Recently two garbled characters I’m always interested in had big news happening to them!
HAWKGIRL
Hawkgirl is getting her own series again at DC, and it sounds like it will be something I will be supporting!
Here’s what a news release from DC reported:
Kendra Saunders, the winged warrior better known as Hawkgirl, has been one of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes for a long time, serving as a member of both the Justice League and the Justice Society. But with the Justice League disbanded, Kendra decides she needs a fresh start and heads to Metropolis to begin a new life. That life is quickly interrupted by a mysterious villain with a powerful connection to the Nth Metal that makes up Hawkgirl’s wings and weapons. Hawkgirl will also feature a series of variant covers that recount Kendra’s DC history. Hawkgirl #1 will be available on July 18 at local comic shops.
Long-time readers of this column know that I’ve been a fan of the Hawks for many, many years. I’m always distracted when they focus on Hawkgirl (not Hawkwoman, by the way) and leave Katar Hol out of the picture!
The recent Hawkman series written by Robert Venditti was a high point in the history of the Hawks to me, so I’m going to be interested to see just how this new adventure unwinds. Of course, many previous Hawkfans are already saying the book will not work due to DC’s past mishandling of the characters, but I’m going to be buying and reading the book so I can keep up with Kendra! Maybe Katar will also appear at some point! Hey, I can dream, can’t I?
THE HULK
And I used to think that Hawkman’s continuity was all garbled! It was easy compared to the Hulk’s! It might just be in his best interest to simply forget the most recent Hulk incarnation!
Well, fans like me got great news when it comes to moving the Hulk forward! Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein are taking over the Green Goliath, and it sounds like it just might work!
As reported at MajorSpoilers.com, here’s what a recent news release from Marvel said about the upcoming Incredible Hulk series:
[Johnson and Klein] will also explore Bruce Banner’s psychological state, left in shambles at the end of his latest run with Bruce and the Hulk’s relationship more fractured than ever. Fans will experience a vicious hunt as Hulk is made prey by brand-new monster characters as well as classic favorites, all united in a fiendish new scheme…As an enraged Hulk tries to take control of Bruce Banner’s body permanently, a mysterious immortal turns every monster in the Marvel Universe against Banner in an attempt to free their creator, the primordial Mother of Horrors. With the help of an unlikely new friend, Banner and Hulk must try to stop the world from getting plunged into darkness!
“The significance that we’re finally bringing back the classic title INCREDIBLE HULK is not lost on me. It’s a tremendous honor, and Nic and I have the clearest possible vision for what we want to do with this story,” Johnson explained. “Nic Klein is a genius, and working with him is pushing me to write a story worthy of his very best.”
Since Johnson has had successful runs on several major franchises including 007, Superman, and Alien, I’m all for letting him make the Hulk back into a character that makes sense! I’m on board!
TEAM UPS?
Of course, I still long for big cross-over team-ups between characters like these two, but that doesn’t seem likely given the way Marvel and DC aren’t speaking to each other currently.
The only hope I have is for the two to meet each other (or at least, the closest version of the other) in their respective universes!
DC: I know that they have met before, but I still think Solomon Grundy is the closest thing to the Hulk in DC. I’d like to see them meet and maybe even work together?
Marvel: The Hulk could possibly meet up with Squadron Supreme member Blue Eagle (previously named American Eagle and Cap’n Hawk). Could there be a female Blue Eagle when they meet? Hey, given Marvel’s pension for switching male heroes for women ones, it sure could happen!
Still, it will be interesting to follow them both as they work to move ahead in the coming months. I hope they both become better characters as the new creative teams begin working with them!
What do you think? Which one is more likely to succeed, Hawkgirl or Hulk? What could Marvel do to help the Green Goliath forget the past and become a hit again? Should Kendra meet Katar, or should they stay apart for now? Whatever your opinions, be sure to share them in the space below!
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Wayne Hall creates the Wayne's Comics Podcast. He’s interviewed Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, John Layman, Kyle Higgins, Phil Hester, Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, David Petersen, Christos Gage, Mike Grell, and Matt Kindt. On this site each week, he writes his "Comics Portal" column (general comics comments and previews) and reviews comics.
1 Comment
I like that they are bringing back more classic Hulk. I know Marvel doesn’t do that anymore, but what would help to build up The Hulk as one of the major characters again would be (apart from Disney getting the full movie rights back, which is the biggest reason they don’t care about the character, same as it was with X-Men) is the same as always: Great creator team, with consistent art and storytelling in a long form series. The Hulk is not a space barbarian, or any of the other things they’ve done. He’s a scientist trapped in a dody of a monster. That aspect has not really been properly explored in over 30 years.