Clint Barton can never get a break. He gets bumped off, he gets short shrift a lot, he gets laughed at by people who aren’t fans of the Avengers. But after a few false starts, he’s gotten his own ongoing. And it’s absolutely glorious.
What makes Hawkeye work as a book is that Clint isn’t fighting enemies out of his league. In fact most of the time he isn’t even getting suited up. Instead he’s dealing with local thugs, saving dogs, and, in this issue, getting way over his head completely by accident.
The best part about this issue is how Matt Fraction takes a total chestnut of a Marvel plot and gives it enough twist and style to make it his own. I’ll put spoilers under the jump but it’s enough to put a smile on pretty much any Marvel fan’s face.
Essentially, the Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime are up to their usual routine. The problem is, first of all, that they’re hypnotizing most of New York’s criminal elite. Secondly, the heist goes so wrong, it’s Hawkeye who ends up with the loot. So now he’s got, among others, the Kingpin pissed off at him. The accidental heist ends with an incredibly blandly phrased yet completely funny and menacing line.
This issue also establishes Kate Bishop, who’s simultaneously a great sidekick and written by Fraction as her own character. It works because they have a good professional relationship but a potentially messy personal one.
In short, Hawkeye started out as a fun book and is rapidly turning into a great one. Fraction once again delivers.
So, that’s my pick of the week, let’s hear yours.
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Man, my LCS sold out of issue #1 before I got my hands on it and never restocked it. I’ve heard really good things about this one. I guess I’ll just wait for the price drops in comixology.
It’s worth it. Fraction really delivers; it’s low-key and somewhat low stakes, but the first issue is all about how Hawkeye can handle a situation with a relative minimum of violence.
I just might take a look at it, I used to love Hawkeye as a kid and I currently love Matt Fraction. I almost picked up lost month’s Daredevil for the Mike Allred art, but am trying to budget myself strictly.
I did however, pick up from Image ‘Guarding the Globe’ #1. I’m pretty sure it was a series before or something, this is just the second volume so it’s number one (trying to work the fad I guess…it worked on me). It’s pretty great. I love Kirkman’s superhero universe and Phil Hester’s writing it refreshingly different, but close enough to stay consistent. It doesn’t waste anytime and has characters dealing with tough shit like….
**SPOILER…kind of***
…a kid being on the autism spectrum right off. Invincible is nearing #100 and a second title should help satiate my weekly crave for more Invincible til then.
I really like Guarding the Globe (you’re right, it is volume two, never read volume one). It’s a strong book, although I’ve started to expect that from Image.
Not a single mention of David Aja’s art? For shame. I think he’s only thing that makes this title worth checking out and I’m curious how the title will hold up without him.
Fraction has just lost me for the time being. His X-Men was painful, Fear Itself sucked, and his Iron Man is the single worst run I’ve ever read for the character. I know people will point to Casanova, but it’s not enough at this point.