Announced during a press conference call today, Marvel announced Ultimate Comics Hawkeye by Jonathan Hickman and Rafa Sandoval, the third of a few new relaunched/revamped books coming from Marvel post-Death of Spider-Man. The series is a companion mini-series to Hickman’s previously announced Ultimates, although the two do not have to be read together. Hickman added that he has written more minis than ongoings, so his skills are more toned to shorter stories with sufficient climaxes, although actions of the book will be felt all over. The book will also star (in an interesting twist of character selection) Bruce Banner as the Hulk, Jean Grey and Karen Grant.
The book is Hawkeye centric, starring everyone’s favorite archer while Thor and Iron Man do something else, and the events will eventually culminate together for the Ultimates. The book will also feature a connection the X-Men book by Spencer. The main focus of the book will be this version of Hawkeye’s military background and his relationship with Nick Fury, and a few new characters will be introduced as well. Hickman also reinforces the idea that this book will feature things that could never happen in the regular Marvel Universe, and that that is part of the fun behind the title. Hickman also won’t be solely focusing on the death of the character’s family in Ultimates vol. 2, instead choosing to focus on new elements of his story.
Hickman also adds that, when compared to his work in the regular Marvel universe, the SHIELD of the Ultimate universe is much more “pro-active,” and that part of the main story between this and Ultimates is the over-exertion of the organization to a breaking point.
The series is only a mini, and will feature Hawkeye in a new costume closer to the Hitch version from Ultimates vol. 2.
See also: Ultimate Comics Ultimates, by Hickman and Ribic and Ultimate Comics X-Men, by Spencer and Medina
