?A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.? -- Joseph Campbell. The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
Although Gardner Fox created the Hawkman ten years before Joseph Campbell?s book was released, of all the super-hero characters of the Golden Age of Comics, the Hawkman is perhaps the best representation of Joseph Campbell?s hero. Within this journal, I would like to share my Flash Comics reading experience and try to better understand the Hawkman mythos.
Flash Comics #1:
I can?t help but think that the character of Carter Hall must have been self-reflective. With war in Europe started in the autumn of 1939, he must have wrestled with a sense of helplessness in a world that is on a destructive course. A collector of exotic curios of the ancient world, frequent guest at socialite galas, he is ready to embark on a hero?s journey that will change his life forever.
I particularly like how Gardner Fox handles the mythological aspects of the story of the Hawkman origin. Making an Egyptian god blonde is right. The blending of different gods and goddesses further creates an American folk hero.
The ninth metal!
Quarterstaff, wings, hood, crossbow; we are introduced to one of the Hawkman?s famous traits, the use of weapons of war.
Death Count = 1
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