When Matt Fraction and David Aja began their Hawkeye comic series in 2012, they reinvented the character for a new generation in a way that—over a decade later—has become a classic. They stripped away the world-ending stakes of being part of the Avengers and instead focused on the mundane, day-to-day life of Clint Barton (and more often than not, Kate Bishop). But Clint, being Hawkeye, never finds himself in mundane situations. He is a street-level hero living in a rundown apartment in Brooklyn who’s good at what he does but constantly finds himself in over his head. This critically acclaimed run shows that it isn’t being an Avenger that makes Clint a hero; it’s his heart and tenacity to fight for those he loves, no matter how insignificant the situation may seem. Hawkeye is a masterful blend of witty banter, heartfelt moments, and gritty action, all filtered through David Aja’s unique art style that perfectly blends the urban, grounded tone of the series with Clint’s colorful life.
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Fraction and Aja collaboration in this seminal series created some of the most memorable stories, scenes, and one-liners in modern comics.
5. Hawkeye #1
The first issue immediately sets the stage for the entire run and does so by starting out with a bang. We’re introduced to Clint as he’s free-falling from a building lamenting that he’s just “an orphan raised by carnies fighting with a stick and a string from the paleolithic era” without any superpowers, magical items, or fancy tech. He’s a hero who’s more of a mess than an Avenger, but his heart is in the right place. He’s not saving the world; he’s saving his neighbors, even when he winds up laid up in the hospital in a full body cast.
The most emotional and important moment of Hawyeke #1 is when Clint befriends the Tracksuit Mafia’s dog, Arrow, with a slice of pizza. It’s a small, kind gesture that leads to a much bigger act of heroism. After the dog gets shot trying to protect Clint, the Avenger rushes him to a vet in the middle of the pouring rain, demanding that they save the dog at all cost. After he pulls through, Clint renames him Lucky. This single act of compassion becomes a recurring and heartwarming theme throughout the series.
4. Hawkeye #9
After Kate Bishop has a falling out with Clint and leaves for California, Clint is left on his own and the chaos of his life takes center stage. To deal with Clint’s escalating problems with the Russian mob, three of the most significant women from his past show up: Natasha Romanoff (“The work wife”), Jessica Drew (“the friend-girl), and Bobbi Morse (“the ex-wife”). Seeing these three powerful Marvel women team up and come together for one thing they have in common—a love for Clint—gives him a much-needed support system when he needed it the most.
This issue is a masterclass in character work and humor. The banter between Clint and the women is sharp and witty and quickly tires him out. It’s here that one of his most iconic lines is born: “This sucks. I’m going back to bed.” The issue also circles back to a running gag from the first issue where people think he’s the Iron Fist, much to his frustration. Even if his neighbors or the people he protects have no idea who Hawkeye is, leading to an understandable deflated ego, Clint continues to do the right thing over and over again.
3. Hawkeye #3
This issue puts the dynamic between Clint and his protégé, Kate Bishop, front and center. It’s filled with moments of hilarious back-and-forth, particularly when Kate is examining Clint’s infamous and varied collection of trick arrows. Clint’s nonchalant, deadpan response to her question about why he would need a boomerang arrow — “Because, boomerangs” — is an out-of-pocket piece of dialogue that captures the series’ offbeat humor.
This issue also depicts a high-stakes freeway chase scene, with Clint and Kate using his arsenal of oddball arrows to outsmart the dimwitted mafia. As it turns out, the earlier mention of the boomerang arrow isn’t just a quirky gag, as Kate winds up using that exact trick arrow to escape a sticky situation.
2. Hawkeye #19
This is one of the most powerful and unique issues of the series. After another brutal showdown resulting in a head wound, Clint’s deafness becomes a central theme. The issue is told almost entirely through American Sign Language (ASL). It’s a bold creative choice that has never been done before and puts the reader in Clint’s shoes.
Clint’s brother, Barney, returns to help him, acting as a translator and a much-needed emotional support, even though Clint continually tries to push him away. At the climax of the issue, Clint has a renewed sense of purpose and rallies the residents of his building with a powerful ASL speech translated by Barney in a truly moving moment. When a neighbor asks how he will stop the villains, Clint replies with a single sign: “we.”
1. Hawkeye #11
This fan-favorite issue is an unforgettable and unexpected departure from the norm, told entirely from the perspective of Lucky the Pizza Dog. The world is seen through a dog’s eyes, represented by visuals of scents, tastes, and a handful of words Lucky understands. It’s innovative storytelling at its best, and it pays off in spades, revealing a deeper, more emotional layer to the story.
As it turns out, this is not just a bottle episode or a comedic one-off. Lucky’s keen senses and allows him to pick up on details that Cline and Kate miss. He realizes that someone is missing from Clint’s life long before anyone else does, leading to the reveal that one of the tenants of Clint’s building was murdered. The ability to make a beloved pet—one who has no magical powers or advanced tech—a significant character that pushes the plot forward in a meaningful way is as creative as it is fantastic storytelling.
Have you read Fraction and Aja’s Hawkeye? What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
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Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
