Conner Hawke - Dragon's Blood #6 DC

Something happened here. I know I got issue #5, and I know I read it, but for some reason it's not listed in my posts. I'm not sure how that happened. But, for whatever reason, this is the last issue, #6. And actually, it played out to a pretty decent ending. The real reason Zhao wanted the dragon killed, was for it's blood. In it's blood, is it's power. And to bathe in that blood is to take it's power in. But on the way to look for the pool, Zhao's assistant, or whatever, decides that he wants to take that power for himself, and kills Zhao. By the time Conner finds the pool, Hoon has already soaked in quite a bit of the power. But he's not very smart. In the process of his battle with Conner he tries to drown him in the pool. Duh!! All your doing is soaking him in the same substance that gave you your power. Evil nemesis' really don't have a lot of common sense. Connor attempts to shoot him with the same magic arrow that he shot the dragon with, but Zoon is faster than he is. The arrow ends up through Connor's hand. But he gets the opportunity, during the fight, with the Arrow in his hand, literally, to shove it in to Zoon's heart. Now if continuity exists, then Connor should emerge from this series slightly changed. One because he should have some of the Dragon's power, maybe even alot since he's also attuned to the magic and he slayed the wielder. And he should also be changed because . . . . he slayed the wielder. Connor has now taken a life. Most people don't emerge from that unscathed. Eddie ended up hanging with Shado, and in trying to kill all the dragons spawn, he was burnt up pretty badly. He's in the hospital recuperating, and I think things are going to work out with him and Brandy. Shado went back to her home, to be with her daughter, and without acting on her feelings for Connor. She's decided that they should just remain friends and family. I really like the way Chuck Dixon put this story together. But, and I've said this a hundred times, it'll all be moot if they don't keep the changes to this character in place, when he goes back to Ollie. We'll see what they do. I hope they don't puss out. But we'll see. And to be honest, I really wasn't thrilled with Derec Donovan's interior art. There were a few frames that were decent. But overall I'd have to give it a C-. Sorry! But that's just my opinion. However, I did enjoy the series.

Conner Hawke - Dragon's Blood #4 DC

In this issue, Connor actually takes down a dragon. The wrong dragon. But still . . . it's a dragon. This Zhao guy has brought this dragon back to life. Supposedly for the good of his country, China. But the good comes when the dragon is slayed. It has to be by the best archer, and it has to be with the magic bow and arrow. That's where Connor comes in. He's won the contest, to find the best archer, so now the task falls on his shoulders. First he has to determine the right spot to hit it. Second he has to stop running long enough to get his footing and aim. And finally he has to try to avoid as much collateral damage as possible. Including the thousands of civilians that are running the streets directly in his and the dragon's path. During all this, Zhao discovers that the dragon that's chasing Connor is not the original. His armor and plating is different. So he surmises that the original must actually have been killed. This doesn't change his plans drastically. What changes them more is that Connor was supposed to have slain the dragon at the base of his towers, but through the chase he has led it very far away. So he has to adapt. Also Connor can't finish the task without Eddy's help. Shado gives him a helping nudge too. Anyways, Connor's first shot hits, but bounces off the armor. Then Eddy comes up, and with a rocket launcher puts a chink in that armor. Shado then recovers Connor's arrow and sends it back to him. Connor then shoots for the damaged spot and kills the dragon. The problem now, as Shado puts it, "You only know the portion of the legend that you were told. Zhao is without honor. And the death of the dragon in only the beginning of the story."

Conner Hawke - Dragon's Blood #3 DC

I really like this character. I've liked Conner ever since he was introduced to us in the pages of Green Arrow. I'm not thrilled, however, with the artist of this series. But, since Chuck Dixon is turning in such a good story, and we have Connor Hawke and Shado in it, I guess I'll cut him a little slack. Last issue we ended with Connor, Shado and Crowfoot on the roof of the house, surrounded by bow & arrow wielding assassins. But, together, they end up taking out a big chunk of their forces. However, before they do so, they end up killing Kichu-san. He was the Sensei type character that was involved in the contest. But then Mr. Zhao shows up and bring the whole thing to a screeching halt. He tries to say it was all part of the contest, but he has Shado's son as hostage, just in case. He also makes reference that her son is related to Conner. So does that mean that he's Ollie's? And if that's the case, then Ollie probably has siblings running around all over the world. What a dog! Anyways, he's doing all this because he wants Conner to fight the earth-dragon. "A lunar eclipse with Mars and Saturn in ascension. As soon as the moon is fully engulfed in the earth's shadow . . . your target will emerge." And it does. With a vengeance. But all we see . . . is the foot. What has Connor gotten himself in to this time? How are they going to wrap this story up next issue? And if Shado's son is Ollie's, does that mean that Connor was making out with his step-mom?

Conner Hawke - Dragon's Blood #3 DC

Well the archery competition, that Conner went to China to participate in, has been proven to be a sham. Now all bets are off as a army of assassins have Conner, Lady Shado and Crowfoot in their sights. Would "sights" be the right word if it's an archer? Well anyways, Conner and Shado have been talking, among other things and after Libby is killed Conner thinks that Crowfoot did it. I mean it is his shaft in her side. But everyone's being set up, because the real people behind this have stolen shafts from all the archers. Connor then believes it is "The Bamboo Monkey", part of the Monkey Cult. But that proves to be wrong also. But what this whole experience has done, is drag Conner, Shado and Crowfoot out in to the open so they can be easily attacked by whomever their real nemesis is. We don't find out who that is this issue, but we do end with a hell of a cliffhanger. The three of them are on top of one of the buildings, and they are being attacked and shot at, literally, from all sides. "This competition was a sham, Conner. The true tests of our skills begins now."

Conner Hawke - Dragon's Blood #2 DC

Conner is in China. A Mr. Zhao, billionaire, has invited the top archers from all over the world to come to his country and compete. It has something to do with a legend about a dragon and an archer. Anyways, while there he finds out that Shado has elected to participate also. But her desires are not altruistic. She was hoping to see Conners dad, Ollie, actually. Connor sees her as evil. He sees her as the one that turned her dad into a killer. That may or may not be who she is, but it really doesn't matter. She tries to warn him that he is surrounded by death. He doesn't want to listen, and Shado ends up getting shot. Being the man he is though, he rushes her to the hospital and saves her life. He's also approached by a Libby Lindstrom and Honduro Kishu, a Kyudo master. Libby is trying to get his attention, and Honduro, while coming across as accomodating and interested in Connor's abilities, I think is actually out to kill him. Somebody else there, that Eddie Fyers talks to is Brandy Sloane, who is there with Tony Crowfoot. At the end of the issue, in a conversation with Mr. Zhao, Honduro makes reference to Connor's brother. Surprise! I think it's Tony. But we'll have to wait until next issue to find more information. I like this book, because I think it's about time that they expanded on Ollie's world. Finally! Even if it is only for 6 issues.

Conner Hawke - Dragon's Blood #1 DC

After the recent stories in Green Arrow, this book was the next logical extension of that franchise. After all he is Ollie's son. And he already has such a rich history. Chuck Dixon is writing it, which is fantastic and Derec Donovan is drawing. The arts ok, but it's nothing to get to excited about. I couldn't do it, but I do like certain styles. Anyways, it seems that someone, Zhao Industies, is putting together an archery competition in Shanghai. It seems that's there's an old story about a dragon that was unleashed on the earth. When it was defeated by an archer, "It's final hot breath made a desert of the land for a day's ride in any direction. The fall of it's body broke the earth into the six continents. The impact made the ocean waves." So it seems that there's always going to be an oriental edge to Conner's story. Anyways it goes around the world showing all the people they're gathering up, and the final one is Lady Shado. Seems like an interesting story. We'll have to wait an issue or two though to see where the story is going. But with Chuck on scripts, it should be an interesting ride. I let you know what I think.