Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye - TV Trailer

   Marvel has released the trailer for the new Hawkeye series for Disney+ and it looks like a lot of fun!

   (And we could use something more lighthearted after the zombie episode of What If...?

Generations Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1

   With the Generations mini-series Marvel Comics is leaning terribly close to creating a Silver Age DC Comic (that's not entirely intended as a criticism).

   I say that because the entire concept of "modern" versions of heroes going back in time to meet a more classic edition of the hero they were based on seems all too convenient - a "gift" from the Cosmic Cube in the wake of Secret Empire.

   Why the gift? Who knows?

   But that being said, this issue focuses on the two Hawkeyes - the original, Clint Barton, and the young woman with the same hero name, the funny and personable Kate Bishop.

   They find themselves on an island taking part in a deadly competition between some of the world's greatest marksmen, trying to prove which one is the best.

   What makes the issue is the interaction between the two heroes - they're witty and smart and have a lot of fun with the whole "dangers of saying too much and revealing the future" element of time travel.

   It's a fun fast-paced adventure by writer Kelly Thompson, and the art by Stefano Raffael is outstanding, adding lots of spirit and energy to the competition.

   They may duplicate each other's schtick, but these are two heroes who are better together.

   But preferably in the modern day.

Grade: A-

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Hawkeye #1

   While I've never been a huge fan of the "two heroes have the same name" syndrome, I'm happy to put it aside in the case of the two Hawkeyes.

   The original (for Marvel, at least) is Clint Barton, the former criminal who became a respected Avenger - but these days, is neck-deep in the Civil War II silliness.

   So this series, instead, is focusing on Kate Bishop, member of the Young Avengers who took on Clint's hero name while he wasn't using it (being dead and all).

   (He got better.)

   So Kate is setting up shop in California - Venice Beach, to be exact - as a Private Investigator and Superhero.

   The first issue is mostly low-key, as the creative team - writer Kelly Thompson and artist Leonardo Romero - start with Kate in the middle of an investigation, which leads to a robbery attempt, and then over to her office where she meets the neighbors and lands another job, protecting a young woman being menaced by a mysterious figure.

   It's all fast and light and fun, very much in the vein of Matt Fraction's beloved take on the characters.

   I like the art a lot - it's fresh and evokes the real world (without being photo-realistic).

   It's a little understated - no big bad guys on display in this issue - but it's certainly a promising start. I'll be back next issue.

Grade: A-

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Hawkeye #5

   It's amazing how quick a comic can gain your interest - or lose it.

   I was late picking up on the Hawkeye comic written by Matt Fraction (thank you, collections) -  but once I started buying it, I was hooked.

   The follow-up series by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Ramon Perez has been pretty solid - until this issue.

   Each issue has been split between a story of Clint Barton's childhood, as he and his brother Barney seek refuge from an abusive foster father by running away with the circus - but is their new mentor, the Swordsman, a better role model?

   In the present, the two Hawkeyes - Clint and Kate Bishop - are faced with a big problem, as they try to protect some strangely-mutated children from the hordes of Hydra.

   And that's where this series jumped the shark, as Clint and Kate make a horrific decision - one that's completely out of character, one they would never make - except in the pages of a comic book that didn't understand the stars of the book.

   So, just as fast as I was pulled into the series, I find myself booted out - these are not characters I want to read about.

Grade: D

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Hawkeye #22

   Sadly, this is the final issue of the critically-acclaimed Hawkeye series.

   At least as created by Matt Fraction and David Aja.

   This is an issue fans have been anxiously awaiting, as it wraps up the terrific series that team has created.

   They do a fair job of wrapping up loose ends (though there's one big story thread left dangling for future teams to tackle).

   Here we see the final battle between the Hawkeyes and the criminals who are trying to take over the apartment building Clint calls home. It's a great "ground level" adventure.

   To say any more would be giving too much away, but I love this version of Hawkeye. It channels the character of Denny Colt (Will Eisner's classic hero, The Spirit) - Clint is clumsy, a bit dense at times and takes a terrible amount of punishment - but he's one tough hombre.

   I'll resist the urge to gripe about how late this issue is - it's such a treat, it's easy to forgive breaking the deadline. (How late is it? Several issues of the follow-up Hawkeye series have already been printed.)

   Still, this series is a real gem - one of the highlights for Marvel from the past few years, it combines a great story, terrific art, compelling characters, unique storytelling and a great sense of fun.

   Not to be missed!

Grade: A

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Hawkeye #2

   I admit, I was worried about the change in creative teams for Hawkeye.

   Matt Fraction had managed some great stories in his (relatively short and not technically actually finished yet) run - could Jeff Lemire carry the load?

   So far, the answer is: yes!

   The series continues to focus on all the Hawkeyes - Clint and his brother Barney (in flashback sequences) and Clint and Kate, the modern versions.

   So we're getting an origin (of sorts) and a modern adventure - both about rescuing children.

   The art is by Ramon Perez (with a color assist by Ian Herring), a unique and stylized take that effectively uses color to separate the stories.

   Because it's an unusual take, not everyone will enjoy it. But if you were a fan of Fraction's Hawkeye, you'll probably like this take, too.

   I do!

Grade: A-

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Hawkeye #20

   Not only has the Hawkeye comic been exceptional - you're actually been getting two stories for your investment.

   Half of the issues have focused on Clint Barton, the original Avenger known as Hawkeye, while the other have followed the adventures of Kate Bishop, who also goes by Hawkeye (having appropriated the name while Clint was apparently dead).

    This issue follows her attempts to deal with a twisted scheme by her bitter enemy, Madame Masque, which involves Kate being framed for murder, going undercover (while naked), uncovering some surprising facts and learning that the life of a private investigator isn't as easy as she expected.

   It's fast, funny and clever - in other words, business as usual for writer Matt Fraction and artist Annie Wu.

   The series manages an excellent balance between humor and action, with great characters and wonderful. expressive art.

   I'm running out of superlatives. Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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Hawkeye #19

   Thanks to Matt Fraction's writing and David Aja's excellent art, Hawkeye has been an exceptional comic.

   The series has featured some smart, creative approaches to graphic storytelling - and this issue is no exception.

   After being in a brutal fight, Clint (Hawkeye) Barton is left without his hearing (again), while his brother Barney (also Hawkeye) Barton is confined to a wheelchair.

   We see their struggles through the experience of Clint, as he struggles to "hear" what's going on around him. I can't remember another story that so effectively captured what it's like to deal with that kind of impediment.

   It's a struggle, and Clint must decide how to deal with the war that's coming. Can he protect the residents in his apartment building - or is there another answer?

   This has been a terrific series, and I'm sorry to hear that it's drawing to a close soon. We need more comics that push the envelope like this - not fewer.

Grade: A

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Hawkeye #15

   After a terrific run of stories, Matt Fraction and David Aja turn in an issue of Hawkeye that's merely pretty darned good.

   It does have the advantage of excellent art and a story that answers some long-simmering questions, but the answers are surprisingly... not too surprising.

   As always, there are funny bits included, as our hero gets caught with his pants down, must deal with (not evil at all) ex's, team up with his former opposite number, and face a deadly killer.

   So, just another day in the life of the Avenger who can handle super-villains with no trouble, but who struggles with the real world.

   Look, even when it's not at the top of its game, this series is far better than most comics out there.

   So forgive us poking some fun, and pick up this series. It's one of the best in the business.

Grade: A-

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Hawkeye #13

   There are a few comics out there where the creative team is playing on a different level from the rest of the industry.

   You see it sometimes from smaller publishers, but rarely from the big boys.

   Hawkeye is one of the exceptions to the rule.

   Writer Matt Fraction is creating a different story here, focusing more on the very human (and very fallible) Clint Barton. We rarely (if ever) see examples of super-heroics, though we often see the painful aftermath.

   This issue, for example, takes us into the heartbreaking story of a death in the loose-knit family that lives in the apartment building that Clint manages and protects (sorta kinda).

   It also features the return of someone near and dear to Clint (when he's not busy hating him, of course).

   But you have to pay attention, and it helps if you've read the other issues in the series. This one weaves around and through events in recent issues and the annual, for example.

   The art by David Aja is wonderful stuff - moody, gritty, humorous - the perfect use of the nine-panel grid.

   If you're passing up Hawkeye, you're missing out on something rare - a truly original comic. Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Hawkeye #11

The new Hawkeye series has been a delight so far, mixing humor, great characters and clever stories.

But none of them hold a candle to this issue.

It's easily one of the most unusual mainstream comics in recent memory.

That's because the adventure is entirely told from the viewpoint of Hawkeye's dog, Lucky (also known as Pizza Dog) - but writer Matt Fraction doesn't use the time-honored method of giving the dog thought balloon (like Snoopy) or even the broken thoughts used so effectively by James Robinson for Krypto several years ago.

Instead, the dog's thought process (such as it is) is realized entirely through the wonderful artwork by David Aja and Matt Hollingsworth. The designs and layouts are phenomenal.

I have to admit that there are places where I was a bit fuzzy about what happened - we can chalk that up to the fact that dogs have a different way of looking at things - but I loved this issue.

It's brave, it's smart and it's entertaining as can be.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Hawkeye #7

I've been meaning to pick up this series, because friends have been raving about it.

And I've always liked Hawkeye - but for some reason this title flew under my radar.

But when they announced that proceeds from the sale of this issue would go to help the victims of Superstorm Sandy, how could I resist?

So I'm happy to report that the word of mouth was spot on - this is a great comic!

Matt Fraction provides a story that takes the two Hawkeyes - Clint Barton, the card-carrying Avenger, and Kate Bishop, the teen who took the name when the original Hawkeye "died." (He got better.)

They're both "real world" stories about what each hero encountered when the storm hit New York and New Jersey. The stories are a great mix of drama, humor and real-world tragedy.

The art is a perfect match as Steve Lieber gives a striking, real-world look to the older Hawkeye's neighborhood adventure, and Jesse Hamm takes a more lighthearted approach to the younger Hawkeye's wedding party from Hades.

With great dialogue, interesting characters and terrific art, this title has made its way onto my "must buy" list. I recommend you go out and do likewise.

Now to see how difficult it is to track down the previous six issues...

Grade: A

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