What the Hell Did Dark Nights: Metal Just Do To Hawkman?

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Dark Nights: Metal #4 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, on sale now.

Dark Nights: Metal returned from its month-long hiatus with issue #4 this week, and the already insanely massive event series managed to end with perhaps the biggest bang yet. Sure, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo gave us a history lesson about the Dark Multiverse, but most shocking of all was the fate of Carter Hall. What the heck has DC done to Hawkman?

In the latest issue, Dream gave Batman and Superman a history lesson detailing the creation of the Dark Multiverse, long, long ago. We learn that when the universe created matter and anti-matter, as well as the Monitor and Anti-Monitor, it also brought a third, previously unknown entity into existence.

This new entity, simply referred to as the Forger, was tasked with the creation of new worlds inside the Dark Multiverse with the help of the World Forge. The best ideas would become part of the known DC Multiverse, while the darkest and most unstable of worlds would remain in the dark, to be consumed and destroyed by the Forger's dragon, Barbatos.

Given the nature of Barbatos, the Destroyer of Worlds betrayed his master, usurped his role, and corrupted the World Forge. Now, instead of these Dark Multiverse worlds ceasing to exist like they are supposed to, they're lingering around, long enough for them to possibly replace the current Multiverse.

With Barbatos having taken up the role of his former master, there is no one to serve as the dragon, Destroyer of Worlds -- until now, that is!

The Final Fate of Carter Hall, Revealed

Batman has been chasing the ghost of Carter Hall since it was revealed he was in possession of the winged Justice Leaguer's journals in Dark Days: The Forge. Ever the good detective, Bruce Wayne followed the mystery of the metals that Hawkman left behind in his notes. The entire series has shown just how bad learning the truth of the DC Universe can be, and issue #4 hits on that point -- hard.

Sent deep within the Dark Multiverse, Superman and Batman have been tasked by Dream to halt the corruption of the World Forge before it is too late. What they find there, though, is far worse than they could have ever expected. It also proves that, after all this time, the mystery Batman has been chasing may all be a lie.

Carter Hall is revealed to transformed into a monstrous Hawk-Man who serves Barbatos and the darkness. Needing a new dragon to serve under him, Barbatos presumably lured Carter Hall into the Dark Multiverse and corrupted the hero. Now, Carter serves as the Keeper of the Dark Forge, equipped with giant metal wings, like the Forger, and holding the same hammer the entity once wielded.

The Forger was once a being of creation, and the World Forge a symbol of new beginnings. However, Batman and Superman have seemingly arrived to late to stop the infection of darkness. The trail Batman had followed only led to a dead end, as Carter tells him "there are only endings here." All seems hopeless now with only two more issues remaining in the series.

This revelation gives us some idea of what to expect from the forthcoming Hawkman Found one-shot slated to hit stands on December 27. Liam Sharpe's variant cover depicts a battle between Hawkman and a giant Hawk-Monster, which has now been revealed to be Carter Hall's new form. Expect that issue to detail the journey he took through the Dark Multiverse in order to take on the role he now serves.

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Readers were hit with another Hawk Family surprise in the same issue, when it was revealed that Kendra Saunders is actually the (possibly unwitting) tool of Barbatos. Kendra, having served with the Blackhawks to rid the world of all traces of Nth Metal, accompanied Dr. Fate and Wonder Woman to the Rock of Eternity, finally convinced that the heroes can save the day.

Things take a dark turn, however, when it is revealed that she's actually in possession of the Anti-Monitor's brain, and is prepared to launch it through the center of the Multiverse and into the Dark Multiverse. As Kendra had previously argued against the Council of Immortals' plan to destroy the Dark Multiverse for fear that it could annihilate all of creation as well, this is a surprising turn of events, to say the least.

Just as she is about to strike the decisive blow, something dark takes hold and Kendra transforms into a cosmic entity called Lady Blackhawk. Her claim that "all roads lead to darkness" seem to suggest that she now (or has always) served Barbatos and the will of the Dark Multiverse. Few details are revealed about her, but Lady Blackhawk's aesthetic quite obviously echoes the Court of Owls. We'll find out for sure soon, but it's probably a slid guess that she will be revealed as the leader of the Dark Birds who betrayed the Bird Tribe for the Bat Tribe.

Just to hammer down the point about her loyalty, Black Adam arrives at this point. He seemingly kills Fate, and then reveals he and Vandal Savage have bartered a deal in secret with Barbatos. Knowing that the heroes couldn't possibly hope to stop the darkness, the two immortals found a way to survive by working for their enemy.

How Kendra and this new Lady Blackhawk persona play a part in that deal has yet to be fully revealed. The question now is, what does this mean for Kendra going forward? Is she now lost forever, paving the way for the return of Shayera Hol, aka Hawkwoman, or will Wonder Woman be able to save her ally?