***Contains Spoilers***
Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye is, hands down, one of the best comic runs I’ve ever read. It follows Clint Barton, the Avenger who’s just a guy with a bow, as he navigates street-level crime, bad decisions, and a lot of personal baggage. Told across multiple timelines and perspectives, the story jumps between Clint’s attempts to keep a building out of the hands of the Tracksuit Mafia (bro) and his partnership with the ever-capable Kate Bishop. The run is packed with unique storytelling, humor, and some of the most inventive single issues in modern comics.
What makes this run so special is the way Fraction and artist David Aja play with narrative structure. The first issue sets the tone immediately, bouncing between past and present, giving the reader puzzle pieces that eventually fit together. The Christmas issue, where the days are scrambled, feels chaotic in the best way and ends with an in-universe cartoon that somehow ties everything together. Issue #11, told entirely from Lucky the Pizza Dog’s perspective, might be my favorite single comic ever—brilliantly crafted and genuinely moving. Issue #19, which portrays Clint’s deafness in a way I’ve never seen before in comics, is another standout. It’s storytelling that isn’t just clever—it’s deeply immersive.
Then there’s the Tracksuit Mafia, a gang of idiotic but dangerous thugs who somehow manage to be both hilarious and intimidating. Every “bro” out of their mouths made me laugh, even as they kept proving to be a real threat to Clint’s life. And of course, Kate Bishop is an absolute scene-stealer. She’s not just a sidekick—she’s a fully realized character who can hold her own, often proving to be the more competent Hawkeye.
The one downside? The run gets a little messy toward the end. With delays and shifts in focus, the story sometimes becomes hard to follow, and there are moments where the momentum stumbles. But even with that, it never loses its emotional core.
This is a five-star comic run, no question. It’s stylish, heartfelt, funny, and experimental in all the right ways. Whether you’re a longtime Hawkeye fan or just looking for a superhero story that breaks the mold, Hawkeye by Matt Fraction is an absolute must-read.
Feature Image Hawkeye #3 cover art by David Aja
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