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Review: Hawkeye #6

By | December 21st, 2012
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David Aja returns to “Hawkeye” for this Holiday tinged issue, the perfect gift for every Hawkguy and Hawkgal.

Written by Matt Fraction
Illustrated by David Aja

– David Aja returns to the most critically acclaimed comic of 2012!
– The Ace Archer Clint Barton faces DVR-MAGEDDON!

It’s ironic that nearly every issue of “Hawkeye” to date has opened with the phrase “ok, this looks bad,” because this comic is truly too good for words. When pressed to discuss the merits of such a spectacular book, one can’t help but mention the art by David Aja, which manages to pack in so much detail while remaining very minimalistic, or the strong character beats from Matt Fraction. Much could also be said about the tone, which is about as down to earth as you can get in mainstream super hero comics, or the strong emotional resonance between the characters and the reader. When it comes down to it, this book has a heart and soul all its own. It’s unlike anything else at the Big 2 and demands that you take note of it.

From the striking cover we open to a page littered with tiny panels (17 to be exact) depicting Hawkeye and Iron Man facing a classic “which wire do I cut?” dilemma. The situation is hardly as dire as it seems, and it is this lighthearted jab at the action/thriller genre that sets the tone for this issue. After deciding that he’s been pushing himself a little to hard as the only “non-powered” Avenger, Clint decides to take some much needed R&R over the holiday season. What happens over the following ‘Six Days in the Life of Hawkeye’ turns out to be anything but relaxing, providing the issue’s hook. There’s always a danger of confusing the reader when using non-linear story-telling, but by jumping around between the issue’s titular six days Fraction manages to ramp up the tension while offering a significant pay off that wouldn’t work if the events were told in sequence.

This week is all about Clint taking responsibility, be it as the landlord for his apartment building, in his friendship with Kate, his dealings with the Tracksuit Mafia (they’re back) or just with himself. Fraction presents Clint as a man who wants to be better but who has never had a reason to. By grounding him with such a personal supporting cast, Fraction positions the character to become the hero readers expect him to be, even when he’s not donning the the purple leather.

Seeing Clint grow is fantastic, but he isn’t the only character that Fraction develops. Rather, the entire issue is filled with characters that instantly connect with the reader, such as the single-parent family down the hall, the jerk satellite repair man, or the guy who just can’t get your name right (leading to one of the funniest gags of the whole issue). Fraction gives each character, big or small, a defining characteristic that makes them instantly memorable, further grounding the story in reality.

While the story builds on events and characters from past issues, no prior knowledge of the story is required to enjoy this issue. Fraction’s dedication to telling one and two part stories that function on their own while building towards a bigger overall arc is one of “Hawkeye’s” greatest strengths in a market bogged with six to twelve issue story arcs. Add in the relatively cheap price tag of $2.99 and you have a new reader’s dream book.

With all the praise Fraction deserves for this book, collaborator David Aja is truly the shining star of the series. Channeling David Mazzucchelli’s best work in “Batman: Year One,” Aja’s art is scratchy and minimalistic, yet still kinetic and full of big moments. Aja uses fun framing devices, such as the home entertainment diagram on the opening page, to great effect. Style exudes off Aja’s pages, but not at the expense of substance. Rather, by using so many small panels he is able to cram tons of story into each page, making this a heartier read than books that rely heavily on splash pages.

However, Aja’s unique panel structure does cause a few problems at times. In comics, panels and word balloons are usually read from left to right, top to bottom. Due to the sporadic nature of the panel placement, it’s sometimes hard to tell if a page should be read to the right, or down first, requiring multiple reads before the correct sequence becomes clear. A small complaint overall, but one that stalls the momentum of the book in at least one tense scene.

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Nevertheless, Aja’s work remains absolutely breathtaking. Fraction knows when to let Aja’s art do the talking, a true testament to the duo’s collaboration. In the book’s climax, there are two pages with no words, narration or dialogue. It’s a quiet moment where Clint rises to the occasion, and the book’s lone full page spread is as iconic as you can get.

It’s not unreasonable to claim this as the best book at Marvel comics, or even the best super hero book period. No other book has such a perfect balance of style and substance, or casts its hero in such a relatable way. Coming so soon after the Avengers film, this book is a prime candidate for new readers who have just been introduced to the character or Marvel comics in general. If you’re looking for a good Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza (they’re all represented here) gift for a loved one, or even a treat for yourself, look no further than “Hawkeye” #6.

Final Verdict: 9.5- The best series at Marvel has its best issue yet.


Zach Wilkerson

Zach Wilkerson, part of the DC3 trinity, still writes about comics sometimes. He would probably rather be reading manga or thinking about Kingdom Hearts. For more on those things, follow him on Twitter @TheWilkofZ

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