Review: Hawkeye Kate Bishop #2 (of 5)

Hawkeye the series is knocking things out of the park so we definitely need a solid Kate Bishop title on the stands to bring in new readers. However this comic is a weak entry for fans old or new. Hawkeye: Kate Bishop issue 2 has some interesting ideas. Unfortunately awkward dialogue, poor art choices and a disconnection between writer and artist renders it a disaster. There is a disjointed feeling to this comic where the art and dialogue don’t flow together. It feels like a creative team that hasn’t talked to each other enough or hasn’t read enough comics to work out the correct rhythm.

Here Kate Bishop and her long lost sister Susan are working together to find a missing girl at a resort in the Hamptons. The art by Enid Balam and Oren Junior is interesting but Kate Bishop does not look at all like Kate Bishop. The proportions, hair and facial features are so radically different that it would feel like a different character if not for the familiar color and bow. The colors by Brittany Peer and Cris Peter are fantastic, moving the colors from day to night as the story proceeds and allowing each character to stand out.

Kate plays detective to track down Kennedy and confront the kidnapper only to discover that he was brainwashed. The action sequences are definitely interesting although it’s hard to know why Kate takes so long to take down a single brainwashed yuppie. The issue ends with her and Susan realizing the entire compound is filled with brain-washed guests.

This is a creative team with potential, but perhaps this isn’t the right character for them. The character’s appearance, voice and level of skill all feel off here. Fans have had much better Kate Bishop stories than this one, and a character of this caliber deserves better treatment than this.

Writing: 2 of 5 stars
Art: 2.5 of 5 stars
Colors: 4 of 5 stars

Overall: 2.8 of 5 stars

Writer: Marieke Nijkamp
Pencils: Enid Balam
Inks: Oren Junior
Colors: Brittany Peer and Cris Peter
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.