Writer Jeff Lemire and colorist Ramon Perez interweave the past and present in a way that is both genuinely touching and exciting in “All-New Hawkeye” #2. As a result, we are already invested in the character of Clint Barton in only two issues.
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Ramon PerezArrows over Bed-Stuy! Intrigue at the circus! The past and present merge as Hawkeyes Barton and Bishop race against time to save a group of innocent kids, with devastating powers.
With “All-New Hawkeye” #2, Lemire and Perez demonstrate two artists who understand what the other is attempting to get across on the page. With Lemire an artist himself, Perez has, with only two issues, proven to be a perfect collaborator. Their singular roles in the creation of this book come together to naturally draw the reader into the lives of Clint, his past, and his present. The flashbacks to his childhood with his brother Barney mirror that of his relationship with Kate Bishop, with scenes of the past and present alternating throughout the issue in a way that expresses relationships and character growth. His personality and role in life changes over the years, yet his essential self still remains.
In just twenty pages, Lemire blends haunting childhood scenes with an action-packed story involving a mysterious organization and their seemingly nefarious intentions. His dialogue can be heartbreaking when it involves Clint and Barney and then full of witty repartee when he interacts with Kate. Whether you have never read a book featuring Hawkeye, you instantly empathize with the character. That mostly has to do with Lemire’s spare yet powerful use of words. Every word is vital to the story and, unlike some superhero stories, there are no gratuitous filler scenes of expository conversation or unnecessary and boring protracted battles. Lemire doesn’t assume the audience is vacuous. He lets us discover Clint and the people he cares about in a slower and more naturally unfolding way.
Lemire would not be successful in telling his tale if it wasn’t for Perez. The artist transforms Lemire’s script into a master class of what a great artist can accomplish with what appears to be little guidance. Lemire’s personal story is enhanced by Perez’s highly expressive art. We have already felt an emotional connection with these characters in the first two issues. Whether it’s a quiet and interpersonal scene or a fight, we know these people. They are true co-conspirators when it comes to creating Hawkeye’s world and they have instantly settled comfortably into it.
The scenes alternate between the past and the present in a way that is appropriate to the story and that allows for Perez to have fun. The flashbacks are darkly whimsical and appear dreamlike. That feeling is especially abundant because of Perez’s lush use of watercolors. Shadows and color imbue faces and scenes with an overall aura of both innocence and a strange foreboding that flows throughout each painted page. The reader is experiencing life through the eyes of a child, which is conveyed in both a fanciful and heartbreaking way. Senses are heightened and sometimes people, places, and emotions are bombastic and appear larger and more consequential than they actually are in “real” adult life.
Unlike the scenes of days gone by, the art during the present day is much crisper and more substantial. The scenes of violence are more visceral and realistic when compared to the ones in the flashbacks. Those scenes have a surrealism that is almost nonexistent in the present day. Perez strips the art down in these current events segments to the essential players in the issue, with minimal use of background art. This lack of any distractions behind the main players heightens the tension of reading the book in a different way than the flashbacks do because we feel the punches, kicks, and expressive faces in a gut-wrenching manner. One scene has Clint being mercilessly beaten by a foe against the backdrop of a purely white page which draws us into the scene itself and forces us to feel the blows.
Colors in the Clint and Barney scenes are utilized to emphasize the emotional journey the two brothers are going through together. The panels are splashed with red as they are confronted by their foster father and violence ensues. The pages become saturated with blood and become metaphorical. The red isn’t just to color blood, but to color the anger that boils within the villainous foster dad. The combination of light and dark is not just evident in the art of the circus scenes, but in the coloring as well. A particular splash page has a character emanating pastel and neon colors that make him appear heroic. Yet the use of those particular colors simultaneously highlights his heroism and also appears a bit too bright. Mystery shrouds the colors and it’s as if the colors are overcompensating for something sinister. Both Perez, in these scenes, and Ian Herring in the present should be commended for successfully conveying story and symbolism through their colors.
Continued belowClever use of color is also in abundance in the present day scenes. After that first punch that Clint receives in the aforementioned fight, his hearing piece falls out and the background turns to white. Color is then drained from the two fighters and they become figures of drab black, gray, and beige. Herring, like Perez, has fun with the issue’s coloring and makes it an essential element of the story’s success. In one memorable splash page involving children, blood, and a piercingly loud sound, Herring’s use of lime green is unexpected and inventive. Both Perez and Herring may have different coloring styles and choices, yet both bring an artistry to the issue that demands multiple reads in order to discover new meanings. And that’s just the colors.
“All-New Hawkeye” #2 has even more depth and artistry than the first issue. The team of Lemire, Perez, and Herring obviously are giving this book the attention to detail that every writer and artist should look to and emulate in their own work. I’ve discovered Clint Barton with these collaborators’ iteration of the character and look forward to seeing where he’s been and where he’s headed in the issues to come.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – Not only are the first two issues lovingly and intriguingly written, it is also one of the most spectacular-looking books on the stands right now.
