Every single month when I get my hands on Matt Fraction’s ‘Hawkeye’ book, I rant and rave about how great the series is. I mention that it’s one of the best titles available today. I say how great the art is and how I’d plaster the walls of my room with the pages if I could. And at this point, I’m a broken record because I’m just going to continue to tell you how awesome every aspect of this series is until things aren’t awesome anymore. Four issues in and I haven’t been disappointed once. If you have, please be sure to tell me about it because I have yet to hear one bad thing about any of these issues thus far.
Up until now, we’ve had three isolated stories. Issue four is part one of a two-part story about particular videotape that Clint Barton is trying to get his hands on. Apparently, the archer was commissioned for a mission by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the US government that involved some actions that the superhero-adoring public might not respond well to and the whole thing was caught on tape. Only one copy exists in the world, but that one copy was stolen and is going up for auction for some of Hawkeye’s greatest foes to use to desecrate Clint’s reputation.
There’s one big change from issue three to issue four and that’s in the art department. Javier Pulido takes over for David Aja, who only provided a cover for this book this time around. Pulido has a different style than Aja, yet it bears some similarities to the inaugural artist. Like Aja, Pulido also has a style that isn’t seen in any other book around today. I’m reminded of classic comics such as John Romita Sr.’s Spider-Man or Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen when I look at the style in this issue of ‘Hawkeye’. Kate Bishop, for example, looks as if she belongs in a gallery of pop art by Roy Lichtenstein. It’s really gorgeous stuff. Though I am a huge fan of David Aja’s work, I’m not disappointed by Javier Pulido’s style. It may also help that colorist Matt Hollingsworth is still providing his talents to the title because one of the biggest things that makes ‘Hawkeye’ stand out is it’s colors.
In terms of the story, I think you all know what I’m going to say already. Great comedy, engaging story, complex characters, yadda yadda yadda. I know that you can’t yadda yadda over the best parts, but EVERYTHING is the best parts and I’ve talked about them at length already. (And I mentioned the bisque.)
As I’ve said before and as I’ll probably continue to say, I can’t say enough good things about this series. You NEED to be picking this book up if you’re not already doing so. Now I’ll just wait here patiently to read the conclusion of this story called ‘The Tape’.
Final Score:
HAWKEYE #4
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art by JAVIER PULIDO & MATT HOLLINGSWORTH
Cover by DAVID AJA