Two of television’s best genre actors are soon going to be donning superhero garb for the two major comic book movie franchises. First, earlier this month Disney+ announced Emmy-winning Orphan Black lead actress Tatiana Maslany will be expanding the realm of the Marvel Universe as She-Hulk in her own series. Then today Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson announced Leverage co-star Aldis Hodge will be joining him to fill bring into the fold one of the last members of the classic Justice League of America to have a major series or movie role. Hodge will play Hawkman in the Black Adam movie. Both will be live-action shows.
It was way back in August that we first previewed the very first images of the new Justice League of America here at borg.com. DC Comics has had a big month with big changes–first we reviewed Jeff Lemire beginning a new Green Arrow story in the monthly series, then we were introduced last week to Tatsu, a new recruit in a new Justice League whose superhero name is that of her sword, Katana. And if you’re not keeping up we chatted a few days ago about DC Comics’ two trade editions available for the plain ol’ Justice League of the New 52. And that’s not even getting into the cancelled Justice League International monthly title and the awesome Justice League Darkwe’ve raved about here earlier.
Today DC Comics put the America back in the Justice League. Sure, the Justice League (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg)–the League with all the egos–will continue as a monthly series, but the rest of the original JLA superheroes we all know and love are back in their own separate league. They may not be the World’s Finest but writer Geoff Johns and artist David Finch have launched a new story, “World’s Most Dangerous.” And if Issue #1 is any indication I think we’re in for a better league with the new JLA.
DC Comics announced at the DC Entertainment-All Access panel at Fan Expo Toronto this weekend that DC will be adding a new Justice League to the New 52 coming in 2013. Not merely another mini-series, DC will be publishing a new ongoing comic book series titled Justice League of America.
“Wait a second!” you say. “But we already have a Justice League–it’s DC’s main title that ties the New 52 together, as well as a Justice League Dark, and a Justice League International already being phased out.”
But the Justice League is just the Justice League, and apparently the DC Powers That be figured out we all needed to see a Justice League with its original JLA moniker, stress on the “America”.
New 52 writer Geoff Johns (who has writing credits on the current Justice League, Aquaman and Green Lantern series) will be writing the new series, with David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight) serving as series artist.
“This is a very different kind of team book,” said Johns in a DC news release. “On first glance, people might think the heroes of the Justice League of America stand in the shadows of Superman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League, but Green Arrow, Katana, Martian Manhunter, the new Green Lantern, Stargirl, Vibe, Hawkman and Catwoman thrive in the shadows. They’re underdogs who have everything to prove and something to lose. They’re a team of unlikely heroes who will help one another discover they’re as A-List as anybody — yes, even Vibe. Though getting there won’t be easy. Why they’re formed, why each member joins, what they’re after and who the society of villains is they’re trying to take apart will all be clear in the first issue when it hits early 2013. David and I are really focused on delving deep into what it’s like to not be a member of the big seven and why, sometimes, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
“Wait a second, again,” you say. “Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Hawkman… unlikely heroes? Underdogs?” Umm… right.
If Johns is talking about the third-string positioning of these former, long-time–as in decades long–early JLA members as now seen in the New 52, well, then we agree with what Johns is saying. But these guys were only B-List because the current DC editors relegated these superheroes to that status. Ultimately it is not a big deal–superhero titles needs shaken up from time to time in the DCU and the new line is no different from shake-ups in the past. What would be nice is a Justice League of America book that out-performs the Justice League series.
Other interesting bits–Catwoman? In the JLA? Another Green Lantern?
We can also look forward to Johns revisiting his creation Star Girl, Courtney Whitmore, a character named for Johns’ sister who died in an airplane crash in 1996, whose costume is based on Yankee Poodle, a member of Captain Carrot’s Amazing Zoo Crew.
We will check out the new series when it launches next year, particularly because stories pairing Hawkman with Green Arrow are always fun, and it’s not really the League without the Martian Manhunter.
Writer Tony S. Daniel may have created a nearly perfect origin story, although it actually starts at the end for Hawkman, and we don’t really know the origin of his powers. But if this is the first issue of Hawkman you ever read, you will be instantly hooked, just as this reader was.
Hawkman was that stoic hero that stood in the background of full-scale Justice League adventures. He and Hawkgirl always looked cool, quick to sweep into the scene with full wings spread, ready for any brawl. One of my favorite exchanges in recent Green Arrow stories is a presumed argument between resurrected Green Arrow and Hawkman in Green Arrow 12 that turns into a full-on laugh fest/yuk it up at the expense of Dinah Lance/Black Canary. Here is Matt Wagner’s original artwork for that issue:
And let’s face it, Hawkman has always had one of the best costumes around. How many people have doodled this guy in the margin of papers in school?
But a series all his own? And why is he “savage” Hawkman?
Even a comic book of 24 pages sometimes takes a few sittings. You want to give every page its due. And for $2.99 you’ve got to get as much bang for your buck as possible. Savage Hawkman #1 is a one-sitting read, not because it is a “quick read” but because you just can’t put it down.
The story starts at The End. Actually the end for whatever came before, as Hawkman has evidently experienced all he can take and is ready to throw in the towel. But something called the Nth metal will not let him leave. It keeps pulling him back in.
Hawkman is really Carter Hall, a linguistics expert/Eqyptologist whose name instantly conjures the ghost of Howard Carter (the Eqyptologist who discovered King Tut). In trying to burn his very awesome Hawkman super suit, the suit has different ideas. Carter wants to kill Hawkman. But he can’t. It won’t let him. Flash forward. A team. An archaeological dig. Aliens? We need to call in the expert. No one knows where he is? Find him. Mummified aliens. Wait a second, they’re not dead? And in nice Incredible Hulk-like fashion we find out what happened to the super suit. Don’t make him angry. You won’t like him when he’s angry. (We do). And the result is even cooler than we thought. Where can we get some of that Nth metal anyway?
Tony Daniel described Hawkman as “Indiana Jones fighting alien threats.” That’s pretty good. You’ve gotta love when the creators know their character and want to bring out the best in that character. Philip Tan’s painterly art has great style. I don’t know whether it is because Hawkman looks so much like Warlord, but Tan’s style reminds me of Mike Grell. Hard to beat a comparison like that. For anyone with no background on Hawkman, this would be a good first comic book to pick up and plunge right in.
