Hawkeye (Vol. 3) by Jeff Lemire

Title: Hawkeye.
Volume: 3.

Writer(s): Jeff Lemire.
Penciller(s): Ramón Pérez.
Colourist(s): Ian Herring & Ramón Pérez.
Letterer(s): VC’s Joe Sabino.

Publisher: Marvel.
Format: Hardcover – Deluxe Edition.
Release Date: October 5th, 2016.
Pages: 248.
Genre(s): Comics, Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9781302902193.

My Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆.

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Previously on the Hawkeye (2012) comic book series:
Hawkeye (Vol. 1) by Matt Fraction
Hawkeye (Vol. 2) by Matt Fraction

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In August 2012, the talented creative team of writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja embarked on a brand-new adventure as they began writing the critically-acclaimed Hawkeye series. As their run came to an end, Marvel followed up with the All-New, All-Different relaunch that gave way to a new series called All-New Hawkeye, written by Jeff Lemire and drawn by Ramón Pérez, which lasted five issues before another six-issues story arc pursued the story where it was previously left off, and finally gave Fraction’s and Aja’s story a proper ending. Although two Hawkeye-related series were later released, Hawkeye: Kate Bishop (2016-2018) and Old Man Hawkeye (2018), a whole new miniseries entitled Hawkeye: Freefall (2020) will be written by Matthew Rosenberg and drawn by Otto Schmidt, and will give Clint Barton back his title as the iconic Hawkeye. However, Jeff Lemire’s task remained inevitably difficult as he attempted to live up to expectations with his own refreshing take on the Avenger and his partner.

What is Hawkeye (Vol. 3) about? Collecting All-New Hawkeye #1-5 and All-New Hawkeye #1-6, this two-part story arc tosses Team Hawkeye on a rescue mission with tremendous stakes as innocent children with devastating powers are held against their will. While simultaneously exploring the past, the present, and the future, this volume offers an insightful look at the conflictual and complex relationship between Kate Bishop and Clint Barton as they struggle to hear each other out amid all the chaos. With their rift getting in their way, their journey across time enlighten readers on the trials they’ve been through, the motivations that drive them, and the lessons they’ve learned the hard way. Sometimes, it’s just tough to tell the truth out loud.

It’s hard to blame Jeff Lemire for this one. What Matt Fraction and David Aja have accomplished with their Hawkeye run was clever, playful, and fresh, while still delving deep into the minds of two characters sharing the same superhero title. This time around, Jeff Lemire and Ramón Pérez decided to continue where things were left off while still studying the intimate yet distant rapport between Kate Bishop and Clint Barton. This new creative team also hoped to tackle the same themes that were initially introduced to wrap things up cleanly regarding where these heroes stand in their perception of life. In fact, both of these characters struggled heavily with their idea of being a hero and what it takes to be one and this time around they end up hurting each other as they resort to their beliefs instead of looking for a solution together.

While Jeff Lemire and Ramón Pérez had good intentions in trying to do it all, they also end up rushing it a bit and not allowing their ideas to fully solidify. It isn’t entirely bad, but this does restrain them in their ability to develop certain themes as fully as they would’ve wished to. On the upside, their direction was relatively original in the artistic department, despite certain moments where the penciling was a bit rough around the edges. In fact, all past sequences were drawn in a stunning washed-out watercolour style in a green and violet hue, all future sequences were drawn with a rougher pencilling while maintaining the green and violet hue in a paler tonality, and all present sequences were drawn with a more compact and clearly-defined art style that paid homage to David Aja’s work. Their visionary take on the artwork is impressive, while not similar to what David Aja cleverly achieved previously, as it toys around with how the story is told and experienced.

Hawkeye (Vol. 3) is an ambitious epilogue story arc exploring the complex relationship between Kate Bishop and Clint Barton through themes of family, heroism, and individuality.

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A Hawkeye TV series developed for Disney+ is in development and will feature Clint Barton passing on the mantle to his protege Kate Bishop!

On November 17th, 2019, a title sequence was released! How James Bond’esque is it to you? 🙂

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