Silence of the Hands
Finally, after a 3 month delay since the last issue, Hawkeye #19 hits the stands. Was it worth the wait? That is going to be up to you, but I can say that seeing David Aja’s art again, just made everything right in the world. When we last left Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, he had just taken a shot to the side of the head, and was left in a pool of his own blood. We start this issue with Clint in the hospital, and the doctor writing a note. There are no word balloons and you quickly realize why that is, when the doctor reveals that Hawkeye is deaf, at least temporarily. From this point forward, Clint only communicates in sign language, but what the artist does is simply amazing. Aja draws out all of the signs and the reader will either have to learn sign language or use the art and context to determine what is being said.
You can take this one of two ways. Either you think this is a fantastic storytelling device, which gives you a glimpse of what it’s like to be disabled, or an annoyance as you will have no clue what is being said throughout most of the issue. I for one think the latter, and though I did not understand a lot of what Clint or Barney (Hawkeye’s brother) said, I always got the message from the art and context. I also enjoy the challenge presented by the book, to look up the signs and learn something new. However, I understand that some people may not share this sentiment and feel confused by the issue. This is a legitimate criticism of the book, but I feel, in order to take bold steps like this, as a creator, you have to take risks. This book does just that.
Aja’s art is what really tells the story, but don’t think for a second that because there is not a lot of dialogue, that there is a lack of writing in this book. We get a touching story of brothers at their lowest point, pulling together and punching the shit out of each other. Well, for a bit. After that, there’s a touching moment were the two shoot some gang members up with arrows, which just touches your soul. At the end, we get a setup for what will be the final two issues of this series, as Hawkeye rallies the troops to fight back. Blood has been spilled on both sides and this story is coming to a head, and if writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja can stick the landing, this one will go down as one of the best Marvel stories to date.
Read more reviews at http://www.geekretaliation.net/
