Ultimates #5: Captain’s Challenge Preview

By August Tales

Break out your batarangs, it turns out Hawkeye is on a trajectory to reinvention. There’s no mistake that “The Ultimates” is pulling back the bowstring on something fresh. In July, whispers spread that a fresh take on the age-old character was in the works. Distinct from anything we’ve seen thus far, “The Ultimates #5” furnishes that much-awaited glimpse of the overhauled Archer.

Stellar Minds, Heroic Tension

Penned by Deniz Camp and brought to visual life by Juan Frigeri, issue #5 depicts a concerned Tony Stark in conversation with Steve Rogers. Their team, according to Stark, is evidently spread too thin. Increasing stress levels is the theft of the high-tech arsenal Stark crafted meticulously for Hawkeye.

Rogers, on the other hand, doesn’t seem as worried. Arguably someone with heroic motives swiped the weapons, hitting the unscrupulous Roxxon corporation where it hurts most. Even though Captain America plays it cool, he concedes it’s time to intervene in the archer’s endeavors before they cross into villainy.

New Energy, Old Roots

Let me bring you up to speed on Hawkeye’s history. Clint Barton, our first Hawkeye, initially strutted on as an Iron Man nemesis. An unfortunate series of misunderstandings turned him to crime, but Barton soon yearned for redemption. Entering the Avengers, he served lengthy tenure as a resolute team member under Captain America’s command, all the while sporting a rebellious streak.

Honoring the Past, Shooting for the Future

The emergence of the Ultimates’ Hawkeye seems to acknowledge this storied past. That said, this Hawkeye’s moves, which appear aimed at assaulting a notoriously dirty corporation, feel more akin to Green Arrow than the original Hawkeye. Consider this plus the character’s Native American lineage, there’s an imminent departure from the standard Marvel mold.

Get the next chapter of the story when “The Ultimates #5” lands in comic shops globally on October 9, 2024.