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Darkhawk #1 by Kyle Higgins and Juanan Ramirez reintroduces the ’90s icon for a new generation with an emphasis on character and breathtaking action.
2021’s Darkhawk boldly reimagines one of Marvel’s most iconic ’90s heroes. Fresh off the heels of Darkhawk’s 30th anniversary, writer Kyle Higgins and artist Juanan Ramírez have teamed up to create the foundation for a new champion that honors the legacy of Chris Powell. The first issue provides a fresh origin story that makes Connor Young an endearing and relatable lead character, while also addressing medical issues that are often neglected in mainstream media. These elements help make Darkhawk #1 a great jumping-on point for fans looking to dip their toes into Marvel’s cosmic adventures or its enthralling teen heroes.
Darkhawk #1 opens with the introduction of Connor Young, a high school basketball star with a bright future. One day, Connor goes out for a run and is struck by a sudden sensation that causes him to fall and hit his head on a nearby curb. At the hospital, Connor is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which threatens his basketball career. After talking with doctors and his dad, Connor feels lost. He goes for a walk, only to find himself caught in the crosshairs of a disastrous robbery in process. While Connor tries to crawl through the rubble of a collapsed building, a mysterious amulet finds him and gives him heroic powers beyond belief.
Writer Kyle Higgins presents a new iteration of a classic character in Darkhawk #1. Higgins is very efficient with his script and provides a lot of background information to help readers get emotionally invested in Connor, a skill he perfected while creating new heroes in Radiant Black. Connor is an endearing kid who is faced with the sudden realization that his life, as he currently knows it, is over. This makes Connor’s journey a fascinating origin story. The sudden appearance of Darkhawk comes at a time when Connor is at his lowest, bringing with it a moment of triumph that is sure to get fans cheering for the young hero. Long-time fans of Darkhawk will be pleased to see that his legacy is in good hands.
Juanan Ramírez is given a hearty task with this issue, as the artist is responsible for drawing both the drama of Connor’s medical diagnosis and the epic action of Darkhawk’s return. Luckily, he succeeds in every conceivable way, allowing scenes to take on their own unique identities as needed. One of the ways he does this is by manipulating the perspective of key shots, using foreshortening to enhance the intensity of an explosion or warping images to resonate with Connor’s illness. Erick Arciniega’s colors compliment Ramírez well. When Connor is home and weary of his condition, Arciniega uses a muted palette to lean into the emotion of the scene. Elsewhere, Darkhawk’s fight with masked gunmen is filled with vibrant hues of purple and orange, which crafts an otherworldly atmosphere.
The end of Darkhawk features an interview between Kyle Higgins and comic creator Brooke Pelczynski. Pelczynski is an artist with multiple sclerosis who consulted with the creative team to ensure that they accurately represented Connor’s story. It is a rare and unique insight into the process of making a new hero and this conversation shows the thought process behind certain decisions made in the issue. Each issue of Darkhawk will feature an interview with somebody from the M.S. community. It is both refreshing to see this level of transparency from a major comic book publisher and it should help readers gain a better understanding of multiple sclerosis.
With a wealth of action and heart to spare, Darkhawk #1 provides a great origin to Marvel’s newest hero. Kyle Higgins, Juanan Ramírez, Erick Arciniega, and the rest of the creative team have successfully reinvented a ’90s classic for the modern era. While the final fate of the original Darkhawk remains to be seen, Connor Young has already shown that he has what it takes to be a hero in his own right.
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