WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Old Man Hawkeye #3 by Ethan Sacks and Marco Checchetto, in stores now.

In Old Man Hawkeye, Clint Barton is on a quest for revenge and redemption.

We're not exactly sure what happened in his past, but we know that it's enough for the former Avenger (who recently learned his sight is quickly deteriorating) to go on a last-minute killing spree before all is said and done. We do know Natasha Romanoff died in his arms when all the supervillains united under the leadership of the Red Skull. We also know that nearly all of the world's heroes are dead. And we know that Hawkeye survived... somehow. But the question remains: What, exactly, happened to Clint and Natasha?

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Whatever it was, it was enough to send Clint Barton out for blood. So far, Clint's quest has seen him take on faceless goons and henchmen, bodies he didn't hesitate to drop as he's raced against time and his own weakening skills to accomplish his goal. But Issue #3 of the series sees the hero formerly known as Hawkeye come face-to-face with one of his main targets, an old friend and ally from his days as part of the Thunderbolts team: Erik Josten, aka Atlas.

Hawkeye and Atlas first found themselves on the same side when the avenging archer became the leader of the villains-turned-heroes super-team known as the Thunderbolts in the mid-90s. Hawkeye, who was once a criminal himself, knew all too well what it was like to seek to answer to a higher calling, to fight for good and justice. This made him the ideal candidate for the team of reformed supervillains, and it's what made him develop a strong bond with the members of his team, including Atlas.

However, the dystopian future of Old Man Hawkeye #3 paints a gruesome end to this old Marvel friendship. Clint finds himself in an derelict carnival known as Arcade's Murderworld where he seeks to find the "Biggest Man in the World." When the two former Thunderbolts meet, there is a sense of dread between them. Both know why Clint has found Atlas, and both know there's only one possible end to their encounter. For a brief moment, nostalgia seeps in, as they reminisce about the first time they fought one another, all those years ago.

Before long, it's clear to the readers that Atlas, who once called himself a hero, joined the Red Skull's army in their attack against the world's superheroes in a bid of self-preservation. But Clint sees it for what this treachery really was: a betrayal. Next, Atlas activates his powers, turns gigantic -- and Clint starts firing off his arrows.

As soon as the fight starts, we see that these two, who were once friends, are not pulling their punches. In fact, they're looking to put the other down, permanently. But while Hawkeye is facing an opponent a hundred times his size, he still shows that he has a few tricks up his sleeve. Finding himself on top of his downed target, Hawkeye doesn't hesitate. "Do it," Atlas begs. And Hawkeye obliges. With a panel flashing back to a time when both heroes were teammates, the scene takes on a whole new weight. Clint eliminates his target, but it doesn't stop him from shedding a tear.

This marks a brutal end to a friendship that had begun in a simpler, brighter time. But the world of Old Man Hawkeye is gritty and brutal. It's devoid of hope and light. It leaves heroes fallen, good men shattered and old friendships, broken.

KEEP READING: Will Old Man Hawkeye Show Up in Avengers: Infinity War?