Hawkman, Vol. 3: Darkness Within

Hawkman (2018)

by Robert Venditti

The series that reinvented Hawkman's mythology to encompass all of time and space takes its next adventurous leap into the Multiverse!

A story from the pages of Hawkman's journals! Travel back in time to when Carter Hall was reincarnated as a soldier in a cosmic army, while his people were at war! But what happens when a being known for constant reincarnation ends up coming back to life as his own enemy, fighting for the other side? Does it make him a more sympathetic warrior, or give him the weapons to better destroy his enemy? Or is it something more sinister? The series that reinvented Hawkman's mythology to encompass all of time and space takes its next adventurous leap into the Multiverse!

Fan-favorite writer Robert Venditti (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern CorpsAs Carter Hall continues to uncover the clues of his past lives, he will find that they may also spell the end of his current one!

Collects Hawkman #13-19.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics

168 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2020

About the author

Robert Venditti is a New York Times bestselling author of more than three hundred comic books and graphic novels. Some of his works include the monthly comic book series Justice League, Superman ’78, Hawkman, and Green Lantern for DC Comics, X-O Manowar, Armor Hunters, and Wrath of the Eternal Warrior for Valiant Entertainment, and the graphic novel Six Days, inspired by the story of his uncle’s participation in D-Day. He has also adapted Rick Riordan’s global bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus novels, as well as Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia and Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz. His graphic novel The Surrogates was adapted into a feature film by Touchstone Pictures, and his work on The Flash was the basis for season three of the CW television series.

Venditti lives in Atlanta, where he both writes and serves as a storytelling consultant for some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

First up is another flashback to one of Hawkman's past lives. In this one, he reincarnates multiple times on both sides of a multigenerational war. Then there's a Year of the Villain tie in where Shadow Thief gets a big upgrade and fights Hawkman and The Shade. Finally Sky Tyrant returns in a story I didn't quite get how he returned. It didn't sit right with me that one of Kator's past lives could just take over.

On the art side, Tom Palmer scratches over Pat Oliffe's usually reliable pencils. I didn't care for what Palmer did to Oliffe's art.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an alright volume and starts off with Carter remembering his past life where he was in a civil war with Shayeras people and it's a good message about peace and how war doesn't solve anything but the big story is when Shadow thief goes after Carter after getting enhanced and that leads to a war here and it's team up with the Shade to fight his old foe in the shadowlands and what happens by the end and also comes a Hawkwoman ans will she be able to save our hero from whatever happened?

It's an okayish read and sometimes feels dragged as in a story that could have been done in 2 issues rather than 5 but then again it leads to a nice conclusion to that story before leading to the infected storyline which does see him battling Sky tyrant and I am curious to know does this mean he can be reborn in the multiverse? Intriguing volume and good friendship and love hints while be coming darker and the art was also nice.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could review this volume, I guess, but I prefer to leave you all with this accurate plot recap:



-Fin

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Note: I think this actually collects #13-19, given how the stories are divided, and the recently solicited Volume 4 starting at #20]

3.5, rounded down.

Rob Vendetti's Hawkman run blazes onwards into the darkness, as Hawkman confronts the Shadow Thief, before falling prey to the darkness within him as part of the Year Of The Villain.

We actually open with another one-off flashback issue, which is always fun and remind a bit of the old Times Past issues in James Robinson's Starman. Then we hit The Darkness Within itself, which is a pretty good idea for a story as Hawkman finds himself fighting someone that he can't actually hit. The Starman comparisons intensify as The Shade pops up, who I am a big fan of. The issue with these issues (see what I did there) is the artwork - Patrick Olliffe's style has mutated recently into this scratchy unpolished visual that I really don't agree with, especially after 12 issues of Bryan Hitch on the book, so it drags the story down a tad.

Then the Year Of The Villain really kicks into high gear for the final two issues of the volume, as Hawkman is overtaken by the Sky Tyrant. There's a few good surprises in here, including the return of a certain character, although Oliffe hangs around so the art's still not super great.

Aside from some dodgy artwork, this is another excellent collection of Hawkman stories. The problem is, that dodgy artwork is a huge factor in every issue of the collection, and severely limits the book from reaching the heights it soared to previously.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories and great art here. I'm really enjoying the long term story telling here. The longer arcs flesh out the story. I wish the team on The Flash took some lessons here.

[Murphy C · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story suffers (greatly) from the pedestrian artwork and the unfortunate, if obligatory, Year of the Villain tie-in plot.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of Hawkman ties in heavily to Scott Snyder, James Tyrion IV, and Joshua Williamson’s Year of the Villain and Infected storylines. It stands out because somehow Robert Venditti skillfully works with this obvious editorial mandate and uses it for his own purposes, in such a way that is a natural progression for the bigger story that he is telling in his own Hawkman story.

It's pretty impressive how much it all fits, as Carter Hall fights a newly reintroduced and upgraded Shadow Thief, and then discovers that one of his past lives is much more violent and dangerous than he ever imagined! Good stuff! You don't even need to read The Infected or Justice League stories to enjoy this! That's how natural and fitting it feels!

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid. Robert Venditti continues what many DC comics readers consider the most consistently entertaining run in comics. First, let me get the two negatives out of the way. I really missed Bryan hitch on the art in this book though Pat Oliffe'sstyle was not that different from Hitch's. It was not great. My final gripe is that Venditti is forced hear to stop the overarching story he was telling to crossover with DC's Year of the Villain. Just check out DC's Year of the Villain Special #1 to get caught up with this event. You may want to read Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen (DC's Year of the Villain and Scott Snyder's run on the Justice League. The larger story in this book is connected to the meThe inclusion of characters Shade & Shayera (Hawkgirl) is a great bonus. The coloring was handled well in this book. Venditti really knows how to get the reader to care about the characters. The story never gets boring and has exciting action moments. I can't stress it enough that this is the most well-written book DC comics was publishing. I really hope to see Venditti on JSA in the future. Here are some other favorites by Venditti: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, Vol. 1: Sinestro's Law, Freedom Fighters: Rise of a Nation & Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020) #1.

[Sans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah. Year of the Villain. I’d forgotten about that mess.

[Frédéric · Rating 1 out of 5]

After 12 good well illustrated issues, with important revelations about Hawkie’s past, it’s quite a hard landing to read this ugly drag.

Being a Year of the villain tie-in of some kind there isn’t much to expect plot wise and not much is precisely what you get. The Shade is involved, as well as another two-bit loser called Shadow Thief. It’s all in the name, babe.

Enters Pat Olliffe. To say he never impressed much would be an understatement but here he kind of reaches a new low. Even legendary inker Tom Palmer can’t save sthe day. Sad.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Venditti vinha fazendo um trabalho bastante competente, para não falar primoroso com o Gavião Negro, em especial nos primeiros dois volumes ao lado do desenhista Bryan Hitch. Contudo, neste terceiro volume que não conta mais com a arte de Hitch, a qualidade não só da arte, mas também dos roteiros tem uma queda significativa. Neste terceirto volume temos, na maioria das histórias, os desenhos de Pat Oliff sendo finalizado por Tom Palmer. A maioria das histórias gira em trono do Gavião Negro correndo atrás da própria sombra. Pode parecer ironia da minha parte, mas é verdade. Enfrentando o seu arquinimigo Ladrão das Sombras com a ajuda do Sombra, o Gavião Negro acaba perdendo sua projeção da luz e ela se transforma em uma versão maligna sua, o Tirano Celeste. Mais que isso, a versão que estávamos acostumados a conhecer do arqueólogo Carter Hall é suprimida, se tronando "uma mera sombra" do que foi antes. Esta história faz parte do evento sem pé nem cabeça da DC Comics intitulado O Ano do Vilão, que em geral tem trazido histórias mirabolantes com heróis se tornando suas sombras (han, han!) e vilões se tornando mais poderosos que já são. O fato é que diferente de outras tentativas como Vilania Eterna, o Ano do Vilão não tem acertado em diversas histórias em quadrinhos. Este terceiro volume do Gavião Negro é uma delas.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This will not age well. The first two volumes, without being great, succeeding in finally defining and rebranding Hawkman, the character with the most convoluted and contradicting origin story. After years of absence, the creative team took the character, set him in the modern, post-Flashpoint DC Universe and gave him his definitive story, putting order to everything behind to start anew. It was a large-scope story-line that served as a jumping-on point, and because of Scott Snyder's DC plans, this was scrapped.
The series is affected by Year Of The Villains in two ways. The first is because Hawkman's supposed arch-nemesis has a significant upgrade. At first, The Shadow Thief seems like a disappointing pick, being so unknown, but it actually fits. Hawkman is on the edge of lesser-known characters and fights unconventional foes, so this mystic villain can serve as the antagonist. It's also the case for The Shade, Hawkman's side-kick, or Madame Xanadu in the previous arc. Those characters have their place in a Hawkman series, which explores less-defined corners of that universe. But, the Shadow Thief really comes out of nowhere, and it's even worse in this reboot of the character. He can be the simple villain-of-the arc, but this entire YOTV act arrives too soon in the series, mainly right after the long, primordial exposition. He doesn't have any connection, is badly written, even worse defined for his powers or personality, and is quickly shoved aside.
The second connection to YOTV is Sky Tyrant, Hawkman's darker self. For someone who doesn't know what's happening with the Batman Who Laughs and his whole plot, this doesn't make sense. The story tries to stay apart and doesn't refer to that storyline, but being isolated doesn't help it. The worst part is how it somehow contradicts the entire point of the last book. Hawkman has finally found himself after countless millennia of resurrection, and he knows his mission, to clear the blood on his hands. It's definitely not the moment to turn him evil and change his identity. Robert Venditti tries to tie it to the previous arc, and I recognize that there are good connections to the new origin story, but it still doesn't make sense from that point, and it's a misdirection for the plot. The problem is once again that this arrives too soon for this chapter of the story. The exposition and reintroduction has just finished and Hawkman has learned to live with his present self, such a story doesn't fit.
This is all to blame to DC's insistence to connect all of their books. The problem isn't the shared universe or the presence of tie-ins, Tom King and Kelly Sue DeConnick somehow managed to stay consistent in Batman and Aquaman, but the editorial asked for too much change in this book. For a fresh, bold take on the characters, DC limited this series and anchored it too much to 2019. Instead of a definitive Hawkman series, which the two first volumes were leading to, it stays as an incomprehensible, meaningless and contradicting tie-in to a book where the Sky Tyrant didn't even matter. It really disappointed me and took my interest off. I hope that the last volume is able to course-correct, and the YOTV won't take too much space in a series that needed its time and freedom.

[Buddy Scalera]

Did not finish.

[Will Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of very different stories this volume. The book opens with a small one-shot detailing Carter’s multiple lives on a war torn planet (trust me it’s far more interesting than it sounds). We then get a tie-in arc to Year of the Villain *groan* that gives Hawkman another confidant in the form of The Shade (a character I really enjoyed in the early parts of Williamson’s Flash run) and are introduced to Carter’s next new antagonist, the serial killer Sky Tyrant! The Injustice Society on Earth 3 has had some interesting reversals of classic DC heroes over the years and Sky Tyrant is no different. While Sky Tyrant’s dialogue is more than a little cheesy, his background alone makes him simultaneously an empathetic character and a terrifying opponent for Carter given his new origin. I was very sad to hear about this book’s cancelation in the midst of the DC bloodbath. Here’s hoping Vindetti can pull off a satisfying conclusion with the room he has left.

[Will Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually 2 and 1/2 stars because the first issue was a nice flashback issue to Hawky bouncing from one army member to another, on different sides and that was nice.

Otherwise, Ktar/Katar/Ketor/Ktr/Kr fights Shadow Thief and it's a little boring. Shady Crook gets more powerful and controls shadows and The Shade helps fight him. It's fine.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I've read WAAAY more than I've been able to review, so.... time for some knee-jerk reactions!**
- Just straight up cool: Fighting with shadows in a shadow realm, plus a tie-in directly to the Batman Who Laugh's scheme and "Year of the Villain." Seriously, just a quick, but cool book.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
Carter Hall has lived many lives throughout history and finding out about all of them can be a chore. With the recent revelation of his first life (which brought him his curse of repeating lives), he knows he must learn more about himself... and he's having nightmares.
When he is attacked by Shadow Thief (suped-up from Apex Lex as part of "Year of the Villain") and his shadow is taken from him, he seeks out help from an old friend, The Shade. Together they take on Shadow Thief in the Shadowlands, a darker side of the Universe, and though his shadow is restored, his path down the darker side of himself has left his psyche shattered.
Enter Sky Tyrant, the version of Hawkman from Earth-3, which is home to the Crime Syndicate, a villainous version of the Justice League, who has taken over Carter's body. Causing havoc and evening fighting against Hawkwoman, Sky Tyrant knows he needs to do something drastic to stay in control of the body. Into the vaults we go.... what is the Shadow Journal?

This Volume was alright. Sort of felt like a downward spiral that was really getting you ready for the next Volume. We'll see soon enough I guess.
Recommend, though only if you have been reading the story already. If you start here, you'll be lost.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate that this Hawkman series is approachable without a deep knowledge of the Hawkman universe or even the DC universe at large. Darkness Within is highlighted as a tie-in with the "Year of the Villain" event, but other than a scene with an oddly dressed Lex Luthor, the main event seems to be taking place somewhere far away.

Approachable, yes. Interesting, less so. Each of the Hawkman volumes seems to focus on our hero slamming his mace into some villain or another and Darkness Within is no exception. Here, Hawkman teams up with Shade to battle the Shadow Thief, a villain who has unsurprisingly stolen Hawkman's shadow. Later, Hawkman battles an evil incarnation of himself. Another "Year of the Villain" tie-in? Perhaps.

Neither plotline is particularly exciting - the art and storytelling are reminiscent of 80s/90s comics. Good for kids at the five-and-dime snatching up single issues. Not so compelling in comparison to, say, Tom King's Batman series of whatever Brian Michael Bendis is doing with Superman and Wonder Comics.

[Alex E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hawkman has to come face to face with a powered up version of one of his older villains.

Shadow Thief has accepted Lex Luthor's power up during the "year of the villain" event, and thus, is much more powerful than before. He literally can steal peoples shadows, and manipulate them in any way he pleases. Hawkman has to travel to the shadow realm to confront him, and with the help of Shade, defeat him. However, the darkness all around Hawkman is corrupting him from the inside. By the end of the book, we see him fully embrace his darker side, and become a villain of some kind.

I'll admit, I don't really read too much Hawkman, so I didn't know anyone of the characters except for Hawkman of course, and everything was pretty much new to me. However, it was entertaining and easy to pick up. I will say that the book does feel a bit "golden age" with a lot of concepts like the shadow realm and things like that, that feel very old school. But overall, it was a decent enough story. I am interested to see how his evil persona will fit into the year of the villain event.

[Fez Vaccaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

The weakest of the 3 volumes to date but overall still pretty solid. The main story is Shadow Thief, appearing as part of the "Year of the Villain" event, which I didn't really follow. Anyway Venditti ups the threat level of this standard thief villain and makes him genuinely deadlier. Venditti also introduces Shade from james Robinson's Starman Compendium One - and there's a lot to mine here with integrating the character's past to Carter. Great to see veteran artists Pat Oliffe and Tom Palmer do work on this arc, I haven't seen any recent work from both for awhile.

The last 2 issues introduce Sky Tyrant, the Earth 3 Crime Syndicate version of Hawkman and unfortunately feels more like set-up for the next volume.

[Ronan The Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt much more average than the first two volumes. Hawkman takes on an empowered Shadow Thief, who has stolen his shadow. Much more run of the mill, this arc didn't really feel like it was building toward something. There's a crumb of something more nefarious going on, but I couldn't gather more interest than a monster-of-the-week type story. At the end there's a reveal that explains some of Carter's behavior, and his plight to discover more about his past, albeit cliched, is more interesting. Venditti's writing is fine, the art also felt like filler. In the end, I hope this book that made Hawkman compelling can get back on track.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venditti’s Hawkman has been a good run. But, DC’s Year of the Villain was too similar to other “villains work together!” stories, and was pretty bad throughout. I dropped almost every DC title o had been reading because this crossover just didn’t work.
The rest of the Venditti Hawkman (and the great artists & colorists involved) is great fun. This is not.

[Javier X · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This was a so-so volume, after a strong start and a good follow-up this volume felt like filler material (although The Shade character was interesting), it doesn’t help that they used two issues to tie-in Hawkman with the main DC event, it felt kinda pointless and they should have used those pages to delve deeper in his mythos.

[Roberto Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great continuing story

The myth of the Hawkman gets explored thru a new lens by Robert Vebditti and company. The story get more fleshed out thanks to new concepts. The only downside is that this book gets a new artist that is nos bad, but feels less cinematic than the earlier artist.

Still a recomendation for every fan of the character and his mythology

[Vishal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing next arc

This is the next arc after amazing origin - deathbringer arc. It's intriguing and well written, which has kept me interested but art is not good as much as the story, in fact it's taking me out of it. But I will be reading next for the sake of good story

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The many lives of Hawkman are explored and keep a high pace energy of the prior books but they don’t soar as high or give that same intangible feeling that the world might be hard but you can be better

[Alfredo Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little more trivial. Sometimes Venditti loses himself in too many words. But when he reaches a high point, by god, it is GOOD.

[Brannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this version of Hawkman.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this Hawkman series.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid SciFi hero comic...left me wanting more.