HAWKMAN versus DOCTOR POLARIS
Free Fall (DC)
Where: Hawkman #28 When: January 1996
Why: Shaun McLaughlin How: Steve Ellis
The Story So Far...
Tempted by the demon Neron; Hawkman was confronted by the souls of those who were Hawk Champion in lives before his. He is bound to them all, but particularly plagued by the memory of Katar Hol: a wingman from the planet Thanagar now reborn as avatar of Earth.
An opportunity to test himself presents itself when live news coverage reports the hijacking of Air Force One!
Doctor Polaris has taken control of the vessel with the First Lady and President's daughter hostages on board. Hawkman wastes no time taking to the skies to prevent any loss of life -- unaware the only target Polaris wants is a superhero!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hawkman 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Dr. Polaris 5 (Professor)
Speed: Hawkman 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Dr. Polaris 5 (Lasers)
Total: Hawkman 25 (Champion)
Hawkman rules the skies with an Nth metal fist, but what would happen if that source of power was turned against him? Can it be? These are the questions we aim to answer when he meets The Master of Magnetism! (No, not that one!)
Dr. Neal Emerson was a celebrated physician pioneering the use of magnetic fields in the treatment of medical ailments. Prolonged exposure to these forces altered his brain chemistry, creating the split personality of Doctor Polaris!
Polaris can manipulate electro-magnetic fields to fly, move and reshape metals, fire electrical bolts, and create protective force fields. He was also purged of his more altruistic personality by Neron, allowing him to fully exploit his powers.
This is bad news for Hawkman, who famously relies on an arsenal of medieval weaponry -- usually made from metal!
His most iconic weapon is a mace, which we've seen in chained form in All-Star Squadron #4, flanged in Justice League of America #200, and in its best known fixed style in Hawkman #33. He also used the fixed mace against Batman in Superman/Batman #4, along with a weighted net, and The Claw of Horus. At his most vicious, he even used an axe to disarm Matter Master in Hawkman #23!
In all likelihood each of these weapons is susceptible to Polaris' influence and could easily be used against their master. The Claw of Horus is one of Hawkman's most powerful and rarely used weapons, but even this derives its energy source from the Earth's magnetic core. It might be able to subvert the powers of Doctor Polaris, but it might also accidentally empower him!
The biggest question surrounds Nth metal: Hawkman wears it in his harness, belt, and boots, and even his wings are frequently described as being made of Nth metal, or at least laced with it. If it's magnetic - he's in real trouble!
The highly unusual mineral is closely associated with the planet Thanagar, and has a gamut of properties that allow people to use it to fly, heal, enhance strength & durability, and disrupt magics. There's no reason to think it would necessarily be ferrous or magnetic, but there's every chance it is. Let's find out!
The Tape: Hawkman Ranking: Hawkman (#34)
What Went Down...
Gliding high above Air Force One: Hawkman swoops suddenly into the eyeline of besieged pilots. He alerts them to his presence without tipping off the hijacker inside. He has no way of knowing the motive behind the hijacking, but thanks to breaking news coverage -- he does know who's responsible!
Doctor Polaris could easily steal away with anything he might want from inside the vessel, so Hawkman decides to try to strip the plane itself of some value.
A toss of his fixed mace makes light work of the port side engine and dares them to land. Polaris orders the pilots to keep it in the air and sends the passenger door flying off its hinges as he goes to meet the unseen attacker!
Where: Hawkman #28 When: January 1996
Why: Shaun McLaughlin How: Steve Ellis
The Story So Far...
Tempted by the demon Neron; Hawkman was confronted by the souls of those who were Hawk Champion in lives before his. He is bound to them all, but particularly plagued by the memory of Katar Hol: a wingman from the planet Thanagar now reborn as avatar of Earth.
An opportunity to test himself presents itself when live news coverage reports the hijacking of Air Force One!
Doctor Polaris has taken control of the vessel with the First Lady and President's daughter hostages on board. Hawkman wastes no time taking to the skies to prevent any loss of life -- unaware the only target Polaris wants is a superhero!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hawkman 4 (Enhanced)Intelligence: Dr. Polaris 5 (Professor)
Speed: Hawkman 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Dr. Polaris 5 (Lasers)
Total: Hawkman 25 (Champion)
Hawkman rules the skies with an Nth metal fist, but what would happen if that source of power was turned against him? Can it be? These are the questions we aim to answer when he meets The Master of Magnetism! (No, not that one!)
Dr. Neal Emerson was a celebrated physician pioneering the use of magnetic fields in the treatment of medical ailments. Prolonged exposure to these forces altered his brain chemistry, creating the split personality of Doctor Polaris!
Polaris can manipulate electro-magnetic fields to fly, move and reshape metals, fire electrical bolts, and create protective force fields. He was also purged of his more altruistic personality by Neron, allowing him to fully exploit his powers.
This is bad news for Hawkman, who famously relies on an arsenal of medieval weaponry -- usually made from metal!
His most iconic weapon is a mace, which we've seen in chained form in All-Star Squadron #4, flanged in Justice League of America #200, and in its best known fixed style in Hawkman #33. He also used the fixed mace against Batman in Superman/Batman #4, along with a weighted net, and The Claw of Horus. At his most vicious, he even used an axe to disarm Matter Master in Hawkman #23!
In all likelihood each of these weapons is susceptible to Polaris' influence and could easily be used against their master. The Claw of Horus is one of Hawkman's most powerful and rarely used weapons, but even this derives its energy source from the Earth's magnetic core. It might be able to subvert the powers of Doctor Polaris, but it might also accidentally empower him!
The biggest question surrounds Nth metal: Hawkman wears it in his harness, belt, and boots, and even his wings are frequently described as being made of Nth metal, or at least laced with it. If it's magnetic - he's in real trouble!
The highly unusual mineral is closely associated with the planet Thanagar, and has a gamut of properties that allow people to use it to fly, heal, enhance strength & durability, and disrupt magics. There's no reason to think it would necessarily be ferrous or magnetic, but there's every chance it is. Let's find out!
The Tape: Hawkman Ranking: Hawkman (#34)
What Went Down...
Gliding high above Air Force One: Hawkman swoops suddenly into the eyeline of besieged pilots. He alerts them to his presence without tipping off the hijacker inside. He has no way of knowing the motive behind the hijacking, but thanks to breaking news coverage -- he does know who's responsible!
Doctor Polaris could easily steal away with anything he might want from inside the vessel, so Hawkman decides to try to strip the plane itself of some value.
A toss of his fixed mace makes light work of the port side engine and dares them to land. Polaris orders the pilots to keep it in the air and sends the passenger door flying off its hinges as he goes to meet the unseen attacker!
Hawkman was not prepared for the villain's hasty exit from the plane, but manages to make a vertical dash out of the path of a focused energy blast!
Polaris challenges the hero to return, revealing his desire to simply fight to redeem a damaged reputation. Hawkman obliges - swinging sharply back through the clouds to catch Polaris with a crosschecking punch!
Polaris fires off another wild electrical blast, but again hits only air as Hawkman seems to suddenly disappear from the skies!
The levitating villain chides his opponent for resorting to hiding. A dark, winged silhouette cast against the sun announces the hero's true intentions!
Doctor Polaris is temporarily blinded as his gaze is drawn towards the overheard sunlight! Hawkman takes full tactical advantage by smashing through him like a living missile -- and then banking back to deliver a follow-up blow!
The strike succeeds in rattling Doctor Polaris, but also alerts him to the weight of Hawkman's devastating punch. He suddenly realizes the leather caestus glove that strikes is adorned with metal -- a substance he holds total mastery over!
Hawkman is helpless as his own fist suddenly careens into his face!
Blood sprays from the winged hero's nose and mouth as he acts out a juvenile schoolyard taunt with brutal reality. Again and again he hits himself -- unable to control his captive fist.
In his desperation, Hawkman attempts a retreat. The sudden plunge also assists in the removal of his left handed glove, but Doctor Polaris is now all too aware of the metal-laden arsenal adorning his person.
A katar push dagger suddenly leaps from Hawkman's body and flies toward him!
The wingman has no choice but take evasive maneuvers while he attempts to regroup. Fast moving dips and dives help him keep ahead of the deadly blade, but Polaris reckons on the high-speed flying eventually taking its toll.
Feeling cornered by his predicament, Hawkman seeks the advantage of flight and makes a beeline straight for Doctor Polaris -- with a high-tech pistol drawn!
The hero jams the gun barrel under the Doctor's chin and dares him to give the slightest reason to fire. The threat of lethal force catches Polaris completely off-guard and ends the threat of the dagger -- but also challenges him to escalate!
Though the Doctor has no real intention of killing anyone, he seizes Air Force One in his magnetic grip to create the illusion of a threat to the presidential passengers on board!
It's enough to send Hawkman scrambling to rescue anyone who should fall from the plane. Another tactical error on his part! Polaris senses the Nth metal in Hawkman's wings and shifts his focus back to manipulating the hero directly.
Pain erupts through Hawkman's body as his wings suddenly twist against him!
Over-confident and tired of his many recent defeats: Polaris ups the stakes and sends the helpless wingman plummeting like a stone towards the Earth!
Hawkman is limp, wracked with agony as he falls toward certain death. It takes every ounce of willpower just to open his wings and pull out of the doomed nosedive. He clips trees on his last minute upward ascent and comes to hover exhaustedly over a mountain ridge. There, he contemplates his sense of self.
Resolute in his determination to do whatever is necessary to save Air Force One: Hawkman sheds his helmet & harness and takes to the skies.
Doctor Polaris senses the metal of his wings as he makes approach and again leaves the plane to finish the battle. This time Hawkman has made peace with risk of his mission. He evades a magnetic blast and flies nimbly over his prey, arching his back so when he sheds his wings he's on target for Doctor Polaris!
Dizzyingly high, and with no means of flight, Hawkman wraps his legs around Doctor Polaris' waist and unloads with devastating rights and lefts!
The hero is indeed willing to risk death to obtain victory, raining down powerful blows that knock Polaris silly and compromise his ability to keep them both magnetically afloat. This time they both take the deadly plunge!
Hawkman ignores the villain's pleas, unrelenting with constant blows!
A threat to innocent lives is taken as an act of war and Hawkman has no intentions of losing. He keeps punching -- until at last Doctor Polaris is knocked out! With the threat past, he restores his wings and halts their descent.
The Hammer...
A steely performance by Hawkman, who clearly had more nerve than Doctor Polaris! It's kind of a humiliating defeat, given just how much metal was on hand for Polaris to use to his advantage, but that was nothing unusual for the time. The issue-long battle is predicated on Polaris having suffered so many recent defeats he contrived a public threat just to lure somebody into a fight.
Street cred isn't the loftiest motivation for a super-villain, but it can lead to some pretty fun, easy-breezy fisticuffs in the hands of the right creative team.
This kind of plot plays up the deadly sin of vanity in ways everyone can quickly understand, and launches a villain into a fresh scheme, or simple action. It isn't as meaty as a revenge scheme [ala; Daredevil (Vol.2) #9], but it's good for some single issue action [see also; Daredevil #243].
Given Polaris chose Air Force One and the First Lady as his very public target: he's just lucky somebody more powerful didn't show up! This kind of airplane rescue seems right up Superman's alley. Wouldn't you say?
Doctor Polaris actually did a bit of a tour of the DCU throughout the mid to late nineties. His fight with Hawkman followed significant failures against The Ray, Damage, and the new Green Lantern of the time, Kyle Rayner.
He later went on to clash with The Flash, Steel, and Aquaman. Steel was a series I was reading regularly at the time, so I was pretty interested in the match-up of magnetism versus metal. As I often like to admit, I'm a big fan of these kinds of identifiable, gimmicky villains. I'm sure we'll take a closer look at some more of those battles sometime in the future. They're a lot of fun.
I wasn't as much of an active Hawkman reader in the nineties, so it's interesting to look back on what has sometimes been a maligned period for the character.
This was right around the time Grant Morrison famously planned to bring Hawkman into the JLA, but was told to avoid the complicated backstory that was weighing the character down.
It seems like Morrison's plans to have Zauriel and Katar Hol cohabiting the body of Hawkman could've compounded the problem, but I do wonder what his touch could've done for the character. He's very good at take established elements and spinning them out into spectacularly intuitive and interesting concepts.
In any event, the DCU gained a new creation, and a lot of these problems seemed to be smoothed out by the modern-classic take that featured in the mid-2000s revival helmed by Geoff Johns. He retained the back matter of the Hawk Champion's many past lives, but balanced it with contemporary concerns.
As much as anything might be wrong with the nineties take on Hawkman, I think it boils down to a matter of attitude. It just doesn't quite feel right.
The mid-nineties were a funny time for DC. Even as they continued to restore pieces of their lost history, it seemed like the cohesive momentum of the post-Crisis rebuild was losing its focus. They were caving to the trends popularized by early Image Comics, and creating their own exaggerations with self-destructive stunts like The Death of Superman, Knightfall, and Emerald Twilight.
This period of Hawkman isn't nearly as regrettable as events designed to destroy DC's enduring icons. The attitude and design is just a little too stark to feel like the kind of Hawkman comic I would want to read. The attempt to balance a human Hawkman with Hawkworld history feels unnecessary, also.
I do quite like that Katar Hol is described as having lived on Thanagar four centuries ago. These days Hawkman's resurrections seem to be treated as a snap-of-the-fingers return from death. It's too present a concept, participating in the generally diminishing returns of cheap deaths in comics, instead of merely being part of the past make-up of the character.
I will say I quite like this modern design for Doctor Polaris. Hopefully we'll get to talk more about him in a future entry. For the mean time, you can check out more from these characters by following links throughout this post, or by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of featured fights by issue!
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Winner: Hawkman
#25 (+9) Hawkman
#362 (-142) Doctor Polaris
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