Marvel Comics has announced Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk, a new one-shot anthology that will commemorate the 30th anniversary of Darkhawk’s first appearance in 1991. The special will feature a trio of stories by creators old and new to the character, including original Darkhawk creative team Danny Fingeroth and Mike Manley.
Fingeroth and Manley will present a story from Chris Powell’s earliest days as Darkhawk, while writer Dan Abnett (who previously wrote the character as part of the War of Kings storyline in 2009) and artist Andrea Di Vito will tell a tale of the character’s time out in space. The special will conclude with a story written by Kyle Higgins and illustrated by an unannounced artist that will set up Darkhawk’s future within the Marvel Universe. No colorists or letterers were identified for any of the stories to be included in the one-shot.
Created by Manley and then-Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Tom DeFalco, Darkhawk first appeared in his own self-titled series in 1991. The series was a huge success amid the boom of the era, and ran for 50 issues before concluding in 1995. Since then the character has popped up here and there, playing a role in Marvel cosmic storylines including 2018’s Infinity Countdown event series.
Darkhawk is a character who will always hold a special place in my heart alongside another Marvel character celebrating a 30th anniversary in 2021: Sleepwalker. Hopefully the publisher will honor that character as well this year. Check out covers for Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk by Lee Inhyuk and Logan Lubera, as well as the full text of Marvel’s announcement, below. Look for the one-shot to arrive in stores in April.
New York, NY— January 14, 2021 — One of Marvel’s most popular 90s creations, Darkhawk will return in April in a special giant-sized celebration issue. Honoring the iconic hero’s 30th anniversary, DARKHAWK: HEART OF THE HAWK will feature three spectacular tales from all-star creative teams including Darkhawk’s creators: writer Danny Fingeroth and artist Mike Manley. This action-packed issue will celebrate Darkhawk’s legacy, explore his defining eras, and set up the hero up for his bright Marvel Comics future.
When teenager Chris Powell discovered a mysterious amulet, he was transformed into the armored spacefaring hero known as Darkhawk. Now, Danny Fingeroth and Mike Manley reunite to revisit the beginning of Darkhawk’s saga.
“It’s an understatement to say that I’m thrilled to team up once again with the great Mike Manley to reveal an untold tale of Darkhawk’s earliest days,” Fingeroth said. “Hawkamaniacs are always asking me when we’ll be returning to the character we established, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to once again tap into the Darkhawk magic with Mike. Hope everybody enjoys this new tale of the high-flying, amulet-wielding hero!”
Next up, writer Dan Abnett, known for penning Darkhawk’s years as a cosmic adventurer during his “War of Kings” epic, returns to Marvel Comics with a thrilling story, featuring art by Andrea Di Vito (Annihilation).
“When I was asked to write a story celebrating Darkhawk’s thirtieth (!) anniversary, I was happy to oblige – especially as it was chance to revisit the cosmic part of his career when I put him out among the stars with the likes of Nova and the Guardians,” Abnett said. “And I enjoyed it more than I imagined – I had forgotten what a great, lonely, determined hero he was. I also love the fact that this special reflects the different ages of Darkhawk’s thirty year odyssey, bringing back creators who created him and helped shape him through every stage of his adventures. He may be turning thirty, but it’s been quite a ride and, for Darkhawk, the future is just beginning…”
Finally, Kyle Higgins (Rise of Ultraman) sets the stage for Darkhawk’s future adventures.
“As someone slightly newer to Darkhawk — certainly compared to Danny, Mike and Dan — I’m incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to build a story that both celebrates what Danny, Mike, Dan and so many other fantastic creators have built over the last thirty years… while also setting course for the future,” Higgins said.
From street-level vigilante to cosmic defender, Darkhawk has proven to be one of Marvel’s most unpredictable and resilient heroes. See what’s next to come for this beloved character when DARKHAWK: HEART OF THE HAWK #1 hits stands in April. For more information, visit Marvel.com.
