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DC’s Absolute Universe has debuted shocking interpretations of classic DC characters thus far. Just take a look at the Joker’s monstrous form in Absolute Batman and the handsome Captain Cold in Absolute Flash, for instance. In case you haven’t caught on, when it comes to the Absolute Universe, expect the unexpected. 

If you’ve read Absolute Evil #1, then you’re familiar with the terrifying new look that Hawkman has in the Absolute Universe. The beloved DC hero has been reimagined within the Absolute Universe as a threatening and dehumanized figure whom I would absolutely cross the street to get away from if I saw him walking on the same side of the sidewalk as me. And for good reason: Absolute Hawkman brutally murdered this universe's Oliver Queen! 

Ahead of Absolute Evil's release, I spoke to Al Ewing about Absolute Hawkman's look. Ewing said, "I'll say that he's probably the character we've thought the hardest about the design of out of literally all of them. Before we could do the design, we had to go in and consider the entire history, the entire personality. So when you see him, in all his glory, so to speak, that's gonna be a moment. Yeah that's one of those cast iron bodices I feel a thousand percent confident in making. You're gonna get a little glimpse of Absolute Hawkman. But when you really see him, your jaw will drop, it'll be a shock to you."

Absolute Hawkman's look obviously borrows from the character's storied history, but it also blends elements of the WWII character, Blackhawk's, design with the double-breasted jacket and knee-high boots. The muscle striations at the base of Absolute Hawkman's wings add a disturbing element to the character's design. In short, he would look like a scary guy to me without carrying the corpse of Oliver Queen over his shoulder, and I look forward to seeing him again soon. 

Read our full conversation with Al Ewing about his Absolute DC work here.

Need more? Here's our picks for the best DC Comics stories of all time.