By Glen Ludlow
“She took my dog, man.”
‘This is what Clint Barton does when he’s not an avenger.’ That one line says it all. That’s the reason why I love this book, because it’s about Clint and not his alter-ego Hawkeye. Sure, he’s what you would class as a superhero, yes he’s part of a superhero gang that fights crime and generally prevents the Earth from being messed up. But this is an exploration of his down-time, his ‘Clint time’.
Hawkeye, since the relaunch with Marvel Now! has been handled very lovingly by Matt Fraction and David Aja. Both fit the character and book perfectly. It’s sparse, the dialogue is short and snappy, and the page layout is basic. I love it.
In this issue, ‘The U in Funeral’, it’s all about Clint and his brother Barney, the other Hawkeye. There’s been a murder in the building Clint’s the super of, and he’s got to come to terms that maybe this person was harmed because of what he does for a living. He’s also dealing with a book he’s writing, and his ex-wife, as well as questioning by the police. Oh, not to mention the brother who is constantly mentioned throughout but only shows up in the closing scenes. It’s a nice little drop-in by one of Marvel’s lesser-known characters.
What I love about Fraction is each issue of Hawkeye you could quite easily jump into and start from there. Each one feels like a one-shot, with vague connected storylines weaving through from one issue to the other, but it’s so approachable as a book, that you can dive in with Fraction and the gang at any time. His dialogue is punchy and real. There aren’t any long inner or outer monologues or expository dialogue in this book. Everything is quiet and subtle. You feel more like you’re taking a casual stroll through the park than running along at a breakneck speed. It’s all down to Fraction’s script, but let’s also talk about David Aja.
Every page is a nine-panel grid. In those pages Aja manages to bring Fraction’s script to life with ease and comfort. Nothing feels squashed or packed in. This isn’t that kind of story. He doesn’t use flashy angles, he doesn’t use massive set pieces, he keeps it simple and stark. The quiet colours by Matt Hollingsworth pack a punch that lifts Aja’s art off of the page and grabs your attention.
For more comic views follow Glen on Twitter at @glenghiskhan and check out his blog for more reviews at www.glenludlow.blogspot.co.uk
Click HERE to view HAWKEYE comics
Overall, an excellent effort by everyone. If you’re looking to get into Hawkeye, this is a good issue to start, if you’re an avid reader already, you don’t need to be told any of this.
Posted on October 22nd, 2013
Category: PANELS OF INTEREST, REVIEWS
Tags: avengers, Barney Barton, Clint Barton, Comic Reviews, David Aja, Glen Ludlow, Hawkeye, marvel comics, Marvel Now!, Matt Fraction