Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1 Review

Writer: Kelly Thompson / Artist: Stefano Raffaele / Marvel Comics [quote_simple] “I need fake n***** to get way back James Harden with the range on me n***** way back Homie start switchin’ lanes, I thought we went way back” -Travis Scott[/quote_simple] The leveled-up Kate Bishop meets her mentor/messy older brother figure Clint Barton in his youth. The circumstances however are less than ideal. Marvel’s best marksman have been transported to a remote island for a free for all. It’s Battle Royale, except the goal is to hit a target on belts everyone is wearing in order to eliminate them from the competition (the competitors quantum leap away once eliminated).

Kate meeting young Clint (having no idea who she is) means everyone has been pulled from different periods in time. The heart of this issue is Kate getting to see how similar Clint is to her at his current younger age. Kelly Thompson shows that even when Clint doesn’t know Kate yet, he already senses a kindred spirit in her and finds her easy to relate to, even with her terrible cover alias as she tries not to butterfly effect the past. Thompson is a master at fitting in nods to the Aja and Fraction Hawkeye run with throwback references to the boomerang arrow and Domitian. Further proof that doing that homework and knowing all elements of the craft that came before you can only benefit your own work and the fans of these characters. My absolute favorite part of the issue is the legend that proceeds the other deadly marks…