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Darkhawk
Darkhawk
from Wikipedia
Darkhawk
Darkhawk #1
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceDarkhawk #1 (March 1991)
Created byTom DeFalco (writer)
Mike Manley (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoChristopher "Chris" Powell
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsLoners
New Warriors
Project Pegasus
Secret Defenders
West Coast Avengers
The Fraternity of Raptors
Notable aliasesThe Powell, Falconer, Edge-Man
AbilitiesEnergy blasts
Energy shield
Stargate creation
Teleportation
Mysticism
FTL flight
Night vision
Claw cable
Accelerated healing factor
Superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, agility, senses
Adaptive metamorphosis
Size alteration
Weapon formation

Darkhawk (Christopher Powell) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Darkhawk #1 (March 1991), and was created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Mike Manley.[1] The character appeared in a series of self-titled comics from 1991-1995, then recurred in several limited-run series and multi-title events in the years since. The character's origin is based on a link between a human character and an android from another dimension known as Null Space. The character has also appeared in non-speaking roles on television and video games.

Development

[edit]

Writer Tom Defalco, spoke about the creation of the character stating, "If I remember correctly–and I may not–I wanted Marvel to keep introducing new teenage heroes because the majority of our newsstand audience were teenagers or pre-teens. How did Darkhawk originate? I used a rejected bible that I had once prepared for Archie Comic's The Fly as a starting point. I ran the proposal [past] Gruenwald and later submitted anonymously to Marvel's creative panel…who approved it I wanted to write it myself, but I just couldn't find the time… Besides Danny Fingeroth did a much better job than I could have and I still have forgiven him for that affront."[2]

Co-Creator Mike Manley also spoke about designing the character, "It's hard to remember in the fog of time but I remember Howard Mackie asking me if I wanted to try out. I vaguely remember seeing a drawing that looked like a hawk headed Egyptian type guy in the office. I thought it was by Broderick. Anyway I thought it was a mix of Captain Marvel and Spidey. The body replacement thing. My thinking was influenced by that 70's black Namor costume and the helmet would have a hawkish shape. The wings pop out so it wouldn't look as dumb as Hawkman. I love Kubert and he made anything work but since Darkhawk was an android battle suit I figured it could have different configurations. The hawk claw grapple also a weapon like Wolverines claws made sense. Honey I wasn't about all the teen stuff I hoped to do more space stuff. Which we only touched on before I left for DC. If I revisited the character today I still have ideas. But of course that is unlikely to happen since Marvel has never asked me to do anything with him since issue 25."[3]

Publication history

[edit]

Darkhawk appeared in a self-titled monthly series for 50 issues that was published by Marvel Comics from March 1991 to March 1995, and included three standalone annuals. Although created by DeFalco and Manley, DeFalco was never credited as a writer of the series. The original writer was Danny Fingeroth.

After his own series ended, Darkhawk co-starred or cameoed in other titles over the following years, such as New Warriors, Avengers/JLA, and Iron Man, eventually resurfacing in Runaways (vol. 2) #1–6, followed by Marvel Team Up (vol. 3) #15 and the short-lived Loners series. The New Warriors writer Fabian Nicieza said in 1992 that "People keep coming up to me and asking, 'Is Darkhawk a member of the New Warriors or not?' Well, yes and no. The New Warriors isn't an official group with a rule book and charter and the like. They're more of a club for super-powered teens. So if Darkhawk wants to hang out on a Friday evening and talk about his powers, then he'll stop by the New Warriors' crash pad."[4]

Darkhawk appeared within the Secret Invasion tie-in issues of Nova (vol. 4) (#17–18)[5][6] and was the focus of the two-issue mini-series War of Kings: Darkhawk, written by C. B. Cebulski, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.[7][8] War of Kings: Darkhawk brought closure to Chris Powell's earthbound human relationships with his family and fellow Loners team members, and serves to establish a clean slate for the sequel series, War of Kings: Ascension, written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

Darkhawk appeared in Avengers Arena, a 2012–13 series by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker.[9]

A new Darkhawk mini-series was published from 2021 to 2022.[10]

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Christopher Powell was born in Queens, New York. While witnessing his policeman father accept a bribe from a crime boss at an abandoned amusement park, teenager Chris Powell discovered a mysterious amulet. This amulet allowed him to switch places with a powerful android that his mind controlled. Powell vowed to use the amulet as "an edge against crime." In this role, he worked with other superheroes and battled a number of costumed villains.[11]

Darkhawk soon encountered his first supervillain, the Hobgoblin, and battled him alongside Spider-Man.[11][12] He next fought Savage Steel,[13] and then Portal.[14] He next battled the U-Foes alongside Captain America.[15] He battled the villain Lodestone, who attempted to remove his amulet.[16] He battled Savage Steel again, this time alongside the Punisher.[17] Darkhawk battled the cyborg Midnight, Thunderball, and the Secret Empire alongside Spider-Man, the Punisher, Night Thrasher, Nova, and Moon Knight.[18] Darkhawk then battled assassins from the Foreigner's 1400 Club.[19] He battled Tombstone, who successfully removed his amulet from his chest.[20]

Darkhawk occasionally worked with the New Warriors and was a provisional member of the West Coast Avengers. Darkhawk also battled a number of costumed villains, including the Brotherhood of Mutants.

Darkhawk's second android body. Art by Ron Lim.

Powell discovered that the android was stored and repaired aboard a starship in a dimension called Null Space. When he used the amulet to access the android body, his human body switched places with it. Five Darkhawk amulets were commissioned by alien crime lord Dargin Bokk. The scientists who created the technology eventually used them to assault Bokk. After Bokk destroyed the other scientists two of the scientists beamed their minds to Earth and merged with two Earth scientists there. Byron/Ned Dobbs and Mondu/John Trane created a sixth amulet, which is the one that turned Christopher Powell into Darkhawk.[21]

However, the events of War of Kings: Ascension cast doubt on how much of this—even the existence of Bokk himself—was real.[22]

Later, Powell and Darkhawk were separated, with each possessing Powell's memories.[23] The Darkhawk body was then transformed into a new shape when it accidentally downloaded data from the ship,[24] later re-emerging so that Powell could change back and forth between the two without teleporting to Null Space.[25]

Excelsior (the Loners)

[edit]

Powell later joined a group of former teenage superheroes who were struggling with their current lot in life called the Loners (formerly known as Excelsior). Members of this group included Phil Urich, Turbo, Lightspeed, and Ricochet. The group was hired by a mysterious benefactor – later revealed to be Rick Jones – to track down the Runaways in Los Angeles.[26]

Powell displayed trouble controlling his anger in his Darkhawk persona, leading to a short skirmish with Turbo. Dismayed with himself, Powell admits to his teammates that he suffered a nervous breakdown.[27] Powell decided to never turn into Darkhawk again, but this decision did not last long, as shortly thereafter the group battled Ultron. Darkhawk delivered the final blow, using a darkforce blast at point blank range to blow Ultron to pieces. Following the battle and the revelation of Jones' involvement, Excelsior opted to remain together and act as a more traditional superhero team.[28]

Excelsior eventually change their minds about being superheroes and instead become a 'superhero support group' due to the events of the superhuman Civil War rendering moot their original purpose to dissuade and/or help young superheroes cope with their powers/superhuman identities, as this role was now being officially fulfilled by the U.S. government[29] (though Excelsior's new group mission was also fulfilled by the U.S. government). However, a new addition to the group, Mattie Franklin convinces Powell to use his powers to help her take down the Mutant Growth Hormone dealers that moved to Los Angeles. Powell inconsistently displays his rage issues during this time, mostly acting as a peacemaker between Mattie and Ricochet after the three team up to battle crime.[30]

Secret Invasion

[edit]

Deciding to register with the government, Darkhawk is assigned to the position of security chief at Project Pegasus. During the Skrull invasion, he teams up with his old team-mate Nova for two issues of that character's own title,[31] but is also seen in the background of several issues thereafter.

War of Kings

[edit]

Darkhawk is involved with the War of Kings event in a four-issue series written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning called War of Kings: Ascension.[32] With the Loners series ending with low sales and unlikely to be followed with a sequel series, series writer CB Cebulski was assigned to write a two-issue War of Kings: Darkhawk series, with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning co-scripting the second issue to ensure it tied into their own Ascension series.[33][34]

A second Darkhawk armor appears near the Powell family home, and the unknown occupant of the armor forces Powell to transform to his own armored form shortly before an explosion rocks the immediate area.

Powell's family survives the blast, but his mother is critically injured. The new Darkhawk introduces himself as Talon and claims to be part of the Fraternity of Raptors, an order created as "the curators of history, and the custodians of the future," of which he and Powell are the last two members. He also explains that Powell's anger issues are a direct result of the amulet not being designed to work with humans. Talon offers to assist Powell with the amulet, and after some deliberation he opts to do so; the two then retreat to the Negative Zone.

The story picks up in War of Kings: Ascension. Powell and Talon are fighting a group of Chitinauts, bug troops that serve Catastrophus, a lieutenant of Annihilus, but Talon's brutal techniques horrify Powell. Later, Powell reveals that he wanted to be just like his friend Nova. Talon explains to him that the Nova Corps are nothing compared to the Fraternity of Raptors, referring to themselves as "architects of fate". Eventually, after being tricked by Talon into fighting just as lethally, Powell manages to connect to the Datasong of the Null Source, which gives him visions of the true past of the Fraternity—a history of kidnappings and assassinations which lead Powell to conclude that the Fraternity are "the bad guys." At this point, Talon attacks him, purging Powell's consciousness from the armor, which manifests a new persona: Razor.[35]

Talon and Razor then recover the Cosmic Control Rod from Catastrophus, Talon stopping briefly to implant a suggestion in the gestating Annihilus, and proceed onward. Powell's personality is revealed not to have been wholly destroyed yet, and a vision of his father tells him that much of what he believed about the armor was false; the prior history, even Evilhawk himself, was a lie made up by his own mind, the other armor a second configuration that took control to cover earlier anger issues. Horrified, Powell's psyche breaks free of the prison it was locked in, only for Powell to find himself on a great tree adorned with thousands of amulets like his own, where he encounters gargoyle-like creatures that urge him to return to the one which he has just emerged from. Meanwhile, in the Negative Zone, Talon and Razor offer Blastaar the Cosmic Control Rod in exchange for his assistance influencing the outcome of the War of Kings.[36]

Powell encounters a Skrull on the tree mentioned earlier, who has a relationship with Talon much as Razor has with him. However, the Skrull also confides that humanity, as a newer race, cannot be wholly accounted for or controlled by the Raptors, and that Powell's own outbursts of rage have been growing pains in his own control. With this understanding, Powell is able to reassert control over the Darkhawk armor, but not before Razor shoots several Shi'ar and kills Shi'ar empress Lilandra Neramani.[37]

Powell later confronts Talon, and while he is able to force the other Raptor to release the Skrull temporarily, he is quick to begin asserting control again. The Skrull commits suicide to prevent Talon from manifesting, but not before he charges Powell with destroying the rest of the Raptor amulets before they can bring the Fraternity of Raptors back.[38]

Realm of Kings

[edit]

In Realm of Kings, the Shi'ar Imperium declares Darkhawk the "Galaxy's Most Wanted," making Powell an intergalactic fugitive. His old friend Nova, not willing to believe Powell could be a murderer, tracks him to the planet Shard, which is in danger of falling into a rift in space known as the Fault. Nova offers to help Powell clear his name, but they are interrupted by an attacking biomass from the Fault, and by the awakening of another Raptor, named Gyre. All three are trapped on the planet as it is disintegrated by the Fault.[39]

Darkhawk finds himself saved, alongside Nova, by Nova's old enemy the Sphinx, who seems unaware of Darkhawk's presence. Together, the two heroes join past versions of Reed Richards, Black Bolt, and Namorita in helping the Sphinx combat his younger self. The young Sphinx draws his own warriors, including Gyre, into the battle, and Darkhawk faces and defeats Gyre in single combat, exorcising him from the Kree archaeologist he had possessed. During the fight, Gyre reveals that many more Raptors are re-awakening. Ultimately, the elder Sphinx defeats his counterpart, and mentally controls Darkhawk into giving him his younger self's Ka Stone. Nevertheless, the heroes are able to defeat the double-powered Sphinx and return to their proper places in time (except Namorita, who is pulled into Darkhawk and Nova's time).[40]

Darkhawk returns to Earth and Project: Pegasus to help Nova fight the evil Quasar from the Cancerverse on the other side of the Fault. The evil Quasar damages Darkhawk so badly that his suit shuts down, leaving him alive but unable to accompany Nova as he goes to warn the universe about the threat posed by the Fault. Nova leaves Darkhawk in the care of Project: Pegasus's medical team.[41]

Avengers Arena

[edit]

Darkhawk appears in Avengers Arena as part of the Marvel NOW! event. He is among the young superheroes that are abducted by Arcade and sent to Murderworld despite not being a teenager himself. Arcade expects his captives to fight to the death.[42] Darkhawk is later attacked by an unidentified cybernetic creature, which tears his transformation amulet from his chest.[43] The amulet is found by Chase Stein, who transforms into the new Darkhawk.[44] The attacker was later revealed to be Death Locket (who was in turn controlled by Apex).[volume & issue needed] When Death Locket stumbled into an underground facility, she comes across a room where Christopher Powell's body is alongside the others who have died in battle.[45] A few days later, when Death Locket and Apex raid the place, it is revealed Darkhawk is alive and Death Locket releases him. He then attacks and knocks out Arcade.[46] Arcade soon talks Apex into letting the war play out, and she controls Death Locket into shooting Darkhawk in the shoulder.[47] Once the series ended, Darkhawk was taken away to parts unknown, injured but reunited with his amulet.[48]

Infinity Countdown

[edit]

After the events of Avengers Arena as seen during the "Infinity Countdown" storyline, Powell is shown to have joined the New York Police Department and is engaged to a woman named Miranda, with whom he has shared his history as Darkhawk. He experiences frequent visions of the Tree of Shadows in Null Space despite the Darkhawk amulet being damaged and no longer allowing him to change form. One day, he is sent out to the Wonderland Amusement Park, the place where he first became Darkhawk, to investigate a disturbance. There, he is accosted by two dirty cops and almost attacked when he refuses their offer to take bribes. The group is soon attacked by two members of the Shi'ar Fraternity of Raptors, with one able to take Powell's amulet and use it to change into a heavily damaged Razor. The Razor personality asserts control, defeats the other Shi'ar, and teleports Powell to the Datasong in a place it calls "The Perch," where all of the android's memories of its time with Powell are stored. Razor, now calling itself Darkhawk, tells Powell that his compassion and dedication to justice have imprinted upon it, with it wants to rejoin with him to stop the Shi'ar Raptors from releasing the true Fraternity of Raptor androids from Null Space. Powell accepts and becomes Darkhawk once more, merging in both body and mind with the Darkhawk android and gaining a new, more powerful form.[49] Seeking a means to get to space, Darkhawk soon encounters Death's Head, who is on Earth to collect a bounty for Darkhawk's armor. After a brief scuffle, Darkhawk realizes that Death's Head would have a spaceship and moves to strike a deal.[50]

Before he goes, Powell says one last goodbye to Miranda, but upon arriving, the Raptors attack Death's Head and swarm Darkhawk to a secret Shi'ar outpost, easily overpowering him in his Darkhawk armor. The Raptors' leader Gyre (who escaped the Null Space along with his fellow Raptors) goes on to reveal to Powell that the amulet is really the key to unleashing the Ratha'kon or Dark Starhawk, which the Shi'ar intended to be a "predator" to the Phoenix Force. However, to bring it to life, two tributes were required, one who's willing and one who's forced. Gyre wanted Powell's amulet because of how special it was, since Powell actually convinced his amulet's persona, Razor, to break free from the Fraternity's stronghold, thus developing sentience. Gyre punches through Powell's chest, leaving him for dead, and then uses his amulet as the forced tribute to fuse with the willing tribute, who turns out to be none other than Robbie Rider, thus allowing Ratha'kon to possess the latter's body. Gyre then takes the Dark Starhawk and the Raptors to Earth — a place where the Phoenix loves to go — for a mysterious mission.[51]

As Powell dragged himself across the ground, he encountered his other half Razor who revealed to him the origins of the Tree of Shadows, a creation of the Gardner and of the first Raptor who was of primitive Shi'ar/Skrull descent. After some coaxing from Razor, Powell tapped into his hidden strength and emerged with a new Darkhawk body after fully fusing his mind with the armor. Powell then flew after the Raptors to stop them.[52]

Powell battled the Raptors with help from Death's Head and Nova Prime. Nova made it difficult to fight Dark Darkhawk as he preferred to reason with his brother Robbie than fight him. Dark Darkhawk then shockingly turned on Gyre and destroyed him while stating that he would bring order to the universe, not Gyre. The Raptors were eventually stopped when Death's Head rigged the power core of the Kree ship the Raptors stole to explode. Only Dark Starhawk survived the explosion, though stunned, allowing Powell to reclaim his Darkhawk Amulet. Dark Starhawk then disappeared in a flash of light after striking his Nega-Bands together. Grieving over the loss of Robbie, Nova angrily told Powell to stay on Earth or he would have him locked up. After Powell returned to Earth, he decided stay out of space for a while. Later that night, he was met by Sleepwalker while he dreamed, telling him that the influence of the Infinity Stones threatened the Mindscape and that the only way he could protect it was to become a Sleepwalker.[53]

Guardians of the Galaxy

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Chris would later turn up again at a meeting of great and powerful cosmic players set up by Starfox, brother of Thanos. While going over the deceased cosmic brigand's last will and testament, this great congruence was attacked by the Black Order.[54] Powell would later find himself stranded in the middle of deep space while being brought into the clutches of the Universal Church of Truth. They had him in a mental simulation where he believed himself to have been separated from Razor, run through and across time and space; seeing past, present and future iterations of himself while in the black hole, only to finally find release in the care of a ship piloted by the Kree, Shi'ar and Skrulls. Three races whom are known to be the bitterest enemies in the universe, his final hallucination stems to finding himself a child again while adorning his Raptor body. Something, he confirms to his shock and horror when he takes off his helmet only to see his child-like visage staring back at him in the mirror.[55]

Powers and abilities

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Darkhawk's body is a Raptor, a techno-organic construct that possesses enhanced physical abilities, including strength, agility and reflexes, powered by the extraterrestrial amulet embedded in the chest, a seed from the Tree of Shadows in Null Space.[52]

The retractable glider wings under his arms initially only allow him to glide on air currents, but Chris later discovers the ability to outright fly at variable speeds that let him soar from New York to California in a matter of hours.[56] Later still, he has the ability to breach planetary orbit and traverse between planets within seconds.[57] Even major injuries to his Darkhawk body can be repaired by switching back to his human form; his Darkhawk body teleports back to its holding space on the Darkhawk ship within Null Space, where it can be repaired almost instantly. This process does not work for his human body, however. In actuality, the Darkhawk ship does not really exist. Instead, the body currently not inhabited rests at the Tree of Shadows in Null Space. Because of Chris' incompatible human physiology, he is able to transform back and forth at will and assume control over the Raptor body when the Raptor's own consciousness, known as Razor, should have taken control, though the information overload originally affects Chris' mind in ways such as creating a fantasy regarding the body's origins and true nature.[58] After becoming Darkhawk again during the events of Infinity Countdown, Chris and Razor become one. Chris discovers that now, whenever he changes into Darkhawk and vice versa, the amulet actually completely deconstructs and rebuilds his body from stored data.[50] As the Darkhawk body is no longer separate from Chris and does not teleport to Null Space when not in use, it is questionable whether it can be repaired as quickly as it once was.

Darkhawk can project energy from the amulet in his chest as a focal point, either as concussive force blasts, or as a circular energy shield. Chris referred to his force blasts as "darkforce blasts," until he encountered the actual Darkforce Dimension in New Warriors, but still occasionally uses the term. Darkhawk also has telescopic and infra-red vision, and a grappling hook cable/claw weapon on his right arm, which in later forms manifests on both arms.

For a time, Darkhawk was upgraded to a new body design, which gave him greatly enhanced powers. His amulet could project force bubbles in various shapes and he could combine his force fields and force blasts into a giant, hawk-shaped construct around his body. He could fire variable beams of energy from his eyes, be healed by generating an energy pod around his body, and had a single extendable claw on each wrist. He could also mentally communicate with the Darkhawk ship, and could teleport weapons from the ship when he was on Earth. At one point, he was outfitted with additional body armor on top of his android body. At some point after the cancellation of his own series, Darkhawk reverted to his original form under unrevealed circumstances, although he can still summon his second armored form. These abilities, as well as the Darkhawk body's new form, are later revealed to actually be a component of the Raptor's reconfiguration abilities.[58]

His appearance in War of Kings is somewhat more reminiscent of his second costume, and he demonstrates the ability to freely reconfigure the armor into a multitude of forms with abilities that can cope with the current situation. His new forms include Strike Suit mode, featuring heavier armor and weaponry, Warflight mode, which allows for more aerial maneuverability, and Rescue mode, featuring enhanced sensors and the ability to ferry passengers.[59] Since fully merging with Razor, Chris' Darkhawk form is far stronger and more versatile, able to more freely shift and reconfigure his armor, such as demonstrating the ability to assume a giant mecha-like form that is capable of housing passengers.[52]

A Raptor is techno-mystical in nature, being versed in some forms of arcanum and magic.[58] They can also create their own Stargates to shorten universal distances as well as access other dimensions like the Negative Zone.[60]

The Raptor android body's most prolific abilities exist within a hive mind dubbed "The Datasong," a form of radio-telepathic infonet shared between all Raptors which enables vast clairvoyant and techno-psionic abilities, allowing for the absorption, processing, projection, sharing and manipulation of information and memory that is digitized then broadcast directly between their collective cyberminds as well as the mindscape of organic beings. Darkhawk can potentially use this function to control the minds of others as well as divine the myriad of possible future outcomes based upon differing actions.[61] Powell often weaponized this function to drive out the normally parasitic android intelligence subverting an amulet hosts mind as the supplicant takes their place within their pod on the Tree of Shadows.[38][62] A special place within the Datasong acts as a memory storage space called The Perch, a place where both the android A.I. and the mind of an amulet holder pool their shared experiences and mental engrams together like a backup drive. Every bit of data is conjoin coded bit by bit into one another, splicing the foreign personalities together whenever they change from robot body to pilot and back.[63]

Darkhawk's ability to reconfigure is actually revealed to be conscious self-adaptation rather than an inborn mechanical function. The very first Raptor android showed a spontaneous self-adaptive polymorphous ability gleaned from viewing its surroundings. The avian traits and natural ferocity were gained by imprinting on the early ancestors of the Shi'ar species. The shape-shifting capabilities were inherited by observing the primordial Skrull race.[52]

In his human form, Chris Powell has no superhuman abilities, though he has taken some karate and kendo classes.

Enemies

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The following are the enemies of Darkhawk:

  • Evilhawk - Dargin Bokk is an alien crime lord.[21]
  • Hobgoblin - A goblin-themed villain.[11]
  • Lodestone - A magnetic-manipulating supervillain.[16]
  • Phillipe Bazin - A crime lord who clashed with Darkhawk.[11]
  • Portal - A villain who can teleport between dimensions.[14]
  • Savage Steel - A villain in powered battle armor.[13]
  • Tombstone - A super-strong albino criminal.[20]
  • U-Foes - A group of four supervillains.[15]
    • Ironclad - A metal-skinned member of the U-Foes.
    • X-Ray - A member of the U-Foes who was permanently transformed into a living energy field.
    • Vapor - A member of the U-Foes who can alter her form into any known gas.
    • Vector - The telekinetic leader of the U-Foes.

Other versions

[edit]

House of M

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Darkhawk appears as a member of Wolfpack.[64]

U.S. War Machine

[edit]

In the mini-series U.S. War Machine, set in an alternate universe, Darkhawk was a psychopathic android, which could only be controlled by running a virtual reality program. The program, a "fiction" within that universe, played out the events where Darkhawk had been a member of the West Coast Avengers within normal Marvel continuity. The program itself also appeared in the final pages of US War Machine 2.0 in which Tony Stark's damaged body is placed inside the Darkhawk program to keep him alive.

Marvel Zombies

[edit]

In Marvel Zombies Dead Days, Darkhawk is seen in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier as one of the dozens of heroes who survive the initial outbreak zombie plague. They all work to evacuate civilians to another dimension but this plan falls apart.[65]

Marvel Team-Up: League of Losers

[edit]

Darkhawk features in an arc of Robert Kirkman's Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3), featuring a group of C-list heroes dubbed "The League of Losers". A group of heroes including Darkhawk, Dagger, Araña, Gravity, X-23, Speedball, Sleepwalker and Terror (although Araña dies along the way) go to the future to prevent the villain Chronok from stealing Reed Richards' time machine, Chronok having come to the present and already having killed all of Marvel's major heroes.

It is revealed that Chronok is from the same time period as Kirkman's Mutant 2099; the group stays with him and his mentor Reed Richards to wait for Chronok. The team defeats Chronok, but at the end of the story, Richards reveals they cannot go back to their present, due to time-travel and alternate timelines. The group decides to stay in the future, satisfied with the impact they made, however unnoticed. Mutant 2099 suggests reforming the Avengers or the "Fantastic Nine". Effectively trapped in the future, Chris begins a romantic relationship with Dagger. This team makes a cameo in Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular (2007) at the end of the issue.

Note that due to the Marvel Universe's method for resolving time travel paradoxes, this story occurred in an alternate universe.

Over the course of this adventure, Chris acts as the core of the "League", serving as their leader and training the mostly novice heroes for their encounter with Chronok. Reed Richards remarks that while he had never thought of Darkhawk as leader material in the past, he is impressed by Chris' efforts.

During the various battles with Chronok and his army, Chris did not appear prone to irrational violence or uncontrollable anger while in his Darkhawk form, as he had during Excelsior's encounter with the Runaways.

Collected editions

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Title Issues Included Published date ISBN
Darkhawk Classic - Volume 1 Darkhawk #1-9 May 2012 978-0785159872
War of Kings: Warriors War of Kings: Darkhawk #1-2, War of Kings: Ascension #1-4 March 2010 978-0785143680
Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk Darkhawk #51, Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #1-4 October 2018 978-1302914936
Darkhawk: Airborne Darkhawk (vol. 2) #1-5, Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk #1 March 2022 978-1302929060

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Darkhawk is a fictional appearing in American comic books published by , created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Mike Manley, with his in Darkhawk #1 (March 1991). The character is primarily Christopher Powell, a teenager from , New York, who discovers an ancient alien amulet at the , enabling him to transfer his consciousness into an armored android body known as Darkhawk to combat crime after witnessing his policeman father accepting a bribe, which he believed indicated corruption. This transformation serves as Powell's means to protect his family and uphold justice anonymously, drawing from the amulet's origins tied to extraterrestrial scientists' experiments in a dimension called Null Space. In his Darkhawk form, Powell possesses a range of advanced abilities, including and durability sufficient to withstand extreme conditions like space travel, a retractable claw-cable from his right hand for and , deployable glider wings for flight, energy blasts from his hands and eyes, protective force shields, and enhanced senses such as telescopic and infrared vision. The android body also features modular upgrades, including a secondary vessel with tractor beams, stealth capabilities, and amplified weaponry, allowing adaptation in battles against foes like the , , and the Fraternity of Raptors—a group of android warriors linked to the amulet's creators. Over time, Powell has upgraded his armor, incorporating elements like a "Darkhawk 2.0" configuration with improved flight and energy projection. Darkhawk has been a member or ally to several prominent superhero teams, including serving as a reservist with the New Warriors, joining the Avengers West Coast during key missions, and associating with the Defenders and the informal Loners group in Los Angeles. He has participated in major Marvel events such as the Infinity Gauntlet saga, where he aided in the cosmic battle against Thanos, and Secret Invasion, confronting the Skrull infiltration. More recently, in the 2021 limited series Darkhawk (2021–2022), written by Kyle Higgins and illustrated by Juanan Ramírez, the legacy continues with teenager Connor Young, a high school basketball prodigy facing a terminal illness, who inherits a similar amulet and assumes the Darkhawk mantle amid a new storyline exploring power, legacy, and personal stakes. In 2025, Imperial War: Imperial Guardians #1 revealed further retcons to Darkhawk's origins, suggesting his destiny was manipulated for an impending intergalactic war. Throughout his publication history, Darkhawk embodies themes of redemption, identity, and interstellar conflict, evolving from a street-level vigilante to a galactic defender.

Creation and Publication

Concept and Creation

Darkhawk was conceived by Tom DeFalco, then Marvel's , as part of an effort to introduce new teenage superheroes aimed at newsstand readers, drawing from a rejected pitch he had developed for ' The Fly series. DeFalco envisioned the character as a young protagonist burdened by family responsibilities who gains powers by chance, echoing the archetype while incorporating edgier elements inspired by and Batman. The concept was approved anonymously by Marvel's creative development panel as part of a strategy to launch one new title per month, with a goal of netting six new series annually to expand the universe controllably. Artist Mike Manley co-created the character's visual design, collaborating closely with DeFalco to craft Darkhawk as an armored android vigilante powered by a transformative amulet. Manley's influences included the configurability of Captain Marvel's costume, Spider-Man's web-slinging mobility, the sleek black 1970s suit, and Joe Kubert's designs, resulting in a battle suit featuring adjustable wings and a hawk-claw grapple for urban and aerial combat. Early prototype sketches emphasized a modern, space-faring aesthetic, positioning the amulet as a sci-fi device that shifts the user's consciousness to a robotic form stored in an extradimensional "null space," blending street-level heroism with latent cosmic elements. DeFalco intended the amulet to serve as a versatile power source, allowing for energy projection and defensive capabilities while grounding the hero in relatable teen struggles. Although DeFalco originated the lore and oversaw development, his editorial duties prevented him from scripting the series, leading to Danny Fingeroth taking over as writer with DeFalco's input; Manley provided art for the first 25 issues before transitioning to DC Comics. This collaborative process targeted adolescent audiences by combining high-stakes action with personal growth themes, establishing Darkhawk as a bridge between Marvel's grounded street heroes and its burgeoning interstellar narratives. The character's debut in marked the realization of this vision within Marvel's expanding lineup.

Publication History

Darkhawk debuted in his self-titled ongoing series, Darkhawk #1 (March 1991), written by Danny Fingeroth with art by Mike Manley. The series ran for 50 issues until Darkhawk #50 (April 1995), featuring additional artists such as Will Simpson and , and included three annuals (Darkhawk Annual #1–3, 1992–1994), for a total of 53 issues in its initial run. Following the cancellation of the solo series in 1995, Darkhawk made guest appearances in various Marvel titles, including The Amazing Spider-Man #378–380 (1993, during the main series), New Warriors #26–27 and #64–66 (1993–1994), Avengers #400 (1996), and Spider-Man: Friends and Enemies #1–4 (1995). These sporadic roles integrated him into team dynamics without a dedicated ongoing title. In the 2000s, Darkhawk featured prominently in cosmic storylines, appearing in Nova vol. 2 #14–15 and #18–20 (2008), Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 #13–25 (2008–2009), and War of Kings #1–6 (2009), culminating in the tie-in miniseries War of Kings: Darkhawk #1 (2009) by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning with art by Mahmud Asrar. The 2010s saw revivals through ensemble books and events, including a major role in Avengers Arena #1–12 (2012–2013) by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker, where he was among teens forced into deadly combat. He also appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 #1–5 and #25 (2013, 2015) during Gerry Duggan's run, and the four-issue miniseries Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #1–4 (2018) by Chris Sims and Jacopo Camagni, tying into the broader event. A new five-issue limited series, Darkhawk vol. 3 #1–5 (October 2021–March 2022), written by with art by Juanan Ramirez, introduced Connor Young as a new host for the Darkhawk amulet. In 2024, Darkhawk made a cameo in Annihilation 2099 #5 by and Dale Eaglesham, featuring a redesigned amid cosmic threats. In 2025, Darkhawk appeared in the one-shot Imperial War: Imperial Guardians #1 (October 2025), written by and with art by Cory Smith, assembling with Captain Marvel, , and others as a space-faring team against emerging threats. Across all formats, Darkhawk has accumulated approximately 174 appearances as of November 2025, with no further but continued integration into Marvel's cosmic narratives.

Fictional Character Biography

Origin and Early Adventures

Christopher Powell, a teenager from , New York, lived a relatively ordinary life as the son of police detective Michael Powell and district attorney Grace Powell until he witnessed his father's apparent death during a confrontation involving corrupt mobster Philippe Bazin at . While spying on the events, Powell discovered a mysterious ancient amulet amidst the chaos, which he later activated, transferring his consciousness into an android body and marking his first transformation into the armored hero Darkhawk. In this debut appearance in Darkhawk #1 (March 1991), Powell, now in his avian android form, instinctively battled and defeated Bazin's mobster henchmen, learning the basic controls of his new powers, including energy blasts and flight, while his human body remained safely . As Darkhawk, Powell embarked on early solo exploits, balancing his dual life between high school responsibilities and vigilantism in , often struggling with the secrecy's strain on his family relationships. He quickly encountered street-level threats, such as the Plunderer, a mercenary who clashed with him in initial skirmishes, and delved into the amulet's mechanics, discovering its connection to Null Space—a dimension where the android body originated and recharged via a portal system that Powell termed the "null port" for energy transfer. These arcs established Darkhawk's role as a protector against , with Powell honing his abilities through trial-and-error combat while evading Bazin's ongoing vendetta against his family. By 1992–1993, Powell's adventures expanded to include extraterrestrial elements, introducing the Fraternity of Raptors—a secretive order of warriors linked to the amulet's origins—as recurring antagonists who sought to reclaim or manipulate the Darkhawk technology. During this period, the persona of Android Null emerged as the default, autonomous form of the armor when Powell was not actively controlling it, serving as a ship-based entity in Null Space capable of independent repairs and enhanced defensive capabilities like larger force shields. Key storylines from these years, such as confrontations with the Raptors' agents, solidified Darkhawk's street-to-cosmic transition while emphasizing Powell's growth in mastering the amulet's dual-reality mechanics without revealing broader alliances.

Team Affiliations and Major Conflicts

In the mid-2000s, Darkhawk, as Christopher Powell, joined the Excelsior support group, also known as the Loners, a Los Angeles-based organization for former teenage superheroes struggling with the aftermath of their vigilante lives. Founded by Turbo (Michiko Musashi) and Phil Urich, the group provided Powell with a sense of community as he attempted to retire from heroism, though tensions arose during clashes with the Runaways and internal conflicts, including Urich briefly stealing Powell's amulet. Despite these challenges, the Loners collaborated on key battles, such as defeating Ultron and combating Nekra, highlighting Powell's ongoing struggle to balance his civilian life with his armored alter ego. During the Skrull invasion of Earth in 2008, Powell served as security chief at Project Pegasus, where he played a crucial role in repelling infiltrators as an Avengers recruit. Initially suspecting Nova (Richard Rider) of being a Skrull impostor, Powell allied with the genuine Nova and Quasar to defeat Skrull attackers, contributing to the broader defense against the shape-shifting aliens threatening global superhuman teams. This event marked a pivotal return to active heroism for Powell, reinforcing his adaptability in large-scale conflicts. Powell's cosmic entanglements deepened in 2009 with the , where he journeyed to the throneworld of Chandilar and battled the after a member of the Fraternity of Raptors assassinated Empress . Discovering his own ties to the ancient order of Raptors, Powell expelled the traitorous Talon from his amulet and became a galactic fugitive, allying temporarily with forces and the to navigate the interstellar war between the and empires. The ensuing event in 2010 saw Powell continue these alliances, aiding Nova and in returning to while confronting the chaotic aftermath of the Fault—a rift in space-time—further solidifying his role in cosmic safeguarding. In 2012, Powell was captured by the villain Arcade and thrust into the deadly on Murderworld, a brutal pitting him against other young heroes like , , and in a fight for survival. Refusing to kill, Powell formed fleeting alliances amid the carnage, ultimately sacrificing himself to protect others from Apex's manipulations, though he was later revealed to have survived using a backup android body. His experiences underscored the ethical dilemmas of forced among peers. By 2018, amid the , Powell reclaimed his Darkhawk identity to assist Nova in hunting cosmic artifacts, specifically targeting the Fraternity of Raptors to rescue Rider's brother from their clutches. Teaming with Nova across the galaxy, Powell confronted upgraded Raptor threats and Dark Starhawk, leveraging his amulet's evolving capabilities in high-stakes battles that tied into the larger quest for the . This period also saw Powell's brief membership in a rebooted , reflecting his shifting alliances in the face of multiversal perils before transitioning to other pursuits.

Modern Era Developments

In the 2021 Darkhawk miniseries, the mantle of Darkhawk passed from to Connor Young, a 17-year-old basketball prodigy from diagnosed with , who discovered a Raptor Amulet at a construction site and used it to thwart robbers, transforming into the armored hero for the first time. As Young adapted to his powers, he clashed with members of the Fraternity of Raptors, a secretive order tied to the Empire's ancient history, uncovering the amulet's origins as advanced technology infused with mystical elements from a cosmic tree that once threatened the empire itself. The series concluded in 2022 with unresolved questions about role and the amulet's broader purpose, leaving Connor's subsequent status ambiguous as he vanished from subsequent narratives. This marked a temporary shift in the legacy, with Powell, having separated from his android form during prior cosmic events, no longer actively wielding the power until its return in later stories. The Raptor Amulets' design suggests multiversal ties, as variants have appeared across timelines linked to influence and interstellar conflicts. In 2024's Annihilation 2099 event, a futuristic Darkhawk variant emerged as a massive avian entity serving Vlad Dracula in a dystopian timeline, aiding defenses against remnants of Annihilus's forces amid interstellar warfare. By 2025, Chris Powell reclaimed the Darkhawk identity, reemerging from apparent limbo to join the Imperial Guardians, a new cosmic team including Captain Marvel and Gamora, formed to combat threats from the Shi'ar Empire and beyond in narratives evolving from the Guardians of the Galaxy framework. This resurgence reinforces the amulet's enduring legacy, connecting Powell's original host experiences to ongoing multiversal and galactic storylines.

Powers and Abilities

Amulet-Derived Powers

The Darkhawk amulet facilitates a transformation process in which the user concentrates on the device to summon an android body from Null Space, a extradimensional realm, simultaneously placing the human form into stasis while transferring the consciousness into the armored construct. This swap allows seamless operation between the organic host and the techno-organic Raptor body, enabling rapid deployment in combat or exploration scenarios. Core powers derived from the amulet include flight capabilities through retractable glider wings and propulsion systems, , and the projection of energy blasts from the amulet in his chest and from his eyes for offensive versatility. These attributes provide the android form with enhanced and endurance, allowing survival in extreme environments such as the vacuum of for prolonged periods. The form also features enhanced senses, including telescopic and infrared vision. Defensive features encompass personal force fields generated by the amulet for protection against physical and energy-based attacks, complemented by durable armor plating resistant to high-caliber weaponry and explosive impacts. The plating's techno-organic composition further bolsters resilience, often repairing minor damage through self-regenerative processes linked to Null Space. The amulet draws its energy from Null Space, offering sustained power for all systems. The arsenal includes a retractable claw-cable from his right hand for and close-quarters combat, concussive energy blasts for ranged suppression, and variable armaments such as maces or shields that can be manifested or teleported from Null Space storage. These weapons adapt to tactical needs, enhancing the android's combat efficacy across diverse threats.

Skills and Equipment

Christopher Powell, the original bearer of the Darkhawk amulet, honed his street smarts growing up in , New York, where he navigated the dangers of urban life and observed what appeared to be his father's corruption, later revealed to involve the vigilante Cabal. This background equipped him with keen awareness and resourcefulness essential for vigilante work, allowing him to anticipate threats in street-level encounters. Powell also developed basic proficiency through practical experience battling criminals such as the and Tombstone, rather than formal instruction. When Connor Young assumed the Darkhawk mantle, he brought athletic prowess derived from his career as a star high school player, contributing to his and even in his human form. Facing a sudden diagnosis that derailed his athletic future, Young adapted to heroism under intense personal duress, learning to balance his medical challenges with the demands of the role shortly after acquiring the amulet. Both hosts demonstrate tactical abilities, including quick adaptation during battles and strategic coordination in team environments, such as with the , where Powell effectively utilized energy-based powers for defensive maneuvers. The standard amulet serves as their primary equipment, enabling transformation into the android form, though Powell occasionally incorporated technological upgrades during cosmic story arcs, enhancing the armor's capabilities in interstellar conflicts. A key weakness tied to their skills is the hosts' heavy reliance on the amulet; without it, Powell and Young's non-armored effectiveness is limited to their baseline human capabilities, making them vulnerable in prolonged untransformed states.

Supporting Characters

Allies and Teams

Darkhawk, whose civilian identity is Christopher Powell, maintains close ties to his family, who provide essential emotional support during his early career. His younger twin brothers, Jason and Jonathan Powell, often rely on Chris for guidance amid family turmoil following their father Mike Powell's corruption scandal, while their mother Grace Powell offers steadfast encouragement as an assistant . These familial bonds ground Powell's dual life, helping him balance duties with personal responsibilities. In the mid-2000s, Powell joined the informal support group Excelsior, later renamed the Loners, formed in Los Angeles to aid former teen heroes in transitioning to civilian lives. Key interactions included Turbo (Michiko Musashi), who led the group, and Ricochet (Johnny Gallo), alongside members like Lightspeed (Julie Power) and Phil Urich (former Green Goblin), fostering a sense of camaraderie through shared experiences of post-hero adjustment. This affiliation highlighted Powell's struggles with the amulet's influence, providing a rare outlet for vulnerability away from combat. Powell briefly affiliated with the as a member, allying with leader Night Thrasher (Dwayne Taylor) and teammates like during battles against the Folding Circle. He also served as a provisional member of the , collaborating with and others in defensive operations, though his commitments remained sporadic due to the amulet's demands. During cosmic conflicts in the late 2000s and 2010s, Darkhawk teamed with the , including (Peter Quill) and Nova (Richard Rider), amid events like the Skrull invasion and , where his android form proved vital in interstellar skirmishes. These alliances expanded Powell's role from street-level hero to galactic defender, often involving joint strategies against empire-spanning threats. In the 2021 limited series Darkhawk (2021–2022), the mantle passes to Connor Young, a high school basketball player facing , who inherits a similar amulet and assumes the Darkhawk role amid threats tied to the amulet's legacy. As of 2025, Powell has returned from in cosmic events like Imperial War: Imperial Guardians, allying with the Imperial Guardians against empire-spanning threats.

Primary Enemies

Darkhawk's primary adversaries often stem from his connection to the ancient alien amulets that grant him his powers, as well as terrestrial criminals and interstellar threats tied to major Marvel events. The of Raptors represents one of Darkhawk's most enduring foes, an ancient order tasked with curating and controlling the powerful amulets scattered across the cosmos. This secretive group views the amulets as tools for maintaining galactic balance but has devolved into a manipulative cabal seeking to reclaim them for domination. Led by figures such as Talon, a ruthless Raptor who once allied with Darkhawk before revealing his true loyalties, the repeatedly targets Christopher Powell to seize his amulet, forcing intense confrontations that test Darkhawk's resolve and reveal the amulets' darker origins. Talon's battles with Darkhawk, including a pivotal where Darkhawk upgraded his armor to defeat a drone, underscore the order's relentless pursuit and its role in Powell's transformation from local vigilante to cosmic guardian. In his early adventures during the 1991 Darkhawk series, Powell clashed with mob-related criminals exploiting New York's underworld, marking his initial forays into heroism. Crime lord Philippe Bazin, a corrupt figurehead pulling strings in , became a recurring target as Darkhawk disrupted his operations, leading to direct assaults on Bazin's empire. Bazin's enforcer, , known as after gaining magnetic powers, posed a personal threat, using her abilities to counter Darkhawk's armor in brutal street-level skirmishes driven by Bazin's vendetta against Powell's family ties to . These encounters highlighted Darkhawk's roots in gritty, urban before escalating to larger threats. During the event, Darkhawk faced infiltrators as part of his role as security chief at Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., where shape-shifting impersonated heroes to sabotage Earth's defenses. Assigned to protect the facility amid the global alien incursion, Darkhawk battled forces attempting to seize advanced weaponry, including direct confrontations that exposed the invaders' infiltration of superhuman ranks. Similarly, in the crossover, extremists emerged as antagonists, with imperial loyalists and Faultline-displaced warriors clashing against Darkhawk in the miniseries : Darkhawk, where he navigated the interstellar conflict between the Inhuman and empires, fighting extremists who viewed his amulet as a weapon in their power struggle. These event-specific foes amplified Darkhawk's involvement in broader Marvel cosmic narratives. In the 2021 Darkhawk miniseries, remnants of the Raptor legacy pursued the amulet's power through the new bearer, Connor Young, a teenager who inherits the mantle amid personal tragedy. These shadowy survivors, driven by the Fraternity's fractured , hunt Young to reclaim the artifact, leading to revenge-fueled battles that blend high school drama with cosmic intrigue as the remnants exploit the amulet's instability for their resurgence.

Alternate Versions

Earth-Alternate Realities

In the House of M storyline, set in Earth-58163 where mutants rule the world under 's altered reality, Darkhawk appears as a operative for S.H.I.E.L.D., operating in a society where superhumans are marginalized and humans form underground resistance groups. He is depicted as a member of , a team of young heroes allied with the human resistance, using his armored form to battle Sentinel-enforced oppression. This version emphasizes Darkhawk's role as a rather than a standalone vigilante, highlighting the amulet's transformation ability in a world where such powers are rare among humans. The U.S. War Machine miniseries, published under Marvel's MAX imprint in 2001 and set in an alternate timeline (Earth-112001), reimagines Darkhawk as a government-created armored android designed as a super-soldier weapon by S.H.I.E.L.D. In this reality, he allies with James Rhodes () and a rogue team combating corrupt U.S. government elements and arms dealers, but his psychopathic tendencies emerge when control protocols fail, leading to rogue actions against threats like M.O.D.O.K. This variant portrays Darkhawk's armor as a biomechanical construct programmed with a false human identity to maintain stability, diverging from the mystical amulet origin while retaining flight, energy blasts, and enhanced strength for high-stakes military operations. In the Marvel Zombies universe (Earth-2149), Darkhawk succumbs to the zombie virus during the initial outbreak depicted in Marvel Zombies: Dead Days (2007), transforming into an undead version that joins the horde of infected heroes aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. As part of the zombified Avengers and other heroes, he participates in the apocalyptic spread of the plague, attempting to consume survivors and fellow superhumans in a desperate bid for sustenance, with his armored form retaining darkforce energy projection but corrupted by hunger-driven savagery. This iteration underscores the horror theme, as he participates in the attack on key figures like during the early chaos of the undead apocalypse.

Multiversal Variants

In the "League of Losers" storyline from vol. 3 #15-18 (2006), a of Darkhawk joins a ragtag team of C-list heroes—including , , Terror Inc., , , and Sleepwalker—in a satirical, time-traveling adventure set in a dystopian timeline. This version of Darkhawk, led by the group's informal name for themselves, battles the Zzkt to avert a catastrophe that dooms the , highlighting their underdog status through humorous incompetence and reluctant heroism. In the 2099 universe, a radically altered Darkhawk appears in Annihilation 2099 #5 (2024), depicted as an enormous, predatory bird-like entity that emerges from space to assault a planet ruled by (a future ). This variant, unbound by the traditional amulet-host dynamic, embodies a fusion of Shi'ar-derived cosmic technology and vampiric enhancements, serving as a devastating weapon in interstellar conflicts amid the wave's resurgence. In the Battleworld reality (Earth-15513) from (2015), Darkhawk is part of in a House of M-inspired domain, fighting in the human resistance against oppressors. Extensions of the saga into multiversal narratives feature a zombified Darkhawk originating from Earth-2149. This grotesque iteration, retaining fragments of its energy-blasting capabilities amid rotting decay, participates in the initial outbreak and subsequent invasions across realities, such as in crossovers threatening the prime .

Collected Editions

Key Trade Paperbacks

Darkhawk's appearances have been collected in several key trade paperbacks, focusing on his solo adventures, team affiliations, and event tie-ins. The Darkhawk Classic Vol. 1 trade paperback collects the character's debut series issues Darkhawk #1-9, showcasing his origin as teenager and initial battles against foes like the Fraternity of Raptors. Released on April 25, 2012, this volume highlights early alliances with heroes such as and Daredevil. The Loners: The Secret Lives of Super Heroes trade paperback gathers the 2007 miniseries Loners #1-6, featuring Darkhawk alongside former New Warriors members like Turbo, Ricochet, Lightspeed, and Green Goblin as they navigate life outside superhero teams in Los Angeles. Published on March 5, 2008, it explores themes of retirement and relapse into vigilantism. War of Kings: Warriors trade paperback includes Darkhawk's contributions to the cosmic conflict in War of Kings: Darkhawk #1-2, War of Kings: Ascension #1-4, War of Kings: Savage World of Skaar, and War of Kings Warriors #1-2, depicting his role in the interstellar war between the Inhuman and Shi'ar empires. It was released on June 2, 2010, tying into the broader War of Kings event that leads into Realm of Kings. The Avengers Arena series is collected in two trade paperbacks: Avengers Arena Vol. 1: Kill or Die (January 2013), covering Avengers Arena #1-6, and Avengers Arena Vol. 2: Game On (September 2013), covering Avengers Arena #7-12, where Darkhawk competes in a deadly survival game orchestrated by against other young heroes like and X-23. These volumes reveal Darkhawk's vulnerabilities and strategic role in the murderous tournament. Darkhawk: Airborne trade paperback compiles the full revival miniseries Darkhawk (2021) #1-5, introducing a new wielder of the amulet, high basketball star Connor Young, who grapples with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis while battling supernatural threats. Released on March 1, 2022, it reimagines the character's legacy with ties to the original lore.

Digital and Omnibus Collections

Digital and omnibus collections offer expansive compilations of Darkhawk's appearances, often emphasizing his cosmic and team-based storylines in bundled digital formats or oversized print editions. : The Complete Collection (2018) gathers #1-18, providing the full storyline of Darkhawk's involvement in the deadly tournament. As of November 2025, the full run of Darkhawk (1991–1995), along with his major appearances in Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #1-5, Annihilation 2099 #1-5 (featuring Darkhawk in issue #5), and related cosmic titles, are available on Marvel Unlimited for streaming access.

In Other Media

Animation

Darkhawk's animated appearances are confined to cameo roles and antagonistic variants, with no dedicated solo series produced to date. The character's debut in animation occurred within the shared 1990s Marvel Animated Universe, where he made a non-speaking cameo alongside fellow New Warriors members Justice and Speedball in Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (1994–1996). This portrayal depicted Darkhawk as part of a broader ensemble of heroes, emphasizing his role in team dynamics during cosmic threats, while the armor's sleek, bird-like design was faithfully adapted from the comics to fit the series' traditional 2D cel animation style. In a later , robotic Darkhawks—drawing from the character's lore of mass-produced android duplicates—emerged as key antagonists in (2015–2019) on . These mechanical foes invaded and the Guardians' allies in the two-part storyline spanning the episodes "Paranoid" and "Darkhawks on the Edge of Town," orchestrated by the villainous Serpent to duplicate and control heroes. The robotic variants featured enhanced aggression and replication abilities, rendered in the series' vibrant, fast-paced CGI-influenced animation that amplified their menacing, hive-like threat. for the Darkhawks was not individualized, relying on generic robotic effects to convey their impersonal nature.

Video Games

Darkhawk has appeared as a playable character in several Marvel-licensed video games, primarily in mobile and action titles where his android armor and amulet-based powers are adapted into mechanics such as blasts, flight, and defensive shielding. These portrayals emphasize his role as a versatile cosmic hero, often classified under tech or blaster archetypes, without any dedicated solo adventure games to date. In (2015–present), Darkhawk is an unlockable speed-type hero introduced in a 2020 update, featuring amulet-themed abilities like energy projection attacks and self-buffing for enhanced damage output. His kit focuses on rapid strikes and area-of-effect blasts, making him effective in story missions and world boss raids, with skills drawing directly from his comic powers such as flight and concussive force generation. Darkhawk serves as a playable character in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 (2017), unlockable via a token in the "Toe-to-Totem" level set in a Wild West-themed hub. Depicted in brick-built armor, he appears in cameos across levels and free-roam exploration, utilizing stealth mechanics and aerial mobility to navigate environments and engage enemies. As a tech champion in Marvel Contest of Champions (2014–present), Darkhawk was added in December 2018 with modes like for auto-blocking, Stealth for boosted offense, and Null for increased attack rating, positioning him as a strong defender against foes while vulnerable to cosmic types. His balances regeneration, debuff immunity, and energy-based specials, rendering him a mid-tier option for questing and alliance wars. In (2018–present), Darkhawk joined as a blaster in October 2023, part of the P.E.G.A.S.U.S. faction, where he generates team-wide offense buffs and applies slow debuffs via claw-cable and energy attacks. His high armor and damage utility make him a balanced mid-tier cosmic contributor in raids and arena battles, enhancing squad synergy without dominating endgame content. Darkhawk appears as a playable card in Marvel Snap (2022–present), released on December 20, 2022, as a 5-cost card with 3 power and the ongoing : "+2 Power for each card in your opponent's deck." This leverages his android theme by growing stronger as the opponent's deck depletes, making him a key component in discard and control decks for ranked play and events. Darkhawk also features in a minor cameo role in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2021), with references to his android form appearing in dialogue and collectibles during cosmic exploration sequences.

References

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