Polite Dissent

Instead of the normal writing team of Karl and Barbara Kesel, this issue credits just Barbara as the writer, but there is no discernible change is style. The art is handled by the reliable team of Greg Guler and Al Vey. It’s a fairly dark storyline this issue with the forces behind Don’s “resurrection” finally revealed¹.

Hawk returns to his apartment to find another message from his deceased brother Don. Hank is informed that there will soon be a fatal car crash at a particular corner. He is to crush the sapphire he stole from the Smithsonian and sprinkle it over the victim of the car crash. This will bring Don back to life. Hank is concerned about the morality of the plan, but Don reminds him that the victim will already be dead, so no harm done. Reluctantly, Hawk agrees.

Sure enough, just like Don said, there is a bad car crash. Hank sprints up to the car to discover that it was no ordinary car, but a senator’s limousine. He wrenches open the back door and finds that the victim was Senator Tim O’Neil, a popular and powerful politician. Hank grabs the body and changes to Hawk, sprinting off down the street. He runs to an abandoned warehouse, and once inside, he sprinkles the crushed gem over the dead body. As predicted, the Senator’s body returns to life, only it’s not Don, but someone else – someone malevolent. Just as Hawk has realized that he’s been played for a sucker, the police break down the warehouse door and charge in. The Senator points at Hawk and accuses him of attempted murder.

Unbeknownst to Hawk (but beknownst² to the reader), there’s a lot more going than he realizes. Behind the scenes, Barter has been playing a major role in the conspiracy against Hawk. Remember Barter? He’s the dealer of “everything” who swore revenge against Hawk back in issue #14 after he reneged on a deal³. Barter has been arranging the plan with an as-yet-unnamed partner. He caused the car crash providing the “body” for the plan. He also had one of his agents among the onlookers at the car crash inciting the crowd against Hawk. He has them believing that it was Hawk who caused the accident. By the time the police arrive, the crowd is convinced that Hawk caused the crash and then kidnapped the Senator. When the “Senator” himself confirms this, Hawk has suddenly become Public Enemy #1. He escape through the wall of the warehouse with the police and Dove close behind.

Everything comes to a head in Hawk & Dove #28, the final issue of the series. The identity of the second conspirator is revealed, and the Hank-Dawn-Ren-Sal triangle (quadrangle?) is finally solved for good⁴. And the Titans Hunt and War of the Gods crossovers are thrown in for good measure.

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Notes:
^1. Mostly. The remainder is revealed next issue
^2. Is that even a word? If not, it should be.
^3. Sure, Hawk also beat him senseless and tied him up, but it was breaking the deal that really hurt.
^4. At least until Armageddon 2001, when it all goes to Hell, and JSA, when it gets even more confusing.

All Previous Hawk and Dove Reviews

Tags: comics hawk dove barter