Hawkeye #1

The Rundown

Follow Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye in a new monthly series. This series focuses on Hawkeye when he’s not an Avenger and his encounters with friends and some new enemies from his New York neighbourhood.

The Team

Written by Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man Vol. 9 : Demon, Defenders by Matt Fraction Vol. 1, Casanova Vol. 1 : Luxuria) & illustrated by David Aja (Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1 : The Last Iron Fist Story). Published by Marvel Comics

The Pros

This is a slick new look to a classic super hero/Avenger from writer Matt Fraction & illustrator David Aja. The comic flat out says that this how Hawkeye spends his days when he’s not out saving the world from an alien invasion as an Avenger. The average joe approach is Marvel’s way to pump new blood into a an old character who let’s face it, didn’t get that much attention in Joss Whedon’s Avengers movie. Matt Fraction writes an average story about Hawkeye dealing with Russian mob thugs and trying to save some tenants from being evicted. David Aja’s illustrations bring a real gritty style reminiscent of some Ed Brubaker Daredevil books. It’s a perfect look to what I think they’re trying to accomplish here.

The Cons

Unfortunately, I didn’t really like this issue. For starters Hawkeye is kind of a bully & a jerk and also a cry baby, whining that the other Avengers are gods or have super powers. This happens in the first couple of pages. Later he gets a gym bag full of cash (Avengers funds?) and starts to play vigilante on a bunch of thugs. Leave the “taking out of the garbage” stuff to the Punisher, Clint.

The Outcome

Now I appreciate Marvel’s attempt to breathe new life into a classic super hero, but it just didn’t fit for me. There’s a reason the past Hawkeye series didn’t work. Hawkeye is a supporting character. Always has always will