The West Coast Avengers #23

TITLE: The West Coast Avengers #23

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

COVER DATE: August 1987

COVER PRICE: $0.75

22 pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

Now, the West Coast Avengers...I have a lot of love for the West Coast Avengers. The funny thing is though, is that that the title has always been mediocre at best. Aside from the Byrne run in the 40's and 50's, and Roger Stern's original mini-series, I can't really think of another run on this series that sticks out for me. I'd probably give Roy and Dann Thomas the benefit of the doubt for the longevity of their run, and for the fact that they kept a personal favorite of mine around in the form of U.S.Agent.

So why does this title generate so much good will in my collection? First off, I've always assumed for the last decade or so that X-Factor was the first new title launch that I collected as a week-in and week-out comic book buyer. That turns out to not be true, as West Coast Avengers beat it to the punch by almost six months.

I'm sure that's part of it.

The other thing, is that it always featured some of my favorite Avengers.

Hawkeye? Naturally.

Vision? I, for one, loved the pale-Byrne Vision.

Scarlet Witch? I always dug her hex powers.

U.S.Agent? The Damian of the Avengers.

The Great Lakes Avengers? Their debut issue is one of my favorite books from the 80's.

These were all characters that didn't have their own book, so most of the time this title was the only place you could catch 'em.

But we're here to talk about this issue, and to tell you the truth, when I reread it to prepare for this review it turns out that I had literally no memory of this issue whatsoever. I'm sure the only reason that I remember the Mockingbird/Phantom Rider showdown was that it has gotten so much play in the recent issues of Hawkeye & Mockingbird.

So how could this issue have slipped through the cracks so completely, on a title that I generally read month in and month out? Let's find out...

Showtime!
Lost in Space-Time: Conclusion!

• Writer: Steve Englehart
• Penciller: Al Milgrom
• Inker: Romeo Tanghal
• Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
• Colorist: Christie Scheele
• Editor: Mark Gruenwald
• Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

As you can tell from the title of this issue, this is the last chapter dealing with a time-strewn team of Avengers. Hawkeye and that gang are stuck in ancient Egypt, while Mockingbird's being stalked in the old west, and the only one that can save them is Hank Pym and some WCA also-rans. And here we get my first clue as to why this issue is such a cypher to me. Hank Pym comes to the Fantastic Four for help, but why he comes dressed in disguise is beyond me.

That disguise is so good, it totally made me forget this meeting (or anything else about this issue) ever happened.

But seriously, doc...who told you that Phantom Stranger meets Where's Waldo was a good look? Fortunately for him, that's not the worst costume design in this issue.

With his help, Mr. Fantastic soon fixes up the FF's time machine so that Hank and company can act on a clue left for them by Hawkeye from over 5000 years in the past. Off they go, leaving the FF to look after Hank's fancy new Quinjet that's been outfitted with an artificial intelligence based on a loyal ant that he had known named Korr.

How could I have possibly not remembered that? It just gets curiouser and curiouser.

Now, remember that costume I mentioned earlier? Let's catch up with Avengers in ancient Egypt.

Look at that awesome costume on Wonder Man...and by awesome, I mean horrible.

Anything that makes this look downright dapper by comparison is a lost cause.

So the Avengers are on the run in Egypt, and end up taking refuge in a local temple. Coincidentally enough, it's the temple of the shunned god Khonshu, patron saint of Moon Knight. Trapped in the temple, with no hope of rescue anytime soon, Hawkeye sets out to build some weapons with which to arm the acolytes for the oncoming siege from the restless natives.

Wait a minute...Did that statue just wink at Hawkeye?

Two pages of tedious recapping of Moon Knight's origin later, we find out exactly why Khonshu was so keen on Hawkeye. He was only using him for his toys.

That's right...Hawkeye created the weapons that were handed down millenia later to Moon Knight. How could I have forgotten about something as random, coincidental, and completely out of the blue as that? I actually know the answer to that question, as I've never been able to muster up much enthusiasm for Moon Knight. I'm sure I probably saw these two pages and flipped forward until I got to the good stuff.

And speaking of good stuff, here's Mockingbird having her big throw down with the Phantom Rider. I don't feel quite comfortable cracking wise about her plotline here, so let's let her have her moment of vengeance and move on.

We're back to the present, just in time to catch up with Mr. Fantastic sending Hank Pym, Moon Knight, and Firebird Espirita back to rescue Hawkeye and crew.

It's nice to know that you can always count on Reed to help send you through time when you need it. He may have a snide comment or two about you after you leave, but he's got your back.

Now that we have a working time machine, this issue should be wrapped up in no time. A quick jaunt back to ancient Egypt sees the West Coast Avengers reunited. Unfortunately, most of their reunion is taken up with the Priests of Khonshu speaking gibberish about prophecies and fists and vengeance...and honestly, I just can't be bothered to wrap my head around it.

I'm with you Hawkeye, let's get movin' already.

Trading in his time machine for a form of transportation more appropriate to the old west, Hawkeye swoops in and rescues his girl.

Now, with the team finally reunited as a whole, they're off to the time stream one last time to head back to the present and deliver a good smack down to Dominus for sending them all back to the past in the first place.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

A couple of things, actually.

First, don't piss off Mockingbird. She'll take you down. Just ask the Phantom Rider, it's a long way down.

Second, don't underestimate Hawkeye. No sooner are you stuck in the past, and he figures out a way to get help that would do Grant Morrison proud.

Third, don't let Hank Pym or Wonder Man help you with your wardrobe. Ever.

I gave this issue a fair amount of grief during the review, but it wasn't that bad. It's biggest sin is probably that it's decidedly average on most counts. The only aspect of this issue that's had any lasting effect is Mockingbird's story, and that gets a scant four pages. All the rest is Hank and his crew talking about the emotional journey they've been on, and why this time they're good enough, smart enough, and doggone it people like them! And then there's all of that Khonshu nonsense.

So yeah, not much to see here. If you really want to know about Mockingbird's vengeance, pick up the Hawkeye & Mockingbird trade as you'll get a much better story out of it.

All characters and artwork reproduced are (c) Marvel Comics

Hawkeye (vol. 1) #3

TITLE: Hawkeye (vol. 1) #3

PUBLISHER: Marvel

COVER DATE: November 1983

COVER PRICE: $0.60

22 pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

From my first days of comic book collecting, Hawkeye has been one of my favorites. I've followed him from book to book, whether that was in The Avengers, West Coast Avengers, Solo Avengers, Avengers West Coast, or The Thunderbolts. Something about his roguish charm and effortless marksmanship, coupled with the fact that he never could catch a break, made him an extremely likable character. It's a shame he's not around anymore, but then most (if not all) of my Avengers have not fared very well in a post-Busiek/Perez world.

Now I feel like an old man complaining about how nothing NEW compares to the good old days. Come to think of it, I did have to walk uphill in three feet of snow to get my Avenger's books back in the day, so maybe I'm not so crazy after all...

So yeah, Hawkeye's a favorite. Still, it's probably been 20+ years since I've read this mini-series. I remember looking for other Avengers mini-series after reading The Vision & Scarlet Witch and realizing that they had an even older mini-series that took place before their maxi-series. The fact that it's been so long since I've read it means that I don't actually remember that much about what happened in it. The only memory that stands out is that this is the series where he and Mockingbird fall in love.

One last thing to note, and that is the penciler on this issue. It's obvious that I bought these back issues before I started paying attention to who the creators involved were, as I had no idea that Mark Gruenwald used to draw as well as write. He's definitely known for his writing skills now, but here he is pencilling the exploits of my favorite archer. It's going to add a whole new dimension to reading this story, so let's get to it.

Beating The Odds

• Writer: Mark Gruenwald
• Penciler: Mark Gruenwald
• Background Assistant: Eliot Brown
• Inker/Embellisher: Danny Bulanadi
• Letterer: Joe Rosen
• Colorist: Christie Scheele
• Editor: Dennis O'Neil
• Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

The issues opens up with a pair of villains, Oddball and Bombshell, spying on Hawkeye and Mockingbird as they land on the rooftop of Mockingbird's apartment. There they wait, as our unsuspecting heroes enter a trap, for they have rigged Mockingbird's apartment with explosives. Right on cue, the apartment building is rocked by an explosion.

Their celebrations are short-lived, however, as they spot Hawkeye and Mockingbird on the ground among the spectators who are watching the apartment building become engulfed in flames. Determined to kill the heroes, Bombshell and Oddball decided to try again, this time letting Oddball take the lead.

Gee Hawkeye, I wonder what your first clue was? Could it have been the complete and utter destruction of all of Mockingbird's worldly belongings? I'm just spit-balling here, but she may need just a tad more sympathy right about now.

Since they can't do much while the firemen extinguish the flames, Hawkeye and Mockingbird head out to grab a bit to eat. After the building has been secured, Hawkeye and Mockingbird return to look for clues about the explosion. It was a pretty thorough job, as nothing of Mockingbird's has escaped destruction. It's therefore a little odd, when Hawkeye finds an 8-ball lying undamaged on the floor. A clue!

Geez Hawkeye, what a set of stones! Everything that Mockingbird owns in the world just got destroyed, and you still made her treat for dinner? And you're taking her last $97?

After spending most of her money on new arrows for Hawkeye, the two decide to continue their investigation into Cross Technologies. It seems that the company is closing in on completing their oh-so-cleverly named "death device", so it's up to Hawkeye and Mockingbird to stop them before their hired hitmen can finish them off.

Now pennyless (did I mention that Mockingbird spent her last $97 on new arrows for Hawkeye? What is it about the "bad-boy" that makes women lose control?), the two take the subway uptown. There they run into Captain America in his civvies. Out to prove that he can handle things on his own, Hawkeye turns down Captain America's offer of help.

As they exit the subway Hawkeye is surprised by seeing another 8-ball, this time rolling on the floor towards him. He looks up to see Oddball taunting him from around the corner.

That's some pretty cutting edge political commentary in an early-80's comic book on that poster. Way to go Gruenwald!

Giving chase, Hawkeye and Mockingbird race to confront their pursuers. Doing their best to dodge the onslaught of billiard ball sized projectiles, Hawkeye takes a direct hit to the wrist, causing it to go numb.

Proving her super-hero bona fides, Mockingbird uses her battle-staves to swat away the incoming missiles with ease. That gives Hawkeye a chance to regain his composure and the chase in on again.

While Hawkeye tries to catch Oddball, Mockingbird is ambushed by Bombshell, who was disguised as a nun. She blasts Mockingbird in the back with an incendiary charge, but finds out that she was only playing possum to draw Bombshell within striking distance. It's not the wisest of gambits, as guns work just as well at point blank range and Mockingbird takes a direct hit from Bombshell's wrist gauntlets.

Farther up the subway station, Hawkeye and Oddball continue their game of cat and mouse. Oddball jumps aboard a train as it is pulling away, leaving Hawkeye to make a mad scramble to catch the rear gate of the departing subway car. Inside the car, Oddball has taken a hostage as Hawkeye enters.

No joke required, as the hostage takes one for the team by supplying his own.

Back to the chase, and Oddball has now jumped up into the rafters of the next station house. The epic battle of arrows versus spheres continues.

Which actually brings up an interesting point. Whose bright idea was it to make Oddball one of Hawkeye's villains? You do realize we're talking about a hero who fires shafts going up against someone with specialized balls? Sometimes "a cigar is just a cigar" and all, but I'm just saying...

Hawkeye's injured wrist is still giving him problems, so he pulls out the old bola arrowhead and lashes Oddball's arm to a nearby girder.

That is definitely some kinda trick arrow. Who knew the laws of physics were so easily suspended.

Finally having the upper hand, Hawkeye is just about get Oddball to spill his guts about who has hired them when he is hit from behind by a concussive projectile. It's Bombshell, and she's back to save Oddball's backside after taking down Mockingbird.

The two then leave the subway station with an unconscious Hawkeye and Mockingbird in their custody.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

The big takeaway with this issue was that Mark Gruenwald wasn't a half-bad penciler. Some of the figures are a little stiff, and the backgrounds are a tad on the sparse side, but the storytelling and pacing are pretty solid. And if you can't have it all, I'd take the latter over the former any day.

The story, on the other hand, was a little on the light side. It's basically one big fight scene, interspersed with some rather obvious and over-scripted character developments. I don't have a whole lot of issues by Mark Gruenwald in my collection, but that seems to be a common trait in the few that I have read. Maybe I just haven't read the right Gruenwald stories, so one of these days I'll have to get around to reading Squadron Supreme and some of his earlier Cap stuff.

Good thing I was already a fan of Hawkeye when I finally got around to reading this story, as the Hawkeye charm was largely vacant in this issue. Although this series did give us the beginning of the Hawkeye/Mockingbird relationship, so there was at least one good thing to come out of it.

All characters and artwork reproduced are (C) Marvel Comics

Related links for your surfing pleasure...

• The last time Random Longbox read a Hawkeye story
• Who doesn't love a good quiz? Head on over to Bully's Comics and play Hawkeye, Hawkeye, or Hawkeye?
• Comics Should Be Good takes a look at the 5 most iconic Hawkeye covers