I picked up issue 10 of The Savage Hawkman to complete my obligation to my LCS. And really, that’s what the book has come to feel like in many ways; an obligation.

Putting aside the Liefield cover that I just truly dislike, there are some good points in this issue. Hawkman in a gladiator type battle has some good moments. And the art is pretty darn good. And…well, those really are the high points.

Unfortunately, those good moments are all too brief. The fight feels rushed, an attempt to show us how tough and badass Hawkman is. While the art is good, the flow and pace seem slightly off in a couple of parts. And all of it is overshadowed by very bad, very heavy-handed dialogue.

The best way I can describe the book is to say it always feels like you’re missing one piece of the puzzle. Not enough so you can’t see the picture, but it still ruins the final product. All the yakking about the Nth metal, how it’s part of Hawkman, how it morphs…it feels like we’re being reminded we’re supposed to care about these things. But at this point, I just don’t. Which means the creative team isn’t doing their jobs.

I guess I’ll have to wait for Hawkman to be reincarnated yet again before I return to the character. Nth metal couldn’t save him this time. Not for me.