Hawkeye #3
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Ramon Perez
Colors: Ian Herring
Publisher: Marvel
“girl? Thats hawkeye dude.” – Hawkeye (Clint)
Hawkeye three picks up on board the S.H.I.E.L.D. hellicarrier with both hawkeyes (Clint and Katie) arguing about what to do while they wait in an interrogation room. S.H.I.E.L.D. has taken the three children of “project communion” to an as of yet undisclosed location. Its then that Maria Hill comes in and breaks the news to them that the children have been put under special quarantine. After some heated debate about who works for who, and who can take what, Hill informs them that “project communion” are still aboard the carrier and that they are free to “go”. Clint and Katie then wrestle with what to do. Should they try and save the children or just leave them to S.H.I.E.L.D. in the end they decide to do what all heros do: save the day. This issue features a cameo by a certain “lucky” someone, and is at once charming and eloquently structured. Each page is set up into rows of panels, with the bottom row being dedicated to the fantastic, multi-colored renderings of Clints past circus life. The only break from this structure is the last page when Clints past takes center stage (all puns intended). The color art by Herring is fantastic as per usual on this series. In what could easily become confusing for the reader, Herring is able to balance between the contrasting styles of Clints past and present. Giving the reader a distinct sense of two separate worlds. Clints present is clear, with large swaths of sharp colors (as if to mimic real life). While Clints past are swirls of colors and hard to make out shapes, as if the reader were sifting through tangled cross wired synapses in Clints brain. These contrasting style choices really give this series a unique look and feel while presenting the reader with two stories with out being confusing. Another feat of style and art in this series would be Katies fight scene to save the children. This was a splash page that was read left to right in rows, at first that may sound confusing but Perez and Herring employed a visual aid that helped to guide the readers eye. The first panels background was a deep purplish blue and each succeeding panel was a gradiant lighter until the end color was a vibrant yellow. This was a simple yet effective visual aid by Herring that really added to the entertainment value of the issue. Coming into this issue I was struggling with whether or not I was going to continue to preorder this series. Its not that it was bad, but rather I have so many other series’ I am picking up right now. This issue cemented in my mind that this series is one to keep on my pull list.
Rating: 8/10
-Andrew Horton