I Hate Illinois Nazis
Written by: David F. Walker
Art by: Martin Morazzo, Tamra Bonvillain and VC's Caramagna
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 20, 2016
I love this book! When everyone started grabbing books for our Marvel Mondays Experiment, I picked this up sight unseen and after reading the first issue and reviewing the second, I was shocked someone didn't beat me to it. It really is that good and coming from the DC pastures, the best way I can describe it is Batman meets Shaft...which I mean as a kickass compliment. A kickass compliment for a kickass hero! I could get cliche here and say that Nighthawk isn't just the hero we need, but also the one we deserve and really, the sign of the times does kind of call for that, but instead, I will just let David F. Walker and Martin Marazzo do the talking as I review the latest issue, Nighthawk #3.
The issue opens up with a little gun running or maybe I should say, "gun driving in a van". We see a dirty cop and two thugs rolling through the streets of Chicago and maybe it is just me, but they seem like they are up to no good. Of course, when Nighthawk arrives,all hell breaks loose...a thug gets harpooned and pinned to the roof of the van (really!), but in the end, Nighthawk ends up on the street, body and ego bruised.
Now that's a cinematic opener if I've ever read one! Throw in a cigarette truck and we have an updated version of Beverly Hills Cop that I'd stand in line to see. After all that, though, Tilda still steals the show. She is a badass Oracle who made me laugh with her obsession of firearms and sick burn on Sam Wilson!
We then go back a little bit in time to see how the cop and the thugs go the guns in the van in the first place. If you've been reading up until now, it shouldn't surprise you that it involves that scumbag, Mr. Hanrahan. I'm not sure who he hates more, the True Patriot Nazis or Nighthawk...actually, I think Nighthawk is the winner. It's a quick scene that gives you Hanrahan's small picture plan...escalate gang violence to give the cops a reason to bust more heads. Boy, I hate Hanrahan even more now and I really didn't think that was possible. The only thing missing in this scene was a line about Illinois Nazis, but I'll let that slide.
Back in the present, Nighthawk is fighting the baddies while Tilda desperately tries to regain any bit of communication with him. Things don't end so great for Nighthawk as the scene switches up again, but I was actually laughing at Moreletti, the dirty cop, who keeps yelling at Nighthawk that he's a police officer. Wrong place, wrong time for that, dude!
We then fly threw scenes as we see the Revelator do a little revealing and Nighthawk (Hawky-Poo?) getting a huge assist from Tilda (TJ?). Against her wishes, Nighthawk gets rid of the guns and the bad guys in a way that most heroes would shy away from and that is just the reason why I am falling head over heels for this book. Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but badassery is a dish that I like burning hot!
David F. Walker continues by showing us the end result of the Revealer's latest work, but also shows Detective Burrell (one of the few good cops) the bad cop that Nighthawk is looking for. We all know he's bad already, but I can't wait until Nighthawk gets the news. Back in the Nest, Nighthawk is tending to his wounds while Tilda sounds like she's quoting Body Count.
The issue ends with the shit hitting the fan as far as Nighthawk's handiwork is concerned and I'm not exactly sure who it is who is heading to Chicago, but they are going to looking for Nighthawk!
David F. Walker has done it again. This issue is more of a street level slugfest and I loved it. If you want an example of the brutal justice that Nighthawk is dealing out, this is a fine example. Sure, I wanted a little more Revealer, but that is put on the backburner this month to really show the reader how shitty Chicago really is.
Martin Morazzo's art is as gritty as the story and I really enjoy it, especially the brutal scenes. There are times when story and art go together seamlessly and this really is one of them.
Bits and Pieces:
Nighthawk continues being my favorite Marvel book because David F. Walker tells it like it is and make no excuses. I'd say he doesn't offer any apologies, but why should he? This is a brutal, street level, kickass book that may be a little too real for some people, but those are probably the people who should be reading it. In fact, everyone should be reading it because it is just that good.
9.5/10
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