Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1988-02-01 00:11:10 |
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Solo Avengers #1
Issue(s): Solo Avengers #1
Cover Date: Dec 87
Title: "Here comes Hawkeye / Listen to the Mockingbird"
Credits:
Hawkeye
Tom DeFalco - Writer
M.D. Bright - Penciler
Josef Rubinstein - Inker
Mockingbird
Tom DeFalco - Writer
Jim Lee - Penciler
Al Williamson - Inker
Mark Gruenwald - Editor
Review/plot:
Mark Gruenwald says in the intro to this series on the lettercol page that he loves split-books. I actually dislike them. It's not just that there isn't enough room to tell a story; it's that when you have continued stories with an opening splash, a climax, and a conclusion every ten pages, the pacing feels really weird. This is the second split-book that Marvel has added to its line-up after reviving Strange Tales with Doctor Strange and Cloak and Dagger last year (Gruenwald's intro says that there was also almost a Sandman/Vision & Scarlet Witch book). What i do like about this book is that is has a rotating second feature, which allows a spotlight to shine on any current or former member of the Avengers. The first feature is always a Hawkeye story. Personally i'm not a Hawkeye fan but he's actually a fan favorite and i can't think of a better character to use on an reoccurring basis that doesn't already have his own book, except maybe the Vision & the Scarlet Witch.
The first issue kind of cheats with the format, though, by having both halves being part of the same story by Tom DeFalco. Hawkeye fights some clowns (drawn by M.D. Bright)...
...while Mockingbird fights some more goons working for the same boss as the clowns (drawn by Jim Lee).
This is in service of a story that answers the pressing question of, if Hawkeye was originally trained by the Swordsman, why was he taught archery? (Please excuse the Wonder Man hot dog scene if you're not into that sort of thing.)
The answer will astonish you!
Hawkeye's "A lie which has returned to haunt me!" is so over the top that all through the second half i was holding out hope that he was just joking.
If you want to see the instant replay of that scene, here's Jim Lee's version.
To me, the question of why the Swordsman taught Hawkeye archery is pretty uninteresting. The answer is because Hawkeye showed an aptitude for archery. Or because the Swordsman figured they didn't need two people doing the same thing. Or because so what? We didn't need to insert something further into Hawkeye's back story. He was already trained by a villain; it's a shocking secret that we already learned. "No wait, not that shocking villain but a different one!" does not make for an exciting twist, and my preference is to avoid unnecessary inserts into a character's backstory whenever possible.
Note that this new villain's name is "Trick Shot" (two words), whereas i'll be using "Trickshot" to refer to Hawkeye's (currently dead) brother, who will eventually get trained by this guy.
Quality Rating: C-
Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Trick Shot
Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP place the Hawkeye stories from Solo Avengers #1-9 all between West Coast Avengers #31-32. Next issue continues the Trick Shot story but takes place a "week" later.
References:
- The cover of issue #1 promises us Mockingbird's first solo adventure, but that's not really true, as we're reminded in an origin retelling for her that includes her time as Huntress in Marvel Super Action #1.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
I'm a hawk-eye fan but I can understand why he'd have trouble headlining a book. I actually like this opening storyline, it has a few twists and turns. The Jim Lee artwork on the Mockingbird story is absolutely amazing (her catching the flaming arrow with her boots is cool).
I don't mind Trickshot reconned into Hawk's origin. (Much like Stick being added to Daredevil's it makes more sense that he'd have some training) Swordsman could teach him accuracy but needed a teacher to really help him with bows. In spite of what hollywood thinks, archery is difficult and not some thing you just pick up easily.
And they needed some type of "important" storyline to kick this series off.
Mmm, epic superhero hotdog chowing!
The problem isn't just "why would Swordsman teach him archery", it's that the Swordsman has never shown any proficiency in archery. Revealing the Swordsman taught Clint archery would be like revealing Bruce Banner taught Jennifer Walters law.
So you think ten pages makes the pacing feel weird- I can't wait until you start reviewing Marvel Comics Presents.
I read the first few issues on this series real-time, mainly because I loved Bright's artwork back then. I thought it was amusing that Trick Shot was a fatty. You didn't see that in comics a lot, understandably. Yeah you had Kingpin but he was an anomaly due to the whole "fat or muscle" grey area. Plus Doc Ock but his mechanical arms did all of the work. Here you have a guy who's physical but he's also overweight.
I really liked the concept of this series better than the series itself. I was a Hawkeye fan and I love the idea of seeing the other Avengers (especially those not on the current teams). But a lot of the stories turned out to be rather pedestrian and the art was all over the place.
Michael's comment is especially hilarious as I am to this point right as fnord is reviewing MCP and it's clear that fnord would rather be slamming his head against a wall.
