Black Adam: The Dark Age # 3 (of 8)

Black Adam goes in search of the fragments of the lost amulet of Isis in order to resurrect his dead wife. But that brings him into combat with his old partner, Hawkman. Adam's desperation, obsession and his prideful arrogance give this miniseries a sharper edge than most of the other DC Comics products out there. Adam's actions may be heinous, even foolish but the creative team makes them understandable, allowing the reader to almost sympathize with a villain. Of course, Hawkman does look rather foolish and arrogant himself, trying to take on a godlike Black Adam all on his own even though he clearly didn't stand a chance. (He could have easily set a trap for Adam or called for help or attacked Adam when he was in his human form.) But the art really helps lift this issue. The intricate detail, the layouts, the expressions on the faces of Adam, Hawkman, Felix Faust and others-- they all bring the characters to life. At the same time, they heighten the level of violence, making the brief battle in the book look like a major war. The depiction of Hawkman in this issue is especially striking, making one wish Mahnke and company could do something more with the character.