Comic Review: Old Man Hawkeye #7

Old Man Hawkeye #7

Marvel Comics

Writer: Ethan Sacks

Artists: Marco Checchetto & Ibraim Roberson

Wow. Just… Wow. Taking place in the “Old Man Logan” universe, Old Man Hawkeye has been a pretty great series so far. We get to explore new corners of this semi-familiar universe, from a different perspective. Clint finds out he’s going blind and wants to carry out revenge before he loses his sight completely. I’m going to try and avoid them, but it’s hard to talk about this issue without any spoilers. So, reader beware!

This issue takes place 45 years before the start of Old Man Hawkeye. There’s a quinjet piloted by Black Widow and a young Hawkeye, filled with both Avengers and Thunderbolts. Over Las Vegas now, Magneto destroys the ship sending everyone falling to the earth. Everyone’s fine, with multiple flyers on the team. Rallying the team, Hawkeye leads the charge against the team of villains.

I won’t lie, I sat and stared at my screen for a good few minutes trying to digest what happens in this issue. It’s no secret that Hawkeye will make it out of this mini-series alive. This is more about the journey to how we get there, and holy cow what a journey this issue takes us on! Ethan Sacks deserves a standing ovation for this issue. I know no other heroes are alive during Old Man Logan, but he made this one cut deep. Some of the methods of hero takedowns seem a little far-fetched to me. This isn’t a real complaint, just a nitpick from me.

Ibraim Roberson gives us amazing art for most of the issue. The action is what carries the issue, and it is translated well. No one looks goofy, or drawn weird. The emotion felt by Hawkeye at the death of his team is portrayed well. There’s a nice contrast in the colors (from Andres Mossa) between the last page and the rest of the issue. The battle is in the daytime with a red tone, and the last page (the only page from regular series artist Marco Checchetto) is at night with a darker blue tone to it. If I have one complaint, it’s that for an issue with as much violence, there’s not a lot of blood. But I don’t think that’s a decision in the artist’s control.

This issue was a legitimate surprise for me. I didn’t read the solicitation for it, but it clearly states “everybody dies!” and that’s what happens. Besides some minor complaints, this is a very good issue. Old Man Hawkeye #7 continues to prove it’s not a generic “Old Man (insert character name here)” title and is one worth reading.