiction section of the DC Universe (Adam Strange, Comet, Weird, Hardcore Station) are supposedly a district off to the side currently. The grouping is part of the larger DC Universe, but, at this time, not involved with the doings in the Final Crisis. But of course you never can tell when Mr. Morrison might spring another surprise on DC.
THE PULSE: I know a lot of people consider you one of the masters at the sci-fi or space epic type tales, but are you at all worried about being pigeonholed into these genres?
STARLIN: No, I'm also well known for killing characters off. Besides I'm having a great time with DC's science fiction characters right now. I grew up on Adam Strange and Captain Comet, long before there was ever a Fantastic Four. In effect I am revisiting my childhood with the work I'm currently doing.
Secondly it's giving me the chance to develop this character Synnar in a way I couldn't do any elsewhere. In the long run, I believe, folks will remember Synnar from the Holy War more than anything else that comes out of the series. I'm willing to predict that he's going to turn into one of the DC Universe's greatest and most unusual villains within the next few years.
THE PULSE: What still intrigues you about working with the sci-fi types? How do you keep it exciting for yourself, so it will be intriguing for the readers?
STARLIN: It pretty well comes down to me amusing myself. If I don't come up with an idea that doesn't engage me intellectually I haven't a prayer of hooking the reader. The Hawkman Special is about the unpredictability of existence. The Holy War is about blindly following someone that doesn't deserve that faith. It always starts with something that can be expressed in one sentence.
THE PULSE: When you've worked on so many of these types of stories, how do you keep it new and different? With so many great ideas floating around in your head, how tough is it to not accidentally repeat yourself?
STARLIN: Repeating environments, themes and occasionally a plot device is allowed. As long as its used in a different fashion to express a different idea. I've used religion several times in very different stories. Someone would have to be not paying attention to mix up Holy War with my early run on Warlock or the Infinity Crusade. Same seed, different plants.
But aside from that new ideas are always coming my way. Ideas aren't the problem. What they pay me the big bucks for is lining those ideas up in a fashion that's entertaining and coherent.
THE PULSE: What other projects are you working on?
STARLIN: Sticking with DC's science fiction characters for the time being, more Adam Strange, Comet, Hawkman, Starman and who knows who else might show up. Just be hanging at Hardcore Station, doing my thing.
The Hawkman Special is due in stores this August.
Posts: 21381 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Wow, great interview, Jen! You really covered all your bases and asked all the hard question a Hawkman fan would ask. I'm really curious to see how Hawkman's continuity is going to turn out.
-------------------- Answer Man's Pal "You're NOT getting a signal watch!" - Bob Rozakis My Space! Posts: 47 | From: St. Petersburg, FL | Registered: Oct 2004
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I thought Hawkman finally got a little clarity with JSA, and the description above doesn't seem to contradict what I already knew, so...
Gods protect us from another "Hawkman is so convoluted, here's I'll fix everything"! Just let him be and ignore all the crap you don't understand -- don't change things, just don't refer to it at all, and let the readers gloss over. Please.
Or else do the honorable thing and use Hawkman to answer one of DC's oldest questions:
posted
I agree that it was a good interview, and I'm grateful Mr Starlin was clear and straightforward in his answers, telling as much as he could.
But . . . as has been typical with every DC event, big or small, for a long time, much was alluded to, vaguely, but there were to my mind no real, juicy hints, or teasers, or plot points to hang my anticipation on. I was left in the end, as I have become accustomed, with a mere, vague uncertainty about coming events ("ANYTHING can happen!!!!!") that finally dulls into insensibility. One can only take so much uncertain ominousness before it palls, becoming either fatalistic acquiescence or mundane boredom and lack of interest.
Statements (not JS's fault, because HE doesn't know, either) such as:
"... the problem is . . . Who is he really? That's what Dan Didio decided had to be clarified. The Hawkman Special is the first step in straightening out Hawkman's identity. . . ."
say absolutely nothing. In fact, it precisely reminds me of the bombast present in the Presidential candidates' speeches. "I will definitely and definitively address this issue... but I am not prepared to say exactly how I will choose to do that at the present time."
Starlin then says (and remember, I'm not blaming HIM!):
"The Special reveals that there's something really wrong with Hawkman's history. This is established during an encounter with an extremely powerful new and yet old character from Holy War, Synnar the Demiurge."
No kidding? We need a Special to tell us the Hawk's history is messed up!? How about *starting* with what we *all* know and going on with some real progress from there?
And finally the real truth comes out:
"As of this writing what Hawkman's true past is and future will be is still in discussion. But it has been decided that house cleaning is sorely needed. So readers can expect radical changes coming their way."
"ANYTHING can happen!!!" Oh, sorry, am I repeating myself?
finally:
"Again, which of Hawkman's myriad home planets is the real one, is yet to be decided. This interview comes at a very odd time: between what is and what will be or might be."
Big surprise. So finally I draw 2 conclusions: One, this is a truly remarkable double-shuffle if, assuming the issue is already printed, JS has managed to tell us nothing at all about events that really may be meaningful; or Two, the Hawkman Special will end as it begins, in vagueness and status quo, with mere, further hints and vague teases of important, world-altering events--but very unspecified, all or any of them--to come, because DC (and DD?) *still* can't make up their minds how to deal with Hawkman.
Basically, I agree with JimDrew above. I think Hawkman is a fine character--one of my all-time favorites, in fact--and I don't see all that much wrong with him as he is now. I would be perfectly content to read his continuing adventures from now on, with no reboots, continuity adjustments, or grand unweavings of the continuity puzzle whatsoever. But clearly many people don't think that way, and there will always be continuity mavens insisting that it all tie together in some rationalized way. Maybe as is hinted in the interview--vaguely, of course--Hawkman's problem stems from a confusion or cosmically unintentional overlapping of life- or time-lines, or from a crossing or mixing of alternate realities that never should have occurred. Maybe. But no matter what's done, CLARITY and SIMPLICITY should be the watchwords. And for my money (and it IS for my money, now that I think of it!), even before that--just, please, DC, get a regular Hawkman title back into the lineup!
Posts: 205 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Excellent post, Juss. DC themselves don't know what to do with Hawkman. But they think we should buy comics in which they demonstrate their ignorance and confusion. No thanks.
Posts: 892 | From: Salem, MA, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Hmmmm, and here I thought JSA and the last Hawkman series had sorted out who Hawkman was.
Posts: 20 | From: California | Registered: May 2002
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He's a badass with a mace. What needs clarification?
-------------------- The Man of Mettle Posts: 4000 | From: The MBA (Mysterious Blue Area) of the MMM (Mighty Marvel Moon), Nagga (Pal) | Registered: Aug 2001
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I like Jim Starlin, I liked Hawkman back when he made any sense, and ordinarily, I'd be happy to buy a Starlin-drawn HAWKMAN special.
But -- this special looks deeply woven into all that ENDLESS CRISIS and RANN/THANAGAR WAR mess. Ugh. No, thanks. I already wasted my money on that ADAM STRANGE mini-series a few years ago that led directly (without an ending) into the first RANN/THANAGAR WAR mini-series. Man, did I feel cheated.
When Starlin wants to produce a HAWKMAN special or series that I can pick up and read on its own, give me a call.
Posts: 6239 | From: Lexington, Ky. | Registered: Nov 2002
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Oh no... Yet another redefinition of who Hawkman is.
Um, folks,THAT is the heart of the problem!!!
Hawkworld caused all these problems. It should have been an Elseworlds mini, but DC was in the passions of revamps and decided this would be the post-Crisis Hawkman. After that failed as a series, we got another "redefinition" as Hawk-god. And after that failed as a series, Geoff Johns had to do something to rehabilitate the Hawkman character.
I don't love the reincarnation concept. But it DOES tie up all those pesky continuity problems. And the personality portrayed during his recent series is by FAR the best ever done with the character.
Redefining Hawkman NOW only takes us BACK to the mess of the '90s. It takes us backwards, not forwards.
And I disagree with RS, the current Hawkman is not Batman with wings. He is clearly CONAN with wings. THAT separates him from the other DCU characters. He's a stranger in a strange place, and his ways aren't socially acceptable in modern America.
My favorite moment: In JLA 115-120, Hawkman tells Batman he'll give him "20 seconds he'll NEVER forget!"
While everybody else tucks tail and runs when Batman fumes, Hawkman sticks it in his face. Gawd, I love this Hawkman!!!
Posts: 922 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Jen I really injoyed your interview. Will we see a follow up focusing The Adam Strange Special? I hope so Jim Starlin's opinons on characters are fasenating one question I would have liked to have asked what is his opinon of Animal Man and will there be a special for him or Bizarro
good day
Posts: 329 | From: Harrisburg PA Swatara | Registered: May 2001
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