Written by Walter Simonson
Art by Joe Bennett; Alex Bleyaert; & Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Howard Chaykin & Dave McCaig
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Trial … (Just because you’re paranoid …),” DC Comics released this Rann-Thanagar War-themed issue for December 2006. Through Blackfire’s efforts, six Thanagarian criminals escape from prison on Rann. With five of them staying on Rann, Blackfire sends the so-called ‘Butcher’ to Earth to terminate the perceived traitor known as ‘Hawkgirl.’
In St. Roch, Kendra “Hawkgirl” Saunders’ nocturnal patrol is interrupted by an explosion. Suddenly ambushed with alien technology, an unconscious Kendra is taken captive. Awakening inside an abandoned mental institution, Kendra is rendered powerless to defend herself from electrified torture. Worse yet, she finds herself on trial before a bogus Thanagarian tribunal where the six criminals intend to be her judge, jury, and, most definitely, her imminent executioner.
Elsewhere, Kendra’s associates at work ponder her mysterious absence.
REVIEW:
Including the cover image, the art squad’s solid visuals deliver Issue # 57’s best asset. Yet, as Blackfire alludes to, writer Walter Simonson makes it all too easy for Hawkgirl to be instantly captured and then left as an imprisoned damsel-in-distress.
If he had actually depicted Hawkgirl as the formidable adversary Kendra is supposed to be, then his clichéd bird-in-a-cage plotting wouldn’t be such a head-shaking letdown. This issue is worth reading once, but Simonson’s underwhelming script won’t convince readers that Kendra is really Justice Society or Justice League-caliber.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The “DC Nation” column presents thumbnail cover reveals for Seven Soldiers # 1; Justice # 8; Action Comics # 844; and an ominous Hawkgirl # 58.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
