BLACK ADAM versus JUSTICE SOCIETY

Thunderstruck (DC)
Where: JSA #27 When: October 2001
Why: Geoff Johns How: Rags Morales

The Story So Far...
In ancient times Teth-Adam was considered a champion, but the Black Marvel has a long road to walk if he's to undo centuries of damage and restore his reputation as a hero.

Submitting himself to the Justice Society of America, Black Adam begins probationary tenure with the heroic ensemble -- but not everyone is convinced he should be there.

As Captain Marvel pays a visit to vouch for his predecessor, tensions are boiling over with Atom Smasher, who believes Black Adam will inevitably turn on the group like every other villain who attempts to reform.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Black Adam 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Mr. Terrific 5 (Professor)
Speed: Captain Marvel 5 (Super-Human)
Stamina: Black Adam 6 (Generator)
Agility: Sand 7 (Unlimited)
Fighting: Black Adam 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Stargirl 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Black Adam 34 (Super)

Black Adam is the ancient champion of Shazam, who gains the stamina of Shu, the swiftness of Heru, the strength of Amon, the power of Aten, and the courage of Mehen, when he speaks the wizard's name and receives his magic lightning!

The Justice Society are: Sand, Mister Terrific, Wildcat, Hawkgirl, Doctor Mid-Nite, Star-Spangled Kid, and Atom Smasher, with Captain Marvel.

The JSA have Black Adam outnumbered, but they don't particularly have him out-gunned. The Black Marvel has gone toe-to-toe with Superman and only Atom Smasher gets close to matching his incredible strength!

The enlarging strongman is generally in a lower class than Black Adam, but we saw him handle himself relatively well when Atom Smasher led the Suicide Squad against the Black Marvel Family, many years later, in 52 #34.

Fortunately for the JSA: Captain Marvel has come calling! With his own godly gifts supplied by SHAZAM, he's every bit Black Adam's equal, enduring his own battles with Superman, and besting the likes of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, an all-star Monster Society of Evil, and Neron corrupted Justice League.

Black Adam had the help of Brainwave when he defeated Captain Marvel some years later in Hawkman #24. This time the dynamics are very different, and it's Captain Marvel who has the entire JSA to back him up! Will it be enough?

The Tape: Justice Society & Captain Marvel Ranking: Black Adam (#22)

What Went Down...

Black Adam has Atom Smasher by the throat as Captain Marvel makes his entrance into the JSA brownstone.

"I heard you were seeking salvation, Black Adam. That you were looking to prove to the world that you've changed your ways. I came to vouch for you[,] but a bit of advice -- Don't choke potential teammates."

The Black Marvel releases his grip, blaming his impulse on the temper of the mortal Theo Adam. He apologises to his teammate, who preemptively responds in kind -- delivering a giant-sized uppercut he'll be sorry for later!

Adam explodes through the glass ceiling as he's launched into the night sky!

Atom Smasher knows he's made a bigger mess of things as Captain Marvel takes flight to pursue his fellow. He meets an enraged Black Adam in mid-flight -- cutting off his furious path back to the JSA brownstone.

The powers of SHAZAM collide in spectacular fashion as the strength of Hercules meets the might of Amon-Ra!

The Captain maneuvers himself to wrap a mighty bicep around Black Adam's throat and hold him back. He compels his comrade to reject the influence of Theo, but the anger incited by Atom Smasher's insult is great!

The Justice Society arrive on the scene just in time to see Black Adam power through Captain Marvel's hold and torpedo dive Atom Smasher!

Team chairman, Sand, draws his sleep gun and orders Atom Smasher to subdue the probate, with Hawkgirl looming in support holding a spear.

Atom Smasher leans in to Black Adam and pins an arm over his shoulder, while shoving Captain Marvel out of the way.

In the ensuing chaos, Black Adam's out reaching hand grabs Sand's gun and crushes it -- unleashing a bursting cloud of sleep gas that stuns Atom Smasher and Hawkgirl!

Wildcat darts around the room, questioning Black Adam's loyalties, as Doctor Mid-Nite looms behind the peril. The query appears to snap Adam out of his rage and pause him in introspection, but the zipping of two of Terrific's T-Spheres around his face renew his aggravation.

Sand commends the tactical potential for beaming holograms directly into Adam's eyes, but Mister Terrific finds himself unable to command his T-Spheres to execute the strategem!

He can only speculate the lightning storm and rain raging overhead is disrupting communication channels. It leaves his T-Spheres autonomously whirring around Adam as he bats Wildcat and Mid-Nite away with each hand.

With imminent threats dealt with, Adam sets his scornful sights on Sand and Mister Terrific.

Slamming his hands together -- Black Adam unleashes a shockwave that launches Sand and Terrific flying through the air!

While Stargirl spurs Captain Marvel to rejoin the fray -- Adam looms over Sand, cast in shadow by the lightning cracking behind him.

Whatever the Black Marvel's intentions for the Chairman may've been, they go unfulfilled as a spiked mace smashes into the ground at his feet, and Hawkman descends from the storming skies to declare: "This fight is over."

The Hammer...

The authoritative word of Hawkman helps bring Black Adam out of his rampage, but the intervention of the former-chairman only creates further divisions as he appears to undermine the leadership of Sand.

Inter-personal dynamics are criss-crossed all over this battle, with Hawkman returning from a night's flight after witnessing Sand kissing Hawkgirl, and Black Adam's admission to the JSA creating tensions with Atom Smasher, and his well meaning old rival Captain Marvel.

Atom Smasher echoes the expectations of readers who'd doubt the long-term viability of Black Adam as a hero, but the twist in their relationship comes when Atom Smasher actually sees things Adam's way, joining him in his attack on Kobra, and subsequent conquest of Khandaq.

To the uninitiated: JSA might've seemed like an attempt to capitalize on the late-nineties magic of JLA, but the 1999 collaboration between David Goyer and Geoff Johns had so much more to offer, laying the groundwork for significant foundational storylines that continued under Johns throughout the next decade!

Black Adam arguably became a minor sensation with his nineties revamp in Power of Shazam, and lingering appearances in various nineties DC Comics events -- but it was his return in JSA that began the ascent to breakout superstar!

Stories running through JSA, 52, and a Black Adam mini-series, minted the once obscure Captain Marvel villain into a full-fledged icon destined for the big screen, but for a while there, JSA was also the best place to find Captain Marvel himself.

DC seemed to effectively lose confidence in Captain Marvel as a viable property throughout the 2000s, leaving JSA to carry the flag in the ensemble series after Power of SHAZAM was cancelled in early '99. It was then in issues like JSA #27, and the Black Reign crossover of Hawkman #24, that fans could again see the two Marvels renew their seemingly settled rivalry.

Issues like these highlight the absurdity of emerging reports that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson blocked Captain Marvel from appearing with the Justice Society on the big screen, but there's a lot more to the JSA than was seen in the movies.

Once everyone has calmed down, the team decides to resolve their leadership issues with a vote, which installs Mister Terrific as the new Chairman.

An exciting new role for the genius successor to Terry Sloane's legacy of fairplay, which at least sidelines any issues brewing between Sand and the returned Hawkman, but comes at a time when his trademark T-Spheres have been infiltrated by a similar device controlled by Roulette!

The infiltration was the real reason Terrific's devices weren't responding during today's featured fight! The mistress of competition sent her drone to whisk the team away for more adventures in the next issue.

I very much intend to take a closer look at that adventure some time in the future. There are a few different sessions with Roulette that are surely right up our combat-loving alley, and I look back upon this period of DC Comics, and its revival of classics like JSA and Hawkman with great fondness. A time when Geoff Johns mastered intuitively fusing the old with the new alongside artists like Rags Morales.

As for today's contest: Although Hawkman brought proceedings to a relatively peaceful conclusion, you can clearly see that Black Adam had the best of the Justice Society. A majority of the team was subdued. A win's a win.

If you'd like to see more from the characters featured in today's entry you can follow links throughout this post, or dive into the Secret Archive for a complete index of featured fights in order of publisher, series, and issue number.

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured more than 700 battles and ranked well over 1,000 characters! You can help keep us in the fight by showing your support for all this content by becoming a Patreon backer. As a thank you you'll receive access to various additional updates and customizable content options at the higher tiers, including Rank & File Top 10 lists.

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Winner: Black Adam
#19 (+3) Black Adam
#40 (--) Captain Marvel
#51 (-3) Hawkgirl
#369 (-186) Wildcat
#429 (-48) Atom Smasher
#430 (-23) Sand
#653 (-108) Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)
#654 (-110) Doctor Mid-Nite (Pieter Cross)
#27 (--) Hawkman [+1 assist]
#100 (+3) Stargirl [+1 assist]

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!

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!

Blood bursts from bare shoulders as wings are suddenly contorted in ways never imagined. Hawkman is suspended helplessly before the again-arrogant villain who inundates him with unfathomable pain with every magnetic tug.

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!

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has documented well over 600 battles ranging from the classic to the obscure! Everyone's doing it tough, but if you like what it's all about and want to contribute: Patreon at the $1 Warbonds level will have a hugely positive impact on keeping the good times rolling! Additional tiers offer extra articles, polling, and more as a thank you for supporting the site.

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Winner: Hawkman
#25 (+9) Hawkman
#362 (-142) Doctor Polaris

THE CONTEST: HAWKMAN versus PEREGRINE

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...

Strength: Hawkman 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Hawkman 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hawkman 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Peregrine 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Hawkman 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Hawkman 25 (Champion)

Conservative choices over the last couple of battles have cost me the lead. Now The Grandmaster is a win clear with only half The Contest to go! We've both been conserving points, but after the last round I've decided to throw caution to the wind to try to secure a much-needed victory.

Le Peregrine is the character to beat: Alain Racine is a freelancing hero who's worked with Silver Sable and The Avengers while defending France from peril. He wears a winged suit that allows him to fly at incredible speeds, and is also highly proficient in the art of savate. He combines this French style of kickboxing with aerial derring-do for a unique brand of offense.

Le Peregrine is another international hero who was introduced through the original Contest of Champions. He's presently unranked, which means he'll be the fourth fighter on The Grandmaster's team that costs 0pts! His unusual fighting style gave Angel a lot of trouble in the original Contest, but I'm spending big to buy a true master of the airways!

Currently ranked #34: Hawkman is a winged warrior whose brutal fighting style and use of weapons has seen him get the best of Superman in Superman/Batman #4, fight Doctor Fate to a draw in All-Star Squadron #4, clobber Solomon Grundy (with friends) in Hawkman #33, and literally disarm the Matter Master in Hawkman #23!

Hawkman lacks the finesse of Peregrine's martial arts, but his raw warrior spirit transcends a more precise approach. His Nth metal harness also greatly enhances his strength, durability, and ability to recover from punishment. His use of weapons such as heavy medieval nets and a fixed mace also equip him with plenty of methods for pinning Peregrine down.

Hawkman isn't invincible and has been beaten by a canny strategist & fighter like Deathstroke, but with a far more storied career, which includes memberships with both the Justice Society and Justice League, I think Hawkman's a shoo-in to beat the Frenchman.

The Verdict (Updated July 9th)...

I came into this one looking for a decisive win to keep the scores even heading into the second half of competition. Boy did I get one! Hawkman utterly annihilated Le Peregrine in one of the most one-sided results we've seen so far!

Chris A Field cut right to the heart of the matter: "I've actually heard of Hawkman, so he wins it easy." There's no denying the starpower of Hawkman drove voting up after a dismal turnout for the previous round and gave him a significant recognition advantage.

Jason Meunier agreed with the same outcome, but found a more nuanced comparison between the two characters. For him, it was a matter of experience with their respective arsenals: "Hawkman’s gear tends toward [medieval] weapons (mace, spear), while Peregrine goes more modern (darts, gas grenades. I say Hawkman’s experience and broader combat skills give him the edge."

It was difficult to find advocates for Le Peregrine, but Joseph Day came through to wave the flag for the French longshot: "We all know who's gonna win, so I'm voting for the underdog."

He also went on to make a compelling case on the basis of Le Peregrine's first appearance and mastery of unarmed martial arts: "Peregrine is a master of savate, the French version of kickboxing. He surprised the Angel using this skill, so I figure that Hawkman could be equally bested if they don't practice a similar sport on Thanagar." We looked at Peregrine vs Angel during the week!

Facebook polls continue to be non-functional, so it was up to Twitter to deliver a crushing 91.4% majority! Special thanks to longtime friend of the site Hawkworld for getting the word out, and everyone who took time to vote, comment, or share!

This means Round 6 goes to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

We'll be back for Round 7 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the latest battles and past results. Hit up Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for regular updates and new voting polls. You can also let me know what you think about the result in the comments or on social media!

Winner: Hawkman

The Grandmaster: - 3

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 3

<< Contest: Cheetah vs Wolverine    [Home]    Contest: Guardian vs Defensor >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: HAWKMAN (DC)
Real Name: Carter Hall
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (January, 1940)
Fight Club Ranking: #31

Featured Fights:
- vs SINESTRO: Secret Society of Super-Villains #5 (Jan-Feb 1977)
- vs DOCTOR FATE: All-Star Squadron #4 (Dec 1981)
- vs SUPERMAN: Justice League of America #200 (Mar 1982)
- vs SUPERMAN & BATMAN: Superman/Batman #4 (Jan 2004)
- vs MATTER MASTER: Hawkman #23 (Mar 2004)
- vs DEATHSTROKE: Identity Crisis #3 (Oct 2004)
- vs ST. ROCH: Hawkman #31 (Oct 2004)
- vs MORGAUTH: JSA Strange Adventures #1 (Oct 2004)
- vs SOLOMON GRUNDY: Hawkman #33 (Dec 2004)
- vs ELONGATED MAN & SUE DIBNY: Blackest Night #1 (Sep 2009)

Late last year we learned Hawkman was "found" -- now he's coming back from the madness of Dark Nights: Metal to re-launch back into his own on-going series! The Washington Post reports the first issue will be released in June, with creative team Rob Venditti and Bryan Hitch saying all the right things about the long awaited spotlight!

It's the return of one of DC Comics' most underrated bad asses, and Venditti seems reassuringly aware of it: "Hawkman is a foundational character in the DCU. Over time I think he’s lost some of that central importance to the DC universe, and we really want to bring that back and make him a marquee character".

The return won't be without its perils. The creators also give a lot of services to exploring past lives and new facets of mythology -- pitfalls that have damaged the character in the past, and always threaten to overwhelm a more simple, innate cool that lies within the winged warrior.

Before he became the apparent manifestation of the Anti-Monitor in real life: Geoff Johns was able to mine past existences successfully with the 2000s relaunch of Hawkman. Since then, the quirk of Hawkman's reincarnation cycle has been exceedingly exploited, presuming the character can be killed and almost instantly remade without any consequence, or passage of time.

The wounds of recent deaths should still be fresh in the minds of readers. It will be disappointing if Venditti's new excavations double-down on over-emphasizing the importance of dying to the Hawkman character. The elevator pitch reference Indiana Jones always seems to make sense, but here's hoping Hawkman can also "LIVE IN THE NOW" to fulfill his significance to the DCU.

To some extent, like a lot of iconic characters at DC and Marvel, all I really wanna see is some cool villains, fresh adventures, and a return to an iconic core. Here's hoping whatever we get, it's a strong, table return for a character who's been jerked around way too much in the modern era!

<< Hero of the Week 03/26: Ghost Rider     [Home]     Hero of the Week 03/12: Killmonger >>

HAWKMAN & CAPTAIN COMET versus SINESTRO

Endgame... Plus Two (DC)
Where: Secret Society of Super-Villains #5 When: January-February 1977 Why: Bob Rozakis How: Rich Buckler & Vince Colletta

The Story So Far...
A battle between The Secret Society of Super-Villains and their evil New God masters has left the city battleground coated with rubble. Buried beneath the mess is Captain Comet -- returned hero of the 1950s whose confusion brought him in league with The Society!

Emerging from the urban wreckage, Captain Comet discovers another space hero trapped underneath -- The Green Lantern! No longer mistaking him for a foe, Captain Comet accompanies Hal Jordan to the Justice League Satellite HQ.

There, Superman and the JLA verify the incredible story of Captain Comet's uncanny return! The old hero isn't the only one to have left the ranks of Manhunter's Secret Society of Super-Villains, though!

A satellite alarm signals the disgruntled attack of Sinestro on The Society's Sinister Citadel in San Francisco! With GL on monitor duty; Hawkman recruits Captain Comet to stop Sinestro's earthquake revenge!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Captain Comet 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Captain Comet 6 (Genius)
Speed: Captain Comet 5 (Super-Speed)
Stamina: Sinestro 6 (Generator)
Agility: Sinestro 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Sinestro 7 (Cosmic Power)
Total: Captain Comet 34 (Super)

A clash of classic DC icons in less than iconic combination! It's always a pleasure to see an oddball match-up like this, but we also welcome a new player to the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths rankings that provides a real wildcard!

Hawkman's ties to the Justice League (and planet Thanagar) mean he's no stranger to beings from outer space. Even so, when it comes to the tyranny of Sinestro -- usually that's the jurisdiction of his arch-nemesis: Green Lantern!

Familiarity is a factor, but Sinestro's yellow power ring has much the same limitless potential as a Green Lantern's. He can project and create yellow hard-light constructs based on infinite imagination. That makes him a dangerous foe for even the best evenly matched member of the Green Lantern Corps!

Decades later we'd see Sinestro at his deadliest when he got the better of Green Lantern and Green Arrow in Green Lantern: Rebirth #4. More worryingly for Hawkman, he also put down winged-hero Black Condor during The Society's brutal ambush of The Freedom Fighters [in Infinite Crisis #1]!

The long-range and breadth of Sinestro's abilities are a big problem. In theory, Hawkman's one yellow bird cage away from being quickly outmatched! Not that the cosmic might of a Qwardian yellow ring is going to stop him fighting!

Hawkman's famous combative tenacity could be a key to an upset victory. We saw him quickly stop Matter Master in Hawkman #23, using aggression and weaponry to put a stop to a comparable threat. We've also seen him fight valiantly against several strong opponents. He kept Doctor Fate frustrated in All-Star Squadron #4, and went down swinging against Superman in Justice League of America #200! He even took tough guy Solomon Grundy down with a little bit of help from friends [in Hawkman #33]!

Captain Comet is a newfound friend in this battle, having recently defected from The Secret Society of Super-Villains after being tricked into their ranks. He's a lost hero from the 1950s who spent the last couple of decades having adventures in outer space!

With powers awakened by a passing comet; Adam Blake naturally possesses a genius mind capable of telepathic intuition, telekinetic mental projection, mind reading, defensive shielding, and psionic blasts! He also commands impressive physical attributes of super-human strength and durability! Not quite as powerful as Superman, but arguably more versatile in his strange powers!

Captain Comet and Sinestro should be relatively evenly matched.

The Captain can circumvent energy constructs with his telekinetic powers, and use his uncanny intuition to work around what's coming. His powers take a certain amount of focus and strain, though. Sinestro could still pose a threat with the benefit of instant-access to his abilities. That's where the loose man of Hawkman really becomes a benefit!

It's a fight that could go either way, but my money's on the heroes! The stats seem to agree. Let's quit the speculation and see what happened...

The Tape: Hawkman & Captain Comet Ranking: Hawkman (#31)

What Went Down...

The Justice League Satellite teleporter sends Hawkman and Captain Comet to the city skies of Earth in a mere instant! There, they materialize behind an unsuspecting Sinestro in time to stop his destructive rampage!

Hawkman orders Sinestro to halt his attempts to topple a building that is in actual fact The Sinister Citadel -- home to The Secret Society of Super-Villains!

Though surprised by the sudden arrival of the two heroes, Sinestro scoffs at their order to cease and desist! He uses his yellow power ring to form a massive energy fist around Hawkman's trademark fixed mace -- then with an effortless gesture uses it to knock Hawkman out of the sky!

The blow damaged Hawkman's anti-gravity belt, leaving him helpless to prevent his plummet towards Earth. Fortunately, Captain Comet turns his attentions toward rescuing his new ally -- even as Sinestro escapes into outer space!

The hero from another age succeeds in catching Hawkman by the wings, bringing him to a safe landing on the street below. There, he notices the Sinister Citadel on the verge of toppling over! Once again - he springs into action!

It takes Captain Comet's fullest concentration to push against the entire weight of the lurching skyscraper! Though requiring incredible effort, he succeeds in restoring the citadel to an even keel!

The Captain regroups with Hawkman and offers to give him a lift so the seasoned Justice Leaguer can stay in the fight with Sinestro. Comet guides him by the arm into the sky, forming a bubble of air on the way to allow them survival in the vacuum of space!

The pair catch up with Sinestro somewhere between Earth and Mars and call for his surrender. The chase ends when Sinestro turns to fly directly at his enemies!

The attempted collision is cut-off by Captain Comet, who locks up with Sinestro in a wrist and knuckle lock! The villain gloats that while he may control his hands, the energy constructs of his yellow ring cannot be stopped!

Sinestro manifests a vise around Comet's skull and slowly begins squeezing!

The seasoned space-hero remains stoic, focusing his concentration on mentally keeping the vise from closing! His efforts prove fruitful!

A sudden swing of both fists sends Sinestro snapping violently into his own weapon! A kayo victory!

The Hammer...

Y'know, I thought I was looking forward to a fun match-up for Hawkman, but our fine feathered friend didn't make much of an impact on this one. The victory clearly belongs to Captain Comet!

I've been jamming to Flash Gordon over the holiday break, so the retro sci-fi of Captain Comet actually sits perfectly well with me.

Comet doesn't really strike me as having the gritty panache I associate with Gordon, and the comic strips by Alex Raymond, but the comparison is fun when you think about Flash's relationship with Hawkman's pulp forebears.

Comet got a visual update for his return to DC Comics in the seventies, but you can still clearly see fifties sci-fi all over him. In fact, it's rather nice that the period was allowed to remain a defining piece of the character's backstory.

Usually I seek clean, recent artwork to represent characters in those little mugshots I make, but every now and then there's a character so wrapped up in an era I like to go retro. The Captain Comet portrait above is drawn by Carmine Infantino, seen on the cover of Strange Adventures #9 -- his first appearance!

If I were calling the shots, I'd probably revert the character's design back to that original uniform! As '50s spacemen go, it isn't necessarily a stand-out, but in 2017 that's a look that Captain Comet can completely own!

It's rather astounding to think the character continued well into recent decades. He's remained a part of DC's space fabric in books like L.E.G.I.O.N., Mystery in Space, and The Rann-Thanagar War. You may even remember Captain Comet from his role in Kingdom Come as the warden of Superman's gulag! I'm told he's even floating around (in some fashion) in the DC Universe of The New 52!

Recent years not withstanding; I kinda see Captain Comet as a blueprint for the best way to handle a guy like Captain Marvel. Both are heroes who has a place among the modern pantheon, but work better not as generic equivalents of similar characters, but as torchbearers for the out-of-vogue styles of the eras that defined them. The once standard: now unique within a modern context!

I've had a lot of fun talking Captain Comet's return to the "modern" DCU. If you got a kick out of it too, you might like to check out The Secret Society of Super-Villains yourself! By using the Amazon link provided [right], you support the site with your collected edition purchase at no extra cost!

Take your own journey through the years by visiting links throughout this post, or tagged below. Or simply dive into the Secret Archive to check out previous featured fights indexed by publisher, series, and issue number!

Follow on Facebook and Twitter to get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day! A like, share and retweet is another great way to help the wars remain infinite!

Winner: Captain Comet (w/ Hawkman)
#308 (new) Captain Comet
#31 (--) Hawkman [+1 assist]
#118 (-15) Sinestro

HERO OF THE WEEK: HAWKMAN (DC)
Real Name: Carter Hall
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (Janaury, 1940)
Fight Club Ranking: #31

Featured Fights:
- vs DOCTOR FATE: All-Star Squadron #4 (Dec 1981)
- vs SUPERMAN: Justice League of America #200 (Mar 1982)
- vs SUPERMAN & BATMAN: Superman/Batman #4 (Jan 2004)
- vs MATTER MASTER: Hawkman #23 (Mar 2004)
- vs DEATHSTROKE: Identity Crisis #3 (Oct 2004)
- vs ST. ROCH: Hawkman #31 (Oct 2004)
- vs MORGAUTH: JSA Strange Adventures #1 (Oct 2004)
- vs SOLOMON GRUNDY: Hawkman #33 (Dec 2004)
- vs ELONGATED MAN & SUE DIBNY: Blackest Night #1 (Sep 2009)

Daring feats of escape are an older trope of superhero comics than the recurring villains who started making the deathtraps. For the most part, death was always something superheroes were meant to cheat. It didn't take long before the bad guys were doing it, too. Some ironic fall off a bridge, to a presumed grizzly end down below, was a good way to finish a pulpy story. Yet there's always a reason to explain it away so The Joker can come back. Maybe that's where the problem started...

This time last year we were informed of the impending demise of Hawkman. It wasn't the first time, and it probably won't be the last. He's been "missing" throughout DC's Dark Nights: Metal event, but according to solicitations published by CBR, it looks as if Batman is going to find our missing hero.

What does it all mean? Do readers still have the will to care? The life and death cycle of major characters has become a clichéd test of audience endurance. Hawkman's had it particularly bad, facing what must be at least his third reincarnation of the last decade.

The concept of infinite reincarnation once served to resolve the mind-numbing mess of Hawkman's various published lives. It bolstered a mythology that was needlessly muddied, adding something interesting, while propelling the winged hero into long-awaited adventures in the memorable 2000s. His return as solo hero and chairman of the JSA was a whole lot of fun! It was never meant to install dying as a key feature of the character. Reincarnation should not be an instant process.

Death of Hawkman always seemed designed to usher Hawkman toward something new, but will it be something better? The Bryan Hitch cover art for Hawkman: Found looks suitably exciting, with a relatively classic looking Hawkman. As a temporary predicament, it could be interesting to see Hawkman at odds with Batman. That was certainly a fun match-up in Superman/Batman #4.

It's my hope Hawkman and Batman will be working together before Metal ends. Preferably toward a "Rebirth" of a modern-classic take on the winged hero, and a solo series that will sustain itself. If Hitch's cover is anything to go by, he could be the man to bring Hawkman back to comics. He's certainly been the one to bring him back to Hero of the Week!

<< Hero of the Week 09/04: Black Manta       [Home]      Hero of the Week 08/21: Ghost Rider >>

DOCTOR FATE versus HAWKMAN

Chapter Three: What Price Vengeance? (DC)
Where: All-Star Squadron #4 When: December 1981
Why: Roy Thomas How: Rich Buckler

The Story So Far...
December 8, 1941: The combined powers of The All-Star Squadron race to the Hawaiian island of Oahu to witness the aftermath of a terrible attack! The decimation of Pearl Harbor shocks their senses, and strengthens America's resolve to answer the call to World War II.

The unprecedented assembly of heroes flights East to meet their attackers head-on, unaware that a conspiring force anticipates their arrival! The Dragon King lies on a small island somewhere between Hawaii and Japan, plotting to manipulate the super-powered All-Stars with methods of science and the super-natural!

What good will the Justice Society and their allies be when their most powerful members become dedicated agents of The Axis Powers?!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Doctor Fate 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Doctor Fate 5 (Professor)
Speed: Hawkman 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Doctor Fate 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Doctor Fate 7 (Cosmic Power)
Total: Doctor Fate 31 (Super Powered)

When it comes to super-powers in the DC Universe -- they don't often come much more powerful than Doctor Fate!

As the wearer of the Helmet of Fate; Kent Nelson is in commune with the very matter and energy of the universe! Guided by Nabu and the Lords of Order: he possesses phenomenal magical arsenals and acumen. He is nigh immortal, invulnerable, and capable of manipulating time, space & reality!

Hawkman certainly has his work cut out for him if he's going to beat his JSA team mate! Not that he's any stranger to fighting beyond his weight class!

In Justice League of America #200 we saw Hawkman go up against Superman in a similar scenario. He was outmatched, but when they met again many years later in Superman/Batman #4 -- The Claw of Horus gave him the physical might to knock Superman out with the force of an entire planet!

The Claw won't show up for twenty years after our featured fight, but the Nth metal its made of is a mainstay of Hawkman's arsenal. Originally "Ninth Metal", it allows him to fly, heal wounds, increases his strength and durability, and has even been known to have occult properties. Is that enough to help him?

Hawkman has the minerals to face down just about any foe, but his usual array of medieval weaponry won't mean much against Doctor Fate!

At the time of this battle, the mighty mystic wears his "half helm". This shortened version reduces the power of his magic in exchange for relieving the possessive nature of the Helmet of Fate. Despite this reduction, he remains super-humanly strong and durable!

If Hawkman's to give himself his best shot, he may need to hit his hexed friend hard and fast -- and hope the peculiarities of magic create a loophole that evens the playing field! We saw how that can work when Doctor Fate was unable to intervene against The Demon's Three in Justice League Unlimited #14.

The Dragon King's mind manipulation targets magically inclined heroes more than others, but who knows what that means! Let's find out!

The Tape: Doctor Fate Ranking: Hawkman (#32)

What Went Down...
Together America's greatest super-powers soar the skies as a single force: The All-Star Squadron! Leaving the battered shores of Pearl Harbor they fly across the Pacific Ocean -- unwittingly passing over a small, sinister outpost!

From the seemingly deserted tropical island: The Dragon King activates a machine powered by The Holy Grail, and designed to target the Justice Society's most magic sensitive heroes! The dynamo spews forth undetectable waves of energy that ripple through the All-Stars like a tingling shock of electricity!

Green Lantern is the first to act upon the impulse to turn against America, soon followed by Johnny Thunderbolt! As Hawkman swoops in to intervene with a voice of reason -- Doctor Fate glides in for a surprise attack!

The sudden uppercut connects with Hawkman's unsuspecting jaw -- but his aerial expertise allows the winged hero to recovery quickly!

He repositions himself to be facing his unlikely attacker, while the mad Doctor Fate orders Green Lantern to destroy the flightless heroes among them!

Hawkman has no choice but to pit his spiked mace against the Helmet of Fate!

Hawkman sends the spiked-ball of his chained weapon colliding into Fate's metallic half helm, but it barely stuns him! Though the mystic may have lost his magical mastery -- he remains an unnaturally strong physical opponent!

The sky becomes the scene of an uncanny chase as Doctor Fate relentlessly pursues Hawkman. His words aim to demoralize as he boasts equal speed and superior endurance to the winged hero. Hawkman listens!

His chained mace drags stubbornly against the wind as Hawkman carves a hard and sudden change in direction! It follows as he flies a path directly for Fate -- undeterred by the mind-altered hero's snide boasts of invulnerability!

The moment of collision arrives -- but Doctor Fate has had a change of heart!

Aerial maneuvers had inadvertently taken them beyond the field of The Dragon King's machine! Doctor Fate's mind returns to that of a great hero, no longer impelled to wage war against the Justice Society of America!

The Hammer...

Let the debate rage on: Who would have won had the fight continued?

It certainly seemed as if Doctor Fate's incredible invulnerability put him firmly in command, but Hawkman's never-say-die attitude is legendary! I'm sure most will come down on the side of Fate, but I like to think Hawkman's will still could've found a way. The Doctor certainly looked worse for wear at the end!

This month on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths we're spotlighting some of the heroes and villains featured in Injustice 2! The fighting game sequel is out now for home consoles, offering an eclectic mix of DCU icons in a universe where Superman has become a threat to truth, justice and freedom.

The exciting addition of Doctor Fate was the subject of Hero of the Week back in March, but alas, Hawkman is yet to make an appearance in the DC video game series! A fighting game without one of DC's greatest fighters?! I know!

Hawkgirl took up the slack with a lone playable appearance in 2013's Injustice: Gods Among Us. Better later than never: the sequel introduces a concept called "Premier Skins", which map all new character assets to existing gameplay. The perfect system for delivering both Hawks, should either ever appear again!

Think Professor Zoom using the moves of The Flash, or Hal Jordan's moves as a base to map John Stewart's voice and appearance into the game. An appropriate compromise to include characters who might otherwise be functionally similar in a video game setting. Imperfect, but a net positive.

Even Jay Garrick gets a run in the Premier Skin system! When you think about the tough times the Golden Age heroes have had of late, especially in comics - that's pretty nifty!

There's really no under estimating the simple "cool factor" at work with Golden Age heroes. Doctor Fate and Hawkman really only need to show up to spark an ember of interest. I've never been a big fan of the "half helm" seen in today's feature fight, but you get that full Helmet of Fate out, and it demands attention!

I can't help but think of the cover of Hawkman (Vol. 4) #24. A pretty cool action shot of Hawkman clubbing Doctor Fate - just like our featured fight! It doesn't actually reflect the contents of the issue, but it's the kind of cover that draws your eye. These characters are just so visually thrilling!

Such is the baffling quandary of publishers shuttling their classic characters out of continuity, or trying to disguise them. Tell readers the story exists in a cordoned off bubble and you might alleviate the "completist" anxieties of a few timid "new readers". Once that plays out, all that's achieved is further division of the audience, and a reinforcement of the idea that backstory is a problem.

In my experience; the uninitiated are often drawn to a visually striking character like Hawkman or Doctor Fate, and have a healthy appetite for learning more of 'the bits that matter' in their history. These "new readers" are willing and interested to engage in deep comics backstory, provided its in a no frills, easily digested format. A litany of reboots and reinventions can only discourage.

Good fiction is constructive, and needn't dwell on details that aren't immediately relevant. Our own lives are an example of the ways old relationships and details can be stirred to relevance, but we don't dwell on everything every time we enter into a situation. A good comic tells you what you need to know.

1981's All-Star Squadron roughly had a foot in both camps. I tend to think the division of Earth-1 and Earth-2 was more trouble than its worth, and freezing the characters in the 1940s is a trickier prospect now - another thirty years on from World War II. Not that its impossible. Retro visions like Sandman Mystery Theatre are, in my opinion, evergreen as a genre style. I also think Nazis deserve their place as the perennial bad guys asking for a kicking!

Ultimately, I prefer the consolidated, forward moving approach that made the mid-2000s a great run for JSA and Hawkman. For a while there, Geoff Johns was the master of striking a balance between the immovable qualities of Golden & Silver Age characters, and their intuitive placement in the modern age.

The more the entertainment world tries to forge hastily assembled histories and imitation shared universes -- the more it seems absurd that comics would ever do anything but promote the unique feature of their genuine back catalogue!

Do you think Hawkman and Doctor Fate are obviously awesome? Be sure to follow links throughout this post, or dive into the Secret Archive Index, to discover even more gems, rants, and superhero smackdown!

Follow along on Twitter and Facebook to get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day! A like, share, or retweet is a great way to support the site and spread the battle cry of The Comic Book Fight Club! You can also use the Amazon link provided to sponsor the site at no extra cost to your purchase!

Note: All-Star Squadron #1-#18 are collected in the Showcase reprint series [pictured right], which are a black and white publication. For Carl Gafford's vibrant colours you'll have to seek out original back issues, or digitally sold equivalents. For buyer satisfaction, always remember to research products before buying!

Winner: Draw (Inconclusive)
#31 (+1) Hawkman
#128 (+18) Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)