Tyrant VS Paladin: ‘Hawkman #21’ Reviewed
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
Hawkwoman and Adam Strange speed towards Sky Tyrant’s location, hoping that Hawkman can still be saved from the Infection. Ray Palmer, aka the Atom, is rooted inside Hawkman’s brain and is witnessing the mess in which the Sky Tyrant has found himself. A giant-sized warrior modeled after Titan Hawk, a previous incarnation of Hawkman, is trying to stop Sky Tyrant from retrieving a key of immense power. The odds aren’t looking good for Sky Tyrant and, by extension, Hawkman, in this fight.
Hawkman #21 continues the rampage of Sky Tyrant, the Earth-3 Crime Syndicate counterpart to Hawkman awoken by the Batman Who Laughs’ Infection. The Tyrant seeks to kill as many as possible to continue his reincarnations into eternity, and his means to do so are on the world guarded by the giant Paladin.
It’s another action-packed issue, with Sky Tyrant fighting the giant Paladin in a brutal David-and-Goliath duel. The Paladin is a warrior only seeking to honor the legacy of Titan Hawk and Sky Tyrant is a cruel and bloodthirsty killer seeking to extend his own longevity.
It’s thoroughly satisfying to see Hawkwoman, Adam Strange, and the Atom unite to help their friend in Hawkman, especially given how scarcely this trio appears in more recent comics.
Fernando Pasarin has become a favorite DC artist of mine in recent years between Justice League and Deathstroke and he continues to deliver here. His style is impeccably-detailed and ensures enjoyable and kinetic action scenes. Oclair Albert and Wade von Grawbadger provide skilled and impactful inking and color artist Jeromy Cox brings a vibrant and explosive color palette.
Hawkman #21 is another exciting and compelling installment for Robert Venditti’s take on the Winged Warrior. We get to watch the cruel Sky Tyrant take on someone many times his size while the allies of Carter Hall rush to save Hawkman’s soul. It’s a damn good read and earns a recommendation. Check it out.
Hawkman #21 comes to us from writer Robert Venditti, artist Fernando Pasarin, inkers Oclair Albert and Wade von Grawbadger, color artist Jeromy Cox, letterer Rob Leigh, cover artist Raymund Bermudez, and variant cover artist Trevor Hairsine with Rain Beredo.
Final Score: 8/10