Hawkeye Appreciation

[somebody]

What's there to say about Hawkeye? He was the character I liked most as a kid and I love his personality and backstory. As a kid I dug the 1984 miniseries but anything with Hawkeye in the solo from there was terrible. As an adult, Fraction's take doesn't drift too far away from the core of the character and actually changes him for the better. I don't see him as doofy or aloof. I see him as a normal human who is trying to do good. Yes, he makes mistakes. Who doesn't? But it's his passion and drive to use what he has to be the best person he can be that I like about Fraction's series.

I also think that when you're with the Avengers you can be the most competent team player in the world but by yourself it's a different story. His "downfalls" in his solo title doesn't bother me. After Avengering all day and picking off more than he can chew who else wouldn't fall into his situation? The only difference is that when it happens to Cap or Iron Man there's superpowers or technology or a support team to back them up. Clint doesn't get those luxuries by himself, especially when he's working outside the law to do what's right.

Uhh...I guess the last point to address is his costume. I liked it as a kid but it started turning me off as an adult. I think the biggest issue with his classic costume is that Wolverine popularized the cowl look in the Marvel universe, as unfair as it is to the Hawkguy. From there, the rest of his costumes sucked except the current one, which I now prefer over the classic.

"Well what about the Ultimate looks?" They're ass. Hitch's initial redesign was awful until they cleaned it up when they brought it over to 616. Aja further cleaned it up, and I wish more artists would go with the one larger chevron look instead of splitting it into 3 or 4 slices. I also dig the flatness of Aja's costume but for the most part the costume looks good -- maybe could use a bit more purple. Only other criticism is that artists who can't draw sunglasses should opt out of them for the design. It shouldn't be a requirement for the costume. Guice drew them like old lady specs and Bagley made them like goggles. The glasses should be opt-in when drawing Clint.

Marvel's retroactive price change really pissed me off.

It's an extra dollar for one of Marvel's most popular titles. Maybe it will get the title back on track since there will be more money for the creators. An extra dollar for more Hawkeye is way worth it.

[Stormcrow]

Only other criticism is that artists who can't draw sunglasses should opt out of them for the design. It shouldn't be a requirement for the costume. Guice drew them like old lady specs and Bagley made them like goggles. The glasses should be opt-in when drawing Clint.

Really pisses me off as well. Seriously, if you can't draw glasses please don't bother trying. The hair is sometimes an issue, too. Some artists show him with a military style haircut which is just not the character. The new costume is great, but sadly few artists get him right.

[hawkeyefan]

What's there to say about Hawkeye? He was the character I liked most as a kid and I love his personality and backstory. As a kid I dug the 1984 miniseries but anything with Hawkeye in the solo from there was terrible. As an adult, Fraction's take doesn't drift too far away from the core of the character and actually changes him for the better. I don't see him as doofy or aloof. I see him as a normal human who is trying to do good. Yes, he makes mistakes. Who doesn't? But it's his passion and drive to use what he has to be the best person he can be that I like about Fraction's series.

I also think that when you're with the Avengers you can be the most competent team player in the world but by yourself it's a different story. His "downfalls" in his solo title doesn't bother me. After Avengering all day and picking off more than he can chew who else wouldn't fall into his situation? The only difference is that when it happens to Cap or Iron Man there's superpowers or technology or a support team to back them up. Clint doesn't get those luxuries by himself, especially when he's working outside the law to do what's right.

Uhh...I guess the last point to address is his costume. I liked it as a kid but it started turning me off as an adult. I think the biggest issue with his classic costume is that Wolverine popularized the cowl look in the Marvel universe, as unfair as it is to the Hawkguy. From there, the rest of his costumes sucked except the current one, which I now prefer over the classic.

"Well what about the Ultimate looks?" They're ass. Hitch's initial redesign was awful until they cleaned it up when they brought it over to 616. Aja further cleaned it up, and I wish more artists would go with the one larger chevron look instead of splitting it into 3 or 4 slices. I also dig the flatness of Aja's costume but for the most part the costume looks good -- maybe could use a bit more purple. Only other criticism is that artists who can't draw sunglasses should opt out of them for the design. It shouldn't be a requirement for the costume. Guice drew them like old lady specs and Bagley made them like goggles. The glasses should be opt-in when drawing Clint.



It's an extra dollar for one of Marvel's most popular titles. Maybe it will get the title back on track since there will be more money for the creators. An extra dollar for more Hawkeye is way worth it.

Well said. Every series starring Hawkeye since the Gruenwald mini has been mediocre at best, and downright awful at worst. Solo Avengers/Avengers Spotlight had a solid opening arc, and then a few decent stand alone issues after that, but was otherwise awful. The Chuck Dixon mini from the 90s was pretty rough. Not sure if it was despite or because of his sidekick "Rover". Ugh.

They paired him up with USAgent and War Machine as "Brothers In Arms", a backup feature that ran in some other Avenger-related books. I remember liking the camaraderie of the three characters and the artwork, but I'm pretty sure the story was awful.

Nicieza's solo series in the 2000s was a mixed bag. He had a few elements that are present in the currently very successful series (the everyman approach, not always in costume). But it also had a few elements that were kind of off (the wandering hero on a bike aspect). I think they tried to make it too different, and it suffered for it.

Honestly, I never expected any solo book of Hawkeye's to be as good as the current one. Of course it was possible....but we were conditioned to think it wasn't.

[Torpedo]

Well said. Every series starring Hawkeye since the Gruenwald mini has been mediocre at best, and downright awful at worst.

I was quite fond of Jim McCann's and the Lopez Bros.' Hawkeye & Mockingbird and Widowmaker series. I wish it had lasted longer.

HawkeyeWidowMaker.jpg

[hawkeyefan]

I was quite fond of Jim McCann's and the Lopez Bros.' Hawkeye & Mockingbird and Widowmaker series. I wish it had lasted longer.

HawkeyeWidowMaker.jpg

Yeah that was a bad oversight on my part. I thought that series was solid. My main gripe is the Hawkeye and Mockingbird relationship seems to have run its course at this point. It kind of limits both characters, especially Bobbi, if they play up the "will they or won't they" angle.

But other than that, yes, that series was solid. I liked the art a lot, too.

[Hekabolos]

I posted this (well, a version of this) in the Scarlet Witch thread and I thought I'd bring it here to see what Hawkeye fans think. I started reading the Avengers after seeing Quicksilver in X-Factor back in the 90's and wanted to learn more about him. Clint was the first Avenger I fell in love with, and remains one of my favorites.

The Clint/Wanda friendship is probably one of my favorites in comics. I think in a lot of ways Wanda is the "one that got away" for Clint. They've always been shown to have a close relationship, with Clint maybe feeling a little more strongly than Wanda. I feel like, given Clint's established issues with feeling inadequate, Wanda is the girl he always wanted, but he felt was too good for him, and so has been content to be the friend who would do anything for her. After all, it was Clint who was the only Avenger who felt any need to look for Wanda after Decimation (well, except for Beast, but he wanted to fix it more than help Wanda). I'm glad New Avengers...26(?) was retconned into being a Doombot. Their interactions are both touching and bittersweet to me, I don't want that to be ruined by a random one night stand

[marvelousmetalmouse]

Does Clint still have his hearing aids? I haven't been paying attention to the series lately.

[Trident]

No. He regained his hearing after Heroes Reborn .

[John Venus]

But Fraction is making him deaf again.

[John Venus]

I heard Hawkeye has a Sky Cycle. He's now officially one of my favorite superheroes. He was sort of getting there with the current ongoing but the Sky Cycle nailed it.

[From The Shadows]

I love Hawkeye! but I do not care for his current costume or that he's being written by Fraction. I can put up with the costume if he gets a writer I actually like.



This is my ideal costume for him it's modernised yet it still shows he's a Circus kid at heart.

Yeeessss! Love Hawkeye! He's my number 1 Avenger and I loved that 80's mini, I know it can be seen as cheesy I suppose but it was fun. I thought the West Coast Avengers was an interesting development for him.

[John Venus]

Sky Cycle:

[sv4me]

HUGE fan of Hawkeye here - I got into the character after the Avengers movie and Fraction & Aja's run. Hate having to wait... (but I will for these guys) I hope it's nothing too serious...

I prefer the new costume, but in general I prefer costumes that are a little more realistic for real life. Cosplay is the best example - Hawkguy cosplay is great. As for romances - I'm hoping Marvel goes with Clint & Natasha. They're very different in many ways but I think that works. I don't like the price increase - Black Widow went up too & I've cut other pulls to keep these two - but I do hope more of that goes to the creators.

[jmarks4life]

Rest in peace Mark Gruenwald. I'll always consider his 1983 Hawkeye limited series the character's bible.

Attachment 760

Just reread those four issues in his memory.

[jmarks4life]

Hawkeye has been a fav of mine since I was a kid. Its always been he, Iron Man, and War Machine(now Iron Patriot) for me.