Review – Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 (Marvel)

Celebrating a Hero in Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1

This year marks the 30th anniversary since Darkhawk, aka Chris Powell, first entered Marvel Comics. Now, here we are celebrating his character in Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1. It’s refreshing to see Darkhawk getting a chance to have a solo issue once again, as it has been far too long since we last saw his face.

Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 is a true celebration of his character. Inside are three different stories, all of which showcase what this character has to give. It’s a great rundown of what he has been through. All while setting up for something more (I do hope this holds true!).

The best part about this issue (aside from the obvious) is that it comes from the origins of Darkhawk himself. Danny Fingeroth and Mike Manley are the co-creators of Darkhawk, and it is wonderful to see them back together for this project. Joining them are Christ Sotomayor, Dan Abnett, Andrea Di Vito, Le Beau Underwood, Sebastian Cheng, Kyle Higgins, Juanan Ramirez, Erick Arciniega, and VC’s Travis Lanham.

Cry of the City

The first story in Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 is titled ‘Cry of the City.’ If fans of Darkhawk read any part of this issue, it should be this one. The original creators were behind it, and it honestly could have been ripped right from his origin story.

Written by Danny Fingeroth, this tale takes us back to the earliest days of Darkhawk. He’s still on Earth, and Chris Powell is still very much adjusting to the new powers bestowed upon him. Yet, he already has a history with many villains around, showcasing how quickly his story gained that complex edge.

The struggle is real in this tale. You can practically feel Chris trying to find that balance, especially as other characters come into play. The story itself is all the more evocative, thanks to the artwork provided by Mike Manley (art) and Chris Sotomayor (colors).

The scenes are bright despite their nighttime setting and do look like a blast from the past. There’s no doubting when this origin occurred!

Long Way From Home

Next up in Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 is ‘Long Way From Home.’ This is a more recent tale. It’s set following the events of The War of Kings and the Cancerverse. That alone should speak volumes about the mental state that Chris is in.

Dan Abnett’s grand writing style is well-suited for this timeline. It’s almost comforting seeing Chris Powell/Darkhawk traveling around the universe and unintentionally getting into all sorts of trouble. It feels like coming home, don’t you think?

The artwork for this segment was created by Andrea Di Vito (art), Le Beau Underwood (inks), and Sebastian Cheng (colors). Their rendering of aliens and battles is a particular highlight. All while capturing one of the best looks for our hero.

Last Flight

The last story in Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 is simply called ‘Last Flight.’ This is a story that is going to hit hard for many fans. Yet, there is still something so beautifully uplifting about it. While it does feel like a solid ending, it also opens the door for hope. I hope that a reboot or continuation may be on the way.

Kyle Higgins really knows how to write a story that tugs on our heartstrings here. It’s a reflective piece on the character, and it shows. I don’t know how Higgins wove so many different emotions into a single scene, but he somehow did it.

Juanan Ramirez (art) and Erick Arciniega (colors) matched that tone and did a beautiful job of it. There’s an epic and somber tone in every panel. The hero portrayed here is a hero that has come to term with what lays in his future. It’s powerful, heartbreaking, and inspiring, all in one.

Conclusion

Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 is a powerful and memorable issue. It’s a true celebration of the character, telling a story that both he and his loyal fans deserve. This is an issue that raised up my fading hope, giving me a reason to believe we’ll be seeing more of Darkhawk someday. Hopefully soon.

It was an intelligent move to have the same letterer, VC’s Travis Lanham, throughout the whole issue. It helped to give a unified look to it all. That is one of many details that I spotted while reading that I simply couldn’t help but appreciate.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.