REVIEW: ‘Ultimate Hawkeye’ Issue 1

Ultimate Hawkeye Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. The prologue is written by Deniz Camp, art by Juan Frigeri, and colors by Federico Blee.

The main story is written by B. Earl and Taboo, with art by Michael Sta. Maria, colors by Alex Sinclair, and letters for the whole comic by Joe Sabino. Hawkeye goes solo, but that gets him into both trouble and a fatal test.

Ultimate Hawkeye Issue 1 is a one-shot, spinning out of the Ultimates with the youngest member. The structure is split, with a prologue crafted by the creative team on Ultimates. It’s an assassination, one that sets the tone. From that, it’s clear how violent and ruthless this issue will be. This universe does not seem to like leaving people alive. It also reveals how alone Hawkeye is going to be when he goes on his adventure. The main story doesn’t go as smoothly as the first mission, with Hawkeye knocked out and captured within a few pages.

The next stage, and the rest of the one-shot, occurs in something resembling a Saw trap, or Arcade’s Murderworld. There are multiple challenges, some that require sacrifice and pain. The pace in the prologue is slow and contemplative, as both Hawkeye and his target are considering their next move. But in the main story, the writers instill a determination, always moving forward into the next room, where another dangerous challenge awaits.

The most drastic test is at the end, when Hawkeye truly has to live up to the mantle he stole. It features a lot of references and history of the character, a reminder of the change that made this alternate universe so intriguing in the first place, with a starting ending that can feel cold and merciless. 

Ultimate Hawkeye Issue 1 is the first solo issue that any of the Ultimates have had, and it helps flesh out the characters that really are unique. Charli Ramsey is a member of the Lakota, and has been using the bow and arrow to deal payback to those who have harmed his community and family. He doesn’t have a counterpart anywhere else, which sets him apart from most on the team (alongside She-Hulk).

However, many elements about him make him similar to Clint Barton and therefore fit the idea of Hawkeye. He’s headstrong and cocky, with a penchant for getting in over his head. He’s more willing to kill, as is everyone on this Earth. He may use the technology to make the shots, but he also demonstrates resourcefulness and the ability to fight in this issue. The fact that he is so imperfect makes him such an endearing figure. The writing of the captions and the dialogue is fantastic. This ordeal is humiliating for the young man, and it fuels a burning desire for revenge. 

The art is fantastic on both sides of the story. Frigeri had been excellent on the Ultimates. It makes Hawkeye look cool and powerful, especially as he takes an almost impossible shot. The costume looks great, mixing both the classic and Ultimate designs with something that specifically fits Charli. The aftermath of the shot is gruesome and nasty.

Then Maria takes over, and the style shifts. Hawkeye attends a glamorous party that is filled with fancy masks and a sadistic decadence, before waking in a literal dungeon. Here, the control is lost, making the movements more frantic and panicked. The injuries make you flinch. Each room has new tests and a completely separate design. The challenger in the final room is a terrific recreation, almost perfectly, of a signature costume. The fight is choreographed beautifully, messy and scrappy. Survival is all that matters. 

The colors are superb. The shades for Hawkeye’s costume are vibrant. The purple is iconic for the character, and the blue is another reference to the original costume. But it’s also slightly lighter than the original color, which gives Charli his own unique palette. The lettering is the same font used in every Ultimate comic, an idea that originated during Hickman’s X-Men era and continued when he rebooted the Ultimate Universe. 

Ultimate Hawkeye Issue 1 is an unfair fight to be considered worthy. This is not a solo journey of fun and glory; instead, it’s gritty and ferocious. It pulls Charli into a test of whether he is fit to carry the name of Hawkeye, but through utterly sadistic and brutal ways. It’s filled with so much emotion and effort that it can be tiring to read, matching how the protagonist feels by the end.

Charli does get a chance to earn multiple mantles, but there’s a sad tone around how he gets that victory. But what really makes Hawkeye stand out is that he’s a guy with a bow and arrow in a world of gods, heroes, and Hulks. Charlie has that same underdog edge. 

Ultimate Hawkeye Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.