Nighthawk #5 Review

Set Up or Setup?

Written by: David F. Walker
Art by: Martin Morazzo, Tamra Bonvillain and Joe Caramagna
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 28, 2016

Nighthawk is one of the books I've really enjoyed since checking out the Marvel side of things, so it's
sad that it's been cancelled.  I'm always up for a gritty, street level book to put a more harsh spin on my superhero reading and David F. Walker certainly was writing the story that fit that bill.  It's sad that it didn't catch on with more people because now I'm going to have to look elsewhere, but that's for the future...right now I at least get to finish up my time with Nighthawk and I'm glad for that.  So, does this issue continue giving me everything that I want and need?  Let's find out...


The issue opens at the worst place possible...of course, if you have been reading, you know where that is from last issue's cliffhanger.  Nighthawk is in the clutches of the Revelator!  If there was any question about just how crazy this serial killer is (I mean, he is a serial killer), it's answered...he is bat shit crazy!!!

The Revelator is one of those "I'm doing the stuff that other's won't" and "I'm the real good guy" kind of bad guys and as I've learned (especially in comics) that those can be the most dangerous villains of all.  Thankfully, Nighthawk gives him a well placed headbutt and it's game on!  They fight a bit...but then the Revelator gets away.  Bummer!

While this is going on, we quickly shift to see the Revelator's downtown handiwork and find out that he has now been upgraded from serial killer to terrorist.  Blowing up a city block tends to do that! That means that Nina and Burrell are off the case and the F.B.I., S.H.I.E.L.D and every other gov't organization are on it.

Of course, that's the least of our problems as we see Tilda trying to contact Nighthawk as the scene shifts to that piece of shit, Dan Hanrahan.  He is busy trying to make sure his nose at least appears clean after all this mess...It's not even close to being clean and his inside man, Dixon, isn't helping.  This part ends with Dixon going off to "take care" of Burrell and no, that does not mean making him pancakes...or does it?

Everything comes together a bit as Tilda picks up Nighthawk and takes him back to the Nest and Dixon tries to setup Burrell.  In the Nest, Nighthawk and Tilda have a little philosophical clash of horns about exactly who the Revelator is and what he represents while it looks like Burrell is falling into Dixon's web.

The issue ends with Nighthawk, Burrell, Dixon and Nina all coming together for a little party, but the way it looks, only a couple of them are ever going to go home.  It's a brutal end to this issue and sets up a pretty interesting continuation next month.

This issue was a lot of setup which is a shame because having Nighthawk within headbutt length of the Revelator felt like it should give us more.  It was a pretty fast read, but in the end, it felt a bit empty.

I have enjoyed Martin Morazzo's art in this series, but this issue is a bit hit or miss.  It started out pretty strong, but ended weak, but that was not enough to ruin the cool cliffhanger.

Bits and Pieces:

I'm not sure how many people are still sticking with this series, but while the last two issues have been a bit of a letdown, I'm in until the end.  I hope it picks back up because when David F. Walker is good...he's great.  Sadly, this issue is not good or great, but pretty average.

6.0/10