Hawk & Dove

"For those of you who are just tuning in, this is Sam Millen reporting for GBS News. The images on your screen are live shots of what was once Mexico City, taken via helicopter. We are unfortunately unable to enter the city proper, as whatever field or effect has transformed the city appears to be spreading to anything which enters it environs. The crisis began almost 3 hours ago and was centered about the Children of the Sun compound, the site for a fringe religious organization devoted to the worship of an ancient Aztec diety. As you can see, the entire city is slowly being transformed into some semblance of its old self. All technology within the city has apparently vanished, rendering all contact with those within impossible. From what little we've been able to see, even the citizenry is affected. We've seen people in Aztec garb wandering the streets--"

Renata Takamori turned off the television set and shook her head. Turning to her friends, she said "You're going into the middle of that? Are you guys nuts? This is JLA-level!"

Hawk and Dove, flanked by the enigmatic Dr. Fate, glanced at each other briefly. It was Jake who answered, "It looks bad, I admit -- but Azure is our responsibility. Hank and Dawn fought her twice.*"

"So that means you're gonna go and get yourselves killed?" The concern in Ren's voice was touching, especially to Jake. In his present form, he was actually an amalgamation the Lord of Chaos named T'Charr, Jake Morrison and Hank Hall. It was Hank who'd shared a stormy romance with Renata.

Dove reached out to take Ren's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Ren, please. We didn't call you over so you could talk us out of going. I want you explain things to my dad if we don't come back, okay? Fate thinks that Azure's much more powerful than before and that she's infused with the magic from one of his old trinkets. That's why her transmutation powers are capable of altering the entire city now. I just want to make sure that, if something goes wrong, you'll handle things."

Ren pursed her lips in thought. A sudden grin broke out. "Okay. But maybe I should come with you guys -- I can take my camera, get a few shots of you knocking Azure's block off."

Hawk shook his head. "No. It's too dangerous. Besides, your camera wouldn't work in the field anyway."

"How are you guys going to go in and out without being turned into Aztec slaves or something?"

Dr. Fate spoke up the first time. Dressed in a golden cloak over a dark bodysuit with red circuitry lining its surface, he looked inscrutable as his helmet gleamed in the light. "Our status as Lords of Order and Chaos shall be sufficient to protect us, child. But we must make haste -- time grows short."

Sara picked up a small notebook and held it out to Ren. "Here's the numbers for both of our bosses. Make sure they know that we might away for a few days."

"You too." She cast one last look at Hawk as he moved closer to Dr. Fate. "You too."

Huitzilopochtli felt her heart surge with pride. With every step she took through the streets of her capital city, loving attendants threw flower petals at her feet. The sun shone bright this day, carressing its beloved Goddess.

Azure heard the chanting of her name, though it was so continuous that the words had blended together into a drone. Before her she saw her temple, rising up to the heavens. A young man writed on the pedestal, tied down with ropes. He was one of the few who seemed resistant to her powers, one who retained his free will even in the face of the transformation the city and its people were undergoing. For that reason, if no other, he would be one of her first sacrifices.

The bloody ceremonies were needed to increase Huitzilopochtli's power, to allow her to share her benevolence with the entire world. At her side, her assistant Jeric marched proudly. He had survived the death of his beloved Coral, correctly recognizing that his new hopes for power rested with Huitzilopochtli. She turned to him as she ascended the stairs, her eyes alight with fire. "Our enemies are massing, little one. Hawk & Dove will come soon."

"You are quite right," Huitzilopochtli agreed. There remained a flicker of doubt within her, however. She had once been very susceptible to suggestion, a remnant of her conditioning to be the Children's servant. But since coming into the true power of Azure, she had felt more confident overall. But not confident enough not to fear her most hated enemies. "When they come, we shall kill them. Quickly. Delay only increases the chance that they may find a way to harm my Children."

If Jeric sensed her unease, he did not show it. "Of course, my Queen. Hawk and Dove will be reduced to dust beneath your feet."

Dr. Fate arrived in a flash of mystic light, Hawk & Dove at his side. They were on the outskirts of the city's heart, the towering palace of Huitzilopochtli apparent in the distance. Jake peered out of the small alleyway in which they'd appeared, marvelling at his surroundings. "It's like stepping into the past. Incredible. Azure's gonna get her butt kicked hard for this...."

"She's mentally unstable, Jake. If I can use my calming powers on her the way I did that suicidal woman*, I might be to end this without violence."

"Uh-huh. And that's worked with a supervillain exactly when? They all need to get knocked around a bit to make things clear to 'em."

Fate moved forward, his hands working in the air. "Her power... it is greater than I expected. The Ring of Fate has amplified her abilities to an incredible degree. Perhaps I should have summoned greater forces."

"Ah. I was not aware that your memories were so intact, T'Charr. You know my true name."

"Sure do. And I know we can handle this, because we've kicked her butt in the past. Or at least Hank and Dawn did -- and that's pretty much the same thing."

Sara's words were drowned out by a sudden swell of voices. Their words were unclear, but the scream that accompanied them was all too recognizable. Someone was in great pain, perhaps dying.

Dove took to the air immediately. "It came from the palace. Let's do this, guys. Hit her hard and fast, before she's prepared. If the victim's still alive, I'll move him to safety while Fate works to remove the Ring. Hank -- you teach her a lesson, but not too roughly."

Hawk grinned. Sara's hesitance about violence had passed, which he knew it would. Once she knew that people were dying, she was willing to accept violence as long as it meant more people would be saved in the long run. The specifics didn't really matter to Hawk. At a time like this, he wanted one thing -- to hit something.

Dr. Fate floated more than flew through the air. He was growing increasingly concerned about the amount of mystic energy that was present. Huitzilopochtli's ability to manipulate the Ring made her doubly dangerous, but his allies seemed to discard his opinions. T'Charr and Teretaya were ever apart from their peers. They shunned the accepted, preferring to rebel against tradition. These new entities, Hawk and Dove, seem to share that trait. May it not bring them the tragedy it did their forebears.

Huitzilopochtli sensed their approach. She held her ceremonial dagger high, the blood dripping from its tip into her open mouth. The life was flowing steadily out of the sacrificial victim, his eyes now dead and cold. The crowd was roaring its approval when the first of her enemies swooped low.

Dove... the false Eagle, as Huitzilopochtli had called her in their first meeting. The blue-and-white clad heroine swooped low, obviously staring at horror at the dead man before Azure. Huitzilopochtli took advantage of her shock, grabbing Jeric and pulling him close. "Beloved, you would die for me?"

"Good. Because you will die if you fail in this. Allow my power to change you -- into my Raptor!"

Light flashed around Jeric, a golden armor seeming to grow out of his skin. It was enormously painful, especially when the wings sprouted from his shoulders, pushing through the skin. He felt his fingers elongate, sharpening on the edge, becoming talons.

Flexing his wings, the man once known as Jeric felt the power his mistress had granted him. The pain was gone, receding to a dim memory. He was the Raptor now -- and he saw his prey.

Dove tried to harden herself as Azure's ally took flight, but it was hard. In the past, Azure had seemed dangerous, but not like this. She'd never been able to transform people before and, though it wasn't from lack of trying, she'd never killed, either.

The Raptor raced towards, his talons exposed. Dove arched her back at just the right time avoid being cut in two, but the Raptor did manage to pierce her skin with several long streaks. Light poured from the wounds, rather than blood. Dove bit her lip as she turned to face the Raptor, who was now moving to make another pass.

For once, Dove didn't bother trying to reason with her foe. The look in this guy's eyes, his every movement, suggested someone who was several steps beyond the breaking point. I'm going to need all of Teretaya and Dawn's experience for this...

Dove waited until her bestial opponent was within rage, and then flew higher, slamming her joined fists down onto the Raptor's head. The surprising blow knocked the Raptor off-course and he spiraled downward before regaining control of himself. The battle was joined.

Hawk saw his wife engaged with the enemy, but he kept moving towards Huitzilopochtli. Sara can take care of herself. Azure's the real threat. I just hope none of these mind-controlled slaves of hers get in the way. I'd hate to hurt them.

Almost as if on cue, he landed in the middle of the crowd. He tensed to make his next jump, which would have easily carried him to Azure's position. The Sun Goddess screamed and pointed. "The red-winged one is an enemy! A defiler! Destroy him in the name of Huitzilopochtli!"

Immediately, the crowd surged forward, hands outstretched. Hawk batted the first away, but the sheer weight forced him to the ground. The looks in their eyes was matched only by the fury in their fists. Again and again they pummelled Hawk, who resisted as best he could without causing them serious harm.

With a roar, he threw off those who were on top of him and tried to force his way forward. Once again, however, the crowd returned. Their sheer weight prevented him from leaping into the air and, slowly, but surely, he once again disappeared beneath the mass. His gloved hand remained visible for a moment before it, too, was gone.

Dr. Fate watched all of this impassively. It was not in his nature to throw his hands up in despair or cry out in rage, but he still felt his concern deepen. The sorceror lowered himself until he stood near Azure, who regarded him with cold rage. "This has gone far enough. Return the ring to me."

Huitzilopochtli chuckled. "Why should I do that, golden one? I have won. My enemies Hawk & Dove will not survive this day... and my power will cover this entire globe. I am the Goddess of the Sun. I am the Goddess of War and Death. I am the Azure Goddess!"

Fate let loose a powerful eldritch blast found Azure protected by an invisible field of some kind. "How are you doing this?"

Azure smiled. "This ring was once yours, wasn't it? It pulses with demonic life. It hates you. But it has enough of your might inside it to repel your magic, at least a bit. We are more evenly matched than you thought...."

"No matter. The ring was a creation, one that became despoiled by others. The creator is always stronger...."

"Perhaps. But not when in the creation is worn by a Goddess!" Azure let loose with a solar blast as potent as the sun itself, blasting Dr. Fate. The glow was so intense that many who were nearby were blinded for life.

Dove glanced away from her airborne battle with the Raptor to see Azure tilting her head back in triumph. Where Dr. Fate had stood, there was now nothing more than a pile of ash. "No!"

The Raptor, seeing her distraction, slashed outwards, ripping open a large hole in her belly. Light escaped in massive amounts and the heroine known as Dove felt the great darkness approach. She fell towards Earth like a wounded bird.

Jay Garrick, the original Flash, turned wearily towards his teammates. Some of these men and women he'd fought alongside for over 60 years and he trusted them all with his life. "Fate hasn't responded to any of our hailing attempts and the darned field is spreading outside of Mexico City now."

The assembled heroes -- the Flash, Sentinel, Wildcat, Obsidian, Hourman and Wonder Woman accepted their task grimly. After all, if something could dispatch the mighty Dr. Fate, could even they stand a chance?

Coming Up In Hawk & Dove # 10 : "Azure Skies" concludes! The Justice Society is along for the finale, but can even their might turn the tide? Or will Hawk & Dove turn out to be a 10 issue miniseries?!

This issue is part two of a little mini-epic that puts our heroes into the biggest battle of their lives. Hopefully it will establish Huitzilopochtli as a major player in this series and in the FDC Universe, as well. I think this issue was a bit more "on the go" than most, but I promise more in-depth characterization in the future. Next issue's big blowout will set up some interesting things in the near future -- including having Hawk & Dove become part of one of the FDC's greatest superhero teams!

This month's celebrity letters column host is none other than Etrigan the Demon, as channeled by my wife Cariad, using a ouija board and a large bottle of Peach Schnapps. Take it away, Etrigan!

Dale Glaser, courtesy of the Faux-DC Mailing List :

Publishing three issues at once for the same title is quite a feat in and of
itself. But this is hardly an overdose. Barry said recently his ambition
was to make Hawk & Dove a cool property, and I think he's succeeding
admirably.

Methinks this Dale Glaser a bit of a nut,
Why is it he's trying to kiss Barry's butt?

His fresh take on the embodiments of Chaos and Order takes on
just enough of the old school elements to make it all seem 'real.'

Real, I do feel, is a relative term. Why should Glaser decide,
he is merely a worm! Are demons from hell make-believe too?
I should rip off your head... or better yet, sue.

In these three issues, we emerge from the opening story arc of the FDC series and get
thrown right into a crossover with Firestorm. I am looking forward to
Ralph's half of this story over in Firestorm's own title

I like Ralph's women, they seem very tasty.
I picture them in aprons, baking me pastry.
Barefoot and pregnant's the way they should be.
Perhaps in his next series Ralph will marry off me..... (sigh)

- like I said, even
with all the H&D updated this time around, it still wasn't so much that I
didn't want more! The very next issue brings back a classic foe, who was
the focus of the back-up feature in the Annual. It all fits together,
within the series and within FDC. And then theres the main feature in the
Annual ...

Dreslinski takes on the daunting task of fitting Sasha and Wiley into the
current Big Picture of Hawk & Dove. He makes use of the DEO's chief Mr.
Bones as a context for this. This is Gary at his absolute best!!!

The Dreslinski is powerful and mighty -
Want to buy a picture of him in his tighty-whities?

I don't think anybody handles mysterious, menacing, conspiracy-ridden agendas and
shadowy agencies and all that spook stuff as well as Gary.

But enough about Gary's personal life,
I'm giving serious thought to eating his wife.

Unquestionably nobody does it quite the same way. Gary even manages to take a character
who has NO SKIN and make him seem pretty believable as a major player.

Wondering why Mr. Bones has no rhymes?
Do you think that it's trite and not up with the times?
No, the answer is not the 8-ball's "reply hazy"
It is merely that comic writers are lazy.

GD has been hinting about a DEO ongoing series at FDC soon, and if the lead
story in H&D Annual is any indication, that series will climb to the top of
my list pretty quickly. When Gary gets serious, the results are pretty
awesome.

Hey Barry,

Just thought I'd drop a line on the latest Hawk and Dove issues.

Again, like I seem to always say in regard to this series: WOW. This
entire run has just made me look more forward to new issues of H&D
than the 'published'comics that I buy every week. Jake and Sara are
written well to the point that they seem like real people, with real
problems.

That's because they are
and they weren't far.
They're in Barry's basement
for his sexual debasement.

I actually care about these two. The melding of the past
incarnations of H&D is seamless: You're paying homage to the old,
while forging ahead with the new.

The annual really surprised me. I came in thinking Gary was going work
in the styles of Power Ring or Doom Patrol. I love Gary's other work,
but I wasn't expecting the annual to be as covert as this one was.

What does this mean?
That it's hard to be seen?
Covert are books by Gary and Co.
they're often overlooked you know.

I never read the Hawk and Dove miniseries from a year or two ago (I
admit I took one look at the ad DC ran for it, and decided uh-uh, no
way) but now I think I'll have to do some back issue rummaging.

I was impressed with how Gary handled the overall connection here with the
Lords of Chaos and Order, and I really was surprised to see Hank and
Dawn's parents here. Really good twist having them involved, and
allowing some sense of closure for them, at least for now. This annual
has whet my appetite, and I can't wait to see Gary's new DEO series.
He's proven to me that the covert ops in FDC are absolutely his
domain. Mr. Bones was positively chilling here...

I never read alot of H&D from the late 80's, so I profess to being
ignorant of Azure and Barter except in my looseleaf Who's Who Binder,
but I love how they're involved here. Old obscure villains are given
the patented Reese twist, and it works.

I've seen this twist -
with a flick of his wrist
he'll break your neck
and send you to heck.
Other than just writing
he's good at scratching and biting
Looks like a meek mild librarian
but really he's Barry the Barbarian.

This series is my top fave here at FDC, and I'm rueing the day when you go on to spend more time
on other projects you have going.

And by the way: The Dreslinksi had better watch its mouth in the
lettercolumn. Or I'll sic Dr. Fate and the JSA on his sorry ass.

Mike, thanks for the letter - Barry likes it some
But as far as I'm concerned you can stick it up your bum.

another half-dozen issues of Hawk & Dove. As usual, it's great stuff. I love how you tied the new duo with the late, lamented Hank and Dawn. I always thought that Hank having Kestrel inside him was going to cause trouble

There often are with relationships of this kind
unless you keep an open mind.
Listen to me if you are wise,
plenty of lubrication is what I advise.

and you've explained why. I'm interested to learn more about the other factions of the Lords of Order and Chaos. Looking forward to new issues.

Dear Etrigan, I was wondering if anyone has seen my husband? he disapeared into the computer-room mumbling something like "Hulk and Dave" and I haven't seen him for weeks. Let me know if anybody spots him.

Mrs. Reese,
It's true, he has a lot to do.
Keeping fanfic readers happy, with banter that is snappy.
His stories are the best, but I will not let him rest.
He's chained here to his chair....with demons pulling his hair.
We must keep him working, never shirking.
You'll be dining alone I see,
perhaps instead you could dine with me? (WINK WINK)

Thanks for the letters
I wish you all well
And as for you, Reese --
I will see you in hell.