Hawkeye 11 CoverIt’s not every series that could produce an issue entirely from the perspective of a one-eyed dog who loves pizza – let alone such an absolutely stellar one. Then again, Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye isn’t just any series. Hawkeye #11 is one of this year’s best comics and will almost certainly be long-remembered for its innovative art style and ability to tell a story more through sounds and smells than through words.

The issue begins as most noir adventures do, on a day like any other – at least for Lucky (aka Pizza Dog). Kate Bishop is at his home, and as usual she is arguing with Clint Barton. Lucky leaves, but before he gets far he encounters a canine femme fatale who shows him the scene of the crime – Grill’s murder. Pizza Dog then does what all dog investigators do best: he follows his nose. Along the way, he discovers the scent of the murderer, finds his old abusive owners, engages in some romance, and then some violence. Sound like a certain purple-suited Avenger much?

Honestly, words can’t capture the brilliance of this issue. The Hawks barely feature into the story, existing as backdrop in Lucky’s life as much as he probably is in theirs. As a dog, he only understands one word in five, so the reader only has a vague idea of what is going on in their lives. But credit to both Fraction and Aja, who manage to expertly convey it through carefully chosen words, expressive characters, and well-staged scenes. Furthermore, Aja’s use of infographic-like diagrams to show what Lucky is smelling is groundbreaking and really adds something special to an already stellar issue. Little details that would normally be missed – such as Kate smelling of a mysterious stranger or Clint smelling of alcohol early in the morning – don’t go unnoticed by Lucky.

Simply put, Hawkeye #11 is fantastic. David Aja coveys action traditionally at times, but through blueprint diagrams at other. He adds a whole new dimension the story by incorporating sound and smell associations that carry throughout the story. He subtly emphasizes gestures and facial expressions to make the meaning more apparent when words are unreliable due to the POV character. Fraction tells a fantastic noir story that features romance, violence, mystery, loyalty, humor, and heartbreak in equal measure. Where the series goes from here is anyone’s guess, but after this month’s alternately tense and endearing issue, it’s sure to be a must-read.

Go buy it!

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