Broken Frontier

Modern day Darfur is the backdrop for this superhero beatdown between the seemingly indestructible alien, Hyperion, and the mere mortal, Nighthawk.

For those who do not know, Darfur is a region in Sudan that is and has been undergoing ethnic cleansing via mass rape and genocide for the past several years or so. Because Sudan does not offer a great deal of economic wealth to the world, and because of the high profile ongoing struggles in the Middle East, the tragic and shameful events of Darfur have gone relatively unnoticed by comparison. For this reason, Marc Guggenheim has chosen to use these characters (from a team known for sticking their noses into geopolitical hotspots) and this story to raise some awareness.

Mixing serious political issues with fictional characters who are literally able to change the world by sheer might is a slippery slope for any writer to walk. Guggenheim tackles this challenge by pitting one of the most combustible members of the Squadron Supreme—Nighthawk, who is also motivated by injustice, especially racial injustice—against the face of the team, the all-powerful Hyperion. From the outset, the writer shows us that Nighthawk is fearless and cunning and willing to risk his life to make things right. Later, when a mysterious and suspected American mercenary has been wreaking havoc on the Janjaweed (Sudanese militia) in Darfur, Hyperion is sent to the region to put a quick stop to it. While tragic, America cannot be involved in Darfur, and this mercenary is endangering that position.

For the most part Paul Gulacy provides some solid art for this project. His work is detailed and dynamic, but there are a few spots—particularly in his characters’ faces—that look rushed and uneven. Overall, though, these are minor quibbles with what is a visually well-paced and sometimes shocking story.

Guggenheim impressed me with his run on Wolverine, and he continues to do so with Hyperion vs. Nighthawk. While the story may seem to talk directly to the reader in a couple spots, Guggenheim and Gulacy weave the Squadron Supreme teammates into the story well enough to keep it from becoming "preachy." And for those who might be interested in learning more about the Darfur situation, Guggenheim provides an extra page at the end that shows his motivation for writing this story along with several internet links to sites that can tell us more.