Review: HAWKEYE #1

HAWKEYE No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kelly Thompson
ART: Leonardo Romero
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: Julian Totino Tedesco
VARIANT COVERS: Marco Rudy; Marguerite Sauvage; Mike McKone with Chris Sotomayor; Leonardo Romero; David Aja
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Rated “T+”

Hawkeye/Clint Barton is a Marvel Comics superhero.  The character was created by Stan Lee and artist Don Heck and first appeared as a villain in Tales of Suspense #57 (cover dated: September 1964).  He later became a superhero and joined the Avengers in The Avengers #16 (cover dated:  May 1965), becoming one of the most prominent members of the team.

The latest character to wear the Hawkeye moniker is Katherine “Kate” Bishop.  This female Hawkeye first appeared in Young Avengers #1 (cover dated:  April, 2005) and was created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung.  Kate headlines the new comic book, Hawkeye, that is part of Marvel Comics' new publishing initiative/event, NOW!  This new series is written by Kelly Thompson; drawn by Leonardo Romero; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Hawkeye #1 finds Kate Bishop trying to set up a private investigation service in Venice Beach, California.  So far, however, “Hawkeye Investigations” is simply attracting people with a grudge against the original Hawkeye, Clint Barton.  Then, a college student named Mikka comes to Kate for help with an Internet bully...

I was reluctant to read this new Hawkeye comic book.  Honestly, I have never been that interested in the character.  However, I found myself really enjoying Hawkeye #1.  It is like a blend of writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja's Hawkeye comic book that was launched in 2012 and also DC Comics' Batgirl under the guidance of the creative team of Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher and Babs Tarr (which began in 2014).

Artist Leonardo Romero's compositions and colorist Jordie Bellaire's hues recall David Aja's Hawkeye art and storytelling.  Kelly Thompson's script captures Batgirl's vibe and storytelling style, focusing on the adventures of a young woman who moves into a diverse neighborhood.  Here, the young woman, in this case, Kate, finds offbeat superheroing in Venice Beach.

In comic books featuring female superheroes, I like offbeat and urban.  I'm sure after a few more issues, I'll be seriously recommending this series, if the later issues are like this fresh first issue.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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