Hawkman – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Dick Dillin — Come Together

August 24, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

The Atom and Hawkman #45, November 1969

As discussed earlier this year, 1961 is an anniversary for both the Sliver Age versions of Hawkman and The Atom.

Neither character was ultimately commercially viable for his own comic book, so DC tried combining two titles into one.

Unfortunately that didn’t work long either, but as they say, it was fun while it lasted.

Dick Dillin was one of DC”s “B-team” artists who deserves more respect than he typically receives.

Although his draftsmanship may not have been up to the higher levels of some of his peers, his ability to draw with imagination and solid storytelling was pretty on point in my book.

He pretty much drew every issue of Justice League of America for 12 years starting with issue #64 (1968) and ending with his untimely death at #183(1980). Considering all the various JLA crossovers (JSA, Freedom Fighters, etc.), Dillin likely drew hundreds of different heroes and villains during that time.

Just Atom and Hawkman? Piece of cake.

*The final individual issues of the Atom and Hawkman, and the first issue of the “new” title, The Atom and Hawkman.*

Tim Truman — A World Of Hawks

February 7, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Hawkworld #1, August 1989

What happens when you reboot a reboot? What happens when you change some continuity, but not all of it? What happens later when you er… change your mind?

What happens is you get DC superhero continuity for the last 35 years or so, post “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

This is not a knock, per se, just an observation. Along with these many changes have been some great series and story arcs. Just enjoy the ride while it lasts, because a new one is probably around the corner.

Hawkworld is an early “prestige” re-do of the post-crisis Hawk backstory, nicely told by Tim Truman. It led to an ongoing series, and then later on… more retconning.

I like this page because it uses the art “camera” to heighten drama and increase tension, as opposed to more traditional character action. Coincidentally, I also own a Mark Bagley page that’s similarly cinematic in approach to similar subject matter. (I don’t think it’s an homage or swipe, just a classic case of great minds thinking alike — 25 years apart.)

Greg Land — Wanted!

February 6, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Hawkman #30, September 2004

Greg Land delivers a simple, powerful and striking image of Hawkgirl (“Hawkwoman”*) metaphorically defending Hawkman in front of his Wanted Poster.

Superheroes framed for crimes — or constantly hunted as actual criminals (Spider-man, et al) — is a trope, that for whatever reason, I enjoy. But even if I didn’t, I’d still appreciate this terrific cover.

*Hawkgirl adamantly changes her name to Hawkwoman in issue #272 of World’s Finest (1981) but the moniker doesn’t stick over time. I can’t say I blame her for having a chip on her shoulder. When Hawkman was admitted into the Justice League in 1964, she was denied membership, because, according to League “rules”, only one new member is allowed at a time. Ouch.

*Hawkgirl defiantly declares herself Hawkwoman in 1981, a distinct change in tone when she was denied membership in the Justice League years earlier.*

Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson — Partners In Crime Solving

February 4, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

The Atom #7, July 1963

Atom and Hawkman (Silver Age versions) both celebrate 6oth anniversaries in 2021. Hawkman (and Hawkgirl) launched in Brave and Bold #34 in March 1961, while The Atom launched in Showcase #34 later that year.

34 must have been the lucky number in 1961.

This beautifully-rendered page is from the first team-up of the two characters in issue #7 of the Atom’s own title in 1963.

Murphy Anderson’s lush inks can often overpower any penciller, but here it’s relatively easy to spot Kane’s trademark style, especially in the final panel. Great storytelling and dynamic action from both characters help make this a terrific example from the issue.

Neither the solo Hawkman title, nor the solo Atom series ended up gaining much traction sales-wise, so as a final ploy later that decade, the two characters were merged together into one title. The gambit didn’t work, and both books disappeared from the stands by the end of 1969.

Howard Chaykin — JSA At War

May 9, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Superman #226, April 2006

Continuing our multi-week celebration of the 80^thanniversary of the Justice Society of America.

This is great action splash from Howard Chaykin, and a rare treat to see him illustrate classic superheroes.

As part of the Infinite Crisis storyline, Supermen from two different universes clash, each one living the life the other. When one goes to halt the Nazi atrocities of World War 2, he learns the difficult truth about Hitler’s super stalemate courtesy of the Spear of Destiny.

It took more than 35 years to tell the origin of the Society, and Paul Levitz created a plausible scenario that explained why America’s heroes simply didn’t use their powers to end the war in favor of the Allies quickly and decisively. Spoiler alert: It involves magic.

Roy Thomas and other writers ultimately ran with (and expanded) the concept, and writer Joe Kelly incorporates this premise into this Crisis Crossover.

This is the final issue of this specific volume of Superman, launched nearly 20 years prior, as part of the “John Byrne reboot.”

One of my favorite single issues from the late 70s (DC Special #29) tells the “untold origin” of the Justice Society and explains why they can’t simply destroy the Axis Powers. The “magic” theme would carry into other stories as well.

Wallace Wood — All Star

April 23, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

All Star Comics #59, 1976

All Star Comics, featuring The Justice Society, returned for the first time in 25 years, and the legendary Wallace Wood returned to superheroes for the early issues as well.

“Return” for Woody is a bit of an overstatement, since outside of his own creation, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Wood’s work in superheroes was limited. Ironically his most lauded superhero work in the DC universe is Superduperman, an EC Mad Comics parody from 1953.

In All Star, editor Joe Orlando (and Wood’s former protégé at EC) provided Woody the chance to play with many of DC’s classic characters, including Superman, and he was given a chance to help set the look and feel of at least one enduring new one, Power Girl, the “Supergirl” of Earth Two. On this great battle page, we have Hawkman, The Star-Spangled Kid, and Doctor Mid-Nite in all out action.

As demonstrated by the art itself, Wood is responsible for the pencils and inks on this “second” issue, with Rick Estrada providing rough breakdowns and receiving credit as “designer” on this issue.

Woody left the title after less than a year’s worth of issues, but the work he left was behind was definitely “all star” material.

Fun fact: Hawkman was the only original member of the JSA to appear in every issue of the original All Star comics as part of the team.

Fun fact: Despite the fact that All Star had originally continued as All Star Western in 1951, DC re-started the series using the Golden Age numbering. Today it would be #1 issue with more than a few variant covers…

Fun fact: “Super Squad” is just… ugh.