Written by: Matthew Rosenberg

Art by: Otto Schmidt

Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino

Release Date: July 1st, 2020

Price: $3.99

***SPOILERS***

Life is getting pretty complicated for Clint as the finale of Hawkeye Freefall wages a standoff between Hawkeye and Bullseye only to pit Hawkeye against The Hood. The finale had more holes than Bryce after Bullseye skewered him, and now Hawkeye is a villain? Under the publication’s circumstances, this series ended abruptly when it’s potential was just beginning to show.

Matthew Rosenberg chose a great hero and concept to play with as a whole, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite play out as most would have hoped with it’s announced digital release and ultimate cancellation. Clint Barton has to be one of the most underrated heroes in the Marvel Universe. Most playing to the quirky silly side nowadays, his potential for complete badassery is all but forgotten. Rosenberg however gave all but a glimmer of Clint’s potential throughout the series, there was just something missing, a complete cohesive story about Clint Barton’s Hawkeye. Even in the finale, we see a clip-show of hero references and callbacks from prior issues, which normally would have worked well for a finale, but we had already seen this in issues one through five.

The most unfortunate part of this finale is, there was no lesson learned. Furthermore, there was no character growth and no fist-pumping exciting moment in this issue. Yeah, Clint won in the end, but it’s also implied Hawkeye made his first steps into villainy in the end? Rosenberg made this issue with two glorified battles and a poor attempt at a “feels” moment. I have read my fair share of books that do not end on a happy note, but with as much silliness, ridiculousness, and fun throughout the series, the finale just felt out of place.

A finale that starts with Captain America being shot in the chest, Bryce dying, and a fight to what “seems” like to the death, there should be bigger consequences by the end of the story. The whole point Clint put on the Bullseye suit was to hide his identity for when he was going to kill Bullseye, that is what’s implied. Which makes sense, Clint has nothing else to live for, The Hood even says so later on. But, Clint leaves Bullseye alive, which was a bit disappointing. Additionally, he leaves The Hood, without his hood, as he and Clint fall several stories out a window. Moreover, Parker doesn’t seem to move afterward. Did Clint kill The Hood? Maybe that’s the consequence of this story, or they’re just wasn’t any.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I want to chop this unfortunate series finale to poor choices of Marvel, and all the fans that always yell for a Hawkeye book that didn’t pick this book up. Matthew Rosenberg has a story in here but was forced to finish it in six issues. If Marvel wasn’t afraid to let a book go for longer than six issues, writers including Matthew Rosenberg would be able to flesh out the story and prove they have what it takes to make underrated heroes into bigger stars.

4.5/10