Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #159, Marvel Comics Presents #160, Marvel Comics Presents #161 (Hawkeye story only)
Cover Date: Jul-Aug 94
Title: Rocky Reunion: "Rocky Reunion" / "Bellies full of fire" / "The hungry wolf"
Credits:
Nel Yomtov - Writer
Gerald DeCaire - Penciler
Gerald DeCaire / Gerald DeCaire & Josef Rubinstein - Inker
Michael Kraiger - Assistant Editor
Richard Ashford - Editor

Review/plot:
The cover of issue #159 almost qualifies for the Hawkeye Initiative.

As you can see from the covers, this is billed as a Hawkeye story. But USAgent is effectively a co-star. And we start with a cameo by Force Works.

Force Works's team leader, Scarlet Witch, and Iron Man (who threatened to "pull rank" if she disagreed with him), have decided not to go find Hawkeye after the dissolution of the West Coast Avengers and the formation of the new team. But USAgent disobeys orders and goes looking for Hawkeye on his own. Hawkeye is currently roaming the wilderness of Tennessee, still trying to get over the death of Mockingbird.

USAgent finds Hawkeye because Hawkeye still has his Avengers communicator card. USAgent attacks without warning, and Hawkeye's response is nearly lethal.

But USAgent recovers and the fight continues. Then they settle down enough to talk for a bit. Hawkeye finds out that the West Coast Avengers have broken up. (These conversation snippets are broken up by more fighting and also USAgent nearly getting eaten by wolves.)

Hawkeye eventually agrees to return with USAgent, but he sneaks away in the middle of the night (leaving USAgent a note, and USAgent decides not to pursue further). However, Hawkeye says to himself that he will visit the team "real soon" (as soon as he finds out who stole his eyeballs and melted his face, maybe).

I always like stories where characters get together and discuss recent events from their own perspectives. Normally i'd complain about the histrionic yelling, but these are two characters for which it's entirely appropriate. In fact, since i'm #Too Online^tm, this story inspired me to do an American Chopper meme (all dialogue direct from these issues).

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This takes place after the formation of Force Works. It's said to have been only "hours since our first mission together", but that could be hyperbole.

References:

• Force Works formed and Wonder Man died in Force Works #1.
  
• The West Coast Avengers were disbanded in Avengers West Coast #102.
  
• Hawkeye says that the last few months have been a blur, thinking about "Viper and the Secret Empire...The new costume...Rover" from Hawkeye #1-4 and Mockingbird's death from Avengers West Coast #100.
  
• USAgent is mad that Hawkeye left the team after "that mess in Genosha", which is a reference to Bloodties which began in Avengers #368.
  
• Iron Man faked his death circa Iron Man #284.
  
• USAgent's parents died in Captain America #345.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

I know I’m way in the minority, but I really like the art, from what I see. It’s like a more modern version of Don Heck, who I liked from my Avengers back issues. Maybe Don Heck mixed with 90’s JRJR.

First it was the "Ask Me Anything" meme going over people's heads in the forum, now you've brought the chopper meme into continuity!

This content is affirming, and pleases me.

err, "Prove Me Wrong." Whatever!

Yeah, I don’t get it, but it made me laugh anyway.

Those close-ups like more like John Buscema to me. In fact it makes me wonder if they might be swipes

So that's what the reference to Hawkeye being in Tennessee in the Giant-Man Double Feature was about!
This story established that Hawkeye blames Tony for Mockingbird's death. Many fans thought this was idiotic. Yes, Clint is grieving! But Tony letting Rhodey take his place on the team made perfect sense since Tony was still recovering from almost dying and had to use the remote armor. Arguably, the drawbacks of using the remote armor outweighed the benefits of Tony's greater experience and scientific knowledge. Besides, is Tony really much more useful against Mephisto than Rhodey? Tony's not exactly Doctor Strange.

Rhodey's really the better choice to put on a team that's going up against Mephisto. Alcohol, women, pride... Tony has a hard time dealing with his vices, which is a major liability against such an infamous tempter.

Hawkeye also says here that Cap was the only East Coaster to attend Bobbi's funeral, while I had the same thought reading AWC#100 fnord expressed in his review, that more of them were hopefully there off-panel.

@S: ur right. It does look a lot like Buscema. I’d say buscema with Don Heck inks.