Polite Dissent

As issue #16 starts, Booster Gold returns to Metropolis to form a new corporation, Booster Gold International. Most of the issue resolves around setting up the new status quo for Booster and company. As a bonus, there’s a cutaway map of their mansion showing everything and up and coming millionaire needs, including bedrooms, gym, library and laser cannons. Remember when comics used to contain diagrams like this all the time? I can’t remember the last time I saw one in a current comic.

Hawk makes his appearance towards the end of the issue. He is secretly meeting with a renegade scientist from U.S. Biotech, Dr. Babich. This scientist has developed a special formula, one designed to wipe out the world’s population problems. With Hawk’s help, Babich is ready to put his plan into action. The big catch: the Soviets have hired Cheshire to steal the formula for themselves.

Cheshire attacks U.S. Biotech looking for Babich and his formula, but he and Hawk have already left for Mexico. Booster Gold shows up to investigate the break in because it turns out that his company owns U.S. Biotech. Booster and his team discover that Dr. Babich has developed a new bacterial plague designed to wipe out almost all human life on Earth. It is his plan to release the bacteria in Mexico where the winds will carry it around the world – yet leave the United States spared. Hawk knows nothing of the true nature of the disease. He is a (nearly) innocent dupe and believes the bacteria will reduce the birthrate and nothing more.

Once in Mexico, Hawk climbs aboard the Hawk-glider (in its final appearance) and soars up into the air to release the germ. Before he can act, Cheshire attacks and grabs the canister. Booster Gold arrives and tries to stop Hawk, Cheshire and the Soviets. In the heat of the battle, the plague is accidentally released. Ironically, Dr. Babich is the only person nearby and dies a quick and agonizing death. Booster Gold manages to capture the rest of the bacteria in his force field. He then compresses the field entirely, destroying the plague for good. After sternly lecturing Hawk and Cheshire, he flies off, leaving them to walk home.

This is a good story, even if Hawk comes off looking like a complete idiot (you know you’re in trouble when Booster Gold has to lecture you about ethics). It’s painful seeing a character you like doing something stupid, but frankly this fits Hawk’s character. It’s not the first time his beliefs have gotten him in trouble, and it won’t be the last, but at least he takes risks for what he believes in.

Cheshire comes off looking even more incompetent than Hawk. It wasn’t that long ago when she took down an entire Titans squad by herself, now she can’t even defeat Hawk. Serves her right to have to walk home.

Writer and artist Dan Jurgens does a good job with Hawk. He gets the character right and draws the costume well. He does fall into the trap of forgetting that Hank can only be Hawk when danger is present; he can’t just lounge around in his Hawk costume. Still, I was impressed enough by these two issues of Booster Gold to track down the rest of the series on eBay.