The lovebirds come to terms with their break-up as Hawkeye confronts Crossfire in prison and Mockingbird ties up some loose ends with Skrulls in the Savage Land.
The Good
Before anything else, I want to say it's really refreshing that Lopez elects to use nine-panel grids so often in this book. There's such an effective rhythm achieved when the storytelling precedes in these kind of precise increments. And it's those precise increments that need special commendation because they infuse every single moment of this with such emotional oomph. Whether it's Hawkeye's pep talk with Cap or his chilling face-off with Crossfire, or Mockingbird's bittersweet reunion with her family or her revenge on the last remaining Skrull, there's enough drama here to sustain five books.
The Bad
Absolutely nothing, except that I really hope this isn't the end of the title. The letter page at the end says that Hawkeye & Mockingbird has run its course to give way to the Widowmaker crossover with Black Widow and, while that storyline sounds like it's going to be cool, I'll be upset if this book doesn't come back once the arc's run its course.
The Verdict - 5/5
I really, really don't want this book to end. It's been one of my favorite Marvel titles and its excellence hasn't diminished at all over any of these issues. If you're reading this, listen to me. Go back and pick up the back issues. Buy the trade whenever it comes out. Write in to Marvel. Send a message that you enjoy this kind of book, a lot, and vote with your wallet. This comic's too good to let go of!
