Quickie - Hawkeye: My Life As A Weapon

Since his brief appearance in 2011's Thor movie and even larger role in The Avengers, Hawkeye has been in the public eye more than ever.  Citizens of the Internet also know him as the poster boy for The Hawkeye Initiative, the feminist comic book tumblr aiming to shine light on sexism in comic book art.  So he's had a pretty good couple of years, particularly as a figure that most people could not have identified a short time ago.  Last year, Matt Fraction took over writing duties on the character's solo book, and immediately sent ripples through the comics community.  The book was a hit!  People were drawn in by David Aja's striking minimalist covers, but that wasn't all.  Fraction did the character real justice, capturing his rough-around-the-edges, underdog, hero-of-the people essence perfectly.  After all, the man has no powers, much like Batman on that other super team.  Unlike Batman however, Hawkeye isn't a super star.  He's just a guy trying to do the right thing.  He leads, but only when he has to.  Combine that with a story that's more action spy thriller than superhero spandex, and you've got a real unique product on your hands.  I mean, with car chases, casinos, trysts with sexy yet mysterious women, everything.  Fraction also really does a great job of making you love the guy, by bringing his adventures close to home.  This volume covers issues 1-6 of the run (plus a Young Avengers story tagged on at the end, focused on Kate Bishop, the younger, female Hawkeye).  The first couple of story arcs don't even touch on super villainy or big crime.  Instead he's saving injured dogs and freeing his neighbors from the tyranny of crooked landlords.  The rest of the plot involves some S.H.I.E.L.D. exploits and shady dealings, but mainly focuses on his relationship with the aforementioned Bishop, who he must come to terms with as an equal.  Honestly, the word that comes to mind to describe this book is humble.  Compared to to explosive and often over-the-top adventures of most of the superhero set, this Hawkeye comes off as positively subtle, almost slice-of-life.  And that's why it shines.  It's a diamond in the rough.  And I'm looking forward to continuing it.  A-

(Hit the jump to see more of Aja's beautiful covers.)

Questions: Skim

Teen angst!  Melodrama!  Life lessons ahoy!!!  It's question time!

Questions: Pride of Baghdad

Not quite The Lion King, was it?  Onward, to the questions!

Review: Shadoweyes

Picture it: a futuristic city, its streets filled to the brim with crime, filth, and despair.  A teenage girl who can no longer stand to sit idly by and do nothing.  A strange transformation.  And Shadoweyes is born...

Questions: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Ah, finally, we will be able to discuss this book!  And what a marvelous concept, especially for fans of classic literature!  But for those who feared that antiquated English fiction would bore you, hopefully you have by now discovered that this is no dry, dusty tome.  Onward, to the questions!

Quickie - JLA: Pain of the Gods

Hey guys.  I am so sorry about my inactivity here for the past few months.  It's been crazy for me since about November, and I honestly have not read very many comics besides keeping up with the monthly issues of Saga (my preeeeeciousssss).  But, I did read this neat little book, so I'll give you the run down.  

JLA: Pain of the Gods has a pretty good concept: take your world's greatest superheroes and show what it is like on the worst day of the job.  It begins with Superman, who is shattered when he is unable to save the life of a rookie superhero who attempts to assist him in a fire rescue.  From there, each issue shows a different member of the JLA dealing with some sort of ordeal and the resulting emotional trauma.  In the end, each must realize that in their line of work, it is essential to rely on your teammates for more than just back up in a fight; they need to lean on one another during times of emotional turmoil as well.   Because honestly, who else could really understand?

Like I said, I love when superhero comics go into more subtle story concepts like this.  It's not about the fight, or saving the world from aliens, or stopping the mad scientist before the clock reaches 12.  It's about the fact that, superhero or not, these are human beings (sorta) and they have human problems on a personal level.  That being said, I think it could have been done a bit better.  Perhaps if the story were a little slower paced.  I generally liked the art, with the exception of how Wonder Woman is handled.  They did their best to make her appears well muscled and strong (which I do really appreciate) but it wasn't done well, and the result makes her body appear grotesque and distorted.  Note, I am not saying that women with muscles are grotesque, I am saying that the anatomy in this case was grotesque.  

Overall, I'd probably give this book a C+.  Great idea, mediocre execution.  But, it isn't terribly long so I still think it is worth a read if you're bored.

Questions: I Kill Giants

Hey kids, it's that time again!  I hope you guys enjoyed I Kill Giants.  What's up with that bunny-eared girl anyways?  Let's find out!