C2E2: Fraction Hits the Streets with "Hawkeye"

[SomeBodyAtCBR]

I don't know....this seems like a lot of worrying for the sake of worrying. The first issue isn't out, and it's by an acclaimed team who worked well together. The premise is solid and it looks mainstream enough to finally give Hawkeye that push.

And so what if this fails? Could it be any worse than his other solos? He'd still have big roles in Avengers, Avengers Assemble and be leading Secret Avengers. I think this is a great time to give him a book that explores him as a character while the Bendis books have been lacking in character growth for years. Character changes yes, but explained growth? Not at all.

As a Hawkeye fan people should be optimistic for this series. At the very least it won't hurt the character as much as his stupid run as Ronin. So just sit back and relax and look at the pretty art until we get our hands on issue 1. This isn't a drastic re-imagining of the character. This isn't character suicide. And it certainly is not the only place we'll see Hawkeye represented, so if you wind up not liking the series you have at least a 1/3 shot (as of now) of a writer writing him to your liking.

It's a great time to be a Hawkeye fan. Just stop being typical fear-mongering, change-hating Internet quarterbacks for once and enjoy the ride. And this is coming from someone who has over 2 or 3 thousands posts, mostly bitching and complaining. Trust me, this isn't one of those times we should be bitching and complaining.

[Sean Fahey]

I'll give this a shot.

Loved Fraction (Brubaker) and Aja's work on "Immortal Iron Fist." Love the fact that these are going to be "one and done" stories -- much like "Jonah Hex" used to be before 52. Pick up a comic, get a complete story. Love the non-powered heroes.

[motteditor]

I personally hate that he, for instance, made Pepper Potts into a rapist.

??? What/when was this? (I don't follow Iron Man.)

[marvelprince]

Why are people convinced this is going to be like Grell's run? Unless you're looking at it on the surface and just seeing grim archer type dealing with street level crime. Grell's run isolated Ollie from the world of our superheroes, Fraction is going to embrace that aspect but show us the other side of Clint's life. Ollie also killed during that run, something I don't see Clint doing. Plus their mindsets were completely different at the outset. Ollie had no interest in anyone else's problems and essentially was dragged back into the game, here Clint is actively looking to do good. This will clearly be its own animal.

As for the pitch, I love it. Its everything I ever wanted from a Hawkeye title. I'm even looking forward to Kate Bishop, who's my least favorite Young Avenger. The few times I remember really enjoying her was in the Young Avengers Presents issue written by Fraction which featured her and Clint.

[SomeBodyAtCBR]

I also love that Aja seems to be able to handle this new outfit. I wasn't in love with it at first, and others make it look God awful with their inability to draw sunglasses, but the cover to Issue 2 might be the most beautiful artwork of Hawkeye I've ever seen.

[NamorsTrident]

I'm looking forward to this. Hawkeye is one of those characters who "should" be in the forefront but for one reason or another has never settled there. Hopefully this series will change that.

I also don't mind Marvel trying to push him like they are. Often CBR's complain about characters not getting enough of a push but when a character is given a full frontal assault of recognition we are quick to complain that they are being pushed to much. It's a lose, lose situation. I'm not reading every book Hawkeye is in but those that I am he isn't taking anything away from the story. In fact I find him a welcomed presence so for the life of me I don't see what the big deal truly is.

[marvelprince]

I'm looking forward to this. Hawkeye is one of those characters who "should" be in the forefront but for one reason or another has never settled there. Hopefully this series will change that.

I also don't mind Marvel trying to push him like they are. Often CBR's complain about characters not getting enough of a push but when a character is given a full frontal assault of recognition we are quick to complain that they are being pushed to much. It's a lose, lose situation. I'm not reading every book Hawkeye is in but those that I am he isn't taking anything away from the story. In fact I find him a welcomed presence so for the life of me I don't see what the big deal truly is.

Exactly! Its a damned if you and damned if you don't type of situation. Oh well, I plan to support this.

[SomeBodyAtCBR]

Exactly! Its a damned if you and damned if you don't type of situation. Oh well, I plan to support this.

Exactly. I've been hyped since I read the news last night. Fraction isn't my favorite either, but I love more of his work than I hate (I like IM, IIF and Defenders but hate his Thor/X-Men) so I'm still optimistic about this. People just need to stop the mass hysteria. Myself included sometimes.

[shamus]

really dislike the costume
would have awesome to see aja do the old hawkeye costume justice

agreed. I prefer the old costume to this bland guy with a bow

[shamus]

Maybe its because we are Hawkeye fans that we aren't interested in this version. It's not for the established fans. It's trying to broaden the market.

[Doudoul Tala]

So which universe does this take place in?

[SomeBodyAtCBR]

Maybe its because we are Hawkeye fans that we aren't interested in this version. It's not for the established fans. It's trying to broaden the market.

Aside from the costume, what's different about this version that we know of? No mention of Oddball? No doggy sidekick?

[Hambone]

Shouldn't this be titled "Hawkeyes," plural?

I don't know, I hate this costume update even more then "Ms. Captain Marvel's" new look. Can't see myself picking it up unless the writing is absolutely stellar.

[SomeBodyAtCBR]

Shouldn't this be titled "Hawkeyes," plural?

I don't know, I hate this costume update even more then "Ms. Captain Marvel's" new look. Can't see myself picking it up unless the writing is absolutely stellar.

You're right. I'm going to boycott Hawkeye until he goes back to wearing this gem:

[Cowtools]

No, people really hated his X-men run, and weren't fond of his Thor, and I personally hate that he, for instance, made Pepper Potts into a rapist. But Fraction has a lot of people who really like his work and PoV, too, and I think event writing is a thankless task so I mostly give him a pass on Fear Itself. I do think this is… well, not the best time to launch a Hawkeye book, given the fact that the comics market has been struggling, but, definitely, in wider media Hawkeye is bigger than he's ever been, and it makes sense to throw all they've got at him right now to see if they strike upon something. (I am a bit saddened that they don't seem to be giving Black Widow the same treatment, both because I'm a woman who wants to read comic books about women, and because I just like her better so there.) Putting Fraction and Aja on this book does get more people looking at it than McCann/Lopez would, which they need if they're going to make a Hawkeye book any kind of success. That doesn't mean that the finished product will be better, but yeah.

I absolutely agree that they should be giving Black Widow the same kind of push. They're mad if they don't. Maybe she'll be on that rumoured all-female team.

I will be picking this book up though. Fear Itself sucked, but Defenders and Iron Man rock; plus it has my favourite Young Avenger in it.

But do you mind clarifying what you meant by that highlighted statement? I've read all of Fraction's Iron Man, but my memory is fuzzy.