I’d like to start up a new “series” of posts based on Darkhawk-related email correspondence. It’s going to be called “Buckethead Banter” as the post title indicates. I’m out to single-handedly coin the label “Bucketheads” for all true Darkhawk fans out there. More likely than not, a lot of us are tied to the classic Darkhawk ongoing series and anything in the last 10 years has been a hopeful reminder of the potential the character has in the Marvel Universe.

For any fans who feel like initiating up a public discussion revolving around Darkhawk, please feel free to contact me (link about) and I’ll do my best to answer as fully as possible! Without further ado, lets start off with an email by Brandon concerning Darkhawk retconned origin and continuity!

Sawat De (Hello in Thai)

My name is Brandon and like you I am a adamant Darkhawk fan. I have to admit though I was a bit surprised when I found this site, I always assumed that there were still other Darkhawk fans out there, but I figured they were probably as lazy as I was (heh). In any case I’d first like to commend you on a fantastic site, to say that Darkhawk doesn’t get enough respect in the marvel universe or elsewhere would be an understatement, so it’s nice to see someone trying to even the playing field a little.

The reason I’m sending this message though is to get the opinion of another true Darkhawk fan on an issue I’ve personally found to be somewhat shall we say frustrating… The question I wish to pose has to do with the rehashing of Darkhawk’s origin and continuity. I can’t really put this question to any of my friends and expect a real response since none of them really care or know much about Darkhawk, so I can’t get a real view point. So I’d like to ask another real fan about their opinion on the matter.

I personally found the revamping to be lackluster by in large, particularly when it seemed as though some of Darkhawk’s daunting questions might finally be answered in earnest, but instead we find out that D.H.’s entire origin, including his most powerful villain were all the result of him being so angry (even though that part of his story hadn’t really been established yet…) that he just imagined it all, regardless of how many issues that brings up, what with portal, St. Johny, all the people who saw Evilhawk in action and so on. At first I was just happy that D.H. was getting some real screen time, but then in only a few panels they effectively managed to squander over 20 years of character history.

Anyway, without going into a full on rant that’s my take on the issue, and like I said I just was wondering what other fans really felt about this even in D.H.’s history. So if you’ve taken the time to read to this point I thank you for your time, and if not “meh”…

-Respect-
Brandon

Hey Brandon!

Glad there are others out there who are interested in Darkhawk as well. The points you bring up below are definitely things that I can only hope can get touched on a bit more as he appears in other books (maybe his own eventually?!) and clarify what I also believe “true” fans have an issue with.

More than anything when it comes to retconning a comic book character, a bit of liberty is taken to bump the character up a decade or two in order to make them relevant to the modern audience of younger readers who may have been born when the first Darkhawk issues came out.

I was a young teen then so things like St Jonny and Evilhawk are unfortunate things to loose. THey haven’t even really brought up Phillip Bazin, Alexa, Loadstone or Peristrike Force since! … This feels like a deliberate attempt to “lighten the load” and move on with DH in any way possible to try and make him “stick” with a strong enough reader-base to warrant a new book, or a more steady appearance in books like Nova or any other Marvel Space books in the future.

My opinion is that it’s kinda unfortunate. The character had a history. To explain it as mental trauma and physiological breakdown is a bit over-zealous. On he other hand, DH did in fact have a very VERY strong cosmic angle to his origin post-issue-25 with the Null Ship, Osch and the intergalactic gang… even those things were technically “made up” I guess… again, unfortunate… but at the end of the day I’m really just happy he’s at least TRYING to get back in the picture!

I think there is potential for the character INCLUDING trying to make some of his past rogue’s gallery actually mean something. I felt like back in the original run the creative team was really trying to root him into the Marvel U with a supporting cast. Having his limited Avenger’s affiliations and occasional New Warriors team-ups over shadow all of his own title’s continuity really hits “true fans” harshly.

When I stop and think though… the original series DID end in 1995… 15 years ago… The most I can wish for is that there are other 10-15 year-olds reading Darkhawk for the first time post-Runaways in Nova and War of Kings and getting as dedicated to his journey as I was, still am, and hear stories via this fansite of others in the same boat. We just wanna see Darkhawk–the perpetuous underdog it seems–succeed!

PS: How can I not take the time to reply ? It’s a rare rare event you can stream on about Darkhawk with some one who GETS HIM! haha. Do you mind if I add this email and reply to the site? If you wanna send a pic of you with something Darkhawk-related feel free! If not, also cool of course! All the best!