Polite Dissent

This final part of the four-issue Hawk and Dove origin storyline starts where the previous issue left off. Hawk and Dove have followed Kestrel to the far off world of Druspa Tau. This world is the dimension their powers originate from and therefore their abilities are greatly increased here; both are near invulnerable and Dove can fly. There is also an ongoing war between the forces of Order and Chaos. Dawn helps the side of Order while Hawk finds himself the warlord of the Chaos army. After a brief battle, the Chaos forces succeed in destroying the Order citadel. At that moment, Unity — the combined form of the Lord of Order Terataya and the Lord of Chaos T’Charr — breaks through into the sky above and takes up the battle against the Lord of Chaos M’Shulla. T’Charr and Terataya are the entities who created Hawk and Dove and who grant them their power. Unfortunately, most of their own powers have gone into creating the pair, and they are quickly defeated by M’Shulla. Mortally wounded, they retreat to their lair.

Hawk and Dove go looking for Terataya and T’Charr but encounter the petulant Lord of Order Child and his monster companion Flaw. As usual, Child and Flaw provide little challenge as Dove quickly bests Child and Hawk shatters Flaw.

Next they encounter Kestrel, who has taken possession of Hank’s girlfriend Ren. Dove realizes that Kestrel is no more than a pale imitation of Hawk. Like Hawk, Kestrel’s powers come from a magical link to Chaos, but unlike Hawk who links to the entirety of Chaos, Kestrel is just linked to the violent portion. Using her newfound powers, Dove is able to separate Kestrel from Ren. Since Hawk’s link to Chaos already encompasses and overshadows Kestrel’s lesser link, Hawk is able to absorb Kestrel, destroying him.

Leaving Ren behind, Hawk and Dove reach the cave where Unity has hidden away to die. On their death bed, T’Charr and Terataya tell the pair that an eon ago the unthinkable happened: a Lord of Order and a Lord of Chaos fell in love. In order to prove to others that Chaos and Order can successfully work together, they created the spell that created Hawk and Dove, linking Hawk to Chaos and Dove to Order. However, with the death of Unity, the spell will end and Hawk and Dove will cease to be — unless Hank and Dawn absorb the dying essences of their respective Lords. Dove quickly absorbs Tertraya’s essence and Hawk, after some unsubtle coercion, absorbs T’Charr’s.

The dying Lords share a short conversation as their essence fades. There is a brief mention of “completing the experiment” and then a kiss. As they kiss, the Hawk and Dove of Druspa Tau revert to the Hawk and Dove of Earth, and then back to Hank and Dawn — still kissing. They break off the embrace and realize they are back in Dawn’s bedroom on Earth. As the issue ends, Hank and Dawn are left wondering what happens now that they’ve absorbed not only the powers of T’Charr and Tertaya, but also their feelings for each other.

Random Thoughts

• Don’t worry about Ren. Barter is provides her transportation back to Earth in exchange for her memories of Kestrel and the last of his essence.
• Have Child and Flaw every presented a challenge? Even back in Amethyst they were more laughable than threatening.
• It’s good origin story, particularly in the fact that it builds on the Silver Age origin instead of completely ignoring it. There are some flaws though. For example, it doesn’t explain why Don was originally chosen as Dove if the ultimate goal was for Hawk and Dove to have a child. It just doesn’t work that way. (The same argument can be made for the current Hawk and Dove team of Dawn and Holly Granger — that is if they’re still around after Infinite Crisis)
• Speaking of Infinite Crisis, how were T’Charr and Teratraya still alive to be killed in the Days of Vengeance Special since they died here?
• More Hawk & Dove, from the beginning