Kate Bishop is heading back to her hometown of New York City in “Hawkeye: Kate Bishop,” a new five-issue series by author Marieke Nijkamp (Before I Let Go), and artist Enid Balám (“Reptil”). According to the synopsis, “Kate gets invited to a resort to solve a mysterious jewel heist,” which she sees “as a confidence boost, a sign that she’s making the right decision and not going to backslide into her past. The case is perfect… and it’s almost definitely a trap.”
Nijkamp told Bustle, “Kate’s always been one of my favorites, and to spend time with her is such a thrill.” She added, “I love her snark. I love the way she jumps first and asks questions later, but somehow still always finds a way out.” The writer told fans to expect “some familiar faces,” including a certain “excitable dog,” and some old foes “with a flair for the dramatic,” as well as new villains.
This is Kate’s first series since Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero’s 2016-18 “Hawkeye” run, as well as Thompson and co.’s subsequent “West Coast Avengers” series, which saw the character start up a detective agency in Los Angeles. Nijkamp said “because Kate’s story is in flux right now, it’s the perfect time to jump on board for the adventure,” and that “you don’t need to know where she was to enjoy the journey.”
Marieke Nijkamp is a Dutch author whose other comics credits include DC’s “The Oracle Code,” IDW’s “Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swamp,” and the upcoming “Wonderful Women Of The World.” She is autistic, non-binary (pronouns: she/they/any), and queer, and this is her first book for Marvel. Enid Balám is a Mexican colorist-turned-artist, and this will be his third credit at Marvel after “Reptil,” and the upcoming “Marvel’s Voices: Comunidades.” His work also includes Humanoids’s “Omni,” and V.E. Schwab’s “Extraordinary.”
“Hawkeye: Kate Bishop” #1 will be released sometime in November, ahead of the premiere of the Disney+ series, starring Hailee Steinfeld as Kate, on November 24. Nijkamp commented, “They’re obviously different interpretations of the same character, but isn’t it cool that they can exist at the same time and all tie into her story?”
