Comic Review: Hawkeye: Kate Bishop #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Marieke Nijkamp

Artists: Enid Balam & Brittany Peer

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

With the release of the new Hawkeye series on Disney+ today, it isn’t surprising to see Marvel give the MCU’s big new character a new solo series. Kate Bishop has finally made her MCU debut, so Hawkeye: Kate Bishop #1 couldn’t have any better timing. Since 2016, Kate Bishop has primarily been written Kelly Thompson (Hawkeye and West Coast Avengers), so it will be interesting to see Marvel newcomer Marieke Nijkamp’s take on the fan favorite. Nijkamp’s writing is accompanied by art by Enid Balam, colors by Brittany Peer, and letters by Joe Caramagna.

Kate is ready to go back to New York after her solo and team stints in LA. First, she has one more job to do. She gets an invitation to a fancy mansion on the way to New York, and the invitation isn’t as it seems. The majority of the issue is full of exposition, but it is still entertaining. Nijkamp has a solid grasp of the character’s voice throughout. Kate is still full of quips and is constantly trying to be a better person. The majority of the issue is full of Kate’s monologue, which does a solid job of introducing new readers to the character while establishing the new status quo.

The issue does plenty to set up the story, but it falls short in being as compelling as it could be. That’s not to say that this isn’t a good read, it just lacks any real excitement through most of the issue. The ending has a solid hook though, promising some good times in the next few chapters.

Since the Fraction run, Hawkeye comics have always been fun but also dramatic. That continues in this debut in large part due to the expressive art of Enid Balam & Brittany Peer. Kate and the supporting cast are all wildly expressive. The faces and poses all have a slice of life quality to them that lends itself well to the issue’s humor. Brittany Peer’s bright colors keep everything fun and light-hearted. The text boxes, word balloons, and font choices are all fantastic, giving the characters and their text messages. Joe Caramagna’s lettering ties the visuals together exceptionally well.

It’s not the best debut of a Kate Bishop comic, but it does what it needs to do to establish this new series as a memorable one. Fans of the character will want to jump in to see where this series goes, while those who want to get to know Kate will get a good idea of what makes Kate special.