Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
All-New Hawkeye #1
Marvel Comics
Lemire, Perez & Herring
Hawkeye gets a fresh creative team and a new number one as Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez take over the acclaimed title. The comic book offers up a glimpse in Clint Barton's past as well as the present day threat. As you might expect the character work in the comic is what drives the issue to be something special. That, and the artwork of course. I recommend picking this comic book up if you like a little deeper look into a super-hero.
The noticeable visual in this comic is the way the art switch styles when going back and forth between time periods. The flashbacks to Clint's childhood are lighter, as if being viewed through a broken glass. They have a withered look to them as they set the tone for the scenes depicted. Whereas the present day scenes have an all-ages style to them. They are vibrant, they pop off of the page and seem to provide some fun while reading the comic. The styles merge somewhat towards the end in a clever manner that gives the reader the impression that the flashbacks are shadows following Barton. The art in the comic book is superb and really tells their own story visually. The comic may not be your normal super-hero style but the visuals have a way of being stunning in what appears to be a simple way.
The flashback scenes are nothing new. There seems to be some abuse toward Clint and his brother with their foster dad. The kids are innocent but have intentions that make them seem ungrateful from an adult standpoint. The dad wants order and wants to be obeyed at all times. They stand up to the parental figure and eventually run. The story isn't original but when lined up with the present day, they have a great impact on the comic and the reader as the stories merge.
The current day scenes have Clint interacting with Kate, his protege. These are done with the backdrop of a mission. Basically, the pair has infiltrated a HYDRA facility looking for a weapon of some kind. The mission appears to be a bust as they decide to pack it in when something goes horribly wrong. The relationship parallels between the two scenes (current and flashbacks) are there for examination and help support each other and bring some punctuation to the outcome.
Hawkeye isn't your normal super-hero book. The first issue is about the main character interacting with other characters that help shape who he is and the decisions he makes. The primary plot is unraveling a mysterious weapon and that ball gets rolling at the end of this issue. It's a good setup and a surprising cliffhanger. The book looks to be one to add to your pull list. I recommend checking this out.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
