The infinity stones are reborn and spread across the multi-verse. As chaos is spreading through the galaxy, Chris Powl has once again embraced the Darkhawk armor only to have the amulet ripped from his chest and left for dead!
INFINITY COUNTDOWN: DARKHAWK #3
Writer: Chris Sims & Chad Bowers
Artist: Gang Hyuk Lim
Cover: Skan
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
What You Need to Know:
The Fraternity Raptors have placed a price on Darkhawk, which Death’s Head is eager to collect. Gyre punches through Darkhawk’s chest and retrieves the amulet. Nova’s brother, Robbie, sacrificed himself to gain the possession of the amulet and became Ratha’kon or Dark Starhawk, which the Shi’ar intended to be a “predator” to the Phoenix.
What You’ll Find Out:
Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3 continues the action like a motion picture as they articulate the current storyline with the past. This issue opens with a Kree ship in search for the infinity stones and find themselves in battle and saved by an entity unknown to them. Meanwhile, Darkhawk is on the brink of death and is confronted by mentor whom was presumed dead. Razor takes Darkhawk’s spirit on a journey that explains origins and pushes the rebirth of this hero. Darkhawk immediately takes off for battle and to reclaim the amulet, because without it – he cannot change back to his human self, Chris Powell.
What Just Happened?
Writers Chris Sims and Chad Bowers laid the cosmic groundwork for Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk tie-in from the Marvel Legacy one-shot, Darkhawk #51. This writing team captures Chris Powell’s character and voice neigh perfectly from his past iterations. Segueing from events of Infinity Countdown and Gerry Duggan’s Guardians of the Galaxy titles, the story flows naturally in issue #3, feeling organic and relevant.
Lying face down in the dirt with a damaged soul and bleeding to death, Chris cracks jokes as he contemplates the fact that his amulet has been ripped from his chest for the creation of an evil threat more significant than the Phoenix force. The Starhawk and the Raptors make their way to wipe planet Earth from the solar system. Having physically bonded with the amulet, the spirit of Razor appears to Chris during his final moments, presenting the hero with one last Raptor configuration.
Darkhawk’s spirit rises and Razor implants a gift of knowledge. Connecting the Darkhawk #51, Sims and Bowers extend this hero’s concept into the continuity of Marvel’s cosmic cannon through articulating many legacies. This writing duo, further explains the importance from “The Elders of the Universe” to “The Tree of Shadows”. This spiritual vision articulates well to the primitive Shi’Ar and the Skrulls with the birth of the first Raptor.
Who do you most admire – a former teacher, a world leader, a neighbor? Often, we tend to give a little thought to the idea of having a “role model” as a quality. However, if you stop and consider who most influences you now and why, you’ll probably agree that the people you admire are giving you the most important life lessons.
Razor, as the role model, uses the gift of knowledge and encourages Darkhawk to make the decision to push and fight for his life and everything he has ever loved. Darkhawk embraces the inspiration and support of his wise grandmaster as he takes on the battle within. The dying body is shredded and Chris Powell’s mind, body and soul breaths new life as Darkhawk become reality once more. Unfortunately, there is still a cost for the loss of the amulet.
Sims and Bowers end Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3 with Death’s Head’s re-entrance of strong confidence and borderline arrogant attitude. I hope this character will continue as a major supporting role. Darkhawk and Death’s Head take off into warp space where Gyre and Starhawk realize Chris Powell / Darkhawk is not dead.
Gang Hyuk Lim loads this issue with eye-catching content from the ethereal Starhawk full page spread, the dark hooded figure with the hawk on its shoulder, to Death’s Head’s emotive façade. The designs, while staying faithful to previous continuity, excel in the connection of storytelling. The new look for Starhawk incorporates originality while mixing the classic and modern elements. The primal appearance of the Shi’Ar and Skrull warriors remains consistent yet outstanding devolved from their present incarnations.
Rating: 9 /10
Final Thought: Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3 is fast-paced, visually stunning while articulating Marvel legacies enriching the cosmic tapestry awesomeness. Pure brilliance – don’t let this series slip by!