When Marvel unveiled the countdown clock for the release of the Hawkeye Disney+ show, the excitement for the Avenging Archer's TV debut grew and grew. And with the release of the show on the horizon, now is a great time to revisit the source material that the Disney+ show will be drawing inspiration from: Matt Fraction's Hawkeye series of 2012-2015.
Fraction's run has been critically praised, thanks to fantastic artwork from David Aja and a collection of other artists. The series gives a starring role to the Young Avenger Kate Bishop, who also operates under the codename of Hawkeye alongside Barton. With guest appearances from fan-favorites such as Captain America, Black Widow, and Mockingbird, the comic series fantastically depicts a turf war Barton mistakenly stumbles into, making him the prime enemy of the Russian mafia.
9 It Showcases Hawkeye's Many Relationships
Clint Barton is known for being a kind of womanizer. In his long history, he's had many different relationships with many amazing women. But it's not often that fans have been able to see how these relationships weave into his life. Between Mockingbird, Black Widow, and Spider-Woman, Fraction's Hawkeye series is full of the women from Clint Barton's life.
Becoming a primary focus in issue #9, all three of Hawkeye's former paramours involve themselves in Clint's problem-filled life. Clint's relationship with the three Avengers shows that while he may not be the most reliable romantic partner, he is still a good man worth sticking your neck out for. Anyone who has the support and care of three of the Avenger's finest should count themselves lucky.
8 Lucky The Pizza Dog
Every good hero needs a sidekick Hawkeye seems to have found the perfect companion in the shape of Lucky the Pizza Dog. A dog that used to belong to a member of the Tracksuit Draculas, Hawkeye shows the dog a better home and Lucky quickly becomes a fan-favorite and crucial member of Team Hawkeye.
Lucky's shining moment was issue #11, when the whole issue is dedicated to the world of Hawkeye through Lucky's point of view. The issue is jam-packed with the adventures of Hawkeye's trusted sidekick, which even earned it an Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One Shot in 2014.
7 The Constant Color-Coordination
It may seem like a minor detail, but the degree of color-coordination across the series is incredible. A large amount of the credit has to go to colorist Matt Hollingsworth, who manages to fit the perfect amount of purple into every frame. Everything Clint Barton and Kate Bishop seems to have a degree of purple attached to it. Even characters like Black Widow and Spider-Woman have color-coordinated ensembles that match their costumes.
The incredible level of coordination, while a small detail, reinforces the characters' actions and world-building. It enhances the camp of the series, and subtly gives a more in-depth look into the characters without saying anything at all. And while Hawkeye has always been made fun of for his all-purple costume, this series manages to attribute it to his personality, and not just as a bad costume choice.
6 Kate Bishop Is A Fantastic Hawkeye
When Clint Barton was believed dead, Kate Bishop was given the mantle of Hawkeye by none other than Captain America. When Clint Barton returned, he decided there was certainly enough room in the world for two Hawkeyes, and continued to let Bishop use the name Hawkeye.
Kate Bishop has now become just as entitled to the Hawkeye mantle as Clint, and together the two of them make an incredible duo. Her inclusion in the series as a grounding force for Clint speaks volumes, and while Kate may be young, she is bold, caring, and is perhaps has more to teach Clint than the other way around.
5 It Delves Into Clint Barton's Inferiority Complex
It is no easy task to hold your place on the Avengers. To be surrounded by Super-Soldiers, Norse Gods, and billionaire geniuses on a regular basis would be a confidence blow to anyone, much less a simple archer from the circus. As the series continues, it becomes apparent that Hawkeye's long tenure on the Avengers affects his self-confidence. As a result, the archer has a constant urge to prove himself, constantly feeling like he may not be as successful as he should be.
While some would imagine being an Avenger alone would be a huge ego-boost, Clint seems to be suffering from the opposite. His sense of self-worth seems diminished, to the point that he becomes incredibly protective and defensive of his own faults and weaknesses, which may contribute to his self-destructive behavior. If readers are careful, they may be able to spot a wonderfully subtle story about a man rebuilding his own sense of self worth.
4 The Stories Are Simple
While many superhero comics are jam-packed with stories about world-ending crises, alien invasions, and fights to the death, the charm of Fraction's Hawkeye is sometimes the simplicity of Clint Barton not having enough tape. As one of the more “ordinary” members of the Avengers, it comes as no surprise that Clint's regular day-to-day life is just that: regular.
Of course, turf wars with the Russian mob and undercover intel extractions in Madripoor don't exactly come across as mundane by any means, but in between these very Avenger-level predicaments, Clint can usually be found on his building's roof eating a burger or drinking one too many beers. For someone with Avengers-level clearance, it's humbling to see a superhero partake in the everyday joys, and it allows Barton to be more accessible to his peers, colleagues, and the readers.
3 The Underlying Cowboy Theme
Clint Barton is portrayed as a kind of loner, and describes himself to those around him as "nobody." He rejects any mention of the Avengers, tries not to bring any attention to himself, and pushes away those closest to him. There is a concurrent cowboy-Western theme that is centered around Clint. His isolates himself with a one-man-army personality, and his habit for ending up in one-on-one shootouts points to characteristics of country Western movies.
The entire series gains new meaning when the reader considers Clint as a kind of sheriff, and his apartment building and its tenants being the people of the town. Clint serves as the protector of the people, deputizing Kate Bishop to help him against the bandit-like Tracksuit Draculas. It's obvious Clint has every trait required to be a leading man, and the series works in this theme effortlessly.
2 It Doesn't Take Itself Too Seriously
It's important in life not to take yourself too seriously, and Hawkeye captures this perfectly. While there is no need to describe the series as silly, the writing certainly does take shots at humor at the expense of the classic superhero-comic format. This is best encapsulated in issue #17, where the whole story is told through the perspective of the Winter Friends, the non-denominational holiday heroes who share an uncanny resemblance to the Avengers.
The issue is told through a cartoon and is fun, refreshing, and perfectly encapsulates Hawkeye's character. Steve, a dog with no powers who is still a part of the Winter Friends, Steve refuses the help of his sidekick Lil and everyone else. A entertaining one-shot, the Winter Friends issue basically sums up the tone of the whole series in one short story.
1 It Uses American Sign Language
An important canonical change to the character of Hawkeye from Fraction's run is the decision to deafen Clint Barton. After being struck in the head, a ear injury from his childhood is aggravated and leaves Clint deaf, forced to rely on American Sign Language to communicate with his brother and friends. While he shuts himself off to everyone first, Clint slowly builds his confidence, and learns to live with and embrace his disability.
As Clint struggles with his hearing during the length of the series, he begins to use a hearing aid and sign more, with his translations actually being included in the comic. The inclusion of ASL in a comic book made for a great instance of representation for those that are hard-of-hearing.