Hawkeye, the world's greatest marksman, is reunited with his ex-wife - super-spy Mockingbird! Thought dead for years, Mockingbird is eager to punch some bad guys. But when Clint tags along on her mission, can they ignore their feelings long enough to save the day? Or will old foes Crossfire and the Phantom Rider destroy them first? Plus, when Mockingbird is targeted for death along with Hawkeye's former flame the Black Widow, Hawk and Mock must discover who's killing Marvel's superspies...and the shock ending will leave Clint blindsided! COLLECTING: NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION 1-4, HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD 1-6, WIDOWMAKER 1-4, HAWKEYE: BLINDSPOT 1-4, HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD SAGA
Jim McCann is an award-winning writer of comic books, television, and theatre. He worked on several films and music videos before he was accepted into the ABC Daytime Writer Development Program. During that time he wrote for the popular ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. Upon moving to New York, he found a position at Marvel Comics, where he remained for six years, working in publicity and PR.
He wrote several critically acclaimed Marvel HAWKEYE series before branching out into creating his own comics and graphic novels, as well as other projects. His first graphic novel, RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, won the comic book industry's top award: Best Original Graphic Album. He has since gone on to create hit series such as the space-heist LOST VEGAS and the ongoing top-rated series MIND THE GAP, both published through Image Comics.
McCann earned his BA in Communication Arts, Electronic Media as well as a double minor in English and Theatre from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.
He currently resides in Los Angeles, where he is represented by Chelsea Reed at CAA and managed by Stan Spry at The Cartel.
"Boys, I know we're in a recession and all, but crime really doesn't pay . . . Unless you count pain as a form of currency, in which case - you're about to get rich quick." -- Clint 'Hawkeye' Barton, sneakily (and snarkily?) interrupting a group of mooks during a stolen weapons transaction on the city streets
In terms of non-stop action and appropriate related melodrama, Hawkeye: Avenging Archer is the best graphic novel that I've read so far this calendar year. Collecting four distinct and separate mini-series in one mammoth volume (nearly 500 pages!), the only complaint I have about this book is that Bobbi 'Mockingbird' Morse should receive star billing alongside our title hero - she has a role of equal importance in three of these four stories, and that's her striking the sultry pose on the cover. In a colorful Marvel universe filled with super-powered characters, it was refreshing for these two down-to-earth (but no less heroic) types - relying only on their skills, weapons, brains, and each other - to be the leads. It is surely no coincidence that at times their by-play and partnership, whether it be personal or professional, recalls the effective pairing of Green Arrow and Black Canary over at DC.
Writers Jim McCann (handling the lion's share of the work here) and/or Duane Swierczynski (who hit my radar late last year regarding his excellent, Philadelphia-set crime fiction novels) have churned out some entertaining and energetic espionage adventure-drama in the three initial stories, the last of which also features Black Widow as a co-star. Then there's the fitting finale, which features a dark 'skeletons in the closet' / personal demons-type of storyline. I had figured, due to its extreme length, that this volume would take about a week to finish, and instead I read it in less than three days. Did you ever not want a book to end? Well, that's how I felt about this one! It may be a really groan-worthy way to close this review, but Hawkeye: Avenging Archer repeatedly hit the bullseye.
Collects the first 4 Hawkeye miniseries following Hawkeye's return from the dead all written by Jim McCann. They are all pretty solid stories especially the first 3 that feature Mockingbird and very good art from David Lopez. The last story about Hawkeye going blind is not as good, nor is Paco Diaz's art.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I've been trying to read up on all the past Mockingbird titles, and while this is called Hawkeye a lot of the issues are from Mockingbird and Hawkeye (or Hawkeye and Mockingbird, who cares).
Honestly my biggest complaint was that in the Black Widow storyline there were unnecessary boobs that had nothing to do with anything. Making Mockingbird, Black Widow, and the female villain (no spoiler) have their front zippers down to their navels was just excessive and literally distracting.
Hawkeye is one of those characters that is special in a heroic way. As McCann says in the introduction that we can connect with Hawkeye because he doesn't have super powers. He may have luck, but he is a man that his talents can be achievable with practice and study.
These stories are like family reunion (The first is named The Reunion) Mockingbird's return from Skrull captivity after the Secret Invasion - she had been taken three years earlier, one of the first (after Alicia Master years and years ago from the Fantastic Four) There may have been others, my memory and my reading have been spotting till this past few months.
You got to love Hawkeye though. Big hearted, tries to do the right thing all the time, screws up a lot, kind of a horn dog too, but is totally in love with Bobbi Morse.
I can read any and all Hawkeye stories, but they are not easy to find collected (Avengers Solo only collects the first 10 issues and nothing after that.) Of course his stint in Avengers and West Coast Avengers are easier to find, but they aren't just him.
He and widow and Mockingbird, along with Tony Stark, and a few others, are just normal guys with gadgets. People fighting the good fight.
I had so, SO much fun with this. As a self-proclaimed enthusiast of all things Hawkeye and a bit of a Marvel comics poser, this was definitely an education in one of my favorite characters of all time - and one of my new favorites, Bobbi Morse. I knew a bit about her from her brief appearances in the Fraction/Aja run, but I truly fell in love with Bobbi as she appeared in Agents of Shield. This comic version was a whole new Bob, and I’m happy to say I loved her just as much. Whilst I love Bobbi and Hunter as a couple to bits, nothing beats the banter and quick wit that Mockingbird shares with Hawkeye (still could do without that weird “birdie” nickname tho lol). Overall, this series filled in a lot of gaps in essential comics lore for me, and was a really great read in its own right. Jim McCann’s passionate introduction almost made me cry - there is just something so, so special that the creative world has found in Clint Barton, and I truly hope with all my heart that new generations of superhero fans for years to come keep up the unique love and dedication that so many have for this profoundly human character.
This started out really, really strong. As I was reading, the quality of the storylines dropped slowly. They never got bad, but by the time I reached Blindspot, it was not as enjoyable to read. The art in the aforementioned was really bad too. Everything felt dis-proportioned, and that storyline as a whole felt out of place compared to the others. I understand it was wrapping up and a continuation, but it was better as a standalone limited series than a part of this collection. I didn't see much Mockingbird, who was at Hawkeye's side throughout the entire run.
All that aside, Jim McCann can still write a damn good Hawkeye. I would recommend the limited series this collected to my friends.
Oh! Also! While I love Fraction's aesthetic, it made no sense for his stylized bullseye to act as page dividers between series, and his stylized logo on the front doesn't match with the rest of the art styles
Because Hawkeye and Mockingbird are two of the few Marvel heroes to not actually have super powers, this steers closer to the spy caper end of Marvel (albeit one brushing up against undead ghost cowboys and the like). As such it’s good campy fun, but never feels remotely revelatory like the Matt Fraction stories which manage to find untold new stories to tell through grounded reality and adventurous story telling. The art is very variable too, which is horrifying when you consider the sheer wealth of artists who Marvel could employ. There’s a particularly egregious issue of the arc involving Black Widow and her ex husband where none of the anatomy works and the artist’s desire to draw the heroines in increasingly impossible buxom poses become more and more redolent of Kate Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant strips
Absolutely okay collection. Which considering I'm not particularly a Hawkeye fan, was a little better than I expected. The bits between Bobbi and Clint were definitely the highpoints. But mostly this book was all surface, albeit with good enough writing and art. Nothing was done wrong, the characters basically made sense. But the book dragged and at the end I still didn't care about Hawkeye. Bobbi's story on the otherhand was somewhat enhanced. But not bad, just not great.
They packed a TON of story in this collection. That being said, the quality varies quite a bit. Not bad, but a little disappointing. Some good high points though.
This was an unexpectedly huge book with several different stories. The beginning half was better in comparison, but the art was solid throughout. As an older reader I found myself missing the Marvel of old in flashbacks as I prefer the costume designs of the Grunwald era over the modern Marvel age. I'm not at all familiar with Jim McCann's work but as his forward attests, there probably wasn't a bigger fan of Hawkeye than him and his passion in the writing truly showed.
It felt very long when I started, but all the stories ended up tied together so it made sense to put them all together in a giant volume. The art was fine, the stories took a while to get interested in because I wasn't really familiar with Mockingbird and Hawkeye wasn't quite who I was used to from other books. My thoughts on the different stories are in my comments as I read.
It's mostly a 4-star book, but the last mini collected here, Blindspot, is overly long (at 4 issues, no less!), and filled with boring pontificating about Hawkeye being Hawkeye.