I am hooked. This is a great start to what I think will be a great series. Back when Marvel announced ‘Hawkeye’ at C2E2, writer Matt Fraction said that “this isn’t a book about being a super hero. It’s about being a good guy and, hopefully, a good man”. That statement got me pretty interested since that’s unlike any superhero story I’ve read, and now that I’ve had the first taste, I can’t wait for my next helping!

First off, I really like the approach of this book. This is Clint Barton when he’s not an Avenger. Better yet, this is Barton when he’s not being a hero. He’s off duty in this book and we get a really human perspective on one of the larger than life heroes that inhabit this universe. We see what he’s like without the glitz and glamour that comes with fighting in a team like in ‘Avengers Assemble’ or a title like that. He’s brought down to our level of existence despite his elevated position because he’s a superhero. Fraction does a great job of presenting a good guy doing his thing in the world today. The writer also gives us some great moments, like when Clint gets out of the hospital or takes a page from Gambit’s playbook and utilizes some playing cards as weapons.

Secondly, David Aja’s style of art is amazing. The bold outlines and other details on these pages match the gritty tone of the story. It almost has an old-school vibe to it, which I’m really digging. These pages are works of art and there are some panels that I’d gladly hang on my wall, like the very first page or the cover.

What it comes down to is that we’ve been presented with a really great character driven story. Those are hard to come by in this day and age, so it’s refreshing to get such an excellent one. I can’t wait to see what Fraction and Aja bring to the table with the next issue. From what I hear, it involves a certain Young Avenger who also has an affinity for bows and the color purple. I’m a big fan of that team, so seeing any of it’s members get some spotlight is definitely okay in my book.

To sum things up, if you’re not picking up this series, you’re not doing it right. Go and get it right now, then add it to your pull list.

Verdict: Buy

HAWKEYE #1
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art by DAVID AJA & MATT HOLLINGSWORTH