RETRO REVIEW: Barton Vs. the World in Hawkeye (2012) #6
In Hawkeye (2012) #6 by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Matt Hollingsworth, and Chris Eliopoulous, Clint Barton must decide whether he’s going to cave to the pressure of the Tracksuit Mafia, or if he’s instead going to stand tall to protect those who live in his building from the abusive demands they’ve issued (bro)!
Hawkeye #6. Photo Credit: Marvel Unlimited.
Issue 6 a turning-point in the 2012 Hawkeye series… and it serves as one of the key points of inspiration for the ongoing Hawkeye series on Disney+. Let’s check it out, Marvel Blog True Believers!
Six Days in Barton’s Life
This issue focuses much more on Barton than on Kate Bishop (although she does play an important role at a key moment of the story), following up on the issues he’s gotten himself embroiled in over his apartment building after issues 5 and 6 focused on a S.H.I.E.L.D.-centered subplot.
“Six Days in the Life Of.” Photo Credit: Marvel Unlimited.
Six different days are featured in this story, but they aren’t featured in a straightforward way. We jump around a lot in the timeline, with flashbacks used to explain why Barton made certain decisions, or to reveal how certain things transpired.
More Tracksuit Mafia, bro. Photo Credit: Marvel Unlimited.
While this chronology does create some narrative tension, I wonder if this story couldn’t have been told just as effectively by presenting each of the six days in chronological order.
Barton engages in some important (but exhausting) Avenger-ing. Photo Credit: Marvel Unlimited.
However, one thing’s for certain: Aja’s art shines throughout this issue, which packs as much information as possible into each and every page.
Hawkguy was on M*A*S*H? Photo Credit: Marvel Unlimited.
This is also the first time we hear Grills call Barton “Hawkguy,” a nickname he will carry for the rest of the run. Furthermore, this issue cements the Tracksuit Mafia as worthy foes for Hawkguy, not just joke characters who say “bro” a lot. Barton might actually be in over his head… but he’s lucky that he has Bishop around to remind him what being an Avenger is all about!
Hawkguy #6
If you’d like to read Hawkeye #6, it’s available right now on the Marvel Unlimited app – in fact, you can even read the letters pages of the issue, which include a whole freaking playlist from Aja this time!
DJ David Aja’s playlist. Photo Credit: Marvel Unlimited.
Have you had a chance to read this issue? What did you think, Marvel Blog True Believers? Let us know in the comment section!
