The Ultimates has been firing on all cylinders, delivering great comics from issue #1. Writer Deniz Camp and artist Juan Frigeri have quickly made this the must-read book of the new Ultimate Universe as the clock ticks for supervillain The Maker to return. With the clock ticking, the Ultimates rush to fill their ranks, and in The Ultimates #5, Hawkeye takes central focus.
As with previous issues, The Ultimates #5 puts an interesting twist on a marquee character. This time, it’s Hawkeye. This issue not only delves into where Clint maybe but sets up a new kind of Hawkeye that feels modern while establishing a new Native American hero.
You can tell right off the bat, as the issue opens with quotes from Tȟašúŋke Witkó, “Crazy Horse,” and Theodore Roosevelt. It’s a reminder of the racism whites had toward Native Americans and the notion that Native Americans hoped for peace.
Due to its structure, this issue feels a little simpler than previous chapters. It opens with Iron Lad informing Captain America that the weapons he made for Hawkeye had fallen into the wrong hands. He is not necessarily a villain, but Iron Lad doesn’t trust that he can be the hero they need. Cap is asked to take the weapons back, and much of the rest of the issue is spent with Hawkeye and Captain America confronting each other.
Hero fighting hero!
Credit: Marvel
A couple of things work well in the issue, the first of which is the various cool arrows Hawkeye uses. Juan Frigeri gets to show off all sorts of arrows with incredibly powerful abilities. They are used against Captain America, so we see Cap narrowly avoid them or even take the hits on the reverse side. These arrows do a good job supporting a bow and arrow hero as a valid one for a modern team.
Another element is Hawkeye’s rebelliousness and how his approach is needed in this world. The Ultimates are more of a terrorist organization than a superhero team since they’re fighting government establishments, and Hawkeye fits right in. His dialogue is good, too, and he backs that approach up. While Iron Lad and Captain America are more by the books, Camp makes you believe Hawkeye is a bit more dangerous and a risk-taker.
For fans looking for larger plot progression in the world we get a few tidbits. A few heroes are on other missions, reminding us this team is doing a lot each month. Cap references something in the past, for instance, and the entire cliffhanger hinges on an important character that works for The Maker entering the series.
The Ultimates #5 works best as a solid argument as to why Hawkeye is a good contributor to the team and a necessary member given his attitude. This issue establishes he kind of thinking these heroes need to succeed in a world where they are the villains.
You must be logged in to post a comment.