And Then I Read: BRIGHTEST DAY 13

Images © DC Comics, Inc.

Most of this issue focuses on Hawkman and Hawkgirl on Hawkworld, a very dark version of the latter, and in part it's a history lesson, going back to the characters' Egyptian origins. Now, it's my age speaking, but even though I read and enjoyed the HAWKWORLD series, I still think of these two as those museum experts from Thanagar, the Silver Age version, so the whole Egyptian storyline seems rather foreign to me. And the fact that Hawkgirl's mother is in charge of Hawkworld is even more confusing. Essentially this book is fighting, posturing, melodramatic speeches, some torture, leading up to an elaborate plan by Mom, now calling herself Queen Shrike, to get herself back to Earth. I don't know, it all seems overly complicated and contrived to me. And the plan apparently takes her not directly to Earth, but into the Green Lantern books.

The team art by Syaf, Reis and Prado is fine, and there's only one inker this time, Vicente Cifuentes, who probably helps give them a cohesive look. It's all very dark, in color and in tone, and it seems "Brightest Day" has lost its glow.

Mildly recommended.