• Black-Adam-The-Justice-Society-Files-Hawkman-cover
    Black Adam - The Justice Society Files Hawkman #1
    Writer:
    Cavan Scott, Bryan Q. Miller
    Artist:
    Scot Eaton, Norm Rapmund, Marco Santucci
    Letterer:
    Rob Leigh
    Cover Artist:
    Kaare Andrews
    Publisher:
    DC
    Price:
    $5.99
    Release Date:
    2022-07-05
    Colorist:
    Michael Atiyeh, Andrew Dalhouse

One of the biggest comic book movies of the year is the upcoming Black Adam, with star and producer Dwayne Johnson bringing the Shazam Family antihero of the same name to the DC Extended Universe. More than simply showcasing the ancient character Teth-Adam receiving his mighty, magical transformation, the movie also brings the Justice Society of America to the big screen as they warily approach Adam to find out whether he's a friend or foe. Expanding the world of the comic are four comic book one-shots, Black Adam: The Justice Society Files, with the first putting a spotlight on the movie iteration's Hawkman.

In the lead story, written by Cavan Scott and penciled by Scot Eaton, Carter Hall visits an exhibition at his museum only to find the proceedings haunted by a spectral supervillain that has Hawkman dead in his sights. In the backup story, written by Bryan Q. Miller and drawn by Marco Santucci, Teth-Adam does his best to defend his young son Hurun from oppression in ancient Kahndaq. Millennia later, Adrianna Tomaz navigates present-day Kahndaq where she stumbles across an old-world secret that could shift the balance of power in the world as she knows it.

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Black Adam Justice Society Files Hawkman Preview A

Scott and Eaton's story blends espionage intrigue with supernatural superhero action as Carter and his allies infiltrate a party only to discover that they are in over their head against the fearsome Gentleman Ghost. Scott has a strong handle on the characters in the story but noticeably is having a lot of fun with the narrative possibilities presented by having Gentleman Ghost as a primary antagonist in the story. Once the stakes are laid out, the entire story makes a sharp pivot in regard to genre, shifting from its cloak and dagger start towards a more terrifying direction.

Miller and Santucci's story really feels like the more visible prologue to the upcoming film itself, given its respective cast of characters and Kahndaqi setting. Despite starting with a focus on Teth-Adam and his life, these backups really are focusing more on Adrianna as she discovers her country's darkest legend. And while Scott's stories are largely standalone from each other, connected by the legacy of the Justice Society, Miller and Santucci's stories are the one-shots' real connective tissue, and the two of them are only just getting started.

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Black Adam Justice Society Files Hawkman Preview B

Joining Eaton on art for the main feature are inker Norm Rapmund and colorist Andrew Dalhouse, bringing Hawkman's ghostly adventure to life. Some of the facial work, particularly in close-up, can come off as a bit stilted and awkward. But when the action kicks in and the proceedings take a turn for the decidedly surreal, the art team's work truly excels. For the backup story, Santucci is joined by colorist Michael Atiyeh, with the two working best on the Tomaz sequences, which fortunately make up the bulk of their story. There's a sense of peril and kinetic action there that really pops off the page.

The Black Adam: The Justice Society Files specials give readers the chance to see all the Justice Society heroes do what they do best in a set of standalone adventures. The opening one-shot works best when it allows itself to cut loose and get a little weirder with its characters. Hopefully, the subsequent specials will lean into those sensibilities more. For those looking to see the DCEU twist on the JSA ahead of Black Adam, these one-shots are the way to go and will hopefully keep it delightfully weird as they continue.