Hello everyone, John here, sending out massive apologies for the delay in getting this new edition of Confessions of a DC Geek to you.  Unfortunately, life things, along with some ongoing health issues, has meant that the time I have is very limited.  However, we have a great new edition here as I am sure you will all agree once you read it.

This time, we have Tim Board who, as you will see, is something of a fan of one character in particular.  No spoilers here, but all will become apparent.  My thanks go out to Tim, as well as my apologies for the delay, and my thanks go to you all for your patience and for taking the time to read.  I have no doubt you will enjoy it.

Please remember that, if you wish to take part in a future edition of Confessions, then please, please get in touch and we can arrange to do the necessary.  If you fancy it, then please see the contact details below and I will be in touch with you very quickly.

And so, “Before I black out?”, on with it.


First of all, would you mind telling me a bit about yourself – name, age (if willing), where you’re from and what you do for a living, anything else you wish to mention?

Hi, DC Geeks! My name is Tim Board, and I’m Level  54 in Life Experience. I’m originally from Jacksonville, Florida but I have been living in Japan since 1991. I am a teacher and also the tennis team coach at a private high school in southern Japan.

What, or who, helped kick-start your DC Comics fandom and when? 

Back when I was about 13, I found the 1976 DC Calendar in the marked down bin at a Pic-N-Save in Jacksonville, Florida. The year 1976 was over so it was about 50 cents. I didn’t buy it (I so wish I did) but I had no money at the time and my mom’s chin was jutting out which usually meant “ask for money and I’ll tan your hide”, so I had to pass, but I remember flipping through it and seeing that Neal Adams/Dick Giordino picture on the back. This was the picture that got me hooked on Hawkman. The other heroes were cool, too, but the wings, the harness, the flying, and the helmet were so awesome. So I started getting into comics.

Who is your favourite DC Superhero?

Hawkman! As I stated in the previous answer, Hawkman caught my fascination back in 1977 and has never really let go.  I first fell in awe with the image of the character; the wings, the helmet, the harness, all of it together made a striking figure. Hawkman is a DC icon, his signature power is flight, he is a master with all sorts of weapons, such as the Mace and the Claw of Horus, he is one of the most skilled fighters in the DCU, he can speak hundreds of languages fluently, he controls Nth Metal, one of the most powerful weapons in the universe and he has more knowledge and experience than most DC characters. He has an equally powerful partner in Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman and together they are one of the most iconic couples in comics’ history. Their love for each other is so powerful that their remains from a former life powers the Zamaron’s Violet Power Battery. He was a charter member of the first ever superhero team, the Justice Society of America and the only hero to appear in every story during the Golden Age. His best friend is The Atom and he often clashes with Green Arrow.

Who is your favourite DC Villain? 

I never really had a favourite villain until Black Adam started getting more attention in the 2000s. I love the history and power set of the character. The fact that he has a connection to Hawkman is a plus. I am looking forward to seeing his appearance in the movie that DC has in the works. Of Hawkman’s many villains, Gentleman Ghost is the most interesting and has tons of potential to be a terrifying adversary. Other favourite Hawkman villain favourites are the Shadow Thief, Byth and Lion Mane.

Away from the two mentioned above, who is another character you could call a favourite, villain/hero/other character or one of each?

Green Lantern Hal Jordan has always been my second favourite hero. Being a pilot, he is always big on flight and the scale of the hero is so big. Hoping they do a good Green Lantern movie someday.

What is your favourite DC Movie? 

The first Superman movie, especially the scene where Superman flies with Lois (Can you read my mind?) is a favourite. Superman’s battle with Zod in Man of Steel was epic. But my favourite DC movie would have to be Justice League. I had been waiting so long for it. I feel like a visitor when I watch Marvel movies but I felt at home when I watched Justice League.

Are there any DC Universe characters, any that we haven’t seen a live action/animated version of so far, you would like to see become part of the movie, TV or even animated universe?  If so, which character and who would you like to see play the part/s? 

I dream of a Hawkman movie, but it would have to be done right. Hopefully with a writer/producer/director who knows and loves the character.

The DC Universe has featured many, many actors on TV and in the movies, as well as animated movies/series’, so I ask you – who is your favourite actor, anyone who has made some sort of appearance within a DC creation? 

The standout for me is Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns. Her performance has yet to be surpassed.

Comics – do you read them? If so do you have a favourite series, or a graphic novel, that you enjoy more than others? 

I usually read Justice League, and a Hawkman comic when there is one. I’m very much looking forward to the new Hawkman series by Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch that is starting in June (again, my apologies for the delay as this is now here – John). It’s going to be amazing! As for graphic novels, my favourites are “Justice” by Jim Krueger, Doug Braithwaite and Alex Ross, “Legend of the Hawkman” by Benjamin Raab, Michael Lark and Lee Loughridge, and “Hawkworld” by Timothy Truman, Alcatena, and Sam Parsons.

This editions’ controversial question/s: 

1) DC Movies – We all know that the DCEU is in full effect and the quality is, for me anyway, excellent.  However so is the DC Animated Movie Universe where the movies being produced are outstanding, so my question is this, DC Live Action Universe vs DC Animated Universe, who wins?

At this time, the DC Animated Universe has been better. The Green Lantern movies were especially great. I don’t enjoy the Batman-centric movies so much though.

2)  We saw a live action Hawkman and Hawgirl in the Arrowverse, however recently I’ve seen some very negative comments about their appearance. As a fan of the character, how do you feel about this and what is your reply to those naysayers?

Unfortunately, I am one of the naysayers. As a Hawkman fan, the show did a horrible job in depicting the characters. The actors, Ciara Renee and Falk Hentschel, did the best they could with what they were given, but Marlon Brando and Katherine Hepburn could not have saved the characters from that writing. The less said about that show the better.

DC vs Marvel – Social media seems to be a hotspot for this kind of talk, however, at times, it can get out of control and comments can become quite malicious; what are your thoughts on the whole DC vs Marvel issue, or do you feel that there should be no issue?

There is no doubt that Marvel has done a great job with their movies, but I never did enjoy the comics that much when I was a kid. Marvel seemed like a poor man’s version of DC when I was reading comics as a kid. But there is no reason that we can’t enjoy both. I now read Thor and Avengers regularly.

If you were to fall in a swamp/be electrocuted/fall in a vat of chemicals/witness the death of a loved one etc. and made the choice to become superhero or villain, what would your name and powers be and what sort of costume would you go for?

I would want to have the power of flight, super-strength, and healing. Just give me Hawkman’s powers and I’m good.

Apparel – do you wear any clothing that relates to DC Comics and its Universe, if so, do you have a favourite item of clothing that is still worn aplenty and fading?

Everything I have is Hawkman-related; baseball cap, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Need to get another Hawkman logo hat pretty soon. The picture is me wearing my custom-made Hawkman shirt while showing off my Stephen Sadowski Hawkman commission.

Before we go on to questions regarding your collection, could you please tell our readers where we may find you online (Twitter, YouTube, Blogs etc.)?

I have a Facebook group called Hawkworld, a Twitter account called Hawkworld_, and both have over 4500 members. I also have an Instagram account called Hawkworld_ with over 1300 pictures of Hawkman/Hawkgirl-related pictures. I have my own Hawkworld blog as well. You can find it at https://flytohawkworld.blogspot.jp/

Now we have the necessities from you, on to the reasons that I created this feature, your DC collection. 

First up, do you collect large amounts of various and random DC merchandise or is there a single type of item that you like to pick up?

I am trying to own all the Hawkman-related comics. I am still collecting the issues from Vol. 1 (1964-1968). I own most of the collections, graphics novels and trade paperbacks of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. I also like to collect original art pieces and commissions by various artists.

Do the items you collect relate to one specific character/movie/TV Show etc. or is it just all things DC Comics? 

After Hawkman, I enjoy collecting Justice League, Justice Society and Legion of Superheroes.

Of the items you own, do you have a most prized possession? – I’m not asking for your favourite here, but the one/s you cherish most of all. Why does it/they mean so much to you?

It’s hard to pick one! When I was 14, the 3-issue series of Hawkman in Showcase #101-#103 came out. I still have and cherish that series. The comics I bought as a kid seem to have the most meaning to me. So many memories in each issue.

Is there something in your collection that you would consider the strangest? If so, what made you buy it? 

I cherish everything I’ve collected so far! I’ve never thrown away a comic in my life.

Do you have something in your collection that could be described as a rare item? 

Not sure how rare it is, but I have Flash Comics No. 43, a Rags Morales-Michael Bair original Hawkman piece, Showcase #101-103, Hawkman Vol. 1 No.1, the original cover for Action Comics No. 588 by John Byrne and Tom Ziuko, and the infamous Hwakman Funko Pop figure.

What is the your “go to” item when showing off your collection to, say, friends or family? 

I asked Prentis Rollins for a commission of Hawkman and Hawkwoman in 2016. I asked for the two to be standing in front of Earth (with Egypt visible) and Thanagar, and also for Hawkman to be holding his mace and wearing the Claw of Horus, and for Hawkwoman to be wearing her signature earrings and holding her spear. Everything I love about the Hawks is in this one picture.

Have you met any celebrities that have a connection to DC?  Are you someone who likes to get pics and autographs from various conventions?

Living in Japan, I have never had the chance to go to a convention or meet anyone associated with DC Comics. I hope to have the chance to go someday. I have signed art and comics by Joe Kubert, Neal Adams, Alex Ross, Andy Kubert, Jimmy Palmiotti, Prentis Rollins, Stephen Sadowski, Chris Giarusso, Gary Shipman, Doug Zawisza, and Tom Ziuko, but I’ve never received one in person. Yet.

What are the biggest and smallest items in your collection?

Biggest: the Rags Morales-Michael Bair Hawkman piece. Smallest: a Hawkman eraser that a fellow fan on Hawkworld Facebook graciously sent me.

I doubt that this will be applicable but out of curiosity, is there an item in your collection that you regret buying.  If, by any chance there is, what is the item and why do you regret it?

Can’t think of any. I love every item.

Is there a Holy Grail for you, an item that you would love to own that may prove to be extremely difficult or even impossible to obtain? 

I would love to own an original Joe Kubert Hawkman someday. A commission by Alex Ross of the cover of Flash Comics No. 2. The Hawkman sculpture by Iron Studios would be awesome.

Cheeky question 1, but what is the most and least expensive item that you have added to your collection?

Most expensive; the Rags Morales-Michael Bair picture cost about $300. Least expensive: Lego Hawkman (no mace) was a dollar.

Cheeky question 2, but most and least valuable item in your collection?

Every piece in my collection is extremely valuable and I cherish every one.


And so ends another edition of Confessions of a DC Geek.  Again, my most sincere thanks to Tim for agreeing to take part as well as my apologies for the time it has taken to get this on the site.  I have no doubt you have all enjoyed reading this and I am sure we can all agree that he can be classed a DC World Geek.

As mentioned earlier, I do hope that some of you may wish to take part after reading this and, if you do, then I would be so grateful to hear from you.  Please see the contact details below.

My Twitter – @DC_ComicsGeek

My email – john@dcworld.org.uk

Team, Twitter – @_DCWorld

Thank you all for reading. 

Cheers, John

LIKE A HIT IN THE HEAD HAWKMANS’ MACE, CONFESSIONS OF A DC GEEK WILL BE COMING AT YOU SOON.