Warning! Spoilers for The Avengers #41's "Enter the Phoenix Part 2," below!
The competition for Marvel's Phoenix Force is underway, with a handful of heroes and villains competing for the ultimate cosmic power. In one of the latest fights, Nighthawk took on the Black Panther and got a costume upgrade that makes him look remarkably similar to the character he is meant to parody, DC's Batman.
The current "Enter the Phoenix" arc in The Avengers has led to the Phoenix bringing together some of the strongest (and oddest) characters in the Marvel Universe to fight one another, with the winner get the powerful Phoenix Force. Competitors include Black Panther, Black Knight, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, She-Hulk, Man-Thing, Hyperion, Captain America, Doctor Doom, and Nighthawk. Originally a pastiche of Batman, Kyle Richmond's Nighthawk first debuted in the pages of The Avengers #69 and has been a member of Marvel's Justice League, the Squadron Supreme (previously known as the Squadron Sinister).
The Avengers #41 by Jason Aaron, Javier Garron, David Curiel, and VC's Cory Petit features a number of fights, including Man-Thing vs. Black Panther, Hyperion vs. Shang-Chi, and Red Widow vs. Howard the Duck. Surprisingly, Black Panther is sent out to fight again taking on Marvel's Batman, Nighthawk. The two have bad blood, as Richmond, a congressman when he's not in costume, was recently named U.S. ambassador to Wakanda (he currently uses a Life Model Decoy in his place).
The two exchange words, before Nighthawk (in a new black costume that's very similar to Batman's) tells T'Challa that once they're done fighting he will sanction the Squadron Supreme to topple "your little backwoods, socialist evil empire once and for all." Black Panther lets him know that won't be easy, given Wakanda's near-unlimited resources, as the two exchange blows.
The issue doesn't name a victor, but it's safe to assume Black Panther will come out ahead, despite Nighthawk's best efforts to piss him off. With the Phoenix Force upgrade, Richmond's costume was changed into a more subtle design that's much more reminiscent of Batman - down to pointy ears, a new cowl, and a logo placement that's more in line with the Dark Knight's.
Sadly, Nighthawk might be a satire of Batman but when it comes to being a hero, he's leagues behind. Like his team member Hyperion, he's much too focused on his own gain and self-interests to ever become a good guy. Hopefully, T'Challa ends his chance at getting the Phoenix Force, because Marvel's Batman getting the power wouldn't be good news for the Marvel Universe. Avengers #41 is in stores now.