Review: Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3

A hero falls, and the dark Starhawk rises in Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3. A universal threat looms large in this latest issue from Marvel Comics.

Review: Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3

What started off as a mere one-shot six months ago has quickly become one of the most ambitious and impressive books from Marvel Comics of the past year. Writers Chris Sims and Chad Bowers and artist Gang Hyuk Lim have merged the character of Darkhawk with an even greater cosmic legacy: Starhawk.

Since 2013 Marvel’s cosmic line of books has been actively inconsequential. With the exceptions of Sam Humphries’ Black Vortex arc and Dan Abnett’s further exploration of the Guardians 3000 and Guardians of Infinity, no one at Marvel appeared invested in these outer space characters.

All that changed in 2017 with writer Gerry Duggan. With detailed knowledge of the characters, continuity, and a grand vision, Duggan has crafted a sprawling cosmic epic the likes of which hasn’t been seen at Marvel since 2010’s The Thanos Imperative. Infinity Countdown appears to be the event fans of Marvel’s cosmic characters have been starving for.

Chris Sims and Chad Bowers are keeping pace with Gerry Duggan regarding high concepts, character knowledge, and Marvel’s cosmic history with their tie-in mini-series, Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk. Perhaps it is the relatively limited space of four issues that are propelling the writing duo, but this Darkhawk series is faster, just as exciting, and as epic as the main event.

The Synopsis

Lying face down in the dirt bleeding to death, Chris Powell watches as a threat more significant than the Phoenix Force heads to Earth. The Starhawk and the Raptors make their way to Chris’ home to wipe the planet 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.

The Breakdown

Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk doesn’t waste a single moment. Opening with a display of power from the new Starhawk, transitioning to the secret origin of the Raptors, and finishing with the setup for a massive confrontation for the series finale. And at the same time, the writing duo is reinventing the cosmic landscape.

There are loads to unpack between issues #2 and #3 of Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk.

Chris Sims and Chad Bowers demonstrated long ago how in-depth their knowledge of Darkhawk ran. What they’ve done with Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk extends even further than the titular hero, stretching deep into Marvel’s cosmic canon, bringing many legacies together.

Through filling in gaps as opposed to retcons and rewrites, the book draws logical and natural connections between previously independent concepts. In a truly inspired moment, Sims and Bowers have written a thread connecting the legacies of Darkhawk, the Phoenix Force, and the Starhawk, deepening and enriching the cosmic tapestry. Linking all of Marvel’s cosmic avians is a stroke of brilliance.

All the while the characters are maintained. Death’s Head’s re-entrance, a highlight of the issue, is overflowing with personality and swagger.

The Art

Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk is chock-full of evocative imagery from the ethereal Starhawk full page spread, the dark hooded figure with the hawk on its shoulder, to Death’s Head’s emotive façade. Gang Hyuk Lim loads the issue with eye-catching content.

The artist continues demonstrating how he was born to draw Darkhawk. The designs, while faithful to previous depictions, stand out like never before. The new look for Starhawk incorporates the character’s original colour scheme while mixing classic and modern design elements. The primal appearance of the Shi’Ar and Skrull warriors remains faithful yet devolved from their present incarnations, appropriately so.

And Death’s Head, while deviating from the traditional rendering, still manages to capture the bounty hunter’s signature personality. Seeing DH’s expressions immediately recalls the work of Geoff Senior and Bryan Hitch.

Sharp pencils and gorgeous colours fill the book with dynamic and striking visuals. Simply put; Gang Hyuk Lim continues killing it with the art.

Overall Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #3 as well as the previous two issues are fair uses of the characters and Marvel’s cosmic universe. This series is quickly proving that there is excellent potential in these characters and a wealth of hidden history yet to be explored in Marvel’s infinite realms. I’d read a whole series about the secret history between the Shi’Ar, Raptors, the Phoenix, and the Starhawk if it were from these guys.

If Marvel doesn’t recognise the synergy Bowers, Sims, and Lim have when playing in the cosmic sandbox then something’s very wrong.

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Mitch Nissen is a Contributor to ComiConverse. Follow him on Twitter: @NinjaMitche